Author: John Grisham
Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Legal Thriller
First published February 3, 2004
Narrator: Michael Beck
Playback: 11h 48m
Book description: In 1970, one of Mississippi s more colorful weekly newspapers, TheFord County Times, went bankrupt. To the surprise and dismay of many, ownership was assumed by a 23-year-old college dropout, named Willie Traynor. The future of the paper looked grim until a young mother was brutally raped and murdered by a member of the notorious Padgitt family. Willie Traynor reported all the gruesome details, and his newspaper began to prosper.
Review:
This is a quick and easy-to-get-through book. The storyline is ok, it does not have a specific ah moment. Willie does have a very convenient life, so many things just falling into his lap. Do not go into this expecting an amazing plotline, it's mostly going to be character-based.
I enjoyed the character of Willie, who saves the local newspaper in Mississippi in the 1970's, then begins to cover a sensational case of the brutal rape and murder of a young single mum. He commits to sharing the whole thing with the public, but unfortunately, he gets into the sensationalist side by starting to report things he hears at the court and around the town before the trial itself had taken place. This places him as a target to the family of the culprit.
I especially enjoyed the family of Callie, and the dynamics between her and the young and inexperienced journalist/editor Willie. She becomes a second mother/mentor of ethics for Willie. Their relationship blossomed and I enjoyed their banter about society of the times and Callie's weekly scrutinizing of the errors in the paper.
It's really a nice story with an atmospheric read- great combination; the legal part, then added a lot of heart to it. It combines the thrill and drama of the scenes in the courtroom with the heart and soul and lives of its enchanting characters. This is one of the first stories that span over a long period of time, it takes place over the 70s decade, portraying a time of transformation and awakening in the American culture. It talks about taking risks, commitment to ideals and ethics, growing up as a person, and opening your eyes in a way a white male young man couldn't have if he had not been taken into the bosom of a black family living in the South. It demonstrates the power of the written word. It relates how true friendship can break barriers, I just loved the unlikely friendships here and having it be a simple part of the story.
Tha audiobook was great, very good, and easy to understand, I did not have a need to reference the physical copy in order to understand it. Recommend it in audio format if you are comfortable with it.
This was used as part of the challenge:
Author: John Grisham
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