In 1967 in Greenville, Mississippi, known Klan member Sam Cayhall is accused of bombing the law offices of Jewish civil rights activist Marvin Kram...
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Jul 26, 2008
Cynthia
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I have strong feelings and opinions related to this book that delves deeper into the issue of "an eye for an eye" as it relates to the judicial systems of the day. A great side story about a member of the KKK after the civil war during the segragation conflict. Being from a rural southern area, riding around as a child with a father who always kept a "nigger knocker" under the seat, and having family that still refuses to grasp the concept of nonjudgmental equality, I reall
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Feb 18, 2009
The book review
The chamber told a story that Sam Cayhall led two explosives. He bombed Matin Kramer’s office and later bombed Jewish Church. He was a racist. He was decided to be put to death. His son and daughter disappeared in the day which he was arrested. They felt guilty to have a father like him. Sam Cayhall killed twins and made Martin Kramer lost both of his legs and hurt eight black people and killed other four people. He was put into death row. One day, a fresh man named Adam Hal More...
The chamber told a story that Sam Cayhall led two explosives. He bombed Matin Kramer’s office and later bombed Jewish Church. He was a racist. He was decided to be put to death. His son and daughter disappeared in the day which he was arrested. They felt guilty to have a father like him. Sam Cayhall killed twins and made Martin Kramer lost both of his legs and hurt eight black people and killed other four people. He was put into death row. One day, a fresh man named Adam Hal More...
May 26, 2011
Ryan
rated it: 
Though I haven’t read this book entirely, it so far is actually quite captivating. As a whole, it has kept hold of my attention. It also has a hint of humor in it, too. John Grisham having a background in law has put his knowledge and experience in his books.
“The Chamber” is about a young, bright lawyer, Adam Hall, who joined the Kravitz & Bane firm solely to represent and defend his grandfather, the infamous ex-Klansman Sam Cayhall, who is in Death Row for the bombing of the Kramer More...
“The Chamber” is about a young, bright lawyer, Adam Hall, who joined the Kravitz & Bane firm solely to represent and defend his grandfather, the infamous ex-Klansman Sam Cayhall, who is in Death Row for the bombing of the Kramer More...
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Sep 10, 2010
Jane
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Not as entertaining as other Grisham books. It’s a somber subject – death row.
STORY BRIEF:
Three Ku Klux Klansmen plant a bomb in an attorney’s office. Two children are killed. Only one of the men (Sam) is caught, and he stays silent about the other two. It is years later. Sam is on death row, soon to be executed in “the (gas) chamber.” Adam is a young attorney with a large law firm up north. He gets permission from his firm to work on Sam’s case pro bono. He is Sam’s gr More...
STORY BRIEF:
Three Ku Klux Klansmen plant a bomb in an attorney’s office. Two children are killed. Only one of the men (Sam) is caught, and he stays silent about the other two. It is years later. Sam is on death row, soon to be executed in “the (gas) chamber.” Adam is a young attorney with a large law firm up north. He gets permission from his firm to work on Sam’s case pro bono. He is Sam’s gr More...
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Feb 28, 2010
Wendell
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Jul 30, 2009
Mike
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John Grisham is one of those authors that I cringe when I admit I've read his books, but every once I find I'm really scrapping the bottom of the barrel and I have nothing else to read... :)
Even as an avowed "disliker" of Grisham (I don't have enough emotion on this subject to call myself a "hater"), this book was disappointed. What makes Grisham good is his ability to draw you into a story and a set of characters, and take you for a ride -- through legal battles More...
Even as an avowed "disliker" of Grisham (I don't have enough emotion on this subject to call myself a "hater"), this book was disappointed. What makes Grisham good is his ability to draw you into a story and a set of characters, and take you for a ride -- through legal battles More...
