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pdxpiney's review against another edition
1.0
Why did I pick up a John Grisham book? Because I thought it would be cool to read stories about Mississippi, and because that Tom Cruise lawyer movie was pretty good? This was not for me.
mrfrank's review against another edition
4.0
I am usually a bigger fan of John Grisham's non-legal stories then I am of his legal thrillers. FORD COUNTY is no expception to that rule. You find find any legal trillers here. Instead what you get is something a bit different from Grisham, short stories. Seven of them to be exact and all assiated by their locale, Ford County, Mississippi.
What these stories amount to are everyday people doing not so everyday things. There is a story about a group of small town men sent to the big city. There is a story about a man who gets hired to work as a candy striper in a nursing home. There is a story about a family going to meet their son on death row. That sort of thing but all with that Grisham touch that makes the ordinary seem interesting.
All too often I've read negative reviews of this short story collection. My best guess is they are from those who crave the legal dramas and are not expecting this type of Americana. If you are into books like A PAINTED HOUSE or PLAYING FOR PIZZA you will njoy this. At times the stories feel like shorter outlines of bigger story ideas that he just wasn't able to expand upon. Yet they still work and feel good as short stories. Though some do leave you wanting more.
I advocate for both faces of Grisham. I lean toward the face that isn't lawyerly. That being the case this worked for me. It had that small country town feel like A PAINTED HOUSE. Seeing Grisham tackle short story format was enjoyable as well. Don't let bad reviews steer you away from this one, it is well worth the read.
What these stories amount to are everyday people doing not so everyday things. There is a story about a group of small town men sent to the big city. There is a story about a man who gets hired to work as a candy striper in a nursing home. There is a story about a family going to meet their son on death row. That sort of thing but all with that Grisham touch that makes the ordinary seem interesting.
All too often I've read negative reviews of this short story collection. My best guess is they are from those who crave the legal dramas and are not expecting this type of Americana. If you are into books like A PAINTED HOUSE or PLAYING FOR PIZZA you will njoy this. At times the stories feel like shorter outlines of bigger story ideas that he just wasn't able to expand upon. Yet they still work and feel good as short stories. Though some do leave you wanting more.
I advocate for both faces of Grisham. I lean toward the face that isn't lawyerly. That being the case this worked for me. It had that small country town feel like A PAINTED HOUSE. Seeing Grisham tackle short story format was enjoyable as well. Don't let bad reviews steer you away from this one, it is well worth the read.
hobbes199's review against another edition
4.0
After a busy week, I needed a quick read that didn't get me too hooked and this was perfect. It was also my first experience of Grisham as an author. Sure, I'd sleepwalked through the movie adaptations of his novels, but I'd never felt the urge to pick up any of his books. Suffice to say, after this collection of short stories about small town life I will be.
Be warned though, some of the stories don't make for easy reading: a family visiting their son on death row for the last time, a man ostracised by his family and community for his 'condition', but some will supply the odd wry smile and they're mostly based on revenge.
What Grisham does well is write characters you can empathise with, even if they're unlikeable (take note Sue Townsend ) to the extent that by the end of each story you feel for almost everybody caught in that situation.
This is a great 'weekend/long journey' book, but don't think you'll be able to do 'just' one story at a time. You'll be onto the next on in no time.
Be warned though, some of the stories don't make for easy reading: a family visiting their son on death row for the last time, a man ostracised by his family and community for his 'condition', but some will supply the odd wry smile and they're mostly based on revenge.
What Grisham does well is write characters you can empathise with, even if they're unlikeable (take note Sue Townsend ) to the extent that by the end of each story you feel for almost everybody caught in that situation.
This is a great 'weekend/long journey' book, but don't think you'll be able to do 'just' one story at a time. You'll be onto the next on in no time.
ljkinkad's review against another edition
3.0
Series of short stories, all taking place in Ford County Mississippi. Stories were interesting, but not fantastic. Listened to audiobook while on a trip and we often thought too many strings were left dangling.
booksmacked's review against another edition
This was his best writing in so many years and the variety of characters and stories was so fun. I had a hard time putting down the book several times. The man can build suspense with just one stray line at the beginning of a story. I love it.
ladrumm's review against another edition
4.0
I've always loved Grisham's work, but I was leary of his book of short stories. One of the things I love most about his books is the depth of his characters, his attention to detail and his ability to paint a picture of the story in a way that makes you feel like you're right in the middle of it. I didn't think he'd be able to pull any of that off in so few words.
I was wrong.
Each story brought out a different emotion - Fetching Raymond was hilarious, Funny Boy broke my heart. Another Grisham gem that you won't want to miss.
I was wrong.
Each story brought out a different emotion - Fetching Raymond was hilarious, Funny Boy broke my heart. Another Grisham gem that you won't want to miss.
clairehargreaves01's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable and well-crafted collection of short stories with themes of money, guilt, greed and honesty running throughout to tie them together.
ciiku's review against another edition
3.0
One thing kept bugging me as I read this book: If it was about Clanton, how did these people in the different stories not know each other? There was no intertwining of stories and that just seemed ridiculous to me. Otherwise, it was a decent book.
caz241153's review against another edition
2.0
Not up to the usual John Grisham standard. I didn't like this book at all. The stories didn't have any substance to them. I kept reading in the hope that it was going to get better, but alas it didn't.