Rating:  Summary: Even the Babe didn't hit a homerun everytime Review: I have read and enjoyed thoroughly all but one of Grisham's other novels, but couldn't get into this one. The book seems to move rather slowly, because it is hard to find any characters in the book that you can like, respect, or even see anything unpredictable in. The difference between suspense and boredom in a story is often the development of some sort of empathy with the character or characters. A third of the way into the book I asked myself, "If all of the characters in the book died in a natural disaster on the next page, would I be sad, would I even care?". In fact, I wrote my own ending and happily put it down at that point.
Rating:  Summary: Yawn! Review: Mr. Grisham disappointed me this time. The Brethern seemed to be written hurriedly. No real hero and only a sort of villan. Just was not the Grisham page turner that he normally writes. Come John, give us a good one. {I usually read his books in two days.. this took me a week and a half to plow through!
Rating:  Summary: Second Worst Grisham Review: Grisham will probably never write another book as bad as The Chamber, but this is the worst of the rest. As with most Grisham novels it has an interesting set-up, but in The Brethren you never really pull for the characters or care about the ending.
Rating:  Summary: No value for your buck with this Grisham.... Review: Thin, slim and no meat in the 'Brethren'. I like John but he has to slow down a develop a deeper plot with more twists and turns. I think he is too busy trying to work his books into his tax deductible vacations, i.e. Monte Carlo.From now on when I read a Grisham it will have 'Property of the Canal Fulton Library' printed inside. Sorry John.
Rating:  Summary: Lost it Review: I've read all of John Grisham's books and this is definitely his worse. I went back to the bookstore to look at another copy, thinking there were some pages left out of my book at the end. The ending was awful. Too many unanswered questions left unanswered. I wouldn't recommend this one. Wait for the paperback to appear in the used bookstores.
Rating:  Summary: Intriguing plot; boring execution Review: The Grisham name once was synonymous with excellent writing and page turner plots. The Brethren has a great plot and sub plot, but they never really were well developed - no real suspense or excitement. The characters were ho hum but could have been very interesting and mysterious. As for the ending I still ask myself "Is this the end?" I feel like I should reread some parts because I must have missed something. So much meaty stuff left unfinished. I hope he isn't planning a sequel because I won't buy it. In the story voters ask frequently "Who's Aaron Lake?" including me who wants to ask what has happened to him? I would have really liked to have read about his bought Presidency and just how he handled the country's affairs and the other situations he was involved in. However, Mr. Grisham thought not to follow through. Now I ask "Where is the "old" John Grisham?"
Rating:  Summary: Where's the rest of it? Review: Johnny, you're a clever story teller but there's a problem with the ending here-it doesn't have one. Nothing ties together, nothing invites me to keep on playing back the storyline long after I've finished it. For the first time ever, you missed the boat. Where was your editor on this one?
Rating:  Summary: Shallow but somewhat engaging Review: Compared to some of Grisham's great books, this was a disappointment. As always, his book had a clever premise, but that's about it. The characters were not likeable and were really poorly drawn in my opinion. There was no believability in the way the plot unfolded either. Having just completed a fantastic book by Nelson DeMille--The Lion's Game, which was filled with excitement from the beginning, Grisham's Brethren seemed a poor offering.
Rating:  Summary: The Bretheren Review: The book kept me reading it over and over again. I never laid it down and it kept me glued on each of the pages.
Rating:  Summary: The Brethren Review: Just finished The Brethren minutes ago. Like the other reviewers I am puzzled that he has left his typical formula. His protagonists in most of his books are easy to identify with. Who was that in this book? What was his point this time around? Given that he regularly has a moral ax to grind this bok deviated from that unless his point is that politics are corrupt to the core. With all that said I still liked it better than Street Lawyer or the Chamber. But I appreciate his basic formula...that someone innocent gets mixed up with bad boys and somehow has the wits to get out of it.
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