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Jake Brigance #1
丨丕賳 賵賯鬲 丕賱賯鬲賱
氐丿乇鬲 毓賳 丕賱丿丕乇 丕賱毓乇亘賷丞 賱賱毓賱賵賲 賳丕卮乇賵賳貙 乇賵丕賷丞 芦丨丕賳 賵賯鬲 丕賱賯鬲賱禄貙 賱噩賵賳 睾乇賷卮丕賲 丕賱乇賵丕卅賷貙 賲賳 鬲乇噩賲丞 賳賵乇 丨丕賲丿.
賮賷 賲賳鬲氐賮 孬賲丕賳賷賳丕鬲 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱毓卮乇賷賳 賵賮賷 賲丿賷賳丞 賰賱丕賳鬲賵賳 賮賷 賵賱丕賷丞 丕賱賲爻賷爻賷亘賷 丕賱噩賳賵亘賷丞貨 鬲鬲毓乇囟 賮鬲丕丞 爻賵丿丕亍 鬲亘賱睾 賲賳 丕賱毓賲乇 毓卮乇 爻賳賵丕鬲
賮賷 賲賳鬲氐賮 孬賲丕賳賷賳丕鬲 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱毓卮乇賷賳 賵賮賷 賲丿賷賳丞 賰賱丕賳鬲賵賳 賮賷 賵賱丕賷丞 丕賱賲爻賷爻賷亘賷 丕賱噩賳賵亘賷丞貨 鬲鬲毓乇囟 賮鬲丕丞 爻賵丿丕亍 鬲亘賱睾 賲賳 丕賱毓賲乇 毓卮乇 爻賳賵丕鬲
574 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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228k people want to read
About the author
John Grisham
530听books86.2k听followersJohn Grisham is the author of fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include Framed, Camino Ghosts, and A Time for Mercy, which is being developed by HBO as a limited series.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,518 reviews
March 8, 2012
Considered Grisham's best novel by many readers far more perspicacious than moi, this well-written, emotionally-charged thriller certainly delivers. While it doesn't rank as my eye's own personal apple, I can certainly see why it is esteemed by fans of both the legal-thriller and Grisham.
Despite being fast-paced and a true page-turner (what I would call a popcorn-read), there's a gravity and social conscience that pervades the story and adds a weight to the narrative. There is depth here, more than I expected.
Setting aside for the moment my gripes over some of the language used in the book (one vulgarity in particular), Grisham does a nice job of capturing the setting and providing an authentic feel and voice to his characters. Overall, a satisfying read that held my attention throughout.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Despite its brisky pace, Grisham鈥檚 Mississippi-based legal thriller deals with some tough, serious issues (e.g., race-relations, vigilantism and 鈥渏ustice versus lawful鈥�). The plot centers on the trial of a poor black father who murders the two white shit stains who raped, tortured and brutalized his 10 year-old daughter. The crime and the subsequent trial triggers a firestorm of racial tension as factions on both sides become vocal and volatile.
From the opening pages that describe the brutal rape (which was gut-wrenching in the extreme to experience, especially as a dad) through the final reading of the verdict, Grisham drives the narrative effortlessly and keeps the reader hooked and engaged. His story-telling is excellent.
THOUGHTS:
However...
...now that I have both seen the movie version and read the book, my final verdict is that the film is both more enjoyable and the higher quality product of the two. I say this despite the fact that the movie is arguably the 鈥渟飞别补迟颈别蝉迟鈥� most lathery film in American history and my wife and I crack up about that every time we see it.
Those pictures don鈥檛 do credit to the muggy, perspiration-overload of the real thing, but if you haven鈥檛 seen it, trust me鈥he movie dripped sudor from every pore like a hooker in church. Words like sheen and glistening are too understated. It was more like the actors showered, got dressed without drying off, walked through a 鈥渕ister鈥� and then wiped down with a moist towelette before every...single...scene.
Now, not everyone was complaining about the drenchiness since it was Matthew McConaughey, Sam 鈥渋t鈥檚 the one that says Bad MF鈥� Jackson, Ashley Judd and Sandra Bullock doing the sweating, but still...hilarious and a bit distracting.
BOOK GRIPES:
Keep in mind that I liked the book, so my gripes below really point towards why I didn't rate the book higher than 3 stars.
1. Too much fluff: When you can take a 528 page book and condense it into a 2+ hour movie that captures perfectly the essence of the story and manages to be even more emotionally powerful, it indicates that the novel was a little thin in the story department. This is the case here. While the expanded story and segues are interesting, the central plot contained too much unnecessariness that could鈥檝e been easily discarded without touching the heart of the story...as the filmmakers did.
2. Excessive use of "N" word: Given that the novel is set in 1984, I had a real problem with the significant use of the 鈥淣鈥� word* in the story.
*(No, South Park fans, I am not referring to 鈥渘agger.鈥�).
Had this been set in the 50鈥檚 or 60鈥檚, I would have seen it as a product of the times and swallowed my uncomfortableness. However, it just seems odd that as late as 1984, the word (and the frame of mind that goes with it) would be used so casually and regularly. Given that Grisham is from the South and went to school in Mississippi, he may be spot on with his characterization, and he probably is. If true, this is just very, very sad. Still, its constant use grated on me and I thought the movie did a much better job with the dialogue. This is coming from someone who does not normally favor filtering words through the PC processor.
3. The Main Character: Jake Brigance is not nearly as likeable in the book as he in the movie and I found it hard to engage with him. Now I think we can all agree that Matt McConaughey is not exactly a high level thespian.
However, he did bring the right tone to this role and I found myself comparing the novel鈥檚 version unfavorably.
4. The Ending: Again, I liked the movie version so, so, so much better. While the main outcome is the same, I really liked the way the movie handled the climactic closing argument and was disappointed in the novels path to the verdict. I also really enjoyed the last scene in the movie where Jake and his family go to a barbeque at Carl Lee鈥檚 house where their two daughters can play. I thought it was perfect.
Okay, so enough griping. I thought the book was good. I thought the movie was very good. If you've seen the movie, I don't think you are missing much by skipping the book. However, if you haven't seen the film, I would recommend reading the book first and then watching the adaptation. I think you will enjoy both.
3.0 stars. Recommended.
Despite being fast-paced and a true page-turner (what I would call a popcorn-read), there's a gravity and social conscience that pervades the story and adds a weight to the narrative. There is depth here, more than I expected.
Setting aside for the moment my gripes over some of the language used in the book (one vulgarity in particular), Grisham does a nice job of capturing the setting and providing an authentic feel and voice to his characters. Overall, a satisfying read that held my attention throughout.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Despite its brisky pace, Grisham鈥檚 Mississippi-based legal thriller deals with some tough, serious issues (e.g., race-relations, vigilantism and 鈥渏ustice versus lawful鈥�). The plot centers on the trial of a poor black father who murders the two white shit stains who raped, tortured and brutalized his 10 year-old daughter. The crime and the subsequent trial triggers a firestorm of racial tension as factions on both sides become vocal and volatile.
From the opening pages that describe the brutal rape (which was gut-wrenching in the extreme to experience, especially as a dad) through the final reading of the verdict, Grisham drives the narrative effortlessly and keeps the reader hooked and engaged. His story-telling is excellent.
THOUGHTS:
However...
...now that I have both seen the movie version and read the book, my final verdict is that the film is both more enjoyable and the higher quality product of the two. I say this despite the fact that the movie is arguably the 鈥渟飞别补迟颈别蝉迟鈥� most lathery film in American history and my wife and I crack up about that every time we see it.
Those pictures don鈥檛 do credit to the muggy, perspiration-overload of the real thing, but if you haven鈥檛 seen it, trust me鈥he movie dripped sudor from every pore like a hooker in church. Words like sheen and glistening are too understated. It was more like the actors showered, got dressed without drying off, walked through a 鈥渕ister鈥� and then wiped down with a moist towelette before every...single...scene.
Now, not everyone was complaining about the drenchiness since it was Matthew McConaughey, Sam 鈥渋t鈥檚 the one that says Bad MF鈥� Jackson, Ashley Judd and Sandra Bullock doing the sweating, but still...hilarious and a bit distracting.
BOOK GRIPES:
Keep in mind that I liked the book, so my gripes below really point towards why I didn't rate the book higher than 3 stars.
1. Too much fluff: When you can take a 528 page book and condense it into a 2+ hour movie that captures perfectly the essence of the story and manages to be even more emotionally powerful, it indicates that the novel was a little thin in the story department. This is the case here. While the expanded story and segues are interesting, the central plot contained too much unnecessariness that could鈥檝e been easily discarded without touching the heart of the story...as the filmmakers did.
2. Excessive use of "N" word: Given that the novel is set in 1984, I had a real problem with the significant use of the 鈥淣鈥� word* in the story.
*(No, South Park fans, I am not referring to 鈥渘agger.鈥�).
Had this been set in the 50鈥檚 or 60鈥檚, I would have seen it as a product of the times and swallowed my uncomfortableness. However, it just seems odd that as late as 1984, the word (and the frame of mind that goes with it) would be used so casually and regularly. Given that Grisham is from the South and went to school in Mississippi, he may be spot on with his characterization, and he probably is. If true, this is just very, very sad. Still, its constant use grated on me and I thought the movie did a much better job with the dialogue. This is coming from someone who does not normally favor filtering words through the PC processor.
3. The Main Character: Jake Brigance is not nearly as likeable in the book as he in the movie and I found it hard to engage with him. Now I think we can all agree that Matt McConaughey is not exactly a high level thespian.
However, he did bring the right tone to this role and I found myself comparing the novel鈥檚 version unfavorably.
4. The Ending: Again, I liked the movie version so, so, so much better. While the main outcome is the same, I really liked the way the movie handled the climactic closing argument and was disappointed in the novels path to the verdict. I also really enjoyed the last scene in the movie where Jake and his family go to a barbeque at Carl Lee鈥檚 house where their two daughters can play. I thought it was perfect.
Okay, so enough griping. I thought the book was good. I thought the movie was very good. If you've seen the movie, I don't think you are missing much by skipping the book. However, if you haven't seen the film, I would recommend reading the book first and then watching the adaptation. I think you will enjoy both.
3.0 stars. Recommended.
November 16, 2021
A Time to Kill (Jake Brigance, #1), John Grisham
A Time to Kill is a 1988 legal thriller by John Grisham. It was Grisham's first novel.
In the small town of Clanton, in fictional Ford County, Mississippi, a ten-year-old African-American girl named Tonya Hailey is viciously raped and beaten by two white supremacists, James "Pete" Willard and Billy Ray Cobb.
Tonya is later found and rushed to the hospital while Pete and Billy Ray are heard bragging at a roadside bar about their crime. Tonya's distraught and outraged father, Carl Lee Hailey, consults his friend Jake Brigance, a white attorney who had previously represented Hailey's brother, on whether he could get himself acquitted if he killed the two men.
Jake tells Carl Lee not to do anything stupid, but admits that if it had been his daughter, he would kill the rapists. Carl Lee is determined to avenge Tonya and, while Pete and Billy Ray are being led into holding after their bond hearing, he kills both men with an M16 rifle.
Carl Lee is charged with capital murder. Despite efforts to persuade Carl Lee to retain high-powered attorneys, he elects to be represented by Jake. Helping Jake are two loyal friends, disbarred attorney Lucien Wilbanks and sleazy divorce lawyer Harry Rex Vonner.
Later, the team is assisted by liberal law student Ellen Roark, who has prior experience with death penalty cases and offers her services as a temporary clerk pro bono. Ellen appears to be interested in Jake romantically, but the married Jake resists her overtures.
