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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
I wish I could say I was surprised at the content of The Litigators, but I'm afraid the signs for a unengaging read have been there in recent stories with Grisham.
Grisham has a long history of big-time bestsellers and rightfully so. Some of his early work was so riveting I still remember the stories over a decade later. It's not up to me to say how Grisham's writing has changed since then, but for this reader, one this is very clear--The Litigators falls far short of its potential.
The last several Grisham reads I've encountered felt very similar and very specific in one disappointing detail. The stories felt like they were being dictated to me. I felt as if someone were telling me these over an after-work beer, doing what you do when you tell stories that can't go on at novel-length--making broad generalizations and flying over action and character points to move on to the next thing. Only this story isn't short in the least. Even in its length, Grisham didn't seem to really want me to get to know his characters, he didn't want me investing in the story, because it was as if he wasn't really all that enthralled with it himself. I think it's quite a testament to Grisham's natural storytelling ability that the novel can read this way as a rule throughout and can still compel someone to wait for the punchline, especially when that punchline is telegraphed quite obviously much earlier in the book.
The LItigators seems to be, at its heart, about ideas. Grisham has a lot of worthwile things to say about the themes of this story, no doubt from his experience as a lawyer and a human being. But, I'm afraid to say, these aren't compelling characters. The shame of it is that they could've been with more investment in them instead of ideas.
I've yet to rate any a book a single star if I completed it. This is as close as I've come to doing that. I'll continue that because of how engaging the first ten and the last ten percent of this novel were. It's a shame the middle eighty wasn't given the same attention.
Only recommended for Grisham's biggest fans and, even then, with severe reservations.
Grisham has a long history of big-time bestsellers and rightfully so. Some of his early work was so riveting I still remember the stories over a decade later. It's not up to me to say how Grisham's writing has changed since then, but for this reader, one this is very clear--The Litigators falls far short of its potential.
The last several Grisham reads I've encountered felt very similar and very specific in one disappointing detail. The stories felt like they were being dictated to me. I felt as if someone were telling me these over an after-work beer, doing what you do when you tell stories that can't go on at novel-length--making broad generalizations and flying over action and character points to move on to the next thing. Only this story isn't short in the least. Even in its length, Grisham didn't seem to really want me to get to know his characters, he didn't want me investing in the story, because it was as if he wasn't really all that enthralled with it himself. I think it's quite a testament to Grisham's natural storytelling ability that the novel can read this way as a rule throughout and can still compel someone to wait for the punchline, especially when that punchline is telegraphed quite obviously much earlier in the book.
The LItigators seems to be, at its heart, about ideas. Grisham has a lot of worthwile things to say about the themes of this story, no doubt from his experience as a lawyer and a human being. But, I'm afraid to say, these aren't compelling characters. The shame of it is that they could've been with more investment in them instead of ideas.
I've yet to rate any a book a single star if I completed it. This is as close as I've come to doing that. I'll continue that because of how engaging the first ten and the last ten percent of this novel were. It's a shame the middle eighty wasn't given the same attention.
Only recommended for Grisham's biggest fans and, even then, with severe reservations.
I always enjoy Grisham, and this book lived up to my expectations.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's been a long time since I picked up my kindle as I usually listen to audiobooks walking the dog. This was an easy, fun, quick back to get back into actually reading. Enjoyable
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
Pre-read review
Hoping this one is as interesting as The King of Torts or The Summons. The last two novels Grisham wrote about wrongfully accused death row inmates; The Innocent Man (non-fiction) and The Confession, were compelling stories, but didn't have the same impact.
Spoilers Ahead, consider yourself warned!!!
Post-read review
1. Oscar Finley is the Senior Partner at the "boutique firm" of Finley & Figg. At sixty-two, Oscar is a thirty-year survivor of the bare-knuckle brand of law found on the tough streets of southwest Chicago. Oscar had once been a beat cop but got himself terminated for cracking skulls. He almost went to jail but instead had an awakening and went to college, the law school. When no firms would hire him, he hung out his own shingle and started suing anyone who came near. Thirty-two years later, he found it hard to believe that for thirty-two years he'd wasted his career suing for past-due accounts receivable, fender benders, slip-and-falls, and quickie divorces. He was still married to his first wife, a terrifying woman he wanted to sue everyday for his own divorce. But he couldn't afford it. After thirty-two years of lawyering, Oscar Finley couldn't afford much of anything.
2. The forty-five year old Wally Figg is the Junior Partner at the "boutique firm" of Finley & Figg. Wally’s law degree came from the prestigious University of Chicago School of Law and he had to take the bar exam three times. Wally had four divorces under his belt. Wally wanted the big case, the big score with millions of dollars in fees. Wally fancied himself a hardball litigator, and his blustery ads promised all kinds of aggressive behavior. “We Fight for Your Rights!” and “Insurance Companies Fear Us!” and “We Mean Business!” Such ads could be seen on park benches, city transit buses, cabs, high school football programs, even telephone poles, though this violated several ordinances.
3. David Zinc is a thirty-one year old lawyer from Harvard. He was a senior associate at a Chicago's leading law firm, but gave up his lucrative career to help the little guy stand up to the big corporations. David has left his firm and joined the Finley and Figg as an associate.
4. Rochelle Gibson was a former client of Finely & Figg and has been the firm's secretary for the last eight years. She is a robust black woman with a savvy attitude. Besides occasional typing, she manages the front office, takes care of the firm's dog and also acts as a mediator when the two firm partners have a disagreement.
