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Ten Favorite Books by John Grisham
John Grisham is one of my favorite authors so I
decided to compile a list of my favorite books that he’s written. In
alphabetical order, here you go.
A
PAINTED HOUSE: This book isn’t a legal thriller. Told
from a child’s perspective, and set during cotton picking season in Arkansas, a
young Luke Chandler deals with growing up poor and coming of age. I think it’s a
little slower-paced than the usual action packed, edge-of-your-seat kind of
story that Grisham is famous for, and a refreshing change of pace.
A
TIME TO KILL: Complex issues wind their way through
the narrative and forces the spotlight on how gray, as opposed to black and
white, justice can be. Grisham puts the reader in the shoes of a man whose
ten-year-old daughter is brutally beaten, repeatedly raped, and thrown off a
bridge to die. It also takes the reader on a journey with Jake Brigance, a
lawyer determined to find justice in spite of the chaos surrounding the case.
This book made me think, and re-examine my morals and values.
BLEACHERS:
This book is all about football. How could I not like it? The main character,
Neely Crenshaw, is a star quarterback in high school with some grievances
against his old coach, Eddie Rake. Old secrets come to light years later as
Coach Rake is dying. I wasn’t impressed with Mr. Rake. His mistakes make me
question the methods purportedly used by some athletic coaches, but the book is
fantastic.
THE
BROKER: This is one of the first Grisham books I read. Part
of it is set in Italy, a country I’m aching to see. Joel Backman, after
spending years in Federal prison, is given a pardon and whisked away to
Northern Italy where he’s given a new identity. Joel tries to resume a normal
life. It almost sounds like a dream vacation were it not for the people out to
kill him. Lots of action, drama and suspense, a very worthwhile read.
THE
CLIENT: This book really pulled my heartstrings as a
mother. A young Mark Sway is forced to listen to the confession of a lawyer who
works for the mafia. Then the lawyer committed suicide in front of the boy. The
FBI wants Mark to testify against the mafia. The mafia wants him dead. Mark
Sway is one tough kid who gave them all a run for their money, including his
lawyer Regina Love. I cheered as Mark managed to get justice for himself, and
his family.
THE CONFESSION:
This book “changed” the way I view capital punishment. Career criminal, Travis
Boyette, has an inoperable brain tumor, and he’s also got a horrible secret. He
wanders into the church office of minister, Keith Schroeder, and confesses to a
horrendous crime. But how can that be? The cops arrested Donte Drum for the
crime, and they swear they’ve got the right man. Is Boyette lying? I wasn’t
sure.
I sobbed as I turned
page after page, hoping, praying the victims would get justice. The ending
wasn’t the happily ever after I thought it would be. If you’re looking for a
sappy sweet ending where a heroic lawyer rides into court on a white horse with
compelling evidence that sets the innocent free, this book is not for you. I
threw it across the room, and cried. Yet, this book is one of my favorite’s
because of how it moved me.
THE
FIRM:
This is Grisham’s second book, and it’s every bit as fascinating as his first.
Mitch McDeere is hired at the law firm of Bendini, Lambert and Locke, a company
that heaps lavish perks upon its new employee’s, but they’re hiding a terrible
fact. Many of their clients are in the mafia. Mitch finds this out. Then the
FBI tracks down Mitch, and asks him to testify against the crooked lawyers in
the firm. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. Lots of heart
pounding suspense, a great book.
THE
PELICAN BRIEF: This one deals with a fight to save an
endangered species of pelicans, and I’m a sucker for endangered animals. It
begins with the murders of two Supreme Court justices and kept me on the edge
of my seat. The suspense was palpable and I couldn’t wait to find out
who-done-it! Darby Shaw has it right, but her struggle to bring the truth to
light endangers not just her, but everyone around her. The book has more twists
and turns than a Bavarian pretzel. It also has a surprising and satisfying
ending.
THE
STREET LAWYER: I love how this book deals with the
plight of the homeless. Michael Brock has it all, a nice boat house, expensive
car, a cushy job at the law firm of Drake and Sweeney. He’s about to make
partner. Things change dramatically when a homeless person enters the law
office with a shot gun and fires away. It appears the vagrant went on a random
rampage, but the law firm has secrets. Michael discovers those secrets and
realizes the indigent man had reason to target them. One of my favorites by
Grisham, I’ve read it at least four times, and it still makes me cry.
THE
TESTAMENT: The main character, a lawyer named Nate O’Riley
searches for a woman named Rachel Lane, heiress to a large fortune. She’s also a
missionary, deep in the jungles of Brazil, where phones and computers are
non-existent. Time is of the essence as scores of people are lined up to claim
the fortune if Rachel can’t be found. I love the elements of faith in this
book. The happy ending brought me to tears.
Have
you read any John Grisham books? If so, what are your favorites?
Next
month I’ll post a list of my favorite books set during the Civil War, in honor
of the 150th Anniversary of Lee surrendering at Appomattox
Courthouse.