The team also receives some illicit behind-the-scenes help from black county sheriff Ozzie Walls, a figure beloved by the black community and also well respected by the white community who upholds the law by arresting Carl Lee but, as the father of two daughters of his own, privately supports Carl Lee and gives him special treatment while in jail and goes out of the way to assist Jake in any way he legally can.
Carl Lee is prosecuted by Ford County's corrupt district attorney, Rufus Buckley, who hopes that the case will boost his political career. It is claimed that the judge presiding over Carl Lee's trial, Omar "Ichabod" Noose, has been intimidated by local white supremacist elements.
This proves true when, despite having no history of racist inclinations in his rulings, Noose refuses Jake's perfectly reasonable request for a change of venue, even though the racial make-up of Ford County virtually guarantees an all-white jury.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 賲丕賴 丕讴鬲亘乇 爻丕賱2001賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 夭賲丕賳蹖 亘乇丕蹖 讴卮鬲賳貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 噩丕賳 诏乇蹖卮丕賲貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 賴丕丿蹖 毓丕丿賱倬賵乇貨 賲卮禺氐丕鬲 賳卮乇 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 讴賵卮卮貙 爻丕賱1378貙 丿乇526氐貨 卮丕亘讴9646636145貨 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴 20賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 夭賲丕賳蹖 亘乇丕蹖 讴卮鬲賳貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 噩丕賳 诏乇蹖卮丕賲貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 噩賵丕丿 爻蹖丿 丕卮乇賮貨 賲卮禺氐丕鬲 賳卮乇 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 夭乇蹖賳貙 爻丕賱1378貙 丿乇640氐貨 卮丕亘讴9644070178貨
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賵讴蹖賱 噩賵丕賳蹖 亘賴 賳丕賲 芦噩蹖讴 亘乇蹖诏丕賳爻禄 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 丿賮丕毓 丕夭 蹖讴 賲鬲賴賲 爻蹖丕賴倬賵爻鬲貙 丿乇 亘乇丕亘乇 賴蹖卅鬲 賲賳氐賮賴 丕蹖 爻賮蹖丿倬賵爻鬲 乇丕貙 亘乇 丿賵卮 賲蹖诏蹖乇丿貙 噩乇蹖丕賳 亘爻蹖丕乇 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴貙 丕賲丕 噩匕丕亘 賵 卮蹖乇蹖賳 倬蹖卮 賲蹖乇賵丿貨 丕賱亘鬲賴 丕夭 賳馗乇 讴爻蹖 讴賴 亘賴 爻蹖爻鬲賲 賯囟丕蹖蹖 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 毓賱丕賯賴 賴賲 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮丿貨 芦夭賲丕賳蹖 亘乇丕蹖 讴卮鬲賳禄貙 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 芦噩丕賳 诏乇蹖卮丕賲禄貙 賵 诏賵蹖丕 賳夭丿蹖讴鬲乇蹖賳 丕孬乇貙 亘賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕蹖卮丕賳 亘丕卮丿貨 芦鬲賵賳蹖丕禄貙 丿禺鬲乇 丿賴爻丕賱賴 蹖 芦讴丕乇賱蹖 賴蹖賱蹖禄貙 讴丕乇诏乇 爻蹖丕賴倬賵爻鬲 卮賴乇 芦賮賵乇鬲 讴丕賳鬲蹖禄貙 亘乇丕蹖 禺乇蹖丿 丕夭 禺丕賳賴 禺丕乇噩 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賵賱蹖 丿蹖诏乇 亘丕夭 賳賲蹖鈥屭必� 倬爻 丕夭 噩爻鬲噩賵貙 鬲賳賴丕 爻亘丿 禺乇蹖丿 丿禺鬲乇讴 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賵 丕孬乇蹖 丕夭 丕賵 賳蹖爻鬲貙 鬲丕 丕蹖賳讴賴 芦讴丕乇賱 賴蹖賱蹖禄貙 丕夭 芦丕賵夭蹖 賵丕賱夭禄貙 讴賱丕賳鬲乇 卮賴乇貙 蹖丕乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囏� 讴賱丕賳鬲乇 賳蹖乇賵賴丕蹖 禺賵丿 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖 蹖丕賮鬲賳 丿禺鬲乇讴 亘賴 讴丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭屫必� 賵賱蹖 賲賵賮賯 賳賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀� 丕賵 乇丕 亘蹖丕亘賳丿貨 賲丕賴蹖诏蹖乇丕賳 丿禺鬲乇讴 乇丕 丿乇 丨丕賱蹖讴賴 丿爻鬲 賵 倬丕蹖卮 胤賳丕亘 倬蹖趩 卮丿賴 賵 亘賴 卮丿鬲 賲賵乇丿 丌夭丕乇 賵 丕匕蹖鬲 賯乇丕乇 诏乇賮鬲賴貙 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 芦鬲賵賳蹖丕禄蹖 賲噩乇賵丨 丕夭 丿賵 噩賵丕賳 爻賮蹖丿倬賵爻鬲 賵 賵丕賳鬲蹖 夭乇丿乇賳诏 丨乇賮 賲蹖夭賳丿 賵...貨
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 24/10/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 24/08/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
A Time to Kill is a 1988 legal thriller by John Grisham. It was Grisham's first novel.
In the small town of Clanton, in fictional Ford County, Mississippi, a ten-year-old African-American girl named Tonya Hailey is viciously raped and beaten by two white supremacists, James "Pete" Willard and Billy Ray Cobb.
Tonya is later found and rushed to the hospital while Pete and Billy Ray are heard bragging at a roadside bar about their crime. Tonya's distraught and outraged father, Carl Lee Hailey, consults his friend Jake Brigance, a white attorney who had previously represented Hailey's brother, on whether he could get himself acquitted if he killed the two men.
Jake tells Carl Lee not to do anything stupid, but admits that if it had been his daughter, he would kill the rapists. Carl Lee is determined to avenge Tonya and, while Pete and Billy Ray are being led into holding after their bond hearing, he kills both men with an M16 rifle.
Carl Lee is charged with capital murder. Despite efforts to persuade Carl Lee to retain high-powered attorneys, he elects to be represented by Jake. Helping Jake are two loyal friends, disbarred attorney Lucien Wilbanks and sleazy divorce lawyer Harry Rex Vonner.
Later, the team is assisted by liberal law student Ellen Roark, who has prior experience with death penalty cases and offers her services as a temporary clerk pro bono. Ellen appears to be interested in Jake romantically, but the married Jake resists her overtures.
The team also receives some illicit behind-the-scenes help from black county sheriff Ozzie Walls, a figure beloved by the black community and also well respected by the white community who upholds the law by arresting Carl Lee but, as the father of two daughters of his own, privately supports Carl Lee and gives him special treatment while in jail and goes out of the way to assist Jake in any way he legally can.
Carl Lee is prosecuted by Ford County's corrupt district attorney, Rufus Buckley, who hopes that the case will boost his political career. It is claimed that the judge presiding over Carl Lee's trial, Omar "Ichabod" Noose, has been intimidated by local white supremacist elements.
This proves true when, despite having no history of racist inclinations in his rulings, Noose refuses Jake's perfectly reasonable request for a change of venue, even though the racial make-up of Ford County virtually guarantees an all-white jury.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 賲丕賴 丕讴鬲亘乇 爻丕賱2001賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 夭賲丕賳蹖 亘乇丕蹖 讴卮鬲賳貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 噩丕賳 诏乇蹖卮丕賲貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 賴丕丿蹖 毓丕丿賱倬賵乇貨 賲卮禺氐丕鬲 賳卮乇 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 讴賵卮卮貙 爻丕賱1378貙 丿乇526氐貨 卮丕亘讴9646636145貨 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴 20賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 夭賲丕賳蹖 亘乇丕蹖 讴卮鬲賳貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 噩丕賳 诏乇蹖卮丕賲貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 噩賵丕丿 爻蹖丿 丕卮乇賮貨 賲卮禺氐丕鬲 賳卮乇 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 夭乇蹖賳貙 爻丕賱1378貙 丿乇640氐貨 卮丕亘讴9644070178貨
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賵讴蹖賱 噩賵丕賳蹖 亘賴 賳丕賲 芦噩蹖讴 亘乇蹖诏丕賳爻禄 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 丿賮丕毓 丕夭 蹖讴 賲鬲賴賲 爻蹖丕賴倬賵爻鬲貙 丿乇 亘乇丕亘乇 賴蹖卅鬲 賲賳氐賮賴 丕蹖 爻賮蹖丿倬賵爻鬲 乇丕貙 亘乇 丿賵卮 賲蹖诏蹖乇丿貙 噩乇蹖丕賳 亘爻蹖丕乇 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴貙 丕賲丕 噩匕丕亘 賵 卮蹖乇蹖賳 倬蹖卮 賲蹖乇賵丿貨 丕賱亘鬲賴 丕夭 賳馗乇 讴爻蹖 讴賴 亘賴 爻蹖爻鬲賲 賯囟丕蹖蹖 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 毓賱丕賯賴 賴賲 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮丿貨 芦夭賲丕賳蹖 亘乇丕蹖 讴卮鬲賳禄貙 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 芦噩丕賳 诏乇蹖卮丕賲禄貙 賵 诏賵蹖丕 賳夭丿蹖讴鬲乇蹖賳 丕孬乇貙 亘賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕蹖卮丕賳 亘丕卮丿貨 芦鬲賵賳蹖丕禄貙 丿禺鬲乇 丿賴爻丕賱賴 蹖 芦讴丕乇賱蹖 賴蹖賱蹖禄貙 讴丕乇诏乇 爻蹖丕賴倬賵爻鬲 卮賴乇 芦賮賵乇鬲 讴丕賳鬲蹖禄貙 亘乇丕蹖 禺乇蹖丿 丕夭 禺丕賳賴 禺丕乇噩 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賵賱蹖 丿蹖诏乇 亘丕夭 賳賲蹖鈥屭必� 倬爻 丕夭 噩爻鬲噩賵貙 鬲賳賴丕 爻亘丿 禺乇蹖丿 丿禺鬲乇讴 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賵 丕孬乇蹖 丕夭 丕賵 賳蹖爻鬲貙 鬲丕 丕蹖賳讴賴 芦讴丕乇賱 賴蹖賱蹖禄貙 丕夭 芦丕賵夭蹖 賵丕賱夭禄貙 讴賱丕賳鬲乇 卮賴乇貙 蹖丕乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囏� 讴賱丕賳鬲乇 賳蹖乇賵賴丕蹖 禺賵丿 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖 蹖丕賮鬲賳 丿禺鬲乇讴 亘賴 讴丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭屫必� 賵賱蹖 賲賵賮賯 賳賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀� 丕賵 乇丕 亘蹖丕亘賳丿貨 賲丕賴蹖诏蹖乇丕賳 丿禺鬲乇讴 乇丕 丿乇 丨丕賱蹖讴賴 丿爻鬲 賵 倬丕蹖卮 胤賳丕亘 倬蹖趩 卮丿賴 賵 亘賴 卮丿鬲 賲賵乇丿 丌夭丕乇 賵 丕匕蹖鬲 賯乇丕乇 诏乇賮鬲賴貙 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 芦鬲賵賳蹖丕禄蹖 賲噩乇賵丨 丕夭 丿賵 噩賵丕賳 爻賮蹖丿倬賵爻鬲 賵 賵丕賳鬲蹖 夭乇丿乇賳诏 丨乇賮 賲蹖夭賳丿 賵...貨
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 24/10/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 24/08/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
October 19, 2018
This 1988 first Grisham novel is outstanding. 10 of 10 stars!
May 7, 2024
Black man, Carl Lee Hailey's daughter is savagely assaulted, tortured and left for dead by two racist men. His daughter was 10 years old. There's no doubt in Carl's mind that this is a time to kill. The entire State of Mississippi is hooked on the trial of Carl Lee Hailey. The town of Clanton, Mississippi where the crimes took place is focus point of the book as race politics and pure politic all get caught up in this murder trial of the century.
