John Grisham Books

[Shingetsu]

I suppose my thread would technically belong no where, but this seems most likely fine. Since these are the only book forums I visit. The only forums period I visit. But I still wished to chat about John Grisham's books even though they clearly aren't SFF.

A couple months ago I read The Firm by Grisham and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I had it on my book buy list for quite awhile and wasn't sure if I'd ever get around to buying it since it wasn't SFF like I usually only read. But I was surprised when I finished it that it was very engaging and I read through it pretty quickly.

I bought The Testament earlier this week and just finished it. It also was a very good book. The only thing I disliked a bit was the ending was kind of sad. I thought I knew how it was going to end and be a happy ending, but I was wrong. But still a very interesting story.

What do others think of his books and what would you recommend of his to read next? I was thinking The Rainmaker but I'm not sure.

Suggestion: Maybe the Chrons could use a "General General Books" forum for non-SFF books, even though these are SFF forums. Just an idea.

 

[Dagny]

I really enjoy John Grisham. I usually own 5 or 6 at any one time, and buy and trade in as I want more. the only problem with Grisham is once you read one novel, you don't really need to read it again, since you know what's going to happen at the end.

Rainmaker is really good, so is The Brethren, Runaway Jury, King of Torts, and The Client. in fact, i've never read a Grisham book that I didn't like.

 

[Shingetsu]

I bought The Rainmaker and The Partner today. They sounded pretty interesting. I'll have to check out the ones you named next Dagny. So far I think he is a really good writer, but I have only read two of his books. I'll have to see how these next two go.

 

[Clansman]

I read all of Grisham's earliest books. The Firm was fabulous, and though the movie was pretty good, it fell far short of the book. His first book, A Time To Kill, remains, in my opinion, his best. Excellent story that is very real.

I have read The Client, The Partner (neat ending, very unexpected), The Chamber, and The Rainmaker. Still, A Time To Kill remains his best. Movie was a little stinky, especially when they cast Sandra Bullock in it. Bad choice, though she is a better actress nowadays. His other books, I have found, have been getting a bit formulaic.

 

[Dave]

I'm currently reading The Appeal. That is his latest book, just out in paperback and in the paperback book charts. Not sure if it is one of his best, but it is okay. I'm not finished it yet so hard to say. I can't remember now what I've read in the past, its been so long - I'm sure I've read The Client and The Firm, but maybe that's just because I remember the films.

We probably do need a General Book Forum as well as splitting the General Media into Film and TV. I don't think this should go here, but I don't know where else to move it.

 

[Shingetsu]

Yeah, I wasn't sure if a mod would want to move this somewhere or not. But I didn't really see a place for it and I figured since this is The Lounge and you can chat about whatever, I stuck it here. It just happens to be what I want to chat about in The Lounge is books also. Though for the most part I really do just read High and Urban Fantasy and some Sci-Fi.

On topic though, I had planned to watch The Firm movie after reading the book. But I read a bit about it and it sounded like they changed some stuff. Plus I'm not that big a fan of Tom Cruise. Maybe once I read some of the other books that have movies I might watch them if they are suppose to be any better.

I was looking through some of Grisham's books on Amazon and reading the synopsis's and some I'm not sure if I want to read them. But it's hard to tell since synopsis's are written bad sometimes and the books might be great. I'll just have to work through them and see how they are. Got a few books to read first before I start the two books I have of his so far though.

 

[Dagny]

I was looking through some of Grisham's books on Amazon and reading the synopsis's and some I'm not sure if I want to read them.

Well, most Grisham books focus around lawyers and court cases, and usually there is some corruption going on. plot line is usually a thriller, major page turner at the end. So long as you enjoy court room suspense thriller/dramas, you should do pretty good. There may be some violence, but it's never the focus of the story.

 

[Contrary Mary]

Moderators: Why not have a thread for books other than sf or fantasy? I am sure that there are many other members who read different kinds of books and might wnat to talk about them.

 

[chrispenycate]

Moderators: Why not have a thread for books other than sf or fantasy? I am sure that there are many other members who read different kinds of books and might wnat to talk about them.

"General book discussion" (the first subject in the first window) hardly states "but only if your general books are SFF".

There have been a number of non-genre books discussed, and "book hauls" nearly always contains some; I haven't heard anyone screaming in protest yet.

Yeah, sure, non-SFF books are a minority; after all, we are gathered here by our specialised taste for the speculative. But starting a new subforum, unless a vocal minority were desperately in need, seems a slightly exaggerated response.

 

[Dave]

Moving to General Books.

