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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love John Grisham's books. Always have. And this one definitely did not let me know. I think one of my favorite things about Grisham's books is that he presents actual issues to the reader, and as a result, I want to learn more about them. I loved this book, and can't wait to dig out some of his other books that I have neglected.
Informative, but ultimately unsatisfying. Okay, few happy endings in real life, however hardly any loose ends tied up. Seemed more like a catalog of lawyer types than anything. You've got your soulless mega firm slog, your government cog, your high-flying (literally) finger-in-the-face of corrupt business-play dirty too stars, and the Bad Lawyers who work for the coal companies. How convenient the main character's parents were both lawyers...and stereotypes themselves!
Learned much and was horrified, just wish there was more to the plot.
Learned much and was horrified, just wish there was more to the plot.
Grisham sure takes some swings at the coal industry! I guarantee that many folks aren't happy with this book.
When you read Grisham, you know that (spoiler) a young, fresh lawyer is going to ultimately leave big money behind to make a difference in the world, that the story is going to limp to the end, but that it's going to be a great yarn that thoroughly entertains you while you read. This book is no exception: a fun story with great characters that makes it hard to put down.
When you read Grisham, you know that (spoiler) a young, fresh lawyer is going to ultimately leave big money behind to make a difference in the world, that the story is going to limp to the end, but that it's going to be a great yarn that thoroughly entertains you while you read. This book is no exception: a fun story with great characters that makes it hard to put down.
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first--and most likely last--John Grisham book. My husband's grandfather died in his 50s of Black Lung, so I was really looking forward to reading Gray Mountain. But the book just became too repetitive and preachy for me.
I get it, the coal companies are doing nothing for the environment. But Gray Mountain paints the coal companies in such a comically bad light, it became too much. And the lead...well, don't get me started on what a bore Samantha was. And based on her characterization, I really don't think Grisham knows how to write a realistic female lead.
But my biggest complaint with Gray Mountain is that it leaves a lot of unresolved story lines, so the story feels incomplete. There were several cases that Samantha was working on which had no closure. That makes me think the author was too lazy to finish what he started.
Authors, take note - you have to actually create a decent plot and LIKABLE lead characters for readers to like your books. I very much didn't.
I get it, the coal companies are doing nothing for the environment. But Gray Mountain paints the coal companies in such a comically bad light, it became too much. And the lead...well, don't get me started on what a bore Samantha was. And based on her characterization, I really don't think Grisham knows how to write a realistic female lead.
But my biggest complaint with Gray Mountain is that it leaves a lot of unresolved story lines, so the story feels incomplete. There were several cases that Samantha was working on which had no closure. That makes me think the author was too lazy to finish what he started.
Authors, take note - you have to actually create a decent plot and LIKABLE lead characters for readers to like your books. I very much didn't.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
sad
fast-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:
Yes