Rating: 
Summary: Hate, lust, synapses and oral arguments!
Review: Not the Clinton scandal, but Richard Doolings latest journey into the small, dark crevices of the soul and brain. While I didn't enjoy this as much as White Man's Grave, nobody gives one as much information in so entertaining a way as Mr. Dooling. This book is almost like going through your first year of law school without being subjected to the Socratic method. Who would have thought so much was happening in St. Louis, of all places. Sure the main character is kind of a wimp and the ending takes an altogether too nice of a tone, but there are plenty of thrills along the way.
Rating:
Summary: Covers Broad Ground with Decent Depth, But Plot Gets in Way
Review: Okay, so how can plot get in the way? It's more like the plot seems in a hurry to wrap up in the end. A lot of the plot information gets dumped in the last pages rather than dispersed among, say, the whole latter half of the book.
Here's the basics of the plot:
Watson is the protagonist. He's a Midwestern guy with a young family, and also a Harvard Law graduate at the biggest firm in St. Louis. From a slightly loony judge, Watson gets a pro bono assignment to defend a man suspected of murder. Even worse, his defendant is an acknowledged racist who killed a black man. Working every angle, Watson gets fired from his big-firm gig when his pro bono work takes up too much of his time. He goes back to a defense attorney for whom he worked one summer in law school. As he passionately pursues his case, he almost loses his family to his infidelity (both sexual and time-wise).
What are the angles in this book?
1.) Large law firm critique--bureaucracy slows down a genius lawyer, and then the profit-seeking firm ditches a great lawyer, supposedly in violation of one of the firm's arcane rules. Plus, young associates must align themselves with a powerful partner to ensure they one day make the cut to partner. Ever wonder why Grisham's lawyers either start out or end up independent?
2.) Computer Technology vs. the Brain--very postmodern here, and that was appreciated by this reader! Search engines contrast with human memory and experience. And, the femme fatale doctor is the merging of these two fields--she uses high powered computers to map and study the brain. However, her self-aware self-gratifying behavior is repugnant; whereas our protagonist is torn apart by his semi-adultery. The unanswered question--is it natural brain chemistry that differentiates these two or is it Watson's Catholic upbringing?
3.) Fact and Law--this book does a good job discerning the difference between law and fact. Watson fights a scholarly law battle against the constitutionality of a hate crime statute. This battle, like all legal differences, is decided by judges, not juries. Then, Watson has to figure out the truth behind his case. Were his defendant's actions really premeditated, or is he being set up? Kudos to Dooling for letting us root for Watson without pulling for his despicable client.
4.) Sex--there's plenty of lust in this novel, and it works well with some of the richer themes discussed above.
Richard Bernstein called this "A thinking man's John Grisham thriller." True. However, too bad the plot isn't quite as well-paced as Grisham's earlier stories. But, the challenges this book presents more than make up for it.
Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous - thought provoking - a must read for the lawyer.
Review: One of the best books I have read in a while. I loved his characters. I don't think they could have been more colorful. I don't know if a non-lawyer would appreciate this book, but I would highly recommend it!
Rating: 
Summary: Good Legal Yarn Slowed by Computer Failure and Brain Rot
Review: RE: UNABRIDGED AUDIO TAPE VERSION. Not a home run - let's call it a ground rule double. There are some terrific characters here delivering astonishing, if sometimes too windy, dialog. On the other hand the author stumbles because of his apparent infatuation with two areas: computers and brain research. The protagonist's cutesy penchant for describing all action and motivation in computerese is at first merely annoying but eventually undermines the appeal and credibility of the character. Even real life geeks who obsess about computers don't talk this way about everything else. Secondly, the whole detour into neuro-research and brain manipulation could have been left out to good effect. The author seems much enamored of this topic, whether in admiration or in fear, but as presented here it inspires neither and only slows what could have been a crackling good legal novel.Reader Richard Guidall has a field day with the off-beat characters, delivering a first rate performance. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: Good Legal Yarn Slowed by Computer Failure and Brain Rot
Review: RE: UNABRIDGED AUDIO TAPE VERSION. Not a home run - let's call it a ground rule double. There are some terrific characters here delivering astonishing, if sometimes too windy, dialog. On the other hand the author stumbles because of his apparent infatuation with two areas: computers and brain research. The protagonist's cutesy penchant for describing all action and motivation in computerese is at first merely annoying but eventually undermines the appeal and credibility of the character. Even real life geeks who obsess about computers don't talk this way about everything else. Secondly, the whole detour into neuro-research and brain manipulation could have been left out to good effect. The author seems much enamored of this topic, whether in admiration or in fear, but as presented here it inspires neither and only slows what could have been a crackling good legal novel. Reader Richard Guidall has a field day with the off-beat characters, delivering a first rate performance. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: The right mixture of fun and whodunit.
