Michael was in a hurry. He was scrambling up the ladder at Drake & Sweeney, a giant D.C. law firm with eight hundred lawyers. The money was goo...
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Sep 13, 2011
Candice
rated it: 
Boring. Preachy. Heartbreaking. Disgusting.
What was particularly disgusting was the protagonist's racism. There were remarks about a jury consisting of "12 black faces" ('cause there can't possibly be any white people in DC, right?) and the incredulous thought "a handsome white boy thrown in the pit!" and "the shoes in question were old Nike cross-trainers. They were not basketball shoes, and should not have appealed to [him.]" (because ALL black people p More...
What was particularly disgusting was the protagonist's racism. There were remarks about a jury consisting of "12 black faces" ('cause there can't possibly be any white people in DC, right?) and the incredulous thought "a handsome white boy thrown in the pit!" and "the shoes in question were old Nike cross-trainers. They were not basketball shoes, and should not have appealed to [him.]" (because ALL black people p More...
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May 13, 2007
Nathan
rated it: 
This was the first John Grisham book I've read. The story was straightforward and interesting, but the book was surprisingly less gripping than I expected from Grisham. I expected more plot twists, betrayals, and fast action. Instead, the story was actually quite predictable. On the other hand, it certainly never dragged, and it was actually quite believable, which is more than I can say about the Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, or Michael Crichton books that I've read (which is sort of the pop-f
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Aug 03, 2008
Brian
rated it:
Prosperous people should feel guilty because there are homeless people in our cities. That is the main message in this Grisham novel.
In the book are perfectly normal people who become homeless because they are down on their luck. Strangely, no mention is made of the primary sources of homelessness: drugs and mental illness. No, according to The Street Lawyer, the problem of homlessness is caused by the selfish prosperity of our country.
Besides the misled preachiness of t More...
In the book are perfectly normal people who become homeless because they are down on their luck. Strangely, no mention is made of the primary sources of homelessness: drugs and mental illness. No, according to The Street Lawyer, the problem of homlessness is caused by the selfish prosperity of our country.
Besides the misled preachiness of t More...
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Jan 24, 2009
Ethan
rated it: 
I personally have become a recent fan of John Grisham’s book and to any of those fans out there, this is a book that will not disappoint you. Even for those who aren’t John Grisham fans, this book is a must read. Grisham captures the life of the impoverished and needy in downtown D.C. and he shows how the law treats different class’s different ways. This book is not only a page turner but a fast page turner. I found myself rushing at times, anxious to read on and discover more about this mysteri
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Jul 10, 2011
Nishana
rated it:
What started as a casual not so interested read turned out to be a great book that really touched me with its beautiful story. If you could ever fall in love with a character of a story, then i will be with Michael brock ; the protagonist(after prince of persia of course).Anyway the story talks about this multibillion law firm lawyer Brock who after a hostage situation by a man of the street decides to dig into the dirt taking pity on the man's story only to find out the darkest and the dirtiest
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Nov 12, 2011
Steven
rated it:
This is a typical Grisham novel, with the plot surrounded a young lawyer suffering under the weight of a corporate law firm. As with most of his books, he takes great pains to criticize the corporate law structure and speak out against the evils of workaholism, greed and the corporate law structure. It's remarkably similar to most of his novels, the main character is young, male, white and Yale-educated, has a strained relationship with his father and finds a higher calling. As with all of his n
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Oct 10, 2011
Michael
rated it:
I read a few of Grisham's early books years ago (The Firm, A Time To Kill) and thought they were, for the most part, formulaic legal fiction. I wouldn't normally have picked up another one of his novels,but years ago I read a short article he wrote for a high school magazine about how he researched The Street Lawyer, and I was intrigued. I finally grabbed the book last week and read it over the weekend. Standard fare for a Grisham novel: a young lawyer going up against a corrupt, powerful legal
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Jul 25, 2011
Jane
rated it:
Good but not as entertaining as his other books.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The author’s intentions were to write about the plight of the homeless and generate sympathy, compassion, and hopefully some action. The character development and dialogue were excellent – as usual for this author. But the plot development wasn’t as exciting as some of his other books. At best I would say it is a good story – worth reading if you’re a Grisham fan. At times it gets a little preachy with stati More...
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The author’s intentions were to write about the plight of the homeless and generate sympathy, compassion, and hopefully some action. The character development and dialogue were excellent – as usual for this author. But the plot development wasn’t as exciting as some of his other books. At best I would say it is a good story – worth reading if you’re a Grisham fan. At times it gets a little preachy with stati More...
Jun 21, 2011
Stephen
rated it:
I read and enjoyed most of Grisham's legal fiction ten or more years ago. My fave was probably The Partner, but there wasn't a dog in the bunch. Sure, they follow an obvious formula, but it works. Somehow, I missed this one until now. I picked it up idly, since several other titles were already in progress, but was hooked by the very effective opening sequence.
That scene, in which a deranged homeless man barges into a conference room full of rich attorneys and threatens to blow them More...
That scene, in which a deranged homeless man barges into a conference room full of rich attorneys and threatens to blow them More...
Apr 03, 2011
Trudee
rated it:
A lawyer with a conscience? A Homeless man with a message? A law firm held to ransom? So much drama and so effectively told. We are taken quite brutally into the uncomfortable, compelling, and ugly world of homelessness which for manifold reasons exist in ever-increasing numbers in cities all around the world. Michael Brock is a man of character; a man who discovers he cannot live with who he thought he was, following a frightening hold up in his office. He witnesses the fear, disbelief and horr
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Nov 19, 2010
Rajius
rated it: 
I am picky in terms of legal stories since it is not actually my favorite topic. Yet John Grisham has a special place in my heart. While I don’t read his works for quite a while, this one come up as the most impressive compared to some others in my record.
The idea of being a street lawyer seems to be not a choice for most advocates, I guess. Why bother to defend poor people and paid less while you can get much more from the wealthy clients. However, Michael Brock has his own reason. Wo More...
The idea of being a street lawyer seems to be not a choice for most advocates, I guess. Why bother to defend poor people and paid less while you can get much more from the wealthy clients. However, Michael Brock has his own reason. Wo More...
Sep 21, 2010
Cameron
rated it:
I don't usually read John Grisham books, but I decided to give "The Street Lawyer" a shot. It was actually pretty good. Michael Brock is a wealthy lawyer who's life is changed when a homeless man comes into his law firm's office and takes him along with several other lawyers hostage. The homeless man is eventually gunned down by a police sniper, but what Michael learned from this homeless man while being held hostage, changes his life forever. He ends up leaving his firm to work at a S
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Apr 27, 2010
Jeff
rated it:
In a nutshell, lawyer Michael Brock is held hostage by a homeless man who has been wrongfully evicted. The hostage situation ends quickly and dramatically but births a nagging conscious in Brock. Not as exciting as the Rainmaker, The Firm, or the Runaway Jury - but an excellent read. If nothing else it dispels some of the glamor of the lawyer lifestyle through is portrayal of their hours and hours of work, work, bill, bill career. (At least my hours & hours at the office were spent playing with
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Jan 25, 2010
Jeremiah
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Oct 30, 2009
Nenette
rated it:
I bought this book to pass the time while I was stranded in the mall that fateful Saturday when typhoon Ondoy brought devastation to Manila . I consider myself very, very lucky for having survived the storm cloistered in a comfortable mall, while others were braving it on rooftops and in the raging flood waters. I was only half-concentrating on the book as I read from the lounge chairs in the gym as I was thinking of how my son was doing, having gone to the university early that day. My husba
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Jul 17, 2009
Keegan
rated it:
My husband and I listened to this book while driving back and forth between our parents' houses during a recent visit. I've listened to it on tape before, but it was fun to listen to it again with my husband this time.
It's a good story and it caused my husband and me to have a good conversation about poverty and homelessness. I like that Michael Brock is really smart but also does a bunch of stupid stuff. I like the character of Malachi -- he's a very rich, very full character. I felt More...
It's a good story and it caused my husband and me to have a good conversation about poverty and homelessness. I like that Michael Brock is really smart but also does a bunch of stupid stuff. I like the character of Malachi -- he's a very rich, very full character. I felt More...
Dec 13, 2009
Drew
rated it: 
Ehh, it was okay. The first Grisham I've picked up and was expecting a popular page-turner, I guess I got what I was looking for. I at least made it to the uninspiring end. Originally I was intrigued by this principle character, who boldly makes some big changes in his life. A streak of counterculture. He steps away from the big job and questions the way he leads his life. Unfortunately, he feels more fabricated than real. Oh, his wife is a big wig doctor (neurosurgery, why not)and they never se
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Jan 28, 2012
J
rated it:
A lively legal-crime mystery. I don't like every Grisham book, but did like this one.
Hero is Michael Brock, a young on-the-rise civil attorney in a big firm called Drake & Sweeney, who ditches it all after a mnetlaly ill homeless guy invades the firm and holds a conference-room full of lawyers hostage. Including Brock.
The attacker ends up dead. Brock is the only lawyer in the firm to wonder why the homeless guy picked Drake & Sweeney.
He sniffs out illegal activity b More...
Hero is Michael Brock, a young on-the-rise civil attorney in a big firm called Drake & Sweeney, who ditches it all after a mnetlaly ill homeless guy invades the firm and holds a conference-room full of lawyers hostage. Including Brock.
The attacker ends up dead. Brock is the only lawyer in the firm to wonder why the homeless guy picked Drake & Sweeney.
He sniffs out illegal activity b More...
