rae607 's review for:

A Painted House by John Grisham

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If Grisham's legal thrillers are equivalent to good (but not great) candy, then this is like a good (but not great) store-bought pie. I enjoyed it but feel certain I won't remember it two weeks from now. The book does a great job of capturing the everyday hardships of life on a small Arkansas farm in the early 1950s. And it's an OK coming-of-age story. However, the romance and violence Grisham weaves in just aren't terribly satisfying. Stick to "The Firm" if you want to read some Grisham; go for Steinbeck if you want migrant/farm stories with real depth.