 

[Shingetsu]

Ah, I would have made the thread in General Books, but from what I saw it pretty much meant general SFF books that don't fit in an authors forum. It seemed like it stated SFF pretty clearly to me in a couple places:

"General reading discussion area for science fiction and fantasy literature, containing specialist subforums on key areas - what you like to read, what you don't like to read; the best and the worst authors and novels."

Also says a similar thing under the title of the forum on the main page. It says SFF literature, not SFF literature and, "Oh, yeah, don't forget you can write about other genre's here as well even though these are SFF forums really." So I hope you can see where I may have interpreted it differently or wrong.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Just started reading The Firm, as John Grisham has long been recommended as a study for use of conflict. The opening is really strong.

 

[Shingetsu]

I still have a few of his books on my shelf I haven't read yet. I haven't really kept up with John Grisham's releases in the last few years. I may have to look into that later. The Firm was good though, so I hope you enjoy it Brian.

 

[Rodders]

I went through a phase of read Grisham books a few years ago and while they are a bit formulaic, i found them very enjoyable.

Oddly enough, my favourite Grisham book was The Painted House, which many people didn't enjoy. (I think i enjoyed because it reminded me of Steinbeck's East of Eden)

 

[Boaz]

I've read fair amount of Grisham's books... The Firm, A Time to Kill, The Chamber, The Client, The Rainmaker, The Runaway Jury, The Partner, The Street Lawyer, The Brethren, The Summons, The Associate and Bleachers. All of these books, except Bleachers, are formulaic legal thrillers. I've got no problem with formulas when they're done right... comfortable, predictable... it's like slipping on jeans and a t-shirt and laying on the couch. Grisham uses this formula repeatedly because we know the boundaries and the pace of the story... so that we are not distracted by them when he takes us through the moral conflicts and/or failures of the protagonist.

And that is Grisham's best quality as a writer... he gives us broken, imperfect, and fallen characters. His protagonists have lied, stolen, cheated, covered up, aided and abetted, or are planning to do these things. Of course it matters what someone has done in the past, but it is a hundred times more important that the person make the right choice this time around... now... today. And I think that is the overall theme of Grisham's books... Where do I go from here? And the answer... It's never too late to do the right thing.

Bleachers is the one non-legal story I've read. A legendary high school football coach has passed away. The narrative takes place in the bleachers at the field where his former players gather to remember the past and share their stories. Yet the greatest player (who went on to play professionally), does not agree with the fond remembrances of the coach. Who were you back then? Who are you now? Does the past control you? Forgiveness is a necessity for everyone.

Perhaps the most atypical of Grisham's stories regarding lawyers is The Testament. I'm sure most people will learn from this book that you must have a correct Last Will and Testament, but there is so much more than that. The main character is an alcoholic workaholic with two failed marriages. He plans to keep on drinking until he dies, but his worldviews are completely shattered by a woman in the Amazon. Foundering, he takes refuge with a kindly family... where he has a profoundly spiritual experience with the God of the Bible. From that point, he starts making better decisions.

If you ever wanted to know the Creator of the universe, Grisham spells out how. I was shocked to find that in a legal/crime novel from a very popluar author. But looking at Grisham's themes, I should not have been surprised. You see it building all through The Testament... so that the guy either meets God or stays a villain... Powerful stuff.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I'm absolutely loving The Firm - the narrative has a sheer strength of pace, yet is filled with rich detail. I may have to try a few more just to get an idea of the formula mentioned.

 

[Bick]

I've read a fair few over the years. Most have been pretty good and I think he writes rather well. Good ones have included "The Rainmaker", "The Partner", "The Firm". I really didn't like "The Brethren" though - I thought the plot was weak and the end very unsatisfying.

 

[BAYLOR]

I read The Firm years ago. I liked it.

 

[ratsy]

Playing for Pizza was the only Grisham book I've read. It was out of the ordinary for him I think...but it was a light, fun read.

I have heard that his book are good, just not my genre.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Because I enjoyed The Firm I thought I'd pick up another - this time, The Litigators. And so far, it's really dull.

The book opened with a small town legal outfit, with lots of snide commentary on them. Then it moved to a city lawyer called Dave Zinc who cracks up, runs from his skyscraper office, and ends up in a bar.

Seven chapters and 59 pages later, and we're still getting snide comments on the small town lawyers and seeing the triviality of their day. Meanwhile, Dave is still at the bar meeting all sorts of people, drinking huge quantities of alcholol but apparently not getting very drunk.

There's no sense of pace, and the only suggestion of a story comes with the reveal of a mass tort case against a drugs company. Aside from that, it's an exercise on everyday legal banality.