3 Stars, I rated it. Why, because in spite of it all, I enjoyed the process of reading the book. It’s the book as a whole that I hated.
I was travelling with a colleague on a business trip when she was reading this, and she told me not to bother. Not to be daunted, I picked it up.
She was right. I wanted to shoot myself at the end of the book. But that’s the point - at the END of the book.
The book is gripping... very gripping. The first few pages fail to grab, but eventually you’re hooked.
I found myself getting progressively euphoric, as Carter made his millions... and progressively depressed as things started falling apart. That’s a power Grisham has - of involving the reader intimately.
But this book proved something I’ve suspected for a while. Occassionally, and more and more of late, John Grisham has a serious writer’s block when it comes to ending.
His endings are like what some people have said to me about Pearl Jam’s music (Which I didn’t like hearing - I love Pearl Jam).
They never really end... just kind of stop being.
And this ending was a prime example of that... at some point, the Author’s Note begins, and you’re left thinking ’’HUH!?!??!’’
’’HUH?????!!!? I wanna burn this book’’ is not a good way for a book to leave you.. and hence, only 3 Stars for a book that, till about 75% of the book was a 5-Star.
Because the book left me with ’’HUH!??!?!?!’’