This is truly an unforgettable debut, and plainly shows how Grisham's appeal acquired many from the off. A story that's almost documentary in feel with its third person omnipotent narration and oddly dispassionate view of the some of the vicious crimes that take place in this book. What I love about this book, and it does it so well, (and history has proven many times), is that there are no good or well-meaning racists. It exposes the KKK and racists' viewpoint that they'd even support White child rapists over a Black Man. The chapter by chapter story is captivating with the Black Man being defended by a typical Southern man, just one that believes in justice. At times a hard read, be warned. A strong 8 out of 12, Four Star read.
2024 read
This is truly an unforgettable debut, and plainly shows how Grisham's appeal acquired many from the off. A story that's almost documentary in feel with its third person omnipotent narration and oddly dispassionate view of the some of the vicious crimes that take place in this book. What I love about this book, and it does it so well, (and history has proven many times), is that there are no good or well-meaning racists. It exposes the KKK and racists' viewpoint that they'd even support White child rapists over a Black Man. The chapter by chapter story is captivating with the Black Man being defended by a typical Southern man, just one that believes in justice. At times a hard read, be warned. A strong 8 out of 12, Four Star read.
2024 read
April 21, 2020
Original Mid-90s Star Only Review 鈥� 5 Stars
Re-Read in 2020 Review 鈥� 4 Stars
You will notice a drop in the stars above, but you can take that with a grain of salt. It is still a great book that will pull you in and not let go. If you are familiar with Grisham鈥檚 work, this is where it all began, and I think some consider it mainly downhill from here. Not necessarily a big downhill 鈥� but it sure does seem in some aspects like he was at the top of his game for his first few novels. He mentioned in his forward that this one almost did not get published, but the success of The Firm helped generate interest, and I am very glad it did.
This is not an easy book to read, but fiction based on hard truths never is. There is very graphic and shocking sexual assault and racism. So, while they add to a powerful story, some may find it difficult to read. Knowing this, be sure to proceed with caution!
The reason for the slight downturn in stars for me is that it just didn鈥檛 feel as smooth to me as I remembered. Maybe I was looking at an old favorite through rose-colored glassed before I re-read. The thought that kept going through my head, especially after reading the forward and seeing that it almost didn鈥檛 get published, is that it felt like it was a bit rough with a lot of coincidences, drawn out scenes followed by rushed scenes, etc. Nothing that was severe enough t ruin the experience, but enough that it was noticeable to me.
If you are a Grisham fan, it is likely that you already read this. If you are a Grisham fan and you haven鈥檛 read this, I am actually not really sure you can call yourself a Grisham fan! So, you should remedy that right away!
Re-Read in 2020 Review 鈥� 4 Stars
You will notice a drop in the stars above, but you can take that with a grain of salt. It is still a great book that will pull you in and not let go. If you are familiar with Grisham鈥檚 work, this is where it all began, and I think some consider it mainly downhill from here. Not necessarily a big downhill 鈥� but it sure does seem in some aspects like he was at the top of his game for his first few novels. He mentioned in his forward that this one almost did not get published, but the success of The Firm helped generate interest, and I am very glad it did.
This is not an easy book to read, but fiction based on hard truths never is. There is very graphic and shocking sexual assault and racism. So, while they add to a powerful story, some may find it difficult to read. Knowing this, be sure to proceed with caution!
The reason for the slight downturn in stars for me is that it just didn鈥檛 feel as smooth to me as I remembered. Maybe I was looking at an old favorite through rose-colored glassed before I re-read. The thought that kept going through my head, especially after reading the forward and seeing that it almost didn鈥檛 get published, is that it felt like it was a bit rough with a lot of coincidences, drawn out scenes followed by rushed scenes, etc. Nothing that was severe enough t ruin the experience, but enough that it was noticeable to me.
If you are a Grisham fan, it is likely that you already read this. If you are a Grisham fan and you haven鈥檛 read this, I am actually not really sure you can call yourself a Grisham fan! So, you should remedy that right away!
October 2, 2020
This one was really good. Hard to believe it was John Grisham first novel. This is a legal thriller and much more. The story took place in Mississippi. Two rednecks rape a ten year old black girl. Her father shot them dead in front of the courthouse and Jake Brigance is the criminal defense attorney who represented him.
I read a while back but didn't know it was second in the series. The third book, will be released on Oct 13th, 2020.
I really like this book although it drags a little at times. Audio was great despite the info said Michael Beck is the narrator I think it was Grover Gardner (The Stand - Stephen King, Andy Carpenter series).
I read a while back but didn't know it was second in the series. The third book, will be released on Oct 13th, 2020.
I really like this book although it drags a little at times. Audio was great despite the info said Michael Beck is the narrator I think it was Grover Gardner (The Stand - Stephen King, Andy Carpenter series).
December 12, 2022
*賱賷爻 丨乇丕賸 賲賳 賷賴丕賳 兀賲丕賲賴 丕賳爻丕賳 賵賱丕賷卮毓乇 亘丕賱廿賴丕賳丞 *
賵 賱賰賳 賴賱 賳丨丕乇亘 丕賱賳丕乇 亘丕賱賳丕乇 丕賲 亘丕賱賲丕亍責
賱丕 兀氐丿賯 丨賯丕听 丕賳 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱賯丕爻賷丞 爻鬲馗賱 賯氐丞 賰賱 賷賵賲 賵 賰賱 毓氐乇 賵 賰賱 兀賱賮賷丞
賵 賱賰賳 賴賱 賳丨丕乇亘 丕賱賳丕乇 亘丕賱賳丕乇 丕賲 亘丕賱賲丕亍責
賱丕 兀氐丿賯 丨賯丕听 丕賳 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱賯丕爻賷丞 爻鬲馗賱 賯氐丞 賰賱 賷賵賲 賵 賰賱 毓氐乇 賵 賰賱 兀賱賮賷丞
November 19, 2024
"A Time to Kill" is a riveting story of retribution and justice ... so does the title imply. Replace riveting by frustrating and you know what I felt while reading this doorstopper of a book.
On more than 500 pages, John Grisham delves deep into the schemes and entanglements of a trial in the Southern USA. The premise was so interesting that it was impossible not to pick this book up: A ten-year-old girl is raped by two drunken men, and her father takes the law into his own hands by killing the rapists of his daughter. The major problem in this case: The girl and her father are black, and the two rapists are white. If there is one thing Grisham manages to implement perfectly in his story, then it is the exploration of arguments about why the father should be sentenced to death or declared innocent as a result of the circumstances. The reader always bears in his mind how the jury would be reacting in case the roles were reversed - if two black men had raped a white girl of ten years -, but the fact that acquitting the father of his crime would encourage many other people to commit self-administered justice too also needs to be taken into account.
Might this premise deliver storytelling material for so many pages? Yes, it might. Only ... it didn't. Shortly afterGary Su Jake Brigance assumed his duty of defending his client, the novel drifted away into long-winded, boring and insignificant rambling. Many people claim this story to be very realistic for how the situation for black people in Mississippi during the 1980's was like. I have never lived there, so I have no idea how real it really was, but the way Jake Brigance acted and behaved definitely did not feel realistic to me. Because who doesn't get royally dunk three days before an important trial? Never before have I been that frustrated by a protagonist who behaved like an asshole towards his wife and just about everyone else he encountered, but was still portrayed like the absolute hero. Throw an incapable prosecutor into the game to make Brigance's light shine even brighter, and you have the perfect Grisham version of Fleming's James Bond.
And let's not even address the lack of emotions during the entire novel. You might think that a ten-year-old girl being raped by two drunken men will leave you feeling sorry for her and her family, on the edge of shedding tears? I have to disappoint you, because Grisham's writing deprives every single emotion from every potentially touching scene. You never know how a character feels inside his soul, because Grisham only tells, only allows his reader to guess what his characters might feel at this very moment.
1.5 stars, roundedup due to the interesting premise and the very relevant topic down due to me reconsidering the relevance of the rating system 欧宝娱乐 suggests (1 star equaling "didn't like it").
Also, just to clarify things a bit: I didn't dislike the story; the plot was extremely interesting to me and had so much potential, must of which was explored vividly in a very tight and well-structured novel. I also really liked the film adaptation; it may not be a masterpiece, but it's a very well-adapted movie. My main source of frustration is the writing, so in the end I guess I just can't get into John Grisham's writing style, even though I would appreciate the contents of his novels.
On more than 500 pages, John Grisham delves deep into the schemes and entanglements of a trial in the Southern USA. The premise was so interesting that it was impossible not to pick this book up: A ten-year-old girl is raped by two drunken men, and her father takes the law into his own hands by killing the rapists of his daughter. The major problem in this case: The girl and her father are black, and the two rapists are white. If there is one thing Grisham manages to implement perfectly in his story, then it is the exploration of arguments about why the father should be sentenced to death or declared innocent as a result of the circumstances. The reader always bears in his mind how the jury would be reacting in case the roles were reversed - if two black men had raped a white girl of ten years -, but the fact that acquitting the father of his crime would encourage many other people to commit self-administered justice too also needs to be taken into account.
Might this premise deliver storytelling material for so many pages? Yes, it might. Only ... it didn't. Shortly after
And let's not even address the lack of emotions during the entire novel. You might think that a ten-year-old girl being raped by two drunken men will leave you feeling sorry for her and her family, on the edge of shedding tears? I have to disappoint you, because Grisham's writing deprives every single emotion from every potentially touching scene. You never know how a character feels inside his soul, because Grisham only tells, only allows his reader to guess what his characters might feel at this very moment.
1.5 stars, rounded
Also, just to clarify things a bit: I didn't dislike the story; the plot was extremely interesting to me and had so much potential, must of which was explored vividly in a very tight and well-structured novel. I also really liked the film adaptation; it may not be a masterpiece, but it's a very well-adapted movie. My main source of frustration is the writing, so in the end I guess I just can't get into John Grisham's writing style, even though I would appreciate the contents of his novels.
May 27, 2020
This is my first John Grisham book, I am embarrassed to admit. I felt like I was in Clanton, Mississippi reliving this gruesome murder. His writing and knowledge on the law system is pretty amazing to read. Makes you realize all the politics and behind the door negotiations going on.
This is a story of two pothead white trash drug dealers that rape a 10-year-old black girl. They urinate on her, tie her legs and hands to a fence and tree, beat her, pour beer on her while she is calling for her daddy to save her. This is not a spoiler.
Now what happens when black daddy is pissed at the system and takes these two white guys into his own hands? Will the color of his skin get him convicted in KKK town or will the jury understand that he was a loving angry father? (I personally rooted for Carl Lee. Sometimes our system just fails us and we want to be the vigilante except Carl Lee actually had the balls to do it)
"At eleven-fifteen it rang again, and Jake received his first death threat, anonymous of course. He was called a nigger-loving son of a bitch, one who would not live if the nigger walked." (pg. 85)
This is a story of two pothead white trash drug dealers that rape a 10-year-old black girl. They urinate on her, tie her legs and hands to a fence and tree, beat her, pour beer on her while she is calling for her daddy to save her. This is not a spoiler.
Now what happens when black daddy is pissed at the system and takes these two white guys into his own hands? Will the color of his skin get him convicted in KKK town or will the jury understand that he was a loving angry father? (I personally rooted for Carl Lee. Sometimes our system just fails us and we want to be the vigilante except Carl Lee actually had the balls to do it)
"At eleven-fifteen it rang again, and Jake received his first death threat, anonymous of course. He was called a nigger-loving son of a bitch, one who would not live if the nigger walked." (pg. 85)
October 2, 2019
2.5 stars. One of my least favorites of Grisham's books, and that's saying something. Actually I kind of liked and one or two of his others, but mostly they strike me as mediocre writing combined, more often than not, with pulpit-pounding and breast-beating about some particular legal issue.