Aug 24, 2010
Mike
rated it: 
It's apparent what the author wanted to say. It would have been nice to have a more entertaining story behind the message: "the death penalty is wrong." At least all the main characters are against it, and those who aren’t are portrayed as blood thirsty, ignorant, etc. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not ready to run down to the nearest death row prison and chant “kill them all.” No, I support the decision of a state to determine the appropriate punishment for the crime, based on what the
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Dec 09, 2011
Ladory
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My sister greatly enjoyed this book and she had me wanting to read it, too. She gave me her paperback copy while I was visiting her. It's a very thick book. I completely enjoyed it. I found the writing style to be simplistic after just finishing six Dorothy Dunnett historical novels, so that was refreshing! The character development is good and therefore, I was in tears several times while reading. This book gives a lot of food for thought about the death penalty.
While on the other sid More...
While on the other sid More...
Jun 05, 2011
Ana
rated it:
It was, as most of Grisham's books, absolutely fantastic! I am amazed how he manages to make his books so much about the legal stuff of a lawyer's life and still put so much soul in it that it turns into some mind boggling story! The rythm of the book is fast, constantly coming up with new things, the action is complex and sometimes even sick, and the ending is amazing!
Though it treats legal problems, as I said before, he manages to make his way up to the human mind and study it at close More...
Though it treats legal problems, as I said before, he manages to make his way up to the human mind and study it at close More...
Jan 21, 2011
Ross
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This is the third book by Grisham that I have read. I thought it was a little better than "The Client" which I also thought was pretty good.
The other one I read was "The Appeal" which I could not finish because the events and portrayals were so unrealistic. Grisham seemed to be trying to write about a world with which he had no experience at all.
In the preface to "The Chamber" he states that he "despises research" and he had relied on the knowl More...
The other one I read was "The Appeal" which I could not finish because the events and portrayals were so unrealistic. Grisham seemed to be trying to write about a world with which he had no experience at all.
In the preface to "The Chamber" he states that he "despises research" and he had relied on the knowl More...
Jul 30, 2010
Shelley
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book though it was quite long. I haven't read a book in sometime where I've had such a dislike/like for one of the main characters. This is one of those books. That character is Sam Cayhall who was a KKK and is sentenced to the gas chamber. I really didn't know too much about the details about what goes on in the room of the gas chamber and I have to say it's not a nice way to die, but then again, these murderers didn't get there doing anything "nice" either.
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Jun 18, 2009
Marky
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This was an excellent read. It did raise a lot of moral questions about the death penalty. Sam Cayhall was a Klansmember who was an accomplice in setting off a bomb plot to kill a Jewish Lawyer named Marvin Kramer. Instead of killing him, the bomb killed 2 of his kids and blew off his legs. Sam Cayhall won 2 trials because the grand jury was all white. But 13 years later, he lost his third trial and was sent to death row. Then comes his long lost grandson who represents him legally and trys
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Dec 20, 2008
Julie
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I thought this was one of the most impacting novels I have read for a long time. Grisham thoroughly explores the implications of the death penalty and creates a well-rounded and complex character in Sam Cayhall. You come to hate him and pity him, asking yourself whether he really deserves death and cheering Adam on as he tries to save him. A book I will never forget.
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Jun 13, 2011
Alexis
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The Chamber tells the story of young Adam Hall's first death penalty case. Hall has been practicing law for a little less than a year when he requests to work on a well known case in Mississippi.
Hall learns much about the last weeks before an execution takes place. He also learns much about his family history, history that has been buried for years. Adam must confront issues of race and history, issues that are not always comfortable to deal with.
Grisham wove a story f More...
Hall learns much about the last weeks before an execution takes place. He also learns much about his family history, history that has been buried for years. Adam must confront issues of race and history, issues that are not always comfortable to deal with.
Grisham wove a story f More...
