3.5 ⭐️’s

I wouldn't exactly classify this as a suspense novel but it was a good out of my usual suspense genre reads. It has as a very believable plot of the underbelly of what goes on in the political world. It is actually my first John Grisham book to read since I've just started reading again after decades of not reading novels. A good read that does keep you interested in where it is leading to. It really makes you think about what a person would do if they ended up in this type of situation or was related to or friends of someone that did.

A great Grisham. One of the best I've read

I took forever to finish this book. There were parts which was interesting and a feel of danger, but also a few sections which I found a bit slow and boring. I still wanted to see how it ended and The Broker was quite a character.

I absolutely love this book. I love Grisham and this is one of (if not my favorite). However, it not for the traditional reasons I love this book. I love it partly because it is set in Northern Italy, where my son served his mission even some in Bologna and because of these places being brought to life. I have heard of them, seen pictures, and plan to see them soon. Also, I love the Italian words being thrown in-- I am learning some Italian, so I loved a chance to be more exposed to them. Finally, I like the storyline and characters-- a once noncaring crook who changes into a humane person and additionally has to beat his protagonists to survive. This is a third read and I still couldn't put it down until I finished.

Put yourself in a new country, state, city and do not know a soul, the language, where you are. Now try to keep out of sight from those watching you....wee...the ride is on and the writer keeps the words flowing so the pages keep turning. What a good book all the way through. I could not help but cheer Joel/Marco on.

This book started of slow but picked up half way through.

It took me some time to enjoy it. I find the beginning a bit slow and sometimes even boring. Then it becomes compelling and intriguing. The plot is not as straightforward as one expects, as the main character’s story is not really revealed. Ultimately the book is not about that and it is more about the aftermath of his story. It is well written and the context of the book was for me interesting. The writing is mostly fluid and smooth. Overall a good book, although not fully one that you can not put down.

I'm toying with the idea of only commenting on books on other people's entries, but although this is a departure from typical GR practice, it might end up just adding lots of complexity to the site. but it does prevent people from reading straight book reviews if they're located on some other person's account. and, it involves losing data control over that review to another person. decisions, decisions!

since a chunk of time has passed since departure from Club H, I guess feelings have calmed down enough to permit some retrospective analysis. I won't go on and on about the affair. it lasted 2.5 weeks plus some preliminaries, it was pretty in its own way. in the end, if you are hired by a regional manager but opposed by the director of HR and a senior foreman, your time is limited. I'd try to be more bitter, but unlike certain fall adventures, less time was invested, less emotional commitment made. and THE BARTENDER EXPERIENCE, consisting of rotating a person through 45-55 minutes of conversation without saying anything in the least bit controversial is itself an interesting experience. it's not really a trade secret I'm revealing this, as I think pretty much everyone understands that if you make a billion dollars and join a private club, the personnel there are trained in more than just fluffing your pillows. they are also specifically trained in how to speak with you, and soak your pillow with tears if that amounts to alienation from the human race.

what do people want? well, the rich also fake sometimes, and they're definitely human not octopus monsters, a 10-15% chance to break into some of their circles is not really worth loss of peace of mind, on the other hand, I have no idea whether there's a single HR email or not, we're going to have to check it out all out at some later date.

as for "what's next," presumably that remains continued adventures on the continent. if I'm not moving directly to France, at least assurances have been made for some kind of income. I'd like for things to be off plastic, but if they're plastic, they're plastic.

[or if I'm detracting by not mentioning the Tube strike, so be it]

I am addressing, I guess, things in particular rather than the general whole. if みみからミサイル means we're all taking extra precautions these days, well then that doesn't amount to an absolute determination in favor of すのうまじくぺらだいす。 rather, I'm hoping for a better picture of paper cranes, paper dragons, and paper tigers, in that order. and will Friday decide? and who will Makiko?

oh god. it's just me and the penguins. march march march

This is not the typical courtroom drama I've often read by Grisham. I really love those, but this was enjoyable just for the storytelling. It was practically a travelogue, Grisham adores Italy, but in between all of that it's the story of Joel/Marco, a former big time attorney who had specialized in brokering huge deals between different parties, businesses, and governments. He had gotten himself into some legal trouble and ended up in prison, but received a Presidential pardon and was smuggled out to Italy by the CIA. What happens to him in Italy is the bulk of the tale. I was already planning to go to Italy because of a different story I read that was set in Florence, and now I need to see Bologna too.

Το λάτρεψα. Και την ιστορία του μεσάζοντα και τη γραφή του Grisham.

Ήταν το πρώτο που διάβασα από αυτόν το συγγραφέα, ενώ παράλληλα γεννήθηκε ένας νέος έρωτας για τα δικαστικά μυθιστορήματα που γράφει. Το συγκεκριμένο το κατατάσσω στην κατηγορία γυρνώ-τις-σελίδες-μέχρι-να-φτάσω-στο-τέλος.

Μη το κοιτάς, αν σου αρέσουν τα βιβλία που ανασκαλεύουν κρυμμένα μυστικά μέσα στο Λευκό Οίκο, αυτό είναι το βιβλίο σου. Αν πάλι δε ξέρεις αν σου αρέσουν αυτά, αυτό είναι το βιβλίο σου και σε αυτή την περίπτωση- ήρθε η ώρα να μάθεις!

Εύκολο βιβλίο, χωρίς να απαιτεί ιδιαίτερη συγκέντρωση σε βάζει αμέσως στη δράση! 5 αστέρια από εμένα και καλή ανάγνωση!

Μ.

3.8 stars
John Grisham is a good writer; entertaining story and plot but he's best stick to his legal thriller.