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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
slow-paced
This is a slow, loping book. The prose brings to mind hot days picking cotton in the fields of Arkansas, where very little seems to happen. It tells the story of Luke, an 8 year old boy, and his family - his parents and grandparents - who live together on a cotton farm. Together, they fight the constant battle against the weather, cotton prices, and bad soil.
The most interesting part of the book are the stories of the lives and scandals of the small town. Stories about illegitimate children, hearts lost and broken, and fights behind the coop. Luke seems to have a knack for getting himself involved in trouble, either as a witness or a co-conspirator.
The Mexicans and hill people, who descend on the town once a year to help pick cotton, become the centre of the story as they bring their lives and dramas with them to the farm.
The most interesting part of the book are the stories of the lives and scandals of the small town. Stories about illegitimate children, hearts lost and broken, and fights behind the coop. Luke seems to have a knack for getting himself involved in trouble, either as a witness or a co-conspirator.
The Mexicans and hill people, who descend on the town once a year to help pick cotton, become the centre of the story as they bring their lives and dramas with them to the farm.
slow-paced
challenging
lighthearted
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content
I listened to the audiobook version of this novel.
I'm not a fan of the usual Grisham fair. This is completely different. A coming of age story set in the early 1950s in rural Arkansas at the home of cotton farmers. Lively unforgettable characters plus some serious topics, all told in the voice of a seven year old boy. (Yes, sometimes his voice seems a bit too wise for one so young but the narrator is looking back to when he was seven). Definitely worth a look or listen.
I'm not a fan of the usual Grisham fair. This is completely different. A coming of age story set in the early 1950s in rural Arkansas at the home of cotton farmers. Lively unforgettable characters plus some serious topics, all told in the voice of a seven year old boy. (Yes, sometimes his voice seems a bit too wise for one so young but the narrator is looking back to when he was seven). Definitely worth a look or listen.
I started this book 16 days ago. Usually, I am a very fast reader, but I couldn't make myself pick this one up. I struggled to page 83, but I'm not finding rising stakes or reasons to like the characters. Came for the mystery, ended up with a DNF. To be fair, I didn't realize going into it that the protagonist was seven years old and would fall in love with a 17-year-old. Well, no, not really fall in love, just really, really like. I'm gonna try to read another book from Grisham since I got pretty much all of them gifted to me a few years ago. This one just wasn't particularly my cup of tea.
Basically, it's about John Grisham's childhood. He renamed the main character so it doesn't seem like him, but it's meant to be him. He dreams of being a baseball player, and he also wants to live in a painted house (a symbol to him of fulfillment and wealth). However, he's so young that he can't do any of this and just has to work in the cotton fields with paid workers whom he simply calls "the Mexicans."
Not really sure what happens after that, because I'm still in the exposition, in which nothing is actually exposed. I do like that the main character has a desire and something keeping him from getting it, but it would be better if he was capable of going after it. With his age, he isn't at all.
1.5/5 stars, just for the conflict. If you enjoy simple stories, then perhaps you'll enjoy this one. I will say that the writing itself is very well-done and was the main reason I made it to page 83.
Basically, it's about John Grisham's childhood. He renamed the main character so it doesn't seem like him, but it's meant to be him. He dreams of being a baseball player, and he also wants to live in a painted house (a symbol to him of fulfillment and wealth). However, he's so young that he can't do any of this and just has to work in the cotton fields with paid workers whom he simply calls "the Mexicans."
Not really sure what happens after that, because I'm still in the exposition, in which nothing is actually exposed. I do like that the main character has a desire and something keeping him from getting it, but it would be better if he was capable of going after it. With his age, he isn't at all.
1.5/5 stars, just for the conflict. If you enjoy simple stories, then perhaps you'll enjoy this one. I will say that the writing itself is very well-done and was the main reason I made it to page 83.
If you like the classic American novel style of writing / setting, you would like this book. Set in 1952 rural Arkansas and narrated by Luke (the 7-year-old son of the Chandler family), you get a glimpse of life on the farm in a simpler, yet still very complex, era of American history. Over the course of a very trying summer, Luke learns a lot about himself through the secrets that others entrust to him. I liked the subplot of the family settling on the front porch after supper each night to listen to Harry Caray call the Cardinals' games on the radio, wondering whether Stan Musial could lead the team to the pennant and the World Series. There's also the typical tension and suspense that you expect from Grisham's work. I enjoy his writing, especially the non-legal books that he pens.
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a fairly enjoyable read. I felt it was much longer than it had to be...but that may be pmin part due to my disinterest in baseball....