John Grisham Works Discussion Thread

[sathya_1979]

Thread to discuss and share John Grisham's Novels.

[sathya_1979]

My Top 3:
The Partner
The Firm
Pelican Brief

[NOV]

I've got all his books. 8-)
Just haven't read the latest; awaiting its turn. :P

The Client was my first book and remains my favorite.
A Time to Kill is the most touching :cry:

[sathya_1979]

Yes, Time to Kill was touching. But, I liked The Partner for it's twist in the end.
His descriptive skills takes us to the scene of happening and we can actually visualize the scene!

[NOV]

not to mention, opening up the mysterious world of legalities to the common man. :D

The Confession is his next book :pink:

[sathya_1979]

Associate started well, but 2nd half was not so great like The Firm or Partner. Overall Ok.

[Miss Kavya]

I am eagerly waiting for his confession which releases on Oct 26 2010. I love his books. Grisham delivers his most extraordinary legal thriller yet. Filled with his trademark intriguing twists and turns, this newest novel proves that no one keeps readers in suspense like America's favorite storyteller Grisham.

I personally liked all of his books but the following is on the top of my list.

The Firm
The Pelican Briefs
Rain maker
Client
A Painted House (non-legal genre)

[Miss Kavya]

[tscii:ad02750f50]Some of his books that made it to the movies:

The Firm (1993)

Starring Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Gene Hackman; Directed by Sydney Pollack

Mitch McDeere is a young man with a promising future in Law. About to sit his Bar exam, he is approached by ‘The Firm’ and made an offer he doesn’t refuse. Seduced by the money and gifts showered on him, he is totally oblivious to the more sinister side of his company. Then, two Associates are murdered. The FBI contact him, asking him for information and suddenly his life is ruined. He has a choice – work with the FBI, or stay with the Firm. Either way he will lose his life as he knows it.

The Pelican Brief (1993)

Starring Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, and Sam Shepard; Directed by Alan J. Pakula

Two Supreme Court Justices have been assassinated. One lone law student has stumbled upon the truth. An investigative journalist wants her story. Everybody else wants her dead

Darby Shaw, a 24-year-old law student writes up an insightful theory about the recent murder of two Supreme Court justices, one of whom, Abraham Rosenberg (Hume Cronyn), served as her professor’s mentor. When her professor shares this so-called “Pelican Brief” with buddy Gavin Verheek , an FBI lawyer, the document makes its way to White House personnel, who believe it could topple the current administration. When Darby’s professor is murdered and the President convinces the FBI to hold off on investigating Darby’s theory, the resourceful student must go into hiding. Her only escape is working with an investigative reporter, Gary Grantham.

The Client (1994)

Starring Susan Sarandon, Tommy Lee Jones, and Mary-Louise Parker; Directed by Joel Schumacher

A District Attorney Out For A Conviction. A New Lawyer Out Of Her League. A Young Boy Who Knew Too Much.

A street-wise kid, Mark Sway, sees the suicide of Jerome Clifford, a prominent Louisiana lawyer, whose current client is Barry ‘The Blade’ Muldano, a Mafia hit-man. Before Jerome shoots himself, he tells Mark where the body of Senator Boyd Boyette is buried. Mark escapes, and Clifford shoots himself. Mark is found at the scene, and both the FBI and the Mafia quickly realize that Mark probably knows more than he says. Mark decides he needs a lawyer, and goes looking for one. He finds Reggie Love, who also becomes convinced that Mark knows more than he says, but Mark isn’t talking.






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[Miss Kavya]

[tscii:0309555fd2]A Time to Kill (1996)

Starring Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, and Samuel L. Jackson; Directed by Joel Schumacher

A lawyer and his assistant fighting to save a father on trial for murder. A time to question what they believe. A time to doubt what they trust. And no time for mistakes.

Jake Tyler Brigance, a young and highly-skilled attorney, is faced with the toughest case of his life, one that on many occassions may also threaten it. In the southern Mississippi town of Canton, the K.K.K. is active and the tension is high when the black majority is angered at the raping and slaying of a black man’s 10-year-old daughter. The distraught father takes revenge, gunning down the two criminals in the local courthouse. Brigance must decide, along with his new, eager assisstant whether he and his family can run the risk of defending the father.

The Chamber (1996)

Starring Chris O’Donnell, Gene Hackman, and Faye Dunaway; Directed by James Foley

Time is running out.

Having survived the hatred and bigotry that was his Klansman grandfather’s only legacy, young attorney Adam Hall seeks at the last minute to appeal the old man’s death sentence for the murder of two small Jewish boys 30 years before. Only four weeks before Sam Cayhall is to be executed, Adam meets his grandfather for the first time in the Mississippi prison which has held him since the crime. The meeting is predictably tense when the educated, young Mr. Hall confronts his venom-spewing elder, Mr. Cayhall, about the murders.


The Rainmaker (1997)

Starring Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, and Claire Danes; Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

They were totally unqualified to try the case of a lifetime… but every underdog has his day.

