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informative
tense
slow-paced
This book hasn't aged too well, but that's kinda to be expected of many older books I guess. My low-ish rating is mostly attributed to the protagonist not being likable. I think in chapter 13, like a third or a quarter of the way into the book, the protagonist does something (cheats on his wife ) that makes me not give a damn what happens to him from that point forward. Oh, and the protagonist's brother is a real annoying piece of work, too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Animal cruelty
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i know "i picked this book up and i didn't want to put it down" is cliche, but i definitely felt that with this book. i decided to read this because i like the movie, but this is sooo much better. incredibly enjoyable read, i truly cannot recommend this more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am almost semi-ashamed to say that I had never read a John Grisham book, as a former paralegal and current lover of a fast paced legal thriller. I decided I’d start from the beginning and pick up The Firm.
What this book does well it does well - the frenetic pace really hooks you and doesn’t let you go until the final pages. There are plenty of twists and the adrenaline is pumping through your veins the entire time you’re reading. I thought that the plot was reasonably interesting and the characters were well developed (if awful).
But it gets a solid star knocked off because it aged pretty poorly. The book is dripping in racism and sexism - it’s tough to ascertain if it (and its writer) was simply a product of its time (when yes, women and people of color were still being denied jobs at firms) or if Grisham intentionally wrote his characters as racist and sexist so as to emphasize their negative qualities to the reader. I land on “likely a little bit of both” but it certainly detracts from the reading experience, unfortunately.
Another half point gets knocked off for me for some moments where you really have to suspend disbelief. There are some rather glaring plot holes and moments where it seems unlikely that the characters involved are so stupid as to not see exactly what’s going down.
Nonetheless, it was a decent novel and I’m glad I’ve finally read it.
What this book does well it does well - the frenetic pace really hooks you and doesn’t let you go until the final pages. There are plenty of twists and the adrenaline is pumping through your veins the entire time you’re reading. I thought that the plot was reasonably interesting and the characters were well developed (if awful).
But it gets a solid star knocked off because it aged pretty poorly. The book is dripping in racism and sexism - it’s tough to ascertain if it (and its writer) was simply a product of its time (when yes, women and people of color were still being denied jobs at firms) or if Grisham intentionally wrote his characters as racist and sexist so as to emphasize their negative qualities to the reader. I land on “likely a little bit of both” but it certainly detracts from the reading experience, unfortunately.
Another half point gets knocked off for me for some moments where you really have to suspend disbelief. There are some rather glaring plot holes and moments where it seems unlikely that the characters involved are so stupid as to not see exactly what’s going down.
Nonetheless, it was a decent novel and I’m glad I’ve finally read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death of parent
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As good as the first time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol