Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
This was the first audio book I've listened to. It took almost eighteen hours to get through, but the voice acting was top notch and added to what was already a thrilling story. I am used to reading very quickly, so the way that suspense built up as the narrator carefully articulated each word was novel, though at times I disliked the relative mindlessness and lack of control.
The Firm is what would be written if every male working long hours at the bottom of the totem pole took a few hours each week to daydream and collaborate on writing a fictitious backstory about what the partners actually do. This is the embodiment of those imaginative ramblings. The prestige, the competitiveness, the blind loyalty and the relentless quest for something that might not even exist is what The Firm captures so brilliantly.
Neither of my parents worked a traditional big-name corporate job. Through college, as I mentioned certain opportunities, I was always curious as to how my parents seemed to innately understand the promotion structure and accompanying hustle. On one hand, my parents aren't idiots (they're actually very smart--and are probably the only people who consistently read my reviews) and it is conceivable that they just came to understand what "becoming a partner" entailed. But, as I got through the book, it dawned on me that the vision my parents had of the corporate grind may have very possibly been shaped by the book The Firm. It's pretty awesome because nothing is unrealistic, but the reason the book gets four stars and not three stars is because I believe its popularity enabled it to disseminate the concept of the corporate high achiever to the average American. It provided an identity and a relatable backstory to an archetype they might have otherwise felt at odds with.
The story itself is pretty good. It flows well, and though there are some predictable plot points and a few loose ends, it was exciting from start to finish. There were some twists and decent dialogue, but also a solid amount of monotony and unnecessary descriptors which in retrospect was probably needed to advance the reader's perception of time to mask how quickly the characters changed from totally-normal-and-apprehensive to swept-up-in-a-fantasy-plot.
Not that I expected a Hollywood-action-sequence ending, but the end wasn't anything special. The last line specifically was deeply unsatisfying. I doubt I'll read anything else by John Grisham, though I'm glad I read this book and now have a vague idea about becoming a lawyer.
The Firm is what would be written if every male working long hours at the bottom of the totem pole took a few hours each week to daydream and collaborate on writing a fictitious backstory about what the partners actually do. This is the embodiment of those imaginative ramblings. The prestige, the competitiveness, the blind loyalty and the relentless quest for something that might not even exist is what The Firm captures so brilliantly.
Neither of my parents worked a traditional big-name corporate job. Through college, as I mentioned certain opportunities, I was always curious as to how my parents seemed to innately understand the promotion structure and accompanying hustle. On one hand, my parents aren't idiots (they're actually very smart--and are probably the only people who consistently read my reviews) and it is conceivable that they just came to understand what "becoming a partner" entailed. But, as I got through the book, it dawned on me that the vision my parents had of the corporate grind may have very possibly been shaped by the book The Firm. It's pretty awesome because nothing is unrealistic, but the reason the book gets four stars and not three stars is because I believe its popularity enabled it to disseminate the concept of the corporate high achiever to the average American. It provided an identity and a relatable backstory to an archetype they might have otherwise felt at odds with.
The story itself is pretty good. It flows well, and though there are some predictable plot points and a few loose ends, it was exciting from start to finish. There were some twists and decent dialogue, but also a solid amount of monotony and unnecessary descriptors which in retrospect was probably needed to advance the reader's perception of time to mask how quickly the characters changed from totally-normal-and-apprehensive to swept-up-in-a-fantasy-plot.
Not that I expected a Hollywood-action-sequence ending, but the end wasn't anything special. The last line specifically was deeply unsatisfying. I doubt I'll read anything else by John Grisham, though I'm glad I read this book and now have a vague idea about becoming a lawyer.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Pretty decent if predictable. Middle part dragged badly but the end was exciting.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed The Firm - it kept me on the edge of my seat and I didn’t want to put it down.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is described as a "legal thriller". Considering that, I was expecting a lot more legal stuff. Like what? I have no idea. I guess... people getting blindsided by legal technicalities? Digging up old and obscure laws? Key witnesses getting silenced? I don't know enough about law to be able to imagine much.
As it turns out, it was a whole lot less Law and Order and a whole lot more The Big Sleep: weirdly narrow ideas of gender, a hero with questionable morality, lecherous male gaze slathered all over, racism just casual and occasional enough to leave you reeling every time. The whole thing.
I'm not really complaining, though. This book was fun. It was a whole lot less smart than I thought it might be, but it definitely delivered on the "thriller" bit. There were a lot of moments that made me roll my eyes, but as much as it pains me to realise it, the 90s were a long time ago and it doesn't hurt to cut a bit of slack in the name of silly excitement.
I will say, though, that I enjoyed the book more when I thought the firm was a sort of cult worshipping at the altar of libertarianism. The Mafia is boring in comparison.
Also: Chekhov's photos were never actually deployed. Mitch did not confess to cheating. That whole subplot amounted to absolutely nothing. Boo.
As it turns out, it was a whole lot less Law and Order and a whole lot more The Big Sleep: weirdly narrow ideas of gender, a hero with questionable morality, lecherous male gaze slathered all over, racism just casual and occasional enough to leave you reeling every time. The whole thing.
I'm not really complaining, though. This book was fun. It was a whole lot less smart than I thought it might be, but it definitely delivered on the "thriller" bit. There were a lot of moments that made me roll my eyes, but as much as it pains me to realise it, the 90s were a long time ago and it doesn't hurt to cut a bit of slack in the name of silly excitement.
I will say, though, that I enjoyed the book more when I thought the firm was a sort of cult worshipping at the altar of libertarianism. The Mafia is boring in comparison.
Also: Chekhov's photos were never actually deployed. Mitch did not confess to cheating. That whole subplot amounted to absolutely nothing. Boo.