A review by vaporvox
Sycamore Row by John Grisham

dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

My grandmother recommended this book to me on her deathbed, and now I've finally gotten the chance to read it. Sycamore Row was my first legal drama, and it was quite the experience. Grisham really knows how to write real characters and real scenarios. Every character and situation is very carefully planned and feels realistic. My only main problem with the book is that it's very slow and focuses too much on build-up. By the time we get to the trial, we're within the last hundred pages of the novel. The release and reveal at the end was hugely impactful and saved the book for sure - it states a lot on the idea of racism in Southern America. However, the build up it takes to get there isn't very well-paced. There were many parts where the novel lulled and fell kind of flat. Overall, a pretty decent read for those who like realistic characters and social commentary, but nothing to really shout at. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Racism, Suicide

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Alcohol

Minor: Racial slurs

Suicide: The character that sets off the trial's chain of events in the opening chapter hung himself and left suicide notes/a will. This is referred to often. Racism: Underlying tones of racism against African-Americans is prevalent throughout, in terms of bias from the judge and jury, the townspeople, generational trauma, and past events that happened with Jake Brigance's past. One scene near the end details

where a black family is beaten, bound, tortured, and lynched/hung by a group of white people for their land.

Cancer: The character who sets off the trial was suffering with terminal cancer for years. The amount of pain and suffering he was in is gone into fairly regularly as a basis for one of the arguments in the trial. Alcohol/Alcoholism: Many characters are depicted having a drink or a beer daily at work and after work. Domestic abuse: One character's husband is very verbally abusive and neglectful. Racial slurs: One sure-fire use of the "N" word.