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Summary: Real Life
Review: I loved the book because it is so real. This isn't based JUST on Grisham's life. The "hill people" of Arkansas are as real as my father and grandfather,(and thousands of other grandfathers!) The stories I heard from my Dad about pickin' cotton on someone else's farm until his fingers bled. The mean old mountain man that was killed in the middle of town and no one said a word because they all felt he deserved it. My Dad left Salesville, Arkansas, (outside of Mountain Home) for the GM factory in the late 50's, thousands of other people did the same,because they all had the same dream. A better life for their children. Thank you Mr. Grisham, you touched my heart!
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Summary: Re-title this to "How I Spent My Summer" by Luke C., Age 7
Review: In essence the book was about the summer experience of Luke Chandler, a seven year old. The book contained observations and story-line introductions but no resolutions or endings to dilemmas that had been introduced during the telling. It was a decent read, the writing definitely had a nostalgic flavor and a nice feel, but there was no real story. Therefore, there was no real ending. It is too bad, the characters and their situations held potential for a good story - but it all fell way short at the end.
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Summary: Grisham is not Faulkner
Review: Grisham ventures out of his familar environment of law and into world of sharecroppers and white trash which Faulkner did so well.He should have stuck with the familar, he's definitely not in Faulkner's class with these topics.
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Summary: Grisham is not Faulkner
Review: Grisham left the familar law environment and ventured into the world of sharecroppers and white trash which Faulkner did so well. He should have stuck to his familar area. This book did not hold my attention as the others did. A Time to KIll remains his best book ,in my opinion.
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Summary: A fine book
Review: A very good book; an interesting look at life on a poor farm in the 50's. It's well written, with interesting characters. None of these people are cardboard cutouts; they're all believable, interesting personalities.
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Summary: See also Ferrol Sams
Review: I think that this book is very similar to the "Run With the Horsemen" series that Ferrol Sams wrote. I enjoyed those books as well as this one.
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Summary: A MAGICAL STORY
Review: THANK YOU JOHN GRISHAM FOR THIS FANTASTIC STORY AND FOR THE GREAT CHARACTERS WHO COME ALIVE ON THE PAGES OF 'A PAINTED HOUSE'. WHO COULD BELIEVE THAT A SIMPLE TALE ABOUT POOR COTTON FARMERS COULD HOLD SO MUCH EMOTION AND SURPRISES AND CAPTURE THE READER FROM THE FIRST PAGE. I FELT THAT I KNEW LITTLE LUKE CHANDLER AND HIS DELIGHTFUL FAMILY AS I WAS TRANSPORTED TO 'BLACK OAK, ARK.' - 1952. I WAS CAPTIVATED BY AND ADMIRED THE STRONG BOND BETWEEN LUKE AND HIS DEVOTED MOTHER. UNDERLYING THIS TOUCHING TALE ARE SECRETS, LIES, TENSIONS AND MURDER WHICH MAKE IT AS SUSPENSEFUL AND EXCITING AS ANY LEGAL THRILLER . I ENJOYED MR. GRISHAM'S STYLE OF WRITING AND HIS SUBTLE HUMOR. AS I BECAME ENTHRALLED WITH THE ADVENTURES OF THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY I FOUND MYSELF LAUGHING AND CRYING. I DIDN'T WANT THE BOOK TO END...AND I EAGERLY AND HOPEFULLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE SEQUEL!!
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Summary: John, John, John... you can do better than this
Review: I am an avid Grisham fan and as always couldn't wait to get my hands on A Painted House as soon as it was out. The whole while I was reading the book, I kept saying to my husband "Look how far I've read and nothing has happened yet." This was truly a disappointment. Hopefully this is not the direction Grisham will be taking in his future publications.
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Summary: Grisham's Best
Review: Well maybe, really.If you are looking for heart pounding action, crime and an honest lawyer to put the world to rights, then read any earlier Grisham. This is a highly evocative book, clearly written from the heart, from a master who intimately knows the subject and can still remember his childhood. A big and very pleasant surprise. I've read all of Grisham's previous books and admit I loved them all. This is very much outside the style of his previous writing and very welcome for being so. I highly recommend this book. I've read, and passed on all his previous books to friends (like a joke, great to share but you don't necessarily want to hear/read it again). This one will stay on my bookshelf - it may be a few years again before its re-read, but it will be. Nice one John!
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Summary: A good literary novel.
Review: Grisham's lastest is a big change from his other books. If you are looking for a thriller with lots of action and excitement then this book is not for you. It is a work of literary fiction and quite a good book. The novel opens in 1952, and is narrated by Luke Chandler, an only child, who lives on a cotton farm with his parents and grandparents. It's picking time so ten Mexicans and a family of hill people have come to live on their farm and pick. Luke, fighting a constant battle between picking cotton and dreaming of playing for the Cardinal's baseball team, takes a liking to Tally, a girl from the hill family and trot, her younger brother who is crippled. As the so far perfect season progresses Luke forms bonds with Tally while studying the mysterious Mexican Cowboy and staying clear of menacing hill boy Hank. But life doesn't stay perfect for long. Luke witnesses a murder, which he adds to the myriad of other secrets he is beginning to built up. Tally and cowboy leave and the rains come, destroying the unpicked cotton and flooding the farm. Luke is forced to grow up quickly as it is soon obvious that his families life is going to change, while all along the way, their house gets slowly painted. Something that has never happened in all the years it's been standing. Overall, I thought it was a good book. The story was interesting, never going quickly, but also never slow. The characters were good. There are some you'll hate and some you'll love (a big improvement on Grisham's recent books). Give the book a chance. It'll get you thinking and appreciating life just that little bit more.
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