When you pick up a John Grisham book you expect bright lawyers, court, jury and a superb thrilling story . I rate all the Grisham books as ‘ unputdownable’ undoubtedly he is a master story teller.
Painted House was a surprise for me, a pleasant surprise I must say. This book has no bright lawyers or court rooms, but story of a family of cotton farmers of Arkansas of mid 20th century and told through a small boy of ‘Chandlers’.
The plot revolves around the family and cotton harvesting, their joy, sorrow, hope and grit. The description of ambiance is superb and the pace fast, while reading I remembered John Steinbeck’s masterpiece ‘ Grapes of Wrath’ .
Grisham may not be as literary genius as Steinbeck but the story is very touching and I enjoyed every line of it.
The story starts with the cotton picking season and gives a vivid description cotton farming activity and the way an average cotton farmer family used to harvest.
’The Hill people and the Mexicans arrived on the same day, it was a Wednesday early in September 1952, -------------------------------------. Could be a “good crop”.. Thus the story begins, for six weeks they picked cotton, the tale is told through a Seven years old Luke Chandler.
The style, story and the plot is simply superb, not like any other Grisham Painted House definitely a great book. Let us see what history tells about this book.