The four make up the "boutique firm" of Finley & Figg. They start signing up clients for a potential mass litigation case against a cholesterol drug that increases the chances of causing fatal heart attacks. We catch a glimpse at the world of mass tort lawyers, the world which Grisham described in detail in his earlier book [b:The King of Torts|5356|The King of Torts|John Grisham|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320488139s/5356.jpg|3137817]. The mass tort lawyers promise their support to Finley & Figg initially. But the stakes are high and the judge decides to try the cases of Finley & Figg separately. At the first sign of defeat, the mass tort conglomerate backs out, leaving the inexperienced trio facing a hotshot team from David's former law firm. Tragedy strikes the already sinking ship and the senior partner gets a heart attack just on the eve of the big trial. In the end, David is the only lawyer left on his side of the table.
Meanwhile, this is not the only avenue David is pursuing. David had a $30,000 payday on his case against a contractor owing wages to illegal immigrant workers. It's his first courthouse win ever! He is also trying to form a case against a company that is exporting toys from China that are causing lead-poisoning in toddlers. In the end, his perseverance pays off and he is able to get a $1.5 million payday for the firm. He convinces his partners to change the rules of operation at the firm and sign a partnership agreement for the new firm of Finley, Figg & Zinc. After some twelve months, he opened his own firm that specialized in product-liability claims.
The verdict
It was a fine read, more biographical than suspense. I did like some of the courtroom scenes though. And alas, not as interesting as The King of Torts or [b:The Summons|5352|The Summons|John Grisham|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1165518854s/5352.jpg|270452].
Hoping this one is as interesting as The King of Torts or The Summons. The last two novels Grisham wrote about wrongfully accused death row inmates; The Innocent Man (non-fiction) and The Confession, were compelling stories, but didn't have the same impact.
Spoilers Ahead, consider yourself warned!!!
Post-read review
1. Oscar Finley is the Senior Partner at the "boutique firm" of Finley & Figg. At sixty-two, Oscar is a thirty-year survivor of the bare-knuckle brand of law found on the tough streets of southwest Chicago. Oscar had once been a beat cop but got himself terminated for cracking skulls. He almost went to jail but instead had an awakening and went to college, the law school. When no firms would hire him, he hung out his own shingle and started suing anyone who came near. Thirty-two years later, he found it hard to believe that for thirty-two years he'd wasted his career suing for past-due accounts receivable, fender benders, slip-and-falls, and quickie divorces. He was still married to his first wife, a terrifying woman he wanted to sue everyday for his own divorce. But he couldn't afford it. After thirty-two years of lawyering, Oscar Finley couldn't afford much of anything.
2. The forty-five year old Wally Figg is the Junior Partner at the "boutique firm" of Finley & Figg. Wally’s law degree came from the prestigious University of Chicago School of Law and he had to take the bar exam three times. Wally had four divorces under his belt. Wally wanted the big case, the big score with millions of dollars in fees. Wally fancied himself a hardball litigator, and his blustery ads promised all kinds of aggressive behavior. “We Fight for Your Rights!” and “Insurance Companies Fear Us!” and “We Mean Business!” Such ads could be seen on park benches, city transit buses, cabs, high school football programs, even telephone poles, though this violated several ordinances.
3. David Zinc is a thirty-one year old lawyer from Harvard. He was a senior associate at a Chicago's leading law firm, but gave up his lucrative career to help the little guy stand up to the big corporations. David has left his firm and joined the Finley and Figg as an associate.
4. Rochelle Gibson was a former client of Finely & Figg and has been the firm's secretary for the last eight years. She is a robust black woman with a savvy attitude. Besides occasional typing, she manages the front office, takes care of the firm's dog and also acts as a mediator when the two firm partners have a disagreement.
The four make up the "boutique firm" of Finley & Figg. They start signing up clients for a potential mass litigation case against a cholesterol drug that increases the chances of causing fatal heart attacks. We catch a glimpse at the world of mass tort lawyers, the world which Grisham described in detail in his earlier book [b:The King of Torts|5356|The King of Torts|John Grisham|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320488139s/5356.jpg|3137817]. The mass tort lawyers promise their support to Finley & Figg initially. But the stakes are high and the judge decides to try the cases of Finley & Figg separately. At the first sign of defeat, the mass tort conglomerate backs out, leaving the inexperienced trio facing a hotshot team from David's former law firm. Tragedy strikes the already sinking ship and the senior partner gets a heart attack just on the eve of the big trial. In the end, David is the only lawyer left on his side of the table.
Meanwhile, this is not the only avenue David is pursuing. David had a $30,000 payday on his case against a contractor owing wages to illegal immigrant workers. It's his first courthouse win ever! He is also trying to form a case against a company that is exporting toys from China that are causing lead-poisoning in toddlers. In the end, his perseverance pays off and he is able to get a $1.5 million payday for the firm. He convinces his partners to change the rules of operation at the firm and sign a partnership agreement for the new firm of Finley, Figg & Zinc. After some twelve months, he opened his own firm that specialized in product-liability claims.
The verdict
It was a fine read, more biographical than suspense. I did like some of the courtroom scenes though. And alas, not as interesting as The King of Torts or [b:The Summons|5352|The Summons|John Grisham|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1165518854s/5352.jpg|270452].
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No