In this case the setting is a murder trial for a African-American man who gunned down his 10 year old daughter's rapists, who are stereotypical Southern white trash racists who tried to murder this little girl and left her for dead. The legal question is whether jury nullification is sometimes justified, since the father's defense lawyer, Jake Brigance - having no other legal options - is trying to convince the jury to find the father not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. Grisham, as par for the course, loads the dice on that issue. (Biggest clue: the KKK getting involved.)
I've only read as many of Grisham's books as I have because my father-in-law (another voracious reader) thought that because I was a lawyer I would automatically like Grisham's books, so I regularly received them from him as birthday and Christmas presents. I never had the heart to tell him I'd prefer another author. My FIL is gone now, may he rest in peace, so no more Grisham for me.
In this case the setting is a murder trial for a African-American man who gunned down his 10 year old daughter's rapists, who are stereotypical Southern white trash racists who tried to murder this little girl and left her for dead. The legal question is whether jury nullification is sometimes justified, since the father's defense lawyer, Jake Brigance - having no other legal options - is trying to convince the jury to find the father not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. Grisham, as par for the course, loads the dice on that issue. (Biggest clue: the KKK getting involved.)
I've only read as many of Grisham's books as I have because my father-in-law (another voracious reader) thought that because I was a lawyer I would automatically like Grisham's books, so I regularly received them from him as birthday and Christmas presents. I never had the heart to tell him I'd prefer another author. My FIL is gone now, may he rest in peace, so no more Grisham for me.
July 10, 2022
Clanton Mississippi, the life of ten year old, African-American, Tonya Hailey has been shattered by James "Pete" Willard and Billy Ray Cobb, two white, drunk and remorseless young men. The town which is mostly white reacts with shock and horror at the crime. Until Carl-Lee Haley, Tonya's father takes matters into his own hands and murders the two men who violently raped and beat his daughter. For ten days burning crosses and the crack of sniper fire take over the streets of Clanton, as young defense attorney Jake Brigance struggles to save his client's life, and maybe his own as well. I have watched the movie several times and highly recommend both as each will stir up emotions. The book is a great legal thriller and still one of my favorite books. Five big stars.
September 15, 2020
This was John Grisham' s very first book.He dreamed of getting it published,and went through innumerable rejections.It was largely ignored,when it was first published.Grisham was inspired by an actual court room case to write it.
It is about rape,retribution and racial violence,in the American South.A young black girl is raped,and her outraged father takes justice into his own hands.A young defence attorney tries to save his life,only to find himself in danger.And then comes all that racial violence,which resembles what has been happening recently in the US.
It is a first book,and it rambles.
At over 500 pages,it is too lengthy.This story could have been told so much better in half the number of pages,or even less.
It is about rape,retribution and racial violence,in the American South.A young black girl is raped,and her outraged father takes justice into his own hands.A young defence attorney tries to save his life,only to find himself in danger.And then comes all that racial violence,which resembles what has been happening recently in the US.
It is a first book,and it rambles.
At over 500 pages,it is too lengthy.This story could have been told so much better in half the number of pages,or even less.
May 18, 2012
I confess that when one of my book clubs made this our monthly selection, I approached it with more than a little trepidation. I knew that this was Grisham's first book and that when it was first published as a hardcover, he could hardly give it away. Sales were so poor that there was initially no paperback release. Only after the success of and other of Grisham's books was this one finally resurrected and released in paperback.
Like most of Grisham's other readers, I jumped aboard the train with The Firm and never looked back. Though I've enjoyed most of his later books, I simply took it for granted that this first effort was probably his "practice" novel, that it was not very good, and hence the poor sales. I further assumed that his publisher, anxious to milk the Grisham brand for all it was worth, only finally published A Time to Kill in paper simply to cash in. Accordingly, I've avoided it all these years until I was finally forced to read it.
I'm very happy that I was. The book turned out to be a gripping story with better-defined characters and a much more interesting setting than many of Grisham's later books. In fact, it may be one of his best.
The tiny town of Clanton, Mississippi, is shocked when two drunk and drug-addled thugs viciously assault a ten-year-old girl, failing to kill her only because they could not find a bridge from which to throw the child. The two are quickly arrested and charged with various crimes related to the attack, when the girl's father, a decorated Vietnam vet, takes the law into his own hands and kills the men who so gruesomely violated his daughter.
The father hires a young, up-and-coming lawyer named Jake Brigance to represent him. But this is Mississippi and the case is complicated by the fact that the victim and her father are black while the two dead thugs were white. The population of the town is evenly divided between blacks and whites and, while most people irrespective of race, condemn the actions of the two thugs, they are divided, mostly along racial lines, over the issue of whether the father should be convicted of premeditated murder or be given a medal for ridding the town of the two scumbags.
Grisham plays fair with both sides, and it's clear that he knows very well the setting, the people and the dynamics of the situation. There are a number of great characters in this novel and very few of them are pure of heart. These are much more complex characters than those usually served up in books like this, and the story grabs you from the start. It also raises a lot of thought-provoking questions. It's a great read, and I'm only sorry that it took me so long to get to it.
Like most of Grisham's other readers, I jumped aboard the train with The Firm and never looked back. Though I've enjoyed most of his later books, I simply took it for granted that this first effort was probably his "practice" novel, that it was not very good, and hence the poor sales. I further assumed that his publisher, anxious to milk the Grisham brand for all it was worth, only finally published A Time to Kill in paper simply to cash in. Accordingly, I've avoided it all these years until I was finally forced to read it.
I'm very happy that I was. The book turned out to be a gripping story with better-defined characters and a much more interesting setting than many of Grisham's later books. In fact, it may be one of his best.
The tiny town of Clanton, Mississippi, is shocked when two drunk and drug-addled thugs viciously assault a ten-year-old girl, failing to kill her only because they could not find a bridge from which to throw the child. The two are quickly arrested and charged with various crimes related to the attack, when the girl's father, a decorated Vietnam vet, takes the law into his own hands and kills the men who so gruesomely violated his daughter.
The father hires a young, up-and-coming lawyer named Jake Brigance to represent him. But this is Mississippi and the case is complicated by the fact that the victim and her father are black while the two dead thugs were white. The population of the town is evenly divided between blacks and whites and, while most people irrespective of race, condemn the actions of the two thugs, they are divided, mostly along racial lines, over the issue of whether the father should be convicted of premeditated murder or be given a medal for ridding the town of the two scumbags.
Grisham plays fair with both sides, and it's clear that he knows very well the setting, the people and the dynamics of the situation. There are a number of great characters in this novel and very few of them are pure of heart. These are much more complex characters than those usually served up in books like this, and the story grabs you from the start. It also raises a lot of thought-provoking questions. It's a great read, and I'm only sorry that it took me so long to get to it.
October 1, 2020
A courtroom thriller published 1989
This is John Grisham鈥檚 first novel but not his first published.
The setting is in Mississippi where, even in 1989, the divide between the white and the black communities was still very obvious. And guess what, here we are 41 years later and what鈥檚 changed, not much it would seem.
A little ten year old black girl is brutally raped and beaten. She is found and taken to the hospital where the doctors put her back together physically but her emotional condition is not so easily fixed. When the doctors tell the family that she will heal but she will never be able to have children of her own her daddy swears he will make the monsters that did this pay and pay dearly.
Two men, both white, are soon caught and charged with the crime. But this is a predominantly white town and the chances that they will get what they deserve is remote.
To make sure that justice is truly served Carl Lee, the father, decides to take the law into his own hands and shoot the accused men. This he does and by the time he was finished they were both well and truly dead.
Carl Lee is of course charged with murder on two accounts.
Enter Jack Brigance, a young white lawyer and the man charged with getting Carl Lee acquitted of the charge of murder.
What follows is courtroom thriller with racially fuelled violence from both sides of the racial divide.
I enjoyed this book although I found it to be overly long and suffered from a bit too much irrelevant information. But over all an entertaining read.
A 4 stars recommendation
This is John Grisham鈥檚 first novel but not his first published.
The setting is in Mississippi where, even in 1989, the divide between the white and the black communities was still very obvious. And guess what, here we are 41 years later and what鈥檚 changed, not much it would seem.
A little ten year old black girl is brutally raped and beaten. She is found and taken to the hospital where the doctors put her back together physically but her emotional condition is not so easily fixed. When the doctors tell the family that she will heal but she will never be able to have children of her own her daddy swears he will make the monsters that did this pay and pay dearly.
Two men, both white, are soon caught and charged with the crime. But this is a predominantly white town and the chances that they will get what they deserve is remote.
To make sure that justice is truly served Carl Lee, the father, decides to take the law into his own hands and shoot the accused men. This he does and by the time he was finished they were both well and truly dead.
Carl Lee is of course charged with murder on two accounts.
Enter Jack Brigance, a young white lawyer and the man charged with getting Carl Lee acquitted of the charge of murder.
What follows is courtroom thriller with racially fuelled violence from both sides of the racial divide.
I enjoyed this book although I found it to be overly long and suffered from a bit too much irrelevant information. But over all an entertaining read.
A 4 stars recommendation
August 22, 2022
What a rollercoaster of a book! Unlike many other courtroom dramas, a lot of the action takes place outside the infamous four walls. At no point did I feel like I was waiting for the court proceedings to start. There was so much going on all times thanks to the KKK. It's scary to think that group had so much power. No race was safe from their fury.
The only thing more heated than the KKK opposing the blacks was the rivalry between Jake and the prosecutor. They were both motivated by the possibility of furthering their career by winning the largest case to date. The tension was there all throughout. The judge filled the role of peacemaker and I thought he did a fantastic job with all things considered.
The only thing more heated than the KKK opposing the blacks was the rivalry between Jake and the prosecutor. They were both motivated by the possibility of furthering their career by winning the largest case to date. The tension was there all throughout. The judge filled the role of peacemaker and I thought he did a fantastic job with all things considered.
October 28, 2020
This was the very first Grisham book I read - loved it!
Brought back memories of To Kill a Mockingbird.
I read this author's next few books, but after a while, his books stopped appealing to me.
This one had me glued to each page, swept away by the gripping action and the hero's determination to defend his client come what may - and boy, did he and his family pay a big price for his unwillingness to back away from his client. Hats off to him! A truly heroic lawyer in the image of Atticus Finch.
Brought back memories of To Kill a Mockingbird.
I read this author's next few books, but after a while, his books stopped appealing to me.
This one had me glued to each page, swept away by the gripping action and the hero's determination to defend his client come what may - and boy, did he and his family pay a big price for his unwillingness to back away from his client. Hats off to him! A truly heroic lawyer in the image of Atticus Finch.
March 7, 2022
Were the '80's really this racist? Well the vernacular of this book is and thus I suspect the state of Mississippi. I looked up racism in Mississippi and apparently it's one of, if not the most racist states in the union if not the most racist place in the entire northern hemisphere.
This story makes a huge declaration on the social injustices that are propagated by systemic racism. It is at times difficult to read and the use of the n-word is prevalent throughout the story.
The story itself is a typical "legal thriller" with the lawyer fighting against great odds, though this one also deals with the KKK and their totally ignorant yet somehow popular attitude in this part of the United States.
The story is pretty good though however and unfortunately the character development is not very strong and there are in my opinion, a lot of unanswered situational occurrences which creates a lack of real enthusiasm for these side nuances (sub plots). However, this was john Grisham's first novel so I have to give him credit for that.
3 to 3 1/2stars.
This story makes a huge declaration on the social injustices that are propagated by systemic racism. It is at times difficult to read and the use of the n-word is prevalent throughout the story.
