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What are readers saying about The Appeal?
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-01-30 01:13:50.
(Language: English)
  
I had enjoyed Grisham books in the past but this was a severe disappointment. As a conservative Christian, I did not like how Grisham painted them all with the same broad, bigoted brush. Very one dimensional. The ending made me mad for hours. A real waste of time.
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No (1)
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Doug posted a review at 2009-11-04 07:38:21.
(Language: English)
Another Grisham book. Young lawyer gets paid a ton of money, works too much and has to deal with a moral dilemma that could result in his career being ruined. I bought it on my flight out of Toronto and had it finished by the time I landed back in Toronto a couple of days later. If you like Grisham you'll like this.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-04-04 04:21:07.
(Language: English)
Meh. Cowardly, trite ending.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-07-19 01:17:40.
(Language: English)
The ending was a surprise to me.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-02 08:00:19.
(Language: English)
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4543990.The_Appeal" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Appeal" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41e%2BO0QMO2L._SX106_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4543990.The_Appeal">The Appeal</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/721.John_Grisham">John Grisham</a> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65855081">4 of 5 stars</a> This was a gripping story, and I was riveted, right up to the final page. I found it topical, appalling, almost utterly believable, and quite infuriating. I just happened to read this book at this time, with the greatest industrial pollution/deformed children scandal since Thalidomide in the headlines, not to mention the Acorn scandal, the Iranian election difficulties, and the swift passage of Bills in the US without time allowed for congressmen to read them. It probably reflects life accurately, which depressed me unutterably. I find it hard to believe that the SEC would be blind to the insider trading. The political corruption, the vote rigging, the deceptive advertising, and the "buying" of a seat on a fictional Supreme Court were all plausibly written and very disturbing. I highly recommend everything about this book except the ending. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/717257-rowena">View all my reviews >></a>
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Kevin posted a review at 2011-09-01 04:39:37.
(Language: English)
I used to love Grisham. He could do no wrong and I didn't read anything else. Then I started broadening my horizons and reading other things. Lots of stuff I loved, some not so much. I don't know if he's slacking or if I now expect more substance from what I read, but this one is not one of his best, in my opinion. Every Grisham book has an ending you don't really want. It's not a bad ending, but not exactly what you hope for. I won't say how this ends, I'll just say that it was entirely predictable.
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Greg posted a review at 2011-10-23 03:05:10.
(Language: English)
It is odd that I have back to back read two books set in roughly the same area of Mississippi. The State of Jones is set during the Civil War while this book comes from today's headlines. "The Appeal is John Grisham’s handy primer on a timely subject: how to rig an election. Blow by blow, this not-very-fictitious-sounding novel depicts the tactics by which political candidates either can be propelled or ambushed and their campaigns can be subverted. Since so much of what happens here involves legal maneuvering in Mississippi, as have many of his other books, Mr. Grisham knows just how these games are played. He has sadly little trouble making such dirty tricks sound real." Janet Maslin, New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/books/28maslin.html
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-03-02 11:29:13.
(Language: English)
A large chemical company had been dumping toxic chemicals in the vicinity of its factory in a small town in Mississippi, where the chemicals eventually seeped into the water table and into the drinking water of the residents of the company town. Eventually, townsfolk began to fall ill with a variety of cancers. So many fell ill that the county came to be known as Cancer County, with cancer rates many times the national average. The townsfolk turn to a husband and wife pair of hometown attorneys for justice. Wes and Mary Grace Payton sue Krane Chemical, extracting an enormous verdict from a local jury. The verdict is immediately appealed, and Carl Trudeau, the man behind Krane Chemical, initiates a campaign to replace a justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court to create a court that would be more favorable to him. The story is fast paced and engaging, particularly for those who are interested in pollution, politics, social justice, and even conspiracy theorists. Given the climate pervading modern politics, the storyline seems like it could actually come to pass.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-22 04:19:26.
(Language: English)
Love Grisham. The point behind his story is so true. Elections are simply popularity contests with the winners being those with the most money to spend convincing the people that a particular candidate is near perfect. The masses fall for it without even a clue. This happens to be on the voting for a state Supreme Court seat. It's politics beyond what we can even imagine. But, who wants to believe we can be manipulated? Grisham did it again. A revealing book and also a book which gives intricate detail to the politics and buyouts of public offices for personal gain.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-07 12:56:58.
(Language: English)
I really enjoyed this book, until the last chapter that is. I was thoroughly disappointed with the ending, primarily because I thought that little Ron Fisk was going to have a change of heart. I thought he would for once make a decision not based on big business money. While I know that this book is fictional, it really makes you think hard about our judicial system. I have always known that the media can portray someone any way they want. Most everything we hear these days is propaganda.... Oh well. I better stop while I am ahead!
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-06 05:03:15.
(Language: English)
There’s a lot to like and a lot to dislike. The book as well-written as a mass-audience book can be expected to be…which is to say it’s a fast read and not altogether very interesting. Knocked this one out in about 6-7 hours. The primary theme of the story becomes a race for a seat on the Mississippi supreme court. The book opens with a large verdict passed down against a chemical manufacturer for dumping and contaminating the water supply of a city. Outraged by the verdict, the company turns toward an expert manipulator to place an unwitting token-judge on the supreme court to ensure that the appeal goes in their favor. The book ends on a melancholy note. I can’t help but feel that the preachy nature Grisham has come to adopt is just not that interesting. Or maybe I’m just fed up with politics in general. I have to criticize the book for falling pretty to the “corporation = bad” mentality that, as a free market favoring economist, I find frustrating. There is nothing inherently wrong about the corporation that is the problem, and his point, I feel, is weakened considerably by muddying the issues. What is at stake and what should have been the emphasis, here, is the bastardization of the judicial process and the blatant disregard for property rights, and the necessity of upholding those rights for a society to function. The notion that money serves special interest is valid. It is the case against government interventionism and it is the case against electing judges by popular vote. I think the issue Grisham chooses to raise is legitimate and a very concerning one; however, it is my fear that this book will inspire more misguided corporate-hate than it will outrage at the corruption of the courts and political system. A fairer presentation of the issue could have been made by showing upstanding businessmen also standing up for justice. They do exist and there are many of them. Very few corporate types are as corrupt as the story pretends, and the fact that he introduced that imbalance will probably do more to delay judicial reform than enable it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-16 05:17:34.