Jan 27, 2009
Eric_W
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I have polished several John Grisham novels (mostly when I should have been doing something useful like working on the house or yard, but what the heck, life’s too short). I suppose we have a tendency to denigrate his books; too popular with the masses, but he really does know how to write a good plot that keeps the pages turning. He also must really hate lawyers, because in each of these novels the way the lawyers operate would make a barracuda blush with shame. In addition to turning ou
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Feb 15, 2011
Jrobertus
rated it:
I was disappointed in this Grisham novel. I have enjoyed the others I've read but this was dull. Sam Cayhall is a racist murder awaiting execution by the state of Mississippi. His grandson Adam, new to a prestigious Chicago law firm, together with the pro bono partner, try to stay the execution. Sam is not anyone we can sympathize with. The author tries to relate the case to the family history and mental state but that doesn't elicit any interest either. There is an unnamed, and menacing c
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Aug 04, 2011
John
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The Chamber by John Grisham
I have been reading the books of John Grisham since his debut novel “A Time To Kill” in 1989 and I found his style of writing quite refreshing, and then came his second book “The Firm” well I was flabbergasted it was even better than his first story and I was not the only one to think so.
Since then I have tried to read all offerings from this master weaver of the legal thriller, some I have and some slipped through the net and ended up on my to read lis More...
I have been reading the books of John Grisham since his debut novel “A Time To Kill” in 1989 and I found his style of writing quite refreshing, and then came his second book “The Firm” well I was flabbergasted it was even better than his first story and I was not the only one to think so.
Since then I have tried to read all offerings from this master weaver of the legal thriller, some I have and some slipped through the net and ended up on my to read lis More...
Jun 21, 2009
Dna_body
rated it:
Baru membaca setengahnya, belum menuju klimaks cerita karena banyak sekali latar belakang yang harus dibeberkan. Maklum bukunya sangat tebal hampir 700 halaman.
Kalimatnya panjang-panjang dan agak monoton, tapi kita lihat saja nanti kalau sudah selesai, Baru sampai Bab 23 dan halaman 372.
Review tentang buku ini setelah saya selesai membacanya
Jakarta, 3 Mei 2009
Akhirnya selesai juga buku ini, agak kecewa juga sih sebenarnya setelah melahap pengantar More...
Kalimatnya panjang-panjang dan agak monoton, tapi kita lihat saja nanti kalau sudah selesai, Baru sampai Bab 23 dan halaman 372.
Review tentang buku ini setelah saya selesai membacanya
Jakarta, 3 Mei 2009
Akhirnya selesai juga buku ini, agak kecewa juga sih sebenarnya setelah melahap pengantar More...
Jul 23, 2010
Cari
rated it:
A good read, also a quick read.
This book takes a good hard look at the death penalty and the Fifth Circuit and all of the process that goes into legally killing someone.
Given that the death penalty debate is one that I've been trying to figure out which side I stand on, this book was an interesting glimpse into the inner workings of the appellate courts and how they work.
The end, while not the Disney ending I was hoping for, was very realistic and I did enjoy it.
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This book takes a good hard look at the death penalty and the Fifth Circuit and all of the process that goes into legally killing someone.
Given that the death penalty debate is one that I've been trying to figure out which side I stand on, this book was an interesting glimpse into the inner workings of the appellate courts and how they work.
The end, while not the Disney ending I was hoping for, was very realistic and I did enjoy it.
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Jan 11, 2010
Paul
rated it:
Of the Grisham books I've read, this is easily my favorite along with "A Time To Kill." Although it's easy to think of this book as being in the Grisham formula of young protagonist (another new lawyer this time) in trouble, the main character deals with a bit more: namely the pending execution of a relative. The presence of an impending execution--and the whole issue of the death penalty--makes this book much more tense and a much heavier read than other Grisham stories. And Grish
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Mar 02, 2011
Brian
rated it:
Once again, John Grisham used his ability as a writer, to mix two very hard topics together, law and emotions. Grisham wrote this story in order to show that emotion can play a very important role in law, along with taking critical decisions. Grisham made Adam a lawyer who is eager to start from the wide door, face a very important and tragic truth which happened years ago and he did not know anything of. His grandfather was of the Ku Kux Klan and killed a well known anti racist jewish lawyer. A
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Feb 22, 2009
donna
rated it:
Never have i cried for literature in any medium than i did with this book. I hated Sam for keeping his secret up to his grave. I hated the fact that i was so deeply touched with this book. That now death penalty made sense to me! Up to the last few pages i expected a miracle, but then it didn't came. I cried with Adam and Lee and the rest who did not believe in death penalty. Im not a fan of Grisham after reading The Pelican Brief or was it Runaway Jury (although I liked The Client) but because
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Jan 21, 2010
Nuning
rated it:
Buku yang cukup menarik..sayangnya tidak happy ending ...