The story itself is a typical "legal thriller" with the lawyer fighting against great odds, though this one also deals with the KKK and their totally ignorant yet somehow popular attitude in this part of the United States.
The story is pretty good though however and unfortunately the character development is not very strong and there are in my opinion, a lot of unanswered situational occurrences which creates a lack of real enthusiasm for these side nuances (sub plots). However, this was john Grisham's first novel so I have to give him credit for that.
3 to 3 1/2stars.
October 24, 2017
This book totally rocked my world! I had asked for a legal thriller as a recommendation and I'm glad to have this one suggested! The racial tension in this story felt as real as it did in To Kill A Mockingbird. I felt I was right there in Clanton, Mississippi trying to dodge the KKK and marching with everyone else. This is my first Grisham novel, and I'll definitely be exploring more!
May 12, 2014
Before returning to Clanton Mississippi and Ford County, I took some time to refresh myself of my first journey here, to see where the Grisham journey had its humble roots. While it is likely this novel is not the traditional 'must-read' before diving into SYCAMORE ROW, I chose to remember the powerful novel that Grisham admits barely made a blip on the radar until after THE FIRM pushed him to the top of all the reading lists. This is a wonderful book that introduces readers to a Mississippi where desegregation is no more than a word in the dictionary. When the brutal rape of a 10 year old black girl makes small ripples amongst the vast majority of Ford County's white population, the townsfolk continue with life as usual, leaving the black population to mourn the injustice. All, that is, but Carl-Lee Haley, father of the victim. The two white men accused of the rape are charged and the legal process begins its slow march. When Haley takes things into his own hands and shoots both men while they are in the courthouse, the ripples turn to tidal waves, dividing the town along racial lines. After Jake Brigance, town lawyer and admitted liberal, agrees to take the case, all eyes are on him and how he will argue a case that appears cut and dry. Using an insanity angle, Brigance tries to sway popular opinion in a county where black rights are all but nil. This small county soon has the eyes of the entire country as support on both sides heightens. It is only when the Klan begin enacting their own form of justice that violence and retribution stain the Mississippi legal process. Brigance begins building a defence, using the meagre $900 offered to him while his family chooses to protect themselves when he refuses to follow. Using an odd patchwork legal team whose interest in the case outweighs their desire for payment, Brigance brings the case forward. Before a jury of his peers, Haley is presented as a grieving father and man whose mind was completely altered by the acts of two drug addicts. As the city is torn apart, Brigance can only hope that justice is truly colour-blind in the racist south. Grisham planted the seed of legal literary excellence with this novel and it should be required reading for the legal thriller fanatic.
Grisham does so much in this novel on so many levels. From addressing the ne'er-spoken race divide in the South as it relates to legal equity to the nuances of courtroom thrillers for which he will become famous, to the formulaic storyline of the lawyer swimming against the tide on the side of justice all issues come out front and centre throughout the novel. Grisham tackles all these as a complete unknown in the literary field and does not stray away from strong social commentary throughout. While I will admit my mind flashed to the wonderfully done film based on the novel throughout the reading, I could see and feel the characters develop on the page and take life. Without throwing punches, Grisham dispels the rumours that desegregation stopped the race riots and that all is well throughout the country. Speaking about what he knows best--the law and Mississippi--Grisham brings the reader into the fold and captures them with riveting narration, stellar legal description, and a set of characters whose perfection within the story has them fit like the proverbial glove. This was surely the novel that got the Grisham craze started and, to me, proves to be one of his timeless classics.
As an added aside, I cannot leave this review without presenting what may seem like quite the far-fetched claim. As I listened to the audiobook version of this novel, I could not help but wonder if Grisham sought to create a newer version of the Harpee Lee classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, bringing the injustice of the law between the races to the forefront. While Brigance is no Atticus Finch, this parallel cannot be disregarded as the reader sees the tension building and the complete despair of the defence counsel as the evidence pours forward. While I am almost certain Grisham would deny its connection, the reader who has taken the time to read both will surely see some similarities in both. Have things changed much since 1960? Since 1989? Surely some steps have been made in this regard, but I would venture to say that the two novels, which act as strong social commentaries, are not far off from what is still going on.
Kudos, Mr. Grisham, for allowing me such a raw glimpse into the realm of justice in the South and not candy coating it in the least. Onward to SYCAMORE ROW... with a plethora of characters in my quiver and a passion for Ford County once again!
Grisham does so much in this novel on so many levels. From addressing the ne'er-spoken race divide in the South as it relates to legal equity to the nuances of courtroom thrillers for which he will become famous, to the formulaic storyline of the lawyer swimming against the tide on the side of justice all issues come out front and centre throughout the novel. Grisham tackles all these as a complete unknown in the literary field and does not stray away from strong social commentary throughout. While I will admit my mind flashed to the wonderfully done film based on the novel throughout the reading, I could see and feel the characters develop on the page and take life. Without throwing punches, Grisham dispels the rumours that desegregation stopped the race riots and that all is well throughout the country. Speaking about what he knows best--the law and Mississippi--Grisham brings the reader into the fold and captures them with riveting narration, stellar legal description, and a set of characters whose perfection within the story has them fit like the proverbial glove. This was surely the novel that got the Grisham craze started and, to me, proves to be one of his timeless classics.
As an added aside, I cannot leave this review without presenting what may seem like quite the far-fetched claim. As I listened to the audiobook version of this novel, I could not help but wonder if Grisham sought to create a newer version of the Harpee Lee classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, bringing the injustice of the law between the races to the forefront. While Brigance is no Atticus Finch, this parallel cannot be disregarded as the reader sees the tension building and the complete despair of the defence counsel as the evidence pours forward. While I am almost certain Grisham would deny its connection, the reader who has taken the time to read both will surely see some similarities in both. Have things changed much since 1960? Since 1989? Surely some steps have been made in this regard, but I would venture to say that the two novels, which act as strong social commentaries, are not far off from what is still going on.
Kudos, Mr. Grisham, for allowing me such a raw glimpse into the realm of justice in the South and not candy coating it in the least. Onward to SYCAMORE ROW... with a plethora of characters in my quiver and a passion for Ford County once again!
March 30, 2016
Read when it first came out. I really ought to reread this prior to reading Sycamore Row. I remember being captivated with the story of Jake Brigance but I details are sketchy at best at this time. Seems like a summer reread is on the horizon.
June 7, 2016
In my humble opinion, this is Grisham's finest work. Not only are his characters stirring and unforgettable but the story is powerful.
November 1, 2020
I first read this sensational novel over 30 years ago; a banned book in some southern states at the time. Since Mr. Grisham published, in October of 2020, the third novel depicting our street lawyer Jake Brigance I decided to start from #1. It is a gripping, captivating story embedded with violence and a large dose of humour and compassion.
September 21, 2021
5 Stars for A Time to Kill: Jake Brigance Series, Book 1 (audiobook) by John Grisham read by Michael Beck.
This is an amazing legal thriller. Grisham really plays with the idea of right and wrong. I need to see the movie again. I鈥檇 forgotten how great this story is.
This is an amazing legal thriller. Grisham really plays with the idea of right and wrong. I need to see the movie again. I鈥檇 forgotten how great this story is.
July 20, 2022
Reading Sycamore Row took me down the memory lane to its prequel - A Time to Kill. And I realized that I haven't written a review for this much beloved book. So here I'm, trying to rectify that omission.
A Time to Kill is one of the few emotional contemporary books that I have read. Based on the theme of racism and set in mid-eighties in a southern town in Mississippi, Grisham tells the tale of a black man who murdered two white men who raped his child and one white lawyer's heroic struggle to defend him in a racially prejudiced society amidst great personal losses.
Jake Brigance, the young hero, is undoubtedly my favourite Grisham character; and it will forever be so. Being a lawyer myself, he represents many ethical and professional qualities that we lawyers revere. Perhaps, he was modeled on the author himself.
In the story, Jake represents the future, the liberal promising mind of a racially prejudiced southern town. His struggle to make the jury look beyond the colour of the man and into the heart of the man to understand (not to condone) his action, is a fight for equality and justice in the eyes of law irrespective of a person鈥檚 skin colour. And the all-white jury decision is a victory of humanity; a promise that humanity is preserved in average citizens no matter how much division the extremists may create.
Although this story is set in a bygone era, it is still relevant for today, for prejudices based on skin colour, gender and religion are still in store. So in that light, A Time to Kill is a timeless tale.
And before I end my short review I must say a few words about Grisham's writing. It is his first attempt at a novel, so perhaps the writing is not yet at his best. But it is written with sincerity, compassion and with much feeling that I personally feel that this is the one novel (although his debut) in to which the author has poured his heart and soul. I've read quite a few Grisham work, and to me, A Time to Kill is his best; and it will always be my favourite Grisham novel.
.
A Time to Kill is one of the few emotional contemporary books that I have read. Based on the theme of racism and set in mid-eighties in a southern town in Mississippi, Grisham tells the tale of a black man who murdered two white men who raped his child and one white lawyer's heroic struggle to defend him in a racially prejudiced society amidst great personal losses.
Jake Brigance, the young hero, is undoubtedly my favourite Grisham character; and it will forever be so. Being a lawyer myself, he represents many ethical and professional qualities that we lawyers revere. Perhaps, he was modeled on the author himself.
In the story, Jake represents the future, the liberal promising mind of a racially prejudiced southern town. His struggle to make the jury look beyond the colour of the man and into the heart of the man to understand (not to condone) his action, is a fight for equality and justice in the eyes of law irrespective of a person鈥檚 skin colour. And the all-white jury decision is a victory of humanity; a promise that humanity is preserved in average citizens no matter how much division the extremists may create.
Although this story is set in a bygone era, it is still relevant for today, for prejudices based on skin colour, gender and religion are still in store. So in that light, A Time to Kill is a timeless tale.
And before I end my short review I must say a few words about Grisham's writing. It is his first attempt at a novel, so perhaps the writing is not yet at his best. But it is written with sincerity, compassion and with much feeling that I personally feel that this is the one novel (although his debut) in to which the author has poured his heart and soul. I've read quite a few Grisham work, and to me, A Time to Kill is his best; and it will always be my favourite Grisham novel.
.
July 14, 2024
5 Stars. Not as great as "To Kill a Mockingbird" when it comes to the issues of race relations, society, and the law in the southern US, but both deserve a 5. Maybe "Mockingbird" a 5.3? One difference is the point of view; a young girl, now a woman, is the narrator of Harper Lee's story set in the 1930s. It's endearing and full of love for her father, Atticus. "Kill" is a novel of our times, the 2020s, although it focuses on the 1980s. It's a courtroom drama which reels from a string of brutal events and the resolution is less nuanced. Both expose attitudes prevalent in the white community - ignorance, condescension, and among many, hatred. Yet if you look carefully, a touch of progress, but no more than that, can be found. The argument which wins the day in the trial of black Carl-Lee Hailey likely could not have been made 90 years ago. He murdered two despicable white supremacists who raped and beat his 10-year-old daughter Tonya. They bragged about it! "Kill" is replete with KKK burning crosses and a tolerance for racism by some that will make you cringe. Lawyer Jake Brigance does his best but it's uphill all the way! Just as good as the movie version. (Se2020/Jul2024)
July 2, 2023
..."the eyes of the law are human eyes, yours and mine..."
okay, this part of a sentence is from the famous movie speech but I liked it the best.
I have a law degree but I rarely read legal thrillers especially ones written by authors that come from countries with common law systems that are based on legal precedents established by the courts. I've worked in the court for some time and I think it's interesting to preside over court proceedings and to be paid to form opinions and put them to paper in a certain form. People are fascinating and so are their problems which usually end up being solved in courtrooms.
Here in Croatia the death penalty has been last carried out on 29th of January 1987 while Croatia has been a part of former SFRJ and the role of the jury has in the past and is now vastly different from the role it has in common law systems.