(Language: English)
Bought this book for 50 cents in a used bookstore. It was barely worth it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-02-07 10:16:05.
(Language: English)
It's sad to have a justice system where seats in the Supreme Court are bought. I initially thought voting for members of the Supreme Court is an excellent idea but this only makes things worst for the weak and the powerless members of the society. Important quote learned from this book - "Poverty is a great equalizer"
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-11-16 08:55:47.
(Language: English)
Really didn't like this book! life continued to get worse and worse for the good guys and never turned around, which I waited for the whole time I was reading this book!!!!
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-12 09:22:22.
(Language: English)
Best Grisham book I've read in a while. Thought-provoking indictment of the state supreme court's method of electing judges and all the thrown money that goes with it. I'm making it sound dry, but it is actually the human story that draws you in. Now this would be a good movie, although there are no car chases...plenty of suspense.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-01 06:36:57.
(Language: English)
Grisham instructs his readers. His books enlightens the lay person as well as seasoned professionals with insight into legal and law enforcement professions. I appreciate his candor.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-10-14 05:15:54.
(Language: English)
John Grisham's faith often shows up in his books. This case is no different. He battles against politically manipulated, religious grandstanding, and just about brings God into the book as a late character. Or is it too late? God will certainly let us live with our own doings. This book is classic Grisham, with plenty of gritty details of the inside world of politics, and lots of twists and turns in the action. Like all of his best work, it leaves you guessing untill the very end.
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Melanie posted a review at 2009-03-23 08:42:01.
(Language: English)
This is the first Grisham I have read in years and years. I just think it's never going to be as good as it was in the days of The Pelican Brief. Well, I LOVED the first 3/4 of this book. I love that it started with the judgement, and then went through the entire appeals process, and the politics of the state supreme court system. What ruined this one for me was the ending. I really cannot say more than that without ruining it for someone who may read this book. So, 3 stars for me equals GREAT first 75% of the book, crappy ending.
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Greg posted a review at 2009-10-19 03:53:57.
(Language: English)
It is odd that I have back to back read two books set in roughly the same area of Mississippi. The State of Jones is set during the Civil War while this book comes from today's headlines. "The Appeal is John Grisham’s handy primer on a timely subject: how to rig an election. Blow by blow, this not-very-fictitious-sounding novel depicts the tactics by which political candidates either can be propelled or ambushed and their campaigns can be subverted. Since so much of what happens here involves legal maneuvering in Mississippi, as have many of his other books, Mr. Grisham knows just how these games are played. He has sadly little trouble making such dirty tricks sound real." Janet Maslin, New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/books/28maslin.html It seems a lot of my favorite books are set in this area, in and near Marion County, Mississippi. :)
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-25 08:09:48.
(Language: English)
This is a good book; an interesting experiment in fiction. I'm not sure I can recommend it, but everyone in America should read it. That sounds like an oxymoron but here's my deal; This is a tough book to read. Not that it has big words or difficult concepts, but that it'll make your blood boil and leave you with a sense of despair. Our legal/political system explained. And it's not fiction in the sense of having a single protagonist to follow their heroic journey. It's more of a teaching story explaining a seriously flawed system; how big business, elections, and the judicial system result in a justice denied. Grisham does a very good job explaining a complex system and it seems fair and well researched. It reminds me of Germinal; Zola's exploration of the horrible plight of 19th century coal miners. But an article in the New Yorker could have done the same in 200 fewer pages. Yes, this is an important issue. Perhaps it will do its job and State supreme court justices will appointed instead of enduring elections. But as a story it left me wanting. This is not Runaway Jury. The plot is not "thrilling" if you can call it a plot. As a story it's more an allegory than a drama. No single hero emerges. Indeed his fair treatment leaves one unsure who is the hero. In some ways, they all feel like victims (as are we). That said, I was still up late late a few nights, including the one when I finished it, and I did think about it afterwards; wondering about Grisham's decisions. He knows his craft and I trust his choices. And the appeal of this book gives me hope that the system will change.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-03-07 10:21:54.
(Language: English)
Boring characters and awful ending, dont waste your time.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-08 07:11:28.
(Language: English)
I rather enjoyed this book, and was getting ready for a typical "small guy wins" type ending, that Grisham is no noted for, and BAM. The bad guys win, life continues to be miserable for the people represented, and it ends. Not a nice ending, that wrecked the whole book.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-06-29 10:44:36.
(Language: English)
Solid Grisham's book! in his core competency - law & lawyers, fiction. page turner, with unexpected twists and believable descriptions/characters. looking foward to the next one )
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Aida posted a review at 2011-07-25 03:02:26.
(Language: English)
Not a good read as it will make you depressed as the good guys will have an ongoing bad luck without any light at the end of the tunnel. However, it will make you think though about a lot of stuff..... If you love litigation stories and intrique-this is the book for you.... A good read when you are in the right mood......
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