I'm not sure that John Grisham is still the author that he once started out to be with his first several books. I found this book to be rather hard to keep track of all the different characters that are incorporated into the store telling. It did keep me going till about the last one-third of the book. I finally got through it, but makes me want to look at his writings in more detail the next time he comes out with another book.

Overall, I liked this book although it left bitter and scary feeling in me at the end. It was a very timely reading after all sorts of election campaign in 2008 and was definitely an interesting read for me as a non-American, who is less familiar with political and judicial issues (or corruption, I would say).

Although I couldn't relate much to characters in the book, how things evolved around the litigation was very, very interesting. It made me think how things in the (political) world really are happening and how many incidents are actually related under the surface. It also reminded me of the episode of "Decider" in Hardball with Chris Matthews. It said, "Today, 62 percent of federal judges were selected by Bush or his Republican predecessors, the culmination of a determined conservative strategy dating back to the Reagan administration." We really need to keep our eyes open and watch closely our surrounding events...

I heard there was actually similar real story in West Virginia, the 2004 election of Brent Benjamin to the state Supreme Court of Appeals. If you are interestd in, here is link with John Grisham's short interview. The article title is "John Grisham disses Blankenship, WV court" ==> http://www.wvoter-owned.org/news/2008/01_30a.html

Read All Book Reviews of "The Appeal"

Disappointed in the end

I found my self feeling quite angry by the end of this book. Angry because this could have been a true story. Things like this happen and the world can be a very unfair and corrupt place. I do think this should have been a shorter book. Too many details!! I am still thinking about it 5 days later however, which I think was Grisham's goal.

This book was different from his normal work because it left you with the question of what is right and wrong not a specific criminal and good attorney like he always has in the past. Not as entertaining but still is worth reading.

Lots of fun, quick read

I was disapointed with the book.

I am a Grisham fan, having read all of his books. This one I found to be quite under par - in fact, boring! If you are new to Grisham, I would recommend reading his earlier works such as "Rainmaker," "The Client," or "The Pelican Brief."

Grisham at his best.

The story centers on a Mississippi law firm consisting of husband and wife who wins a big verdict over a chemical giant, Krane, that has spread carcinogenic pollutants. Krane, fearful that this verdict, if not overturned, would set a precedent that would eventually destroy it, goes into action. It files an appeal that will find its way to the state supreme court, and hires a "dirty tricks" firm to unseat a sitting justice believed to be unfriendly.

Essentially it's a sordid tale of big business and politics vs. big verdicts and class action lawsuits, it begins nicely, and gathers steam, then proceeds to continue blowing hot air at the reader until the unsatisfactory quickie ending.

While there's some food for thought regarding how the legal, political, religious and business arenas may all be connected, there's more garnish than meat in a story which could have been cut by about 100 pages of the filler, and sweetened with about 50 more pages of conclusion for dessert

Right from the beginning you had a pretty good idea of how it would end - not well.

I have read a few others of Grishams books - while I thought some of the characters were interesting - frankly I was surprised by the ending, some parts kept you wanting more.

John Grisham doesn't disappoint. It's a great book.

Read All Book Reviews of "The Appeal"