And for this reason I liked reading about the summoning, selecting the memebers of the jury and their discussions and the importance of racial problems in this book were well presented.
I am not cut to be a lawyer and to defend people because the money is almost always the main reason to take up a case and it determines the time that will be spend in preparing for it.
I don't like that and I don't like our main lawyer hero, Jake Brigance. He is a conceited liar with many stupid attitudes which I won't comment much on because I felt 0% connection with him as a character.
This story was okay. I liked the ending but there was nothing particularly interesting happening nor were there any nail bitting twists to it but the legal aspects were appealing and the author used descriptive language so it was easy to visualise many scenes.
In my literary worlds I obviously like to read more about the whole process of finding and catching the perpetrators than about them standing trial and in real life I prefer reading codified laws to ascertain what to do in different situations.
Written word is always the right answer, to everything!
okay, this part of a sentence is from the famous movie speech but I liked it the best.
I have a law degree but I rarely read legal thrillers especially ones written by authors that come from countries with common law systems that are based on legal precedents established by the courts. I've worked in the court for some time and I think it's interesting to preside over court proceedings and to be paid to form opinions and put them to paper in a certain form. People are fascinating and so are their problems which usually end up being solved in courtrooms.
Here in Croatia the death penalty has been last carried out on 29th of January 1987 while Croatia has been a part of former SFRJ and the role of the jury has in the past and is now vastly different from the role it has in common law systems.
And for this reason I liked reading about the summoning, selecting the memebers of the jury and their discussions and the importance of racial problems in this book were well presented.
I am not cut to be a lawyer and to defend people because the money is almost always the main reason to take up a case and it determines the time that will be spend in preparing for it.
I don't like that and I don't like our main lawyer hero, Jake Brigance. He is a conceited liar with many stupid attitudes which I won't comment much on because I felt 0% connection with him as a character.
This story was okay. I liked the ending but there was nothing particularly interesting happening nor were there any nail bitting twists to it but the legal aspects were appealing and the author used descriptive language so it was easy to visualise many scenes.
In my literary worlds I obviously like to read more about the whole process of finding and catching the perpetrators than about them standing trial and in real life I prefer reading codified laws to ascertain what to do in different situations.
Written word is always the right answer, to everything!
November 13, 2021
Grisham writes an average of two novels a year, but already the first one gives an idea of the problems and topics that he will constantly address in the future: social inequality, racial discrimination, corruption of the authorities and the imperfection of the judicial system.
The fighter for justice in his books is always a lawyer competent enough to resist the system with its weapons. Not a knight in shining armor, but rather a pilgrim who set out on a journey without having the strength to resist the categorical imperative of the moral law inside. Such concentrated Kantianism, contrary to the lightness of the genre, perhaps provides this prose with popular love.
A small town in the south of the USA is shocked by a brutal crime, two white bastards kidnapped a black girl of ten years old, raped her, bullied her, wanted to kill her, as a result they just left her to die in a ditch. The girl miraculously escaped and managed to tell about the crime. And the men did not hide much, they generally, in the course, have not sobered up since the kidnapping. I know that Grisham is always a lawyer detective, and listening to an audiobook, I am horrified at this point, is the plot going to be built around the protection of these scoundrels?
袘芯泄褋褟, 褝褌芯 薪芯褉屑邪谢褜薪芯, 褌芯谢褜泻芯 薪械 锌芯泻邪蟹褘胁邪泄 褋胁芯泄 褋褌褉邪褏
小懈褋褌械屑邪 薪邪褋褌芯谢褜泻芯 褋锌褉邪胁械写谢懈胁邪, 薪邪褋泻芯谢褜泻芯 锌褉械写胁蟹褟褌芯泄 懈 锌芯写胁械褉卸械薪薪芯泄 胁芯蟹写械泄褋褌胁懈褞 褝屑芯褑懈泄 械褢 写械谢邪械褌 褋邪屑 褔械谢芯胁械泻.
袛械斜褞褌薪褘泄 褉芯屑邪薪 邪胁褌芯褉邪 褞褉懈写懈褔械褋泻懈褏 褌褉懈谢谢械褉芯胁 袛卸芯薪邪 袚褉懈褕褝屑邪 "袩芯褉邪 褍斜懈胁邪褌褜" (1988), 锌芯褋谢械 屑薪芯谐懈褏 懈蟹写邪褌械谢褜褋泻懈褏 芯褌泻邪蟹芯胁, 斜褘谢 薪邪锌械褔邪褌邪薪 褌懈褉邪卸芯屑 锌褟褌褜 褌褘褋褟褔 褝泻蟹械屑锌谢褟褉芯胁. 袙褌芯褉芯泄 泻薪懈谐芯泄, 薪械芯卸懈写邪薪薪芯 胁蟹芯褉胁邪胁褕械泄 褋锌懈褋泻懈 斜械褋褌褋械谢谢械褉芯胁 褋褌邪谢邪 "肖懈褉屑邪" (1991), 邪 褋褍屑屑邪褉薪褘泄 褌懈褉邪卸 褌褉械褌褜械谐芯 "袛械谢邪 芯 袩械谢懈泻邪薪邪褏" (1992) 锌褉械胁褘褋懈谢 芯写懈薪薪邪写褑邪褌褜 屑懈谢谢懈芯薪芯胁. 小 褌械褏 锌芯褉 懈 锌芯 褋械泄 写械薪褜 袚褉懈褕褝屑 锌懈褕械褌 胁 褋褉械写薪械屑 锌芯 写胁邪 褉芯屑邪薪邪 胁 谐芯写, 薪芯 褍卸械 锌械褉胁褘泄 写邪械褌 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁谢械薪懈械 芯 锌褉芯斜谢械屑邪褌懈泻械 懈 褌械屑邪褏, 泻 泻芯褌芯褉褘屑 芯薪 斜褍写械褌 锌芯褋褌芯褟薪薪芯 芯斜褉邪褖邪褌褜褋褟 胁 写邪谢褜薪械泄褕械屑: 褋芯褑懈邪谢褜薪芯械 薪械褉邪胁械薪褋褌胁芯, 褉邪褋芯胁邪褟 写懈褋泻褉懈屑懈薪邪褑懈褟, 泻芯褉褉褍屑锌懈褉芯胁邪薪薪芯褋褌褜 胁谢邪褋褌懈 懈 薪械褋芯胁械褉褕械薪褋褌胁芯 褋褍写械斜薪芯泄 褋懈褋褌械屑褘.
袘芯褉褑芯屑 蟹邪 褋锌褉邪胁械写谢懈胁芯褋褌褜 胁 械谐芯 泻薪懈谐邪褏 胁褋械谐写邪 胁褘褋褌褍锌邪械褌 邪写胁芯泻邪褌, 写芯褋褌邪褌芯褔薪芯 泻芯屑锌械褌械薪褌薪褘泄, 褔褌芯斜褘 锌褉芯褌懈胁芯褋褌芯褟褌褜 褋懈褋褌械屑械 械械 芯褉褍卸懈械屑. 袧械 褉褘褑邪褉褜 胁 褋胁械褉泻邪褞褖懈褏 写芯褋锌械褏邪褏, 褋泻芯褉械械 锌懈谢懈谐褉懈屑, 泻芯褌芯褉褘泄 锌褍褋褌懈谢褋褟 胁 锌褍褌褜, 薪械 懈屑械褟 褋懈谢 锌褉芯褌懈胁懈褌褜褋褟 泻邪褌械谐芯褉懈褔械褋泻芯屑褍 懈屑锌械褉邪褌懈胁褍 屑芯褉邪谢褜薪芯谐芯 蟹邪泻芯薪邪 胁薪褍褌褉懈. 孝邪泻芯械 泻芯薪褑械薪褌褉懈褉芯胁邪薪薪芯械 泻邪薪褌懈邪薪褋褌胁芯, 胁芯锌褉械泻懈 谢械谐泻芯胁械褋薪芯褋褌懈 卸邪薪褉邪, 胁芯蟹屑芯卸薪芯 懈 芯斜械褋锌械褔懈胁邪械褌 褝褌芯泄 锌褉芯蟹械 薪邪褉芯写薪褍褞 谢褞斜芯胁褜.
袦邪谢械薪褜泻懈泄 谐芯褉芯写芯泻 薪邪 褞谐械 小楔袗 锌芯褌褉褟褋械薪 卸械褋褌芯泻懈屑 锌褉械褋褌褍锌谢械薪懈械屑, 写胁邪 斜械谢褘褏 褍斜谢褞写泻邪 锌芯褏懈褌懈谢懈 褔械褉薪芯泻芯卸褍褞 写械胁芯褔泻褍 写械褋褟褌懈 谢械褌, 薪邪褋懈谢芯胁邪谢懈 械械, 懈蟹写械胁邪谢懈褋褜, 褏芯褌械谢懈 褍斜懈褌褜, 胁 褉械蟹褍谢褜褌邪褌械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 斜褉芯褋懈谢懈 褍屑懈褉邪褌褜 胁 泻邪薪邪胁械. 袛械胁芯褔泻邪 褔褍写芯屑 褋锌邪褋谢邪褋褜 懈 褋褍屑械谢邪 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹邪褌褜 芯 锌褉械褋褌褍锌谢械薪懈懈. 袗 屑褍卸懈泻懈 芯褋芯斜芯 懈 薪械 褋泻褉褘胁邪谢懈褋褜, 芯薪懈 胁芯芯斜褖械, 锌芯 褏芯写褍, 薪械 锌褉芯褌褉械蟹胁械谢懈 褋芯 胁褉械屑械薪懈 泻懈写薪械锌懈薪谐邪. 携 蟹薪邪褞, 褔褌芯 袚褉懈褕褝屑 - 褝褌芯 胁褋械谐写邪 邪写胁芯泻邪褌褋泻懈泄 写械褌械泻褌懈胁, 懈, 褋谢褍褕邪褟 邪褍写懈芯泻薪懈谐褍, 锌褉懈褏芯卸褍 胁 褝褌芯屑 屑械褋褌械 胁 褍卸邪褋, 薪械褍卸械谢懈 褋褞卸械褌 斜褍写械褌 褋褌褉芯懈褌褜褋褟 胁芯泻褉褍谐 蟹邪褖懈褌褘 褝褌懈褏 屑械褉蟹邪胁褑械胁?
袧芯 薪械褌, 胁褋械 褋谢芯卸薪械械, 芯褌械褑 屑邪谢褘褕泻懈, 薪械 胁 褋懈谢邪褏 褋屑懈褉懈褌褜褋褟 褋 锌褉芯懈褋褕械写褕懈屑, 写芯斜褘胁邪械褌 胁懈薪褌芯胁泻褍 懈 褍斜懈胁邪械褌 薪邪褋懈谢褜薪懈泻芯胁 薪邪 胁褘褏芯写械 懈蟹 蟹写邪薪懈褟 褋褍写邪. 袗屑斜懈褑懈芯蟹薪褘泄 屑芯谢芯写芯泄 邪写胁芯泻邪褌 袛卸械泻 袘褉邪泄谐械薪褋 斜褍写械褌 蟹邪褖懈褌薪懈泻芯屑, 写械谢芯 芯斜械褖邪械褌 褋褌邪褌褜 芯褔械薪褜 褉械蟹芯薪邪薪褋薪褘屑, 邪 胁褘懈谐褉邪胁 械谐芯, 袘褉邪泄谐械薪褋 锌械褉械屑械褋褌懈褌褋褟 胁 胁褘褋褕褍褞 谢懈谐褍 锌褉芯褎械褋褋懈懈, 泻邪泻 锌芯 褉械锌褍褌邪褑懈懈 懈 锌褉械褋褌懈卸褍. 褌邪泻 懈 锌芯 谐芯薪芯褉邪褉邪屑. 孝芯 械褋褌褜, 胁褋械, 泻邪泻 斜褘, 谢芯谐懈褔薪芯.
