The Appeal

As ever with Grisham, the mechanics of plotting are key, and the characterisation is functional rather than detailed. But it is (as always) more than capable of keeping the reader totally engaged. Given John Grisham's much-publicised conversion to born-again Christianity, it's intriguing to note here the implicit criticism of the moral majority's religious values, but that is hardly central to the enterprise. What counts is the storytelling, and while the writing is as straightforward and uncomplicated as ever, few readers will put down The Appeal once they have allowed it to exert its grip on upon them. --Barry Forshaw

Reader Reviews:

Great writer, poor novel (0/0 people found this helpful)

As a previous reviewer stated, I regard John Grisham as a great writer. I judge this book only against his own high standards. This book is simply a political statement on the power of lobbyists in america. The coincidences in the book are hard to take which I will not go into for fear of spoiling it for others. Every part of the book was so predictable. The ending was rushed, leaving the reader feeling robbed. The actions of the main players are ridiculous that you get angry because you know the author is creating the scenarios in order to present his own political views.

Grisham has and will produce top class thrillers in the future but this is not one of them.

Grisham's legal thriller offers a warning, but little depth. (0/0 people found this helpful)

The story behind The Appeal involves a multimillion dollar lawsuit against a blue-chip chemical firm who has been accused of knowingly dumping hazardous waste, thus causing numerous cancer-related deaths. The story begins at the end of this lawsuit, where the trial has just been lost. With the trial lost they attempt to subvert the upcoming appeal in their favour.

What is initially apparent is that Grisham chooses to focus on the plot rather than the characters - with great detriment. They have no depth whatsoever, and any characterisation is based on every cliché in the book - the evil corporation magnate, his vapid, spoilt wife, shadowy governmental fixers and corrupt senators - with little sign of any attempt to flesh out these stereotypes.

Now, thinking about this I wondered if is purely because of the format of this story. After all, Grisham wants to talk about the US legal system, not bog himself down with weighty characters who will dilute his message. If you choose to put this aside, and accept the novel on its merits and for what it is, what you ultimately end up with is a very downbeat piece of work, and as much as you feel Grisham would want this to be an allegory of sorts, where those who are evil have righteous justice served and the good are rewarded, instead he reflects a legal world which is as easily infiltrated and corrupted by those with power as every other medium.

Despite this, and with the novel's interesting ending (to go into any more detail would be a disservice to those who have not read it), and a rushed sense of incompleteness, I can't help but think Grisham has finished with this story. And yet I can't think of this as a story, more as a stark warning - you feel Grisham is speaking from a heightened perspective. This work may be fiction, but you sense there is more than an element of truth within its pages.

The Appeal - Book Review (1/1 people found this helpful)

Mister Grisham is back where he feels most comfortable with The Appeal, in the courtroom suing the rear end off a multinational corporation. In this case, the naughty Krane Chemical Company who have been polluting the countryside for years with the equivalent of wholesale fly-tipping. People get sick, people die. Other people get annoyed. They would, wouldn't they? Step in the lawyers and off we go.

The boss of Krane, Carl Trudeau and his trophy wife, strike me as interesting characters, not to mention Abused Imelda, I am saying no more on that one, you will have to read the book to find out, but rather puzzlingly they rarely appear again, which is a shame as I wanted to know more about them than some of the others.

In parts this book comes across as something of a true life exposé when in fact it is Mister G's 20th published work of fiction. Perhaps that is the man's true genius; his creations always seem so lifelike, so believable.

I note that it has become something of a national sport to be deeply critical of John Grisham's books. You will not find me in that van. It is the easiest thing in the world to stand on the sidelines and throw sludge at others. Perhaps there are more than a few green eyes on parade when it comes to his staggering sales statistics and that other awful phrase, "units shifted". That's life I am afraid, a small penalty for being so hugely successful and I don't suppose he is unduly bothered.

The ending of the book particularly seems to have riled a few people, and perhaps it does come across as a trifle rushed, but may be, just may be, JG is leaving it fairly open ended with a view to Carl T and his weird cronies making a return visit, though somehow I doubt it.

Do I think The Appeal is one of John's best? No I don't, but neither is it one of his weakest, and not even Charles Dickens wrote his best stuff every time he sat down and scratched his head and sharpened his pencil. Enjoy it for what it is. I certainly did.

If you enjoy John Grisham's books you will definitely want to add this one to your collection.

Lost its sparkle along the way (0/2 people found this helpful)

I love Grisham stories but this was dull. I took it on holiday and it remained unread. I picked up a new Author Conrad Jones, Soft Target Novel, couldnt put it down.!!! I like exciting reading but this latest Grisham let me down a little. Still the master though.

Previous storyline revisited (2/2 people found this helpful)

Grisham revists 'The Rainmaker' and 'The Tort King' in exposing his distaste of US style class actions again.

This trip along familiar paths nicely interweaves an election with most of the accompanying financial shenaginans and under-hand dealing that US elections are (in)famous for. Also, thrown in for good measure, is how corporate bosses manipulate events to further bolster their own nests.

The underlying theme is not necessarily 'good' (the locals) triumphing over 'bad' (business) but revealing that the defendants are rarely the greedy party. It also tries to highlight that high-cost class actions actually work against the claimants in the wider sense.

One of the central characters suffers a freaky about-turn of fate towards the end that causes a massive soul-searching with an unusal twist.

John Grisham

Editorial Review: