Becky wrote: "O_o Southerners don't rush their speech, but it's not THAT slow that it would draw a 3 hour story out to 17. "

hehehehe

O_o Southerners don't rush their speech, but it's not THAT slow that it would draw a 3 hour story out to 17.

Maybe in the 14 1/2 hrs, it was because of the southern accent. you all.

I've never listened to the audio, but I will say that audio can add to the intensity of a situation if the reader is good.

I listened to a sample, and the reader seems OK... Kind of "matter of fact". Oddly, the sample on audible is the rape scene. You'd think that they'd have chosen something a little less disturbing! LOL

And I also wonder what the heck could have been left of the abridged version. The unabridged version is 17 hours and 22 minutes, but the abridged is only 2 hours 55 minutes. That's 14 1/2 hours missing!

Hey thanks for the insight. Maybe I'll give it another try. I may have come on a little strong with the good ol boy thing. I am actually from the south myself, if you consider Virginia the south. I do love a good read. I actually started out with the audio book, but maybe I'll take a shot at the print one. I don't want to miss out on a good author. I've heard so many people say how good it is. Again, appreciate the input.

A Time To Kill was my favorite. It reminded me of To Kill A Mockingbird

Errr... Well, if you don't like the "Good Ol' Boy" mentality, that book probably isn't for you.

I grew up in the South, and a lot of that book reminds me of home. Not always in the best way, but still.

Aside from that homesick nostalgic reason of mine, it's a legal thriller that brings to light the racism and hatred of the Deep South and combats it. It's not a pretty fight, but it is a compelling one.

I have to say it is one of my favorite books, and is absolutely my favorite Grisham.

Is "A Time to Kill" one of his books? So many people have told me how good it is but I can't get past the rape and the good ole boy mentality in the first chapter. Someone give me a reason to go on reading!!!

Thanks.

Thanks for the rec, Becky! I was wondering which of his I should pick up next. Rainmaker it is :)

Heather, you HAVE to read The Rainmaker. Both the book and the movie are excellent! The Runaway Jury is really good too.

But really, The Rainmaker is really high on my list. I'd say #2 after A Time To Kill, which is my favorite.

I first got introduced to Grisham by a fellow co-worker (also a reader :) several years ago. She bought me The Street Lawyer for a birthday gift. I loved it, and then went on a Grisham binge for awhile.

My favorites so far have been The Client and A Time to Kill. I also really enjoyed The Firm.

The Pelican Brief was just ok for me. The last book I tried of his was The Brethren. I tried it 2 or 3 times, and just could not get into it. I haven't picked up another of his books since then. I really need to though! There are so many others of his that I would love to read.

I had fun...I would read the book, then watch the movie, if there was one. The books were always better, of course, but I did really enjoy The Client and A Time to Kill. I thought both of those did a really good job with keeping to the feel of the book and the story.

I'm a big Grisham fan as well.
My favorite has to be The Rainmaker.
I liked The Client and Street Lawyer too.
I like the fact the Grisham can write different genres...like Skipping Christmas and Painted House. If the author's name wasn't on these books, I'd have no idea it was him.

I can't wait for you to read Watership Down, so don't worry. I will discuss that one all day! Fiona too, I'm sure:)

ok Kandice, if Pelican doesn't win, we will read it together. :) But it might be a little while, as I still have to read Watership Down after I finish Percy so I can return it to the library on time. :)

I've already ready The Pelican Brief, several times actually, both in print and audio - which is why I didn't vote for it in the first place. I probably won't read it again if it does get the vote, but I won't mind discussing it with the group - especially if it encourages some who haven't read much Grisham to read him. :) I also really like the movie, and it would be interesting to compare/contrast the book and the movie in our discussion.

Well, if we are going to read together, Pelican, but if you are going to read on your own, Kill. Both are excellent, but I can't read both right now. I bet YOU can get through A Time to Kill in a day, so you could read that, THEN read Pelican Brief with us;)

okay so Pelican Brief or Time to Kill first?

Yes, Becky!!!!!

Thank you Allison and Luann:) You'll love it if you read it. I KNOW you will. Darby is soooooo likable.

hehe, I changed my vote to Pelican Brief :)

K. Changed my vote. We'll make it a race between The Pelican Brief and The Cater Street Hangman - which actually looks pretty good.

I bet you do! :) Maybe we could read it together if it doesn't win... ?

I, of course, have a very special place in my heart for The Pelican Brief, and get a thrill every single time I see the name Darby on a page!!!! I voted for it and will cerainly re-read it if it wins:)

Good! I want The Pelican Brief to win, and not just because I nominated it, but because I bet it's awesome! (And because I nominated it.)

hmm...think I'll have to pick up A Time to Kill at the library tomorrow :P I need to go return some stuff.

Gosh darn it.

Hm, I might have to go change my vote to The Pelican Brief! If it wins, Allison will have a great excuse to read a "real" Grisham novel. :)

I'm glad they didn't tone the racial tension down either... That's what makes the story so touching and nerve-wracking. The movie isn't as good as the book, but it is a great attempt!

Well, other than An Innocent Man I think I've read ALL of Grisham's books, and I think A Time To KIll is by far his very best. I know he became popular with the Firm, and I really liked that one, but Kill is so much deeper, and literally hurts your heart to read. Those are books I love.

When The Firm was made into a movie, closely followed by a lot of his others, I kept saying they would never, ever make Kill a movie, even though it would be the best. I was so, so glad when they did! As well as pleasantly suprised that they did not tone down or shy away from the racial issue of the book.

A Time to Kill is his BEST book in my opinion, although admittedly I have not read a lot of them. :)

Allison, go read A Time to Kill while I'm reading Percy!

Allison wrote: "its also the only Grisham I've ever read

*runs away*

*comes back*


pelican brief
firm

His early books are MUCH better than the later ones
I do want to read Time to Kill though."

See, you have nothing to compare it to! If you had read his others, you would see it pales in comparison. I know it's not fair, but if there is an author I like, I expect them to write up to the standard they have set!

I think Thomas Harris is an excellent writer, and would read anything he wrote, but I really think Hannibal was crap. Maybe if it had been written by someone else, it would have been a good book to me, but I couldn't help but compare it to his other books, and it was obvious he was only writing it to give Hollywood another story to adapt to screen.

its also the only Grisham I've ever read

*runs away*

*comes back*

I do want to read Time to Kill though.

It's okay Becky. Really, A Painted House was okay to me, but only because it (at the time) seemed like a little detour for him. I am really hoping this isn't his new niche. I wouldn't read another by him not based on the legal system in some way. I didn't even read The Innocent Man Murder and Injustice in a Small Town because it was non-fiction.

Allison, you can love it, we'll let you:D

Becky wrote: "I have no interest in reading any of his books that are outside the legal genre. "

meanie. I loved A Painted House!

I have no interest in reading any of his books that are outside the legal genre.

I forgot about Skipping Christmas. I feel exactly the same as you, Luann! Birds of a feather...and all that jazz!.:)

Kandice wrote: "I have to say, I usually love Grisham's law based books, but am not so fond of his that deviate from that...Does anyone else feel the same? ."

Yep, that's how I feel too, Kandice. I liked A Painted House, but if it would have been my first Grisham, it also would have been my last. It wasn't good enough to make me want to go out and find more books by that author. The one non-law book of his that I really like and have reread multiple times is Skipping Christmas.

I have to say, I usually love Grisham's law based books, but am not so fond of his that deviate from that. A Painted House was okay as a novelty, but I didn't like Bleachers and really have no interest in reading Playing For Pizza A Novel. Does anyone else feel the same?

I adore John Cusack! (Has anyone seen the Grifters, with Angelica Huston and Anette Benning? Billiant!!)

EDIT: Mystery Movie thread?

Yep, she was in that one. Very fragile.

Claire Danes as whatever her name was, was good too. That's the one, right? She just has the perfect "victim" face. She looks sweet and fragile, and like she needs to be taken care of.

Oh, I don't recall that. It's been a while since I saw the movie though. I just remember John Cusak as Nicholas Easter, and so now his face is what comes to mind when I think of The Runaway Jury.

I also liked The Rainmaker, and that is a really good movie too. I think that Matt Damon was great in that one as Rudy Baylor.

I think A Time to Kill is his very best, followed closely by The Runaway Jury. I liked both movies, too, except for being a little disapointed they changed cigarettes to guns in the movie version of Jury.

Hayes, you should read A Time To Kill just because it is a great book. It's my favorite so far of Grisham's... Have I said that already? :)

I also liked The Rainmaker quite a lot, and The Runaway Jury. I didn't care for The Firm so much, but I was disappointed by the firm itself. I wanted it to be meaner, scarier, etc, and not backed by who backed it. LOL.

The Firm... I was close... ; )

I don't think there is a movie version of the partner yet.

I confess that I haven't read any of these! (or maybe I read the firm... really can't remember) but was put off them for a really silly reason... Tom Cruise! Can't bear the man, and the film sticks in my head (what was it? The Partner)... pretty lame, huh?

Guess I'll have to break down and read one... where should I start? At the beginning with A Time to Kill, (what, me OCD?)

Goodie!

The Partner was really good, though, so you should be happy about that.

I just looked through my list, and found that I do not have "The Broker", I have "The Partner". Which is good, because Kandice said that The Broker wasn't any good. :)

I'll have to move that up then.

Oh, I just remembered another that I own and haven't read is The Last Juror. :)