袨写薪邪泻芯, 褝褌芯 挟谐, 写械褌懈, 谐写械 懈薪械褉褑懈褟 褋械谐褉械谐邪褑懈懈 褋懈谢褜薪邪, 邪 斜械谢芯械 薪邪褋械谢械薪懈械 写芯谢谐芯 械褖械 斜褍写械褌 胁芯褋锌褉懈薪懈屑邪褌褜 邪褎褉芯邪屑械褉懈泻邪薪褑械胁 谢褞写褜屑懈 薪懈蟹褕械谐芯 褋芯褉褌邪. 袣褉芯屑械 锌褉芯褔械谐芯, 芯褌 褋谢褍褔邪泄薪芯泄 锌褍谢懈 锌芯褋褌褉邪写邪谢 泻芯薪胁芯懈褉 懈 褍斜械写懈褌褜 锌褉懈褋褟卸薪褘褏 锌褉懈蟹薪邪褌褜 芯褌褑邪 薪械胁懈薪芯胁薪褘屑 懈蟹 蟹邪写邪褔懈 褌褉褍写薪芯泄, 薪芯 胁褘锌芯谢薪懈屑芯泄, 锌褉械胁褉邪褖邪械褌褋褟 胁 薪械锌芯写褗械屑薪褍褞.
袗 械褋褌褜 械褖械 袣褍-袣谢褍泻褋-袣谢邪薪, 械褋谢懈 胁褘 写褍屑邪谢懈, 褔褌芯 芯薪 芯褋褌邪谢褋褟 胁 褏芯谢屑褋懈邪薪械 懈 锌褟褌懈 蟹械褉薪褘褕泻邪褏 邪锌械谢褜褋懈薪邪, 胁褘 褋懈谢褜薪芯 蟹邪斜谢褍卸写邪谢懈褋褜 - 斜械谢褘械 斜邪谢邪褏芯薪褘 褋 泻邪锌褞褕芯薪邪屑懈 懈 锌芯 褋械泄 写械薪褜 胁 薪械泻芯褌芯褉褘褏 芯斜褋褌芯褟褌械谢褜褋褌胁邪褏 邪泻褌褍邪谢褜薪褘泄 锌褉械写屑械褌 谐邪褉写械褉芯斜邪. 袝褋谢懈 写谢褟 袘褉邪泄谐械薪褋邪 斜褘谢 斜芯谢械械 写械泄褋褌胁械薪薪褘泄 褋锌芯褋芯斜 锌褉械胁褉邪褌懈褌褜 褋胁芯褞 卸懈蟹薪褜 胁 邪写, 褌芯 褟 械谐芯 薪械 蟹薪邪褞.
校屑薪邪褟, 褋褌褉邪褕薪邪褟 懈 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪邪褟 泻薪懈谐邪 芯 薪械写芯锌褍褋褌懈屑芯褋褌懈 褋邪屑芯褋褍写邪, 芯 蟹邪泻芯薪械 - 褔褌芯 写褘褕谢芯, 懈 芯 褌芯屑, 褔褌芯 泻芯谐写邪 锌械褉械褋褌邪褞褌 写械泄褋褌胁芯胁邪褌褜 褔懈褋褌褘械 褋锌芯褋芯斜褘 写芯斜懈褌褜褋褟 锌芯斜械写褘 邪 芯斜褋褌芯褟褌械谢褜褋褌胁邪 芯锌芯谢褔邪褞褌褋褟 锌褉芯褌懈胁 褌械斜褟, 写邪卸械 褋邪屑褘械 褋褌芯泄泻懈械 懈蟹 薪邪褋 谐芯褌芯胁褘 胁芯褋锌芯谢褜蟹芯胁邪褌褜褋褟 薪械 胁锌芯谢薪械 斜械蟹褍锌褉械褔薪褘屑懈. 袙 邪褍写懈芯胁邪褉懈邪薪褌械, 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪邪褟 袠谐芯褉械屑 袣薪褟蟹械胁褘屑, 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌褉械胁芯褋褏芯写薪邪.
The fighter for justice in his books is always a lawyer competent enough to resist the system with its weapons. Not a knight in shining armor, but rather a pilgrim who set out on a journey without having the strength to resist the categorical imperative of the moral law inside. Such concentrated Kantianism, contrary to the lightness of the genre, perhaps provides this prose with popular love.
A small town in the south of the USA is shocked by a brutal crime, two white bastards kidnapped a black girl of ten years old, raped her, bullied her, wanted to kill her, as a result they just left her to die in a ditch. The girl miraculously escaped and managed to tell about the crime. And the men did not hide much, they generally, in the course, have not sobered up since the kidnapping. I know that Grisham is always a lawyer detective, and listening to an audiobook, I am horrified at this point, is the plot going to be built around the protection of these scoundrels?
袘芯泄褋褟, 褝褌芯 薪芯褉屑邪谢褜薪芯, 褌芯谢褜泻芯 薪械 锌芯泻邪蟹褘胁邪泄 褋胁芯泄 褋褌褉邪褏
小懈褋褌械屑邪 薪邪褋褌芯谢褜泻芯 褋锌褉邪胁械写谢懈胁邪, 薪邪褋泻芯谢褜泻芯 锌褉械写胁蟹褟褌芯泄 懈 锌芯写胁械褉卸械薪薪芯泄 胁芯蟹写械泄褋褌胁懈褞 褝屑芯褑懈泄 械褢 写械谢邪械褌 褋邪屑 褔械谢芯胁械泻.
袛械斜褞褌薪褘泄 褉芯屑邪薪 邪胁褌芯褉邪 褞褉懈写懈褔械褋泻懈褏 褌褉懈谢谢械褉芯胁 袛卸芯薪邪 袚褉懈褕褝屑邪 "袩芯褉邪 褍斜懈胁邪褌褜" (1988), 锌芯褋谢械 屑薪芯谐懈褏 懈蟹写邪褌械谢褜褋泻懈褏 芯褌泻邪蟹芯胁, 斜褘谢 薪邪锌械褔邪褌邪薪 褌懈褉邪卸芯屑 锌褟褌褜 褌褘褋褟褔 褝泻蟹械屑锌谢褟褉芯胁. 袙褌芯褉芯泄 泻薪懈谐芯泄, 薪械芯卸懈写邪薪薪芯 胁蟹芯褉胁邪胁褕械泄 褋锌懈褋泻懈 斜械褋褌褋械谢谢械褉芯胁 褋褌邪谢邪 "肖懈褉屑邪" (1991), 邪 褋褍屑屑邪褉薪褘泄 褌懈褉邪卸 褌褉械褌褜械谐芯 "袛械谢邪 芯 袩械谢懈泻邪薪邪褏" (1992) 锌褉械胁褘褋懈谢 芯写懈薪薪邪写褑邪褌褜 屑懈谢谢懈芯薪芯胁. 小 褌械褏 锌芯褉 懈 锌芯 褋械泄 写械薪褜 袚褉懈褕褝屑 锌懈褕械褌 胁 褋褉械写薪械屑 锌芯 写胁邪 褉芯屑邪薪邪 胁 谐芯写, 薪芯 褍卸械 锌械褉胁褘泄 写邪械褌 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁谢械薪懈械 芯 锌褉芯斜谢械屑邪褌懈泻械 懈 褌械屑邪褏, 泻 泻芯褌芯褉褘屑 芯薪 斜褍写械褌 锌芯褋褌芯褟薪薪芯 芯斜褉邪褖邪褌褜褋褟 胁 写邪谢褜薪械泄褕械屑: 褋芯褑懈邪谢褜薪芯械 薪械褉邪胁械薪褋褌胁芯, 褉邪褋芯胁邪褟 写懈褋泻褉懈屑懈薪邪褑懈褟, 泻芯褉褉褍屑锌懈褉芯胁邪薪薪芯褋褌褜 胁谢邪褋褌懈 懈 薪械褋芯胁械褉褕械薪褋褌胁芯 褋褍写械斜薪芯泄 褋懈褋褌械屑褘.
袘芯褉褑芯屑 蟹邪 褋锌褉邪胁械写谢懈胁芯褋褌褜 胁 械谐芯 泻薪懈谐邪褏 胁褋械谐写邪 胁褘褋褌褍锌邪械褌 邪写胁芯泻邪褌, 写芯褋褌邪褌芯褔薪芯 泻芯屑锌械褌械薪褌薪褘泄, 褔褌芯斜褘 锌褉芯褌懈胁芯褋褌芯褟褌褜 褋懈褋褌械屑械 械械 芯褉褍卸懈械屑. 袧械 褉褘褑邪褉褜 胁 褋胁械褉泻邪褞褖懈褏 写芯褋锌械褏邪褏, 褋泻芯褉械械 锌懈谢懈谐褉懈屑, 泻芯褌芯褉褘泄 锌褍褋褌懈谢褋褟 胁 锌褍褌褜, 薪械 懈屑械褟 褋懈谢 锌褉芯褌懈胁懈褌褜褋褟 泻邪褌械谐芯褉懈褔械褋泻芯屑褍 懈屑锌械褉邪褌懈胁褍 屑芯褉邪谢褜薪芯谐芯 蟹邪泻芯薪邪 胁薪褍褌褉懈. 孝邪泻芯械 泻芯薪褑械薪褌褉懈褉芯胁邪薪薪芯械 泻邪薪褌懈邪薪褋褌胁芯, 胁芯锌褉械泻懈 谢械谐泻芯胁械褋薪芯褋褌懈 卸邪薪褉邪, 胁芯蟹屑芯卸薪芯 懈 芯斜械褋锌械褔懈胁邪械褌 褝褌芯泄 锌褉芯蟹械 薪邪褉芯写薪褍褞 谢褞斜芯胁褜.
袦邪谢械薪褜泻懈泄 谐芯褉芯写芯泻 薪邪 褞谐械 小楔袗 锌芯褌褉褟褋械薪 卸械褋褌芯泻懈屑 锌褉械褋褌褍锌谢械薪懈械屑, 写胁邪 斜械谢褘褏 褍斜谢褞写泻邪 锌芯褏懈褌懈谢懈 褔械褉薪芯泻芯卸褍褞 写械胁芯褔泻褍 写械褋褟褌懈 谢械褌, 薪邪褋懈谢芯胁邪谢懈 械械, 懈蟹写械胁邪谢懈褋褜, 褏芯褌械谢懈 褍斜懈褌褜, 胁 褉械蟹褍谢褜褌邪褌械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 斜褉芯褋懈谢懈 褍屑懈褉邪褌褜 胁 泻邪薪邪胁械. 袛械胁芯褔泻邪 褔褍写芯屑 褋锌邪褋谢邪褋褜 懈 褋褍屑械谢邪 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹邪褌褜 芯 锌褉械褋褌褍锌谢械薪懈懈. 袗 屑褍卸懈泻懈 芯褋芯斜芯 懈 薪械 褋泻褉褘胁邪谢懈褋褜, 芯薪懈 胁芯芯斜褖械, 锌芯 褏芯写褍, 薪械 锌褉芯褌褉械蟹胁械谢懈 褋芯 胁褉械屑械薪懈 泻懈写薪械锌懈薪谐邪. 携 蟹薪邪褞, 褔褌芯 袚褉懈褕褝屑 - 褝褌芯 胁褋械谐写邪 邪写胁芯泻邪褌褋泻懈泄 写械褌械泻褌懈胁, 懈, 褋谢褍褕邪褟 邪褍写懈芯泻薪懈谐褍, 锌褉懈褏芯卸褍 胁 褝褌芯屑 屑械褋褌械 胁 褍卸邪褋, 薪械褍卸械谢懈 褋褞卸械褌 斜褍写械褌 褋褌褉芯懈褌褜褋褟 胁芯泻褉褍谐 蟹邪褖懈褌褘 褝褌懈褏 屑械褉蟹邪胁褑械胁?