Review: Richard Dooling has a very clever tale here with "Brainstorm". Our hero is a lawyer, Joe Watson, content to drift in cyberspace doing legal research forever, when suddenly he is appointed a pro bono case. Joe Watson, married, two kids, nice home, must suddenly take on a case of such racial and moral indignities that it threatens to turn his whole life around. In trying to defend the accused, James Whitlow, it looks as though he is up against a losing battle from the start. James Whitlow is accused of murdering a black, deaf man whom he caught in bed with his wife. James Whitlow has a most unfortunate past, that of being a known bigot and a youth laced with criminality. He even has a tatto sporting his feelings about black people. Clearly, our hero will have a very tough time convincing a jury this is not a hate crime. While attempting to do so, we are introduced to some of the most colorful literary characters I have ever come across. Judge Stang is fierce, he is funny, in fact, he is hysterical, and he is a character you will not soon forget. Joe Watson's newest partner, Myrna Schwiech is also full of life and memorable. The writing is superb, the only aspect of the book that faded the story for me was the intense details of computerese and neuroscience. Had it not been for these diversions, I would have given it five stars, but there is just enough of this type of language to make several chapters quite boring.
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Summary: The Funniest and Smartest Lawyer Book Ever!
Review: Richard Dooling has written the best novel about lawyers that I have ever read or ever hope to read. It is not only hilarious but it is wise and wicked as well, with brilliantly drawn characters and a plot with more twists than a snake in a conniption fit. This is the funniest book I have read this year and the best-written. He makes Don DeLillo and that crowd look like a bunch of posturing hacks.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read, Dooling has done it again!
Review: Richard Dooling's new book "Brainstorm," is a roller coaster ride of a young attorney in an appointed case that he cannot win. The book delves into America's obsession with political correctness, finding someone to blame and our expectation that between government and science all of societies problems should be fixed without us lifting a finger. Dooling's sardonic style and cynical wit come through again and again in all of his characters but ecpecially the Federal Court Judge who is presiding over the young lawyers case. Dooling's Judge dispenses wisdom, wit and occasionally justice in a manner that makes you smile as he makes the lawyers squirm. The authors unspoken commentary on our judicial system, though sometimes heavy handed is always amusing and his characterization of life in a large law firm will strike home with anyone who has ever dealt with the creatures that are the product of these firms creation. Although I preferred "White Man's Grave," this book is a more than adequate follow up to that National Book Award nominee and I would suspect that this book could be one of this years sleepers. Do not miss it.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read, Dooling has done it again!
Review: Richard Dooling's new book "Brainstorm," is a roller coaster ride of a young attorney in an appointed case that he cannot win. The book delves into America's obsession with political correctness, finding someone to blame and our expectation that between government and science all of societies problems should be fixed without us lifting a finger. Dooling's sardonic style and cynical wit come through again and again in all of his characters but ecpecially the Federal Court Judge who is presiding over the young lawyers case. Dooling's Judge dispenses wisdom, wit and occasionally justice in a manner that makes you smile as he makes the lawyers squirm. The authors unspoken commentary on our judicial system, though sometimes heavy handed is always amusing and his characterization of life in a large law firm will strike home with anyone who has ever dealt with the creatures that are the product of these firms creation. Although I preferred "White Man's Grave," this book is a more than adequate follow up to that National Book Award nominee and I would suspect that this book could be one of this years sleepers. Do not miss it.
Rating:
Summary: A Brain Tornado
Review: The auhtor achieves his goal: to make us think twice about freedom of expression and thought in a wired world. A stab at government being all-invasive. Lawyers who start law suits for the money, never mind the merit or the client. To fully enjoy the book, though, it might help to have a basic familiarity with: criminal law; legal procedures; what makes lawyers run; modern hospital machinery; neuro sciences; Greek and Latin - and more than 500 words of the English language. The author did himself proud with a difficult book well reasoned and written.
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