Grisham Shows the Seedy Side of Politics and the Law in the Appeal
Written: Mar 11 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Grisham writes a compelling story of corruption, some very clear characters
Cons: Slow pacing, imaginary chemicals, unclear characters at time
The Bottom Line: Is money and business robbing the poor of justice when they are injured by faulty products or actions making them culpable? Grisham offers another excellent, compelling story with marginal writing.
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| keithpruitt's Full Review: John Grisham - The Appeal |
Many years ago the debate raged as to whether superintendents should be elected or appointed by school boards. Those in favor of elected school boards believed that appointing the school leader would create a core of professional superintendents who would travel the country going from position to position collecting huge sums of money. Those who supported what they thought of as a more professional leadership in schools pointed to the “good ole boy” elected system that sometimes offered less than the best.
Can you imagine an elected Supreme Court? The jurists are torn between the special interests of the trial lawyers who profit when they sue companies for faulty products and win big settlements verses the big businesses they sue who want protection from what they deem as frivolous lawsuits? Enter the impact of big money and you have the making for corruption and purchased decisions protecting the big business that have enough money to impact these elections.
John Grisham, the master of the courthouse, is back with another dramatic tale of law done Mississippi style. Set in the lower Mississippi district, The Appeal tells the story of Wes and Mary Grace Payton, small town lawyers, fighting for the poor folks of Bowmore, against Krane Chemical country. The civil suit alleges that Krane Chemical dumped toxic waste in a pit contaminating the cities drinking water and causing the deaths of Chad and Pete Baker leaving a young widow to cope with their loss and mounds of medical debt. And the jury is in. Yes, Krane did it! And the jury decides to send a loud message by awarding Jeanette Baker $41 million.
The Payton’s know there will be appeals and that the case will eventually make its way to the Mississippi Supreme Court. And so does Mr. Trudeau, the arrogant, crafty head of Krane Chemical. Enter a crooked Senator, a devious group who buy elections for the radical right and an election for the Supreme Court involving the re-election of Sheila McCarthy and the stage is set for a showdown. The back players recruit a naïve greenhorn named Ron Fisk and begin raising tons of money. Laying back to the last moment, Fisk’s campaign springs into action bringing shock and suspicion across the state. The race turns ugly as accusations are hurled toward Justice McCarthy. Fisk spends over $4 million to obtain a seat. Will he be successful? Will he impact the Krane case or will the Paytons prevail?
Grisham is at his best in writing about lawyers and trials especially those involving liability claims. This is an area that Grisham seems to know well. As a former state legislator, Grisham also knows the impact of big money in politics. But this isn’t one of Grisham’s greatest efforts. While the drama is impactful, the story drags. Granted the story is compelling. It is very frightening to think of how big business perhaps is controlling the very policy and fairness of judicial review. But it isn’t until the very end of the book that the pathos picks up and the pulse quickens. While I liked The Appeal there was a great deal about the book that was unfavorable. The pace was often sluggish.
Plot and characterization was very good. While I never really had a clear picture of Wes or Mary Grace, I did have a very clear picture of the weasel Mr. Trudeau and Ron Fisk. And while I was unsympathetic to Fisk in being a pawn for an unseen cause, Grisham brings his character around toward the end using tragedy to force him to reconsider his situation. Grisham does an excellent job of portraying the poverty and desperation of the afflicted people in Bowmore. He also paints an excellent picture of the vast differences between the haves and have nots. That this is the bigger picture being address by Grisham is evident. While the book deals with legal proceedings and liability claims, the real focal point is the helplessness of the poor in obtaining justice in America. Power belongs to those who have money. And money is power in this country.
I reluctantly recommend this book from Grisham. My primary reason is the message that is at its center. Most will be as equally disturbed by The Appeal as they were by An Innocent Man. The 324 page book is not necessarily a quick read. The choppy passages shift constantly from one scene to another much as watching a television soap. The reader will find a heightened need for concentration while reading the novel. At times, Grisham uses academic science words that will give pause to the reader as he stops to try to pronounce them. Rules of phonics will be useless in the pursuit. Grisham later admits that he made up the words. Wow, what an imagination, I guess. Why not use real chemicals? Is he afraid of being sued by the chemical companies? The usage of these contrived words makes it difficult to read the story smoothly.
Grisham is best when it is fast-paced action with very clear heroes and very dark villains. One knows who to cheer for in this book, but one just knows going in that it is useless. But the overwhelming feeling of desperation is palpable. In the final analysis, the book falls somewhat short of expectation for a writer of the caliber of Grisham.
Recommended:
Yes
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Member: Keith Pruitt
Location: Old Hickory, TN
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