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John Grisham- One trick Pony!?

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[Poll]

John Grisham- One trick Pony!?


Yes- I wish he would stop harping on about bloody lawyers
  36% (7)
No- Although the same theme, each is different
  63% (12)


Total Votes : 19
(last vote on : 20/7/2008 10:40:26 AM)
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John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 17/5/2008 2:14:52 PM   
claytonmeister


Posts: 372
Joined: 13/10/2006
From: Nabootique, London
 I read a couple of John Grishams recently and thoght I had De Ja Vu. On checking it just turned out that I had read two John Grisham books. The Street Lawyer followed by King of Torts.

No it's probably a bit early for me to be shoeing an opinion like this after 2 books but I would like to know what you guys think and if i should continue to read his lawyerly novels??



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RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 18/5/2008 10:45:43 AM   
elab49


Posts: 51544
Joined: 1/10/2005
The lawyer ones are pretty much the same. There are some non-lawyer ones but I think it pretty much shows the limits in his writing. He is a pace and court/action man - Painted House doesn't really work IMO.

I pretty much got as far as Street Lawyer before I stopped - the earlier ones are much better IMO. But I was given the non-fiction one - Innocent Man - at Xmas. OK but not that innocent - Vanity Fair have regularly done articles on much more interesting miscarriages of justice than this.

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Post #: 2
RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 20/5/2008 4:52:47 PM   
boaby

 

Posts: 2786
Joined: 29/12/2006
From: Aberdeenshire
 I thought Painted House was brilliant. I thought it was an enjoyable illustration of that time and place with some great characters.

I also really enjoyed "Bleachers".

The "Street Lawyer" is very different from "A Time to Kill", "Runaway Jury" or "The Chamber". Dealing with different themes, angles and aspects of things.

In fact the only Grisham book I've not enjoyed was his recent foray into non-fiction with "The Innocent Man". While it is admirable to highlight the flaws in the system, it almost read like a list. Lists are not fun to read.

If there is one strong theme that runs through his work it is wasted life. Whether that be through beaurocratic nonsense, greed, self-destruction or just circumstance. However, there is always a hint of redemption in the books - maybe not for the one whose life has been wasted for those around them who put the effort in (for whatever reason) to improve the "victim's" lot. I like that.

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Post #: 3
RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 11/6/2008 10:59:27 PM   
boaby

 

Posts: 2786
Joined: 29/12/2006
From: Aberdeenshire
 just finished reading "Playing for Pizza" and thoroughly enjoyed it.

not so much wasted life in this one but rather the process of one man preventing his life from being wasted. Not very hard-hitting, at least in thematic terms, but it doesn't aim to be or need to be.

Grisham manages to bring a sport he clearly loves to life, much as he did in "Bleachers."

Broadening his horizons is working out quite well for him.

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Post #: 4
RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 12/6/2008 12:11:10 PM   
Twizzle


Posts: 1684
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: London
 The trouble with his books is that I'm never sure whether of not I've read them before. At the mo I'm reading King of Torts but I've got a sneaking suspicion that I may have already read it.

Saying that, I quite enjoy his stories - they're perfect holiday fodder.

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Post #: 5
RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 13/6/2008 2:06:06 PM   
Harley Quinn


Posts: 5763
Joined: 23/1/2008
From: Arkham
 I love his first few books.

Tim to Kill, Pelican Brief, The Firm, The Client, The Chamber, The Run Away Jury &  The Rainmaker.

Wasn't so keen on the Street Lawyer.

The Brethan about Blackmail and A US Politican is superb .


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Post #: 6
RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 15/6/2008 7:56:13 PM   
Super Hans


Posts: 2291
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Watford
 I've read 3 of them (King Of Torts, Runaway Jury and The Last Juror) and thought they were OK but not great.  Runaway Jury was the best of the 3 and certainly the most interesting.  I found them all a little hard going at times purely because they are kind of dry and humourless.  I probably wouldn't choose to read another of his but then I said that after the first one so who knows....


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Post #: 7
RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 26/6/2008 10:15:10 AM   
geekpenguin


Posts: 174
Joined: 28/5/2008
From: Under the table
 I love John Grisham's stories, but I must admit, I've never actually read one of his books . How do I know then, you ask? I've been listening to the audiobook versions, and for some reason, it just makes the novels come to life. I tried reading The Street Lawyer when I was about 17 and just couldn't get into. But then I was listening to The Broker in the car and thought it was great (lol the main character will always have the voice of Dennis Boutsikaris for me, even if they make a movie version). I also listened to The Innocent Man on CD and it worked really well.

I think he's an amazing writer - and by no means are his books ever the same thing done in a slightly different way. Yeah, they're usually about law, but every them is different. Sometimes it's criminal law, sometimes it's tort law, sometimes it's business. And every story, whilst they have their similarities, always has a different protagonist and a different theme. I wish he'd write more to be honest.

And what about the movie versions?! I love them. I watched The Rainmaker the other day and it's become one of my favourite movies. Very well done :).

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Post #: 8
RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 9/7/2008 9:44:43 AM   
Goodfella


Posts: 15018
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: North Devon
 Any of you who voted yes on this have clearly never read 'A Painted House.' I strongly suggest you do.

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Post #: 9
RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 9/7/2008 10:02:17 AM   
elab49


Posts: 51544
Joined: 1/10/2005
quote:

ORIGINAL: elab49

The lawyer ones are pretty much the same. There are some non-lawyer ones but I think it pretty much shows the limits in his writing. He is a pace and court/action man - Painted House doesn't really work IMO.



ALthough some of us have

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Post #: 10
RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 15/7/2008 12:47:14 AM   
bozo


Posts: 2477
Joined: 1/11/2006
From: HM Prison Slade
quote:

ORIGINAL: Twizzle

The trouble with his books is that I'm never sure whether of not I've read them before. At the mo I'm reading King of Torts but I've got a sneaking suspicion that I may have already read it.

Saying that, I quite enjoy his stories - they're perfect holiday fodder.


I have the same problem with Agatha Christie books. But so what if he's a one trick pony, if he does that one trick better than anyone?

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Post #: 11
RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 20/7/2008 10:18:16 AM   
claytonmeister


Posts: 372
Joined: 13/10/2006
From: Nabootique, London
 Yeah you got a point there Bozo

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Post #: 12
RE: John Grisham- One trick Pony!? - 20/7/2008 10:41:31 AM   
Sally_Ragdoll


Posts: 2262
Joined: 12/10/2005
From: The Comedy Store
 Certainly agree with you there Bozo.

The Bretheren is my personal favorite, possibly because it was the first Grisham I ever read


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Post #: 13
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