Rating: 
Summary: Different from other Grisham novels...
Review: If you are used to lawyers and court room drama you will not get this in "The Painted House." It takes places in south where Grisham grew up in and near the cutton fields. Although not truly autobiographical Grisham draws from his boyhood experienes. The book original appeared in serial form in his magazine, "The Oxford American," over the past year. It's a good read.
Rating: 
Summary: I Was Disappointed
Review: "A Painted House" is the least favorite of my Grisham novels, and I have read most of them. Is the problem with the situation? Not really. Grisham takes us into the lives of the Chandlers, a poor cotton-growing family in the Arkansas Delta in the fall of 1952, and their make-or-break cotton harvest. The entire story is told through the eyes of Luke Chandler, who at that time was seven years old (though the "voice" is clearly adult; this is the same technique Harper Lee used with Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird"). We come to know Luke's parents and grandparents, the violent Ozark family and the [Migrant farmworkers]; who come to stay temporarily to help with the harvest. Descriptions of pre-mechanized cotton picking abound, and Grisham is equally convincing when he takes Luke into town for church, visiting or shopping. As always, Grisham's eye for subtle gradations of class and caste is acute.It was while in town that Luke witnesses a vicious crime, and soon after he has the opportunity to tell the law all about it. But he doesn't--for an understandable motive--and he watches in dismay as his little lie spreads like a disease. Grisham's way with suspense is just as good as ever. So what am I complaining about? The end of the book. There isn't a climax here, just a slow fizzling out. It's as though Grisham has constructed a marvelous plot mechanism that doesn't have any sparkle left by the book's end. Luke has already come to a more sophisticated understanding of adult mores and morals, the family's econmic future has been foreordained and foreshadowed in many different ways, and the end of the book seemed arbitrary and forced. Not to mention un-entertaining. No Boo Radleys here! To borrow a line from Oscar Wilde, it was just as boring as reality. It's a shame that so much craftsmanship went into this book without a more satisfactory ending. I guess if you're a real Grisham fan like me you'll still want to read "A Painted House," but I certainly can't hold it up as one of his better efforts.
Rating:
Summary: A Stunning, Brilliantly Crafted Novel, Displaying a New JG
Review: A PAINTED HOUSE is a superbly written and peril-frought voyage into a semi-fictional past. For those literate readers who like to see a competent author stretch his wings and fly, this is the book. The risks Grisham takes here speak well for the outlook of American literature. For those who finds themselves absorbed by this novel/memoir, a must-read is Richard Ferri's BLOSSOM RIVER DRIVE, certainly the novel of the year, an intense excursion into a past where the erotic lives of children are openly displayed for the first time in a literary work. Maybe fiction isn't dead, after all.
Rating:
Summary: Different- but good
Review: An interesting concept. It is a refreshing change of pace from the usual tension-packed danger-fraught legal drama we're used to. However, the narrative is by no means slow or ponderous. The unique point of view makes the reader see the whole book from a different angle. And while Mr. Grisham keeps to his promise that there will not be a single lawyer in the book, there is plenty of drama to go around. Overall, a unique approach to an often unexplored part of America. Well done, Mr. Grisham, you have renewed my faith in your writing ability, as well as provided me with a damn fine read.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: John Grisham should stick with what he does best. This story, narrated in the first person by a seven year old farm boy is at best a reasonable depiction of life in rural Arkansas in the early 1950's. At worst, it is as this reader found it - boring. The narrative is unnecessarily tedious and drawn out and adds nothing to a simplistic tale. The reader is constantly waiting for something to happen, and nothing ever does. What you get in the first two chapters is what you get for the rest of the book. It is unfortunate that this book will make it to the best seller list, purely on the strength of Grisham's name, it does not deserve to be there.
Rating:
Summary: Filled with Heart!
Review: John Grisham proved to the World that he is not only a court room author. This book is like nothing else I have ever picked up. It made me thankful for everything I have. It also tells an incredible story of ayoung boy growning up on the cotton filed. Cotton picking is not as soft as the result.
Rating:
Summary: Filled with Heart!
Review: John Gisham proved to the world that he is not only a court room author but is one of the greatest authors alive. This book is filled with lots of heart and interesting stories. Like no other book I have ever picked up. Makes me thankful for my life and everything I have. It also makes you realize that picking cotton is not as soft as the result.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Grisham
Review: The reason I buy John Grisham's books is because of the subject matter, legal thrillers. That's what I like and that's what he does best. This type of book didn't interest me and I hope he goes back to what he does best.
Rating:
Summary: A new Grisham -- Almost like Falkner
Review: This new book by John Grisham is truly a surprise. No, it's not a legal thriller and matter of fact it's not even a thriller. It's a cute little story--almost in Falkner tradition--about a cotton pickin' kid in the South about half a century ago. I read the book in less than 2 days and I like it. This is an absolutely new Grisham and the cover already hinted that it would be. Grisham is a good writer and "A Painted House" shows his skill. For thriller fans I very much recommend the powerful megathriller THE CONSULTANT by Alec Donzi who perhaps will now take Grisham's place in the thriller category.
Rating: 
Summary: Not your typical Grisham novel
Review: By now, I'm sure everyone is aware that this is a very different novel than anything John Grisham has published previously. This book evokes a particular time and place: the Cotton Belt of the early 1950's, and, like "To Kill a Mockingbird", the story is told from a child's point of view; in this case, a fast-maturing 7-year-old. Unlike "Mockingbird", of course, there are no lawyers or courtroom scenes, although crimes are committed. I highly recommend this book. Nothing much happens in the first 70 pages, but then things get really interesting. In a culture where conservative Christianity is an integral part of every aspect of life, this 7-year-old is quickly faced with a dilemma: lie and be guilty of sin, or tell the truth and risk his family's livelihood (and possibly his own neck). Indeed, the mixed messages that he receives concerning religious beliefs are confusing for a child (and for honest grownups as well). Even more confusing are the early stirrings of sexual attraction toward a girl ten years his senior. This subject is handled in a very tasteful manner, and it inevitably leads, of course, to childhood heartbreak. (Not as serious a heartbreak as the baseball season ending with his beloved Cardinals in third place, however!) He witnesses things a child should never have to see (including two murders) and, as a result, has to grow up faster than most kids his age. His whole style and use of language is fairly mature for a 7-year-old. Unfortunately the last several chapters are not quite as gripping as the middle part of the novel, and the story sort of fizzles out at the end, keeping me from giving it the highest rating. Still, it is very good and worth the time and money. This may not be the Grisham most people are used to, but give it a chance and it will win you over.
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