Rudy Baylor is a jobless young attorney. However, he is also the only hope of an elderly couple whose insurance company will not pay for an operation that could save their son’s life. In this judicial drama, Rudy learns to hate corporate America as he falls in love with a battered young married woman.


The Runaway Jury (2003)

Starring John Cusack, Gene Hackman, and Dustin Hoffman; Directed by Gary Fleder

Trials are too important to be decided by juries.

Wendell Rohr is a torts lawyer taking on the gun lobby. Rankin Fitch is the jury consultant for the Defendants and between them the battle is for the hearts and minds of the jury. But there is someone on the inside. Nicholas Easter is a juror with a girlfriend, Marlee, on the outside. They have a past…and their own agenda.

Christmas with the Kranks (2004)

Starring Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dan Aykroyd; Directed by Joe Roth

Their Christmas will turn the town upside down!

Luther Krank is fed up with the commerciality of Christmas; he decides to skip the holiday and go on a vacation with his wife instead. But when his daughter decides at the last minute to come home, he must put together a holiday celebration where hilarity ensues.[/tscii:0309555fd2]

[sathya_1979]

Watched Pelican Brief again yesterday - Roberts :clap:

[Miss Kavya]

Watched Pelican Brief again yesterday - Roberts :clap:

It is a wonderful movie. I usually see it once a year.

[rangan_08]

" Rain Maker " was my first JG book ... and it continued after that.

A little earlier to Grisham's entry, Scott Turrow used to write legal thrillers and " Presumed Innocent " was his famous work. And, recently, its sequel, " Innocent " was also released.

[P_R]

" Rain Maker " was my first JG book ... and it continued after that.


I remember the line when he is by the side of the boy on his deathbed So this is how the uninsured die.

Have you seen the film? It was directed by Coppola.

[bingleguy]

:thumbsup:

Believe it or not ... my first novel was John Grisham's "The Rainmaker" .....

Irony is my dad was working in a book shop and i had access to a whole lot of books... but am not a voracious reader... i just used to skim thru Tintin just for the interesting pictures :) ....

The first time chose to read a novel was during my grad :lol: i know .... and The Rainmaker was the first one .... i really was fascinated by the read .... and somehow words interested me for the first time ....

I guess he is one of the few guys who's most of the writings got made into a movie ... just like Stephen King n others ....

[rangan_08]

[tscii:aab1b8d6a2]

" Rain Maker " was my first JG book ... and it continued after that.


I remember the line when he is by the side of the boy on his deathbed So this is how the uninsured die. :)

Have you seen the film? It was directed by Coppola.

No, I have not. It was released at Satyam (not Satyam cinemas but the old & beautiful Satyam theatre). Since the movie played there for just a couple of weeks or so, I missed it. I was eager to watch how Coppola had translated the book into celluloid, but somehow, I was not able to make it. Actually, I never expected Coppola to direct this film and when I saw the adv. in the newspaper, it was news for me. But, I was excited watching his Dracula – I liked it…. and in the 90’s, watched his Godfather III at Casino theatre. (Yenda inha kelviya ketomnu irukka ?)

One thing I like about Grisham’s writing is that as you keep reading, you are able to visualize the scenes in your mind. The way he describes the location, the place where that particular scene takes place, the characters, the setting etc., are all so catchy and attractive that you can very easily visualize them in your mind (remember the Ku Klux clan episode? )…its almost like watching a film. He doesn’t get very deep into the legal matters, as it might get boring, but rather concentrates more on the plot, the pace, thrill etc., The Firm, Chamber, Pelican brief, Clilent, Rain maker…..all these novels had this element and I thoroughly enjoyed them reading.

[/tscii:aab1b8d6a2]

[19thmay]

The Confession - Ok. First and last few chapters were absolute boredom. Good in parts, few chapters urged me to read it continuesly and few made me to sleep.

[baroque]

I love JG novels.
most of the novels here mentioned are my favorites too. watched the movies too.
Did you guys mention THE TESTAMENT in this thread?

334

It is an early work of John Grisham.....late 90s.

Wonderful legal suspense with adventure into the world's beautiful jungles of Brazil.
characters are very likeable.
I am always fond of men who redeem himself.
I am very fond of Nate O'riley , Washington litigator lived a messy and shameful life, gone through several rehab trips but a good man, wants to redeem himself, love his sense of humor.
oh.... his trip to Pantanal- largest wetland is very exciting and enchanting.

John Grisham's vivid poetic writing on Pantanal, Brazil. Every time I read my favorite novel, the feeling is awesome.

Nice treatment of the missionary character too.
Satisfying social conscience with spiritual treatment.
Despicable lawyers, greedy children of the billionaire who happily screwed his heirs, detailed legal issues and law, redemption, faith, nature...wonderfully written.

Don't miss it, YOU LOVE IT.

oh... John Grisham, please pass on my hugs to Nate O'riley, I love his sense of humor and my trip with him to Pantanal is exciting... wanna go again & again & again...with him.
men want to redeem ...SEXY and MANLY