Oct 04, 2011
Andrew
rated it:
In the movie “A Christmas Carol” the Scourge goes from only caring about money to caring about other people and trying to be nice and generous, just like the main character in the book The Street Lawyer by John Grisham. Mike used to care all about money until a life changing event with a homeless guy holding him hostage. In Street Lawyer by John Grisham Mike wanted to help homeless people get jobs, benefits, and to be treated like normal citizens just like many other people through out the world
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Jul 24, 2011
Ray
rated it:
The Street Lawyer deals with homeless people, and a lawyer who gave up his position in a major law firm, the high salary, and the perks to work for the poor and homeless for very low wages. The book takes a sympathetic view of the poor and downtrodden, and does makes the point that society could do more for the deserving poor. That may make some readers somewhat uncomfortable, especially those who feel that the majority of the homeless are in that situation due primarily to bad choices they've
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Jun 03, 2008
Chris
rated it:
The Street Lawyer by John Grissom was an intense book. About a top firm laywer for Drake & Sweeny. I like how it shows are capital as a rough city with many homeless people. For a top lawyer who will make millions to throw it all away just to help some homeless people. He later then steals a file to help a women with 4 childeren who die because its so cold. He has a real eye opener and anyone who thinks poor people dont matter read this book.
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Apr 13, 2011
Kirt
rated it:
There was just one thing that bothered me in the book. The divorce of the main character and his wife is odd to me. I guess this happens in real life but it never should and it bothered me. They had grown apart by living two separate and busy lives, but they make no attempt, not even a little attempt, to fix their marriage. They still care for each other but throw it away because they don't want to make an effort.
Other that that the book was fantastic. It was a classic John Grisham t More...
Other that that the book was fantastic. It was a classic John Grisham t More...
Mar 17, 2009
Genna
rated it:
It was an 'alright' book.
Well the story was well set and it wasn't a hard book to follow or anything, but it wasn't as exciting as reading other John Grisham books.
I didn't like how they made the government or large coorperations look bad as if they were the solem reason for homelessness. The main character trying to put take on the big firm he worked for seemed like a minor thing to me.
I think homelessness is mostly a personal problem as it's not impossible to get jobs, it's n More...
Well the story was well set and it wasn't a hard book to follow or anything, but it wasn't as exciting as reading other John Grisham books.
I didn't like how they made the government or large coorperations look bad as if they were the solem reason for homelessness. The main character trying to put take on the big firm he worked for seemed like a minor thing to me.
I think homelessness is mostly a personal problem as it's not impossible to get jobs, it's n More...
May 10, 2008
Allen
rated it:
This is one of those books that hooks you and keeps you reading till the end. Just enough mystery to make you wonder what is going to happen in the end. Sure the ending was a little contrived there at the very, very end, but in a perfect world wouldn't something like that be cool? Just once? Over all I had fun reading this and reccomend it.
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Jan 15, 2012
Sandy
rated it:
WOW! I loved this book!! But for more reasons than the story itself. Published in 1998, before the current financial collapse, Grisham based this story around the homeless. If the homeless population was bad then, I can only imagine what it is presently. People in general look at the homeless as lazy and uneducated not worthy of their time or money. Nothing could be farther than the truth. The government talks a good talk but spends more money fighting the issue rather than helping.
I More...
I More...
Jan 21, 2011
Jessie
rated it:
This probably wasn't one of his better books. It was still interesting to read about people on the streets, even though it wasn't in-depth. This is only my second John Grisham book, and I can understand why he's a popular author. It seems as though that popularity is waning a little after his most recent novels. Readers are beginning to feel he doesn't have as much emotion or time put into his books, that he's just churning out novels as quickly as he can to meet a deadline. I would have to agre
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Aug 28, 2011
Jrobertus
rated it:
This novel is a cut below the other Grishams I've read. Michael Brock is a high powered lawyer for Drake & Sweeney. The story starts strongly when a homeless man holds a group of lawyers hostage. As a result, Brock becomes fascinated by the homeless problem. He meets with a real street lawyer, Mordecai Green, who shows him the ropes. Brock steals a file from his firm that shows they are culpable in the illegal eviction of people, some of whom die on the streets. The firm goes after Brock but
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Feb 25, 2009
Tyler
rated it:
Michael Brock is lawyer at a big DC law firm, Drake and Sweeney. He is on the fast track to being a partner and will soon be making a million bucks a year. One day a homeless gunman shows up at the firm and takes a group of lawyers hostage. He seems to have no real motive but keeps asking his hostages how much money they give to feed the poor each year. Their answers don't please him but eventually a police sniper is able to put a bullet into his skull. Michael Brock tries to find more out about
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Mar 24, 2011
Lindsay.lewis
rated it:
My first foray into the somewhat unsatisfying world of legal procedurals. I know, I know, John Grisham is the master of this genre, and I realize that some people adore these (his) books, which is why I would like to write one. But, I think I will have to do some tweaking with my own book to avoid the boring first 200 pages (which almost prevented me from getting through this book). And, I found the writing to be rather poor (or more accurately, incredibly simplistic, which takes something aw
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