Rating: 
Summary: Good story but lost in the clutter of homeless soap
Review: Grisham can weave a tale and create exceptional characters. However Street Lawyer loses most of its momentum and story with the constant explanations of the plight of the homeless. He makes his point through the first two or three homeless descriptions and the overall plot. By the tenth such expose, it becomes an overbearing weight.
Rating:
Summary: Not among his best
Review: I am a big fan of John Grisham. Although I enjoyed this book, I don't rank it among his best. Like "The Chamber", this book doesn't have the dynamics of his other work, but I still enjoyed the read. For first time readers of Grisham, you would be better served to start with "The Partner", "Rainmaker", or "The Runaway Jury." Some of the other "amateur" reviewers you see listed here will blast Grisham for a slow "Chamber" or "Street Lawyer", but I still think they are better reads than most of the other pap you'll find out there.
Rating: 
Summary: A Chilling Commentary On Conservative Social Politics!
Review: This may not be Grisham's very best, but there are messages here that strike like lightning: as swiftly; as frighteningly; as soul-shattering. While seemingly addressing the problems of the homeless as well as a society infected by lawyers, it is ultimately about Representatives and judges elected to provide for people's needs; which needs are consistently ignored. This is one frightening aspect of the novel: our involvement in the plight of others; more correctly, our non-involvement. The author is challenged to get us to know some of the statistics of the homeless; more than that, what it 'feels like' to be evicted, living on the streets, and looked down upon for being there. Images of characters are distinct: The powerful Mordecai Green, confident "Mister", fearful Ruby, bully Braden Chance, Hector Palma, Lontae Burton and family. Characters develop with a minimum of exposition instead of thousands of words. Doing so is an art. Encountering such art is delightful. Characterized as well are large corporations of lawyers: their disdain for clients and preference to manipulate people, how lawyers have become victims in the process, and how you and I are also part of that problem. Uncomfortable, but obvious. There is a message of hope, but a most complex one if not nearly hidden; for it hinges on changes in social and racial discrimination by you and me, just as the central figure in the novel changes in uncovering a secret his law firm has hidden. While the head partner at Drake and Sweeney takes a giant step toward such changes after he sees his part in the problems, it isn't realistic to think that conservative laws and spending will actually change to address our social injustices. One of the book's statistics is that it costs us 25% more to hassle and punish the homeless than it would to house and feed them. Until you and I hold politicians accountable for our tax monies on such issues, there will be no change. Grisham addresses the reality of politics here more than a fantasy of fiction. Truth is stranger than fiction, and it will not make you happy.
Rating: 
Summary: A novel with a message and an agenda
Review: John Grisham's latest novel is not only a work of fiction, but the author also includes his political insights on why humanity suffers. Dare I mention that according to the sage, the Republicans are at fault! If you can ignore the sniping at the GOP, you will find a novel worth reading. It is, however, very much a social commentary and not up to Grisham's usual exciting plots. The pathos for the homeless is real, but this novel is not a good forum to solve the evils of greed and conniving lawyers. The details given about the homeless are persuasive arguments that society needs to find a cure for this ill, but the author does not totally convince the reader that public law is the "medicine" needed. Enjly the book, but forget the politics--Grisham is way off base there!
Rating: 
Summary: Same old thing....
Review: I was very disappointed with John Grisham's latest effort. I am an attorney and a liberal democrat, but I am getting sick of the "disguntled young attorney" plot Mr. Grisham has been rehashing in all of his books lately, and I resent being lectured about how awful greedy lawyers are by a man who makes $60 million a year. I admire Mr. Grisham's efforts to use his popularity and immense readership as a forum for discussing the plights of the poor and homeless. Too bad the message he was trying to convey gets lost due to the book's overly preachy, "holier-than-thou" attitude.
Rating:
Summary: Grisham goes from strength to strength
Review: Very strong start, the story gets better and better. I found it believable and gripping.
Rating: 
Summary: Grisham continues downhill slide.
Review: In a continued attempt to preach from his now (once more) popular pulpit, Grisham has decided to, once again, preach how evil we, and especially all Republicans, are. Since "The Firm", Grisham's writing has slowly deteriorated because of his overuse of the now common theme of the disenfranchised fighting against, and beating, the establishment. It's worked when the establishment is someone we all hate (i.e. the Mob, the Tobacco industry, Insurance Firms), but in this book, he goes too far. The establishment is all of us who, according to Grisham, should feel guilty because we work hard. I had trouble finishing it, and the only reason I did, was because I hate not finishing books.
Rating:
Summary: A BOOK THAT HAD A GREAT START, BUT JUST FAILED AT THE END
Review: I feel that I must reward this novel a two or three for the great begining it brought forth to the reader, but once the last one-hundred pages came, I felt very sorry for paying a mere $$30.00 for it. Myself, being, a young published writer, feels he may offer an open perspective to those in which wish to read this so: The book is worth buying if you want your mind to twist into a ball and fear of it making a recovery. Really, this book made me feel as if I were messed up. If you do want to read this, I would wait untill the mass-market edition came onto the market, so you feel you have not wasted merely $$30.00 of your money in which could have been spent else-where. Sorry John--take some time to bring it back up and don't rush to get your work out on the market, your fans will acknowledge you more if you would TRY this path. Best of luck towards the future.
Rating:
Summary: A pretty accurate depiction of the homeless problem.
Review: Having worked with the homeless, mentally ill, and mentally retarded for four years, this book ,while not exciting, accurately portrays the problems and short-term solutions to the homeless problem. The ending of the book was very accurate in portraying the long-term, almost unstoppable problems associated with trying to make worthwhile contributions to end homelessness. Grisham was dead-on in his presentation of this point. There is no single SOLUTION to the apathy almost inherent in most homeless. Good job, John.
Rating:
Summary: Typical Grisham, Disturbing Premise
Review: In this tale of lawyers for the good of the few, Grisham has his usual web of charectors which include the big bad rich law firm, our hero the young lawer, and a client that just can't afford to fight the establishment. In this case, the client is the homeless. Now, I can empathize with the fight of the homeless in our country, but I cannot sympathize because, after all, we all have our problems and I, like most Americans have strived to do my best with what I have been given by God. In short, the book is okay in its telling of the story, but the fact is that I personnally will not feel guilty if I earn more money than another. The pusuit of happiness is not a gauranty but an opportunity. If that opportunity falls short in a persons life and they want to look for someone to blame, well they should look no further than the mirror.
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