Sam Cayhall, seorang anggota Klu Klux Klan berkomplot dengan beberapa anggota lainnya untuk membom kantor seorang yahudi. tanpa dia ketahui, bom yang seharusnya meledak malam hari ternyata malah meledak pagi harinya dan menewaskan putra kembar sasarannya. sialnya lagi, Sam berada di sekitar kantor tersebut dan malah ikut terluka karenanya.
Sam kemudian ditangkap beserta dengan salah satu anggota komplotan, tapi sebag More...
Sam Cayhall, seorang anggota Klu Klux Klan berkomplot dengan beberapa anggota lainnya untuk membom kantor seorang yahudi. tanpa dia ketahui, bom yang seharusnya meledak malam hari ternyata malah meledak pagi harinya dan menewaskan putra kembar sasarannya. sialnya lagi, Sam berada di sekitar kantor tersebut dan malah ikut terluka karenanya.
Sam kemudian ditangkap beserta dengan salah satu anggota komplotan, tapi sebag More...
Jan 06, 2011
Sharon
rated it:
This is an older Grisham novel, but one I had not read before. I found myself not wanting to put it down!
Adam Hall is a young lawyer in a large firm. Sam Cayhall is his grandfather, on Death Row for a Klan-related killing in the 1960s. Many years later, Sam's appeals have run out -- and Adam offers to represent him pro bono through the offices of the firm.
The two get to know each other over a four-week period, and Adam learns many family secrets in the process. Withou More...
Adam Hall is a young lawyer in a large firm. Sam Cayhall is his grandfather, on Death Row for a Klan-related killing in the 1960s. Many years later, Sam's appeals have run out -- and Adam offers to represent him pro bono through the offices of the firm.
The two get to know each other over a four-week period, and Adam learns many family secrets in the process. Withou More...
Jul 04, 2007
Maybama02
rated it:
I loved this book. Never have I had such a distinct love/hate impression of a character before. It is long but you NEVER know how it will end. Its easy to finish it quickly.
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Sep 04, 2011
Steve
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This was a well, even paced book through the final days of Sam Cayhall. Half way through the book I kept wondering where the author was going to take it. Right down the line. The story even got me a little choked up at the end. A terrible business.
Its hard to image the way we treated people, just a generation ago. The Story is wrapping up its law suits in the 1980's. I don't think I could believe in high school that lawsuit and trial were wrapping up civil rights violence of the 50's. More...
Its hard to image the way we treated people, just a generation ago. The Story is wrapping up its law suits in the 1980's. I don't think I could believe in high school that lawsuit and trial were wrapping up civil rights violence of the 50's. More...
Jan 10, 2010
Sandra
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The Chamber was based on a man fighting on Death Row for the murder of an African American boy and blowing up a shop with a Jewish family.He soon realizes he has a nephew Adam, in Law to help him exonerate him from the heinous crimes.It is a compelling story and it shows the realization of how back in the day when they had signs posted that African Americans and Caucasians were not allowed to ride the same buses together and interracial relationships were forbidden.It truly is deep, touching an
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Oct 25, 2011
Steve
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I have read a number of John Grisham's books and they all have been enjoyable reads. They don't always conclude the way you would like them to but all have some sort of surprise and message at the end. This book is no exception. The main character is a young lawyer fresh out of law school who manages to get himself appointed lead councel representing his former KKK member grandfather who sits on Mississippi's death row and whose execution date is fast approaching. During this time, he learns
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Jun 26, 2007
Idrisidng
rated it:
i loved reading this book,anotha great offering from the king of law/court genre..John Grisham
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