袧芯 薪械褌, 胁褋械 褋谢芯卸薪械械, 芯褌械褑 屑邪谢褘褕泻懈, 薪械 胁 褋懈谢邪褏 褋屑懈褉懈褌褜褋褟 褋 锌褉芯懈褋褕械写褕懈屑, 写芯斜褘胁邪械褌 胁懈薪褌芯胁泻褍 懈 褍斜懈胁邪械褌 薪邪褋懈谢褜薪懈泻芯胁 薪邪 胁褘褏芯写械 懈蟹 蟹写邪薪懈褟 褋褍写邪. 袗屑斜懈褑懈芯蟹薪褘泄 屑芯谢芯写芯泄 邪写胁芯泻邪褌 袛卸械泻 袘褉邪泄谐械薪褋 斜褍写械褌 蟹邪褖懈褌薪懈泻芯屑, 写械谢芯 芯斜械褖邪械褌 褋褌邪褌褜 芯褔械薪褜 褉械蟹芯薪邪薪褋薪褘屑, 邪 胁褘懈谐褉邪胁 械谐芯, 袘褉邪泄谐械薪褋 锌械褉械屑械褋褌懈褌褋褟 胁 胁褘褋褕褍褞 谢懈谐褍 锌褉芯褎械褋褋懈懈, 泻邪泻 锌芯 褉械锌褍褌邪褑懈懈 懈 锌褉械褋褌懈卸褍. 褌邪泻 懈 锌芯 谐芯薪芯褉邪褉邪屑. 孝芯 械褋褌褜, 胁褋械, 泻邪泻 斜褘, 谢芯谐懈褔薪芯.
袨写薪邪泻芯, 褝褌芯 挟谐, 写械褌懈, 谐写械 懈薪械褉褑懈褟 褋械谐褉械谐邪褑懈懈 褋懈谢褜薪邪, 邪 斜械谢芯械 薪邪褋械谢械薪懈械 写芯谢谐芯 械褖械 斜褍写械褌 胁芯褋锌褉懈薪懈屑邪褌褜 邪褎褉芯邪屑械褉懈泻邪薪褑械胁 谢褞写褜屑懈 薪懈蟹褕械谐芯 褋芯褉褌邪. 袣褉芯屑械 锌褉芯褔械谐芯, 芯褌 褋谢褍褔邪泄薪芯泄 锌褍谢懈 锌芯褋褌褉邪写邪谢 泻芯薪胁芯懈褉 懈 褍斜械写懈褌褜 锌褉懈褋褟卸薪褘褏 锌褉懈蟹薪邪褌褜 芯褌褑邪 薪械胁懈薪芯胁薪褘屑 懈蟹 蟹邪写邪褔懈 褌褉褍写薪芯泄, 薪芯 胁褘锌芯谢薪懈屑芯泄, 锌褉械胁褉邪褖邪械褌褋褟 胁 薪械锌芯写褗械屑薪褍褞.
袗 械褋褌褜 械褖械 袣褍-袣谢褍泻褋-袣谢邪薪, 械褋谢懈 胁褘 写褍屑邪谢懈, 褔褌芯 芯薪 芯褋褌邪谢褋褟 胁 褏芯谢屑褋懈邪薪械 懈 锌褟褌懈 蟹械褉薪褘褕泻邪褏 邪锌械谢褜褋懈薪邪, 胁褘 褋懈谢褜薪芯 蟹邪斜谢褍卸写邪谢懈褋褜 - 斜械谢褘械 斜邪谢邪褏芯薪褘 褋 泻邪锌褞褕芯薪邪屑懈 懈 锌芯 褋械泄 写械薪褜 胁 薪械泻芯褌芯褉褘褏 芯斜褋褌芯褟褌械谢褜褋褌胁邪褏 邪泻褌褍邪谢褜薪褘泄 锌褉械写屑械褌 谐邪褉写械褉芯斜邪. 袝褋谢懈 写谢褟 袘褉邪泄谐械薪褋邪 斜褘谢 斜芯谢械械 写械泄褋褌胁械薪薪褘泄 褋锌芯褋芯斜 锌褉械胁褉邪褌懈褌褜 褋胁芯褞 卸懈蟹薪褜 胁 邪写, 褌芯 褟 械谐芯 薪械 蟹薪邪褞.
校屑薪邪褟, 褋褌褉邪褕薪邪褟 懈 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪邪褟 泻薪懈谐邪 芯 薪械写芯锌褍褋褌懈屑芯褋褌懈 褋邪屑芯褋褍写邪, 芯 蟹邪泻芯薪械 - 褔褌芯 写褘褕谢芯, 懈 芯 褌芯屑, 褔褌芯 泻芯谐写邪 锌械褉械褋褌邪褞褌 写械泄褋褌胁芯胁邪褌褜 褔懈褋褌褘械 褋锌芯褋芯斜褘 写芯斜懈褌褜褋褟 锌芯斜械写褘 邪 芯斜褋褌芯褟褌械谢褜褋褌胁邪 芯锌芯谢褔邪褞褌褋褟 锌褉芯褌懈胁 褌械斜褟, 写邪卸械 褋邪屑褘械 褋褌芯泄泻懈械 懈蟹 薪邪褋 谐芯褌芯胁褘 胁芯褋锌芯谢褜蟹芯胁邪褌褜褋褟 薪械 胁锌芯谢薪械 斜械蟹褍锌褉械褔薪褘屑懈. 袙 邪褍写懈芯胁邪褉懈邪薪褌械, 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪邪褟 袠谐芯褉械屑 袣薪褟蟹械胁褘屑, 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌褉械胁芯褋褏芯写薪邪.
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February 13, 2020
Audiobook - 12:21 hours - Narrator: Robert Petkoff
3.0 out of 5.0 stars - "I Liked It" (Second "reading")
My GR friend Tim read this a few weeks ago and awarded it a very rare, for him, 10 out of 10 stars. Because of this, I decided toread listen to it for a second time.
I first read "A Time to Kill" as a paperback in the early 1990's, following John Grisham's huge success with "The Firm", "The Pelican Brief", and those that followed annually in his first decade as a top-line author. As I tuned into this audiobook, I realised how little I remembered about Jack Brigance and the rather motley crew he surrounded himself with in Mississippi as he mounted a defence for black Carl-Lee Harley's killing of two white men who had raped, beaten and left his ten-years old daughter to die.
I am not surprised that I "liked" (3-stars) rather than "really liked" (4-stars) "A Time to Kill" because there wasn't much to "really like". Jack Brigance was hardly a likeable character and there was plenty not to like about his treatment of some of the women in the story. His dismissive attitude towards his wife, his downright rudeness towards his secretary and his holier-than-thou attitude towards "Ro-Ark" (sp?), the highly unlikely and (literally) unbelievably skilled and precocious clerk who worked for him for free, producing 'outstanding' briefs and other paperwork in (metaphorically) no time at all. The fate of this "Northerner" and also of the various KKK members and the local Klavern were left dangling as Grisham seemed in a rush to finish this already wordy and over-long novel.
My GR friend Tim and I seem to have similar attitudes towards John Grisham novels. We either "loved this one", "liked that one", "couldn't finish the other one", but not always referring to the same novels.
I have 34 novels in my Grisham collection (including "The Reckoning" released this month) and 10 are unread or unheard. Of the 24 read or listened to, 16 are rated three stars or more and eight are rated one star or dnf. So, at the moment I enjoy two out of every three Grisham novels and that is a pretty good average. Note: not all my novels are listed in my 欧宝娱乐 profile.
3.0 out of 5.0 stars - "I Liked It" (Second "reading")
My GR friend Tim read this a few weeks ago and awarded it a very rare, for him, 10 out of 10 stars. Because of this, I decided to
I first read "A Time to Kill" as a paperback in the early 1990's, following John Grisham's huge success with "The Firm", "The Pelican Brief", and those that followed annually in his first decade as a top-line author. As I tuned into this audiobook, I realised how little I remembered about Jack Brigance and the rather motley crew he surrounded himself with in Mississippi as he mounted a defence for black Carl-Lee Harley's killing of two white men who had raped, beaten and left his ten-years old daughter to die.
I am not surprised that I "liked" (3-stars) rather than "really liked" (4-stars) "A Time to Kill" because there wasn't much to "really like". Jack Brigance was hardly a likeable character and there was plenty not to like about his treatment of some of the women in the story. His dismissive attitude towards his wife, his downright rudeness towards his secretary and his holier-than-thou attitude towards "Ro-Ark" (sp?), the highly unlikely and (literally) unbelievably skilled and precocious clerk who worked for him for free, producing 'outstanding' briefs and other paperwork in (metaphorically) no time at all. The fate of this "Northerner" and also of the various KKK members and the local Klavern were left dangling as Grisham seemed in a rush to finish this already wordy and over-long novel.
My GR friend Tim and I seem to have similar attitudes towards John Grisham novels. We either "loved this one", "liked that one", "couldn't finish the other one", but not always referring to the same novels.
I have 34 novels in my Grisham collection (including "The Reckoning" released this month) and 10 are unread or unheard. Of the 24 read or listened to, 16 are rated three stars or more and eight are rated one star or dnf. So, at the moment I enjoy two out of every three Grisham novels and that is a pretty good average. Note: not all my novels are listed in my 欧宝娱乐 profile.
April 12, 2010
I HATED this book - why I finished all 500+ pages I will never know. I picked it up at the library just browsing for something light - I liked Pelican Brief and thought I would read another John Grisham. I think Mr. Grisham is trying to protray Clanton, Mississippi as the main character and to do this employs a lot of stereotypes about the deep south, including extensive use of the "n" word, as well as describing others in the town as "the whites" "the rednecks" etc. The main character, Jack Brigance is completely unbelievable as an ambitious lawyer - would an ambitious lawyer given the best case of his life really drink three margaritas before the closing arguments and argue most of the case hungover? Story lines were left hanging, weird sexual tension was developed between characters and then abruptly dropped as story lines. Sloppily written, unengaging story, cured me of ever reading Grisham again.
May 24, 2016
A satisfying legal thriller.
Grisham gives the reader much to ponder in this story of a black man who kills two men who raped and brutally beat his 10 year-old daughter. It's hard not to root for the father. It also makes one wonder if the story would have worked as well had it been his wife or sister who had been raped instead (probably not), which in and of itself is worth thinking about. It certainly makes one wonder if and when murder is ever justifiable, and exactly how we draw those lines in the sand as individuals and as a society.
That said, there were times the characters felt one dimensional. Lots of stereotypes. Occasionally, the story and the characters bordered on satire. Toward the end I grew weary of the tongue-and-cheek dialogue between characters. I also felt Grisham offers a very cynical view of lawyers and the legal process, which at times adds to the story and at other times takes away from it.
Overall, an incredibly well-written story, with relevant and important themes.
Grisham gives the reader much to ponder in this story of a black man who kills two men who raped and brutally beat his 10 year-old daughter. It's hard not to root for the father. It also makes one wonder if the story would have worked as well had it been his wife or sister who had been raped instead (probably not), which in and of itself is worth thinking about. It certainly makes one wonder if and when murder is ever justifiable, and exactly how we draw those lines in the sand as individuals and as a society.
That said, there were times the characters felt one dimensional. Lots of stereotypes. Occasionally, the story and the characters bordered on satire. Toward the end I grew weary of the tongue-and-cheek dialogue between characters. I also felt Grisham offers a very cynical view of lawyers and the legal process, which at times adds to the story and at other times takes away from it.
Overall, an incredibly well-written story, with relevant and important themes.
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