Customer Reviews

Street Lawyer

5 star:		(262)
4 star:		(235)
3 star:		(203)
2 star:		(174)
1 star:		(204)

 

 

My first Grisham novel was The Testament, so I walked into this novel, expecting more of the same. Unfortunately that expectation was mis-placed.

The concept was good, and the topic was riveting. The problem, however, lay in the narrative. The character of Michael Brock was almost wishy-washy. I couldn't identify with him - in fact I related and liked far better the character of Mordecai Green, Director of the 14th Street Legal Clinic which Brock starts working for.

The novel is billed, essentially, as a thriller. However it didn't have the feel of a thriller. Sure, I was intrigued by the developments, however I wasn't feverishly turning the pages at 3am to finish it.

In a way, I'm disappointed. The topic is hot, and one deserving of much attention in this, the richest nation of the world. I often wonder how many millions are given to foreign nations, while thousands of its citizens sleep on our streets, including children? A disturbing thought.

I'm glad that Grisham brought it to our attention, but felt that he could have done so much more with the material. It's an enjoyable read, don't get me wrong, but not Grisham at his best.

Was this written in a mansion?

Another enjoyable quick read by Grisham. The scenario is predictable and the general themes are known to the reader by page 30. And with Grish that's OK. Michael Brock is a young lawyer living in Georgetown and working for the prestigious law firm of Drake & Sweeney: the ambitious climb up the corporate law firm ladder, a high income, a wife he never sees in an unhappy dysfunctional marriage and 80 hour work-weeks, are broken up by martini lunches billed to clients. Grisham again presents the "lawyerly atmosphere," with layman descriptions of legalese and strategies, in an interesting and intriguing way as the story unfolds. The descriptions of the District of Columbia are true-to-the-heart, and bring you to its Victorian townhouses, bad parts of town, popular night-spots, "lettered" streets, and DC's restaurants and cafes.

Even though he's a lawyer who lives in D.C., Brock goes through a personal, professional, and spritual metamorphosis after a traumatic incident--but all in 32 days? Now, Acknowledging a boring existence in life, through introspection, he has a series of conscious-raising revelations as the result of event.

He then ventures out to fight for the needy. Those who don't have a voice. Those who have multiple self-induced problems, make mistakes in life, and screw-up on a regular basis. Illegitimate children, dependence on drugs and the habitual inability to keep a job: these are the people who are the victims. And, these are victims who need justice. These people need a voice in society for theirs' is muted in the mahogany and oak halls of justice. And, Brock will be the man: risking his freedom, life, high income, career, and a certain future as a million-dollar-partner in his law firm that he leaves.

He chucks it.

For spiritual enlightenment perhaps. White guilt. Lawyer guilt. He gets a divorce. He marches with the homeless of D.C. He moves into a furniture-less loft in Adams-Morgan, buys a clunker of a car, and eats out in cheap restaurants he describes as "run by Pakistanis". And, all this, at the bewilderment and dismay of his white-collar judgemental yuppie family.

Although I'm no cynic, as I read this story, and am inundated by its general stereotypes we see in our media everyday, I picture this: Tom Cruise on a crusade....growing a 3-day stubble, wearing a loose tie, blue-jeans and sneakers, while he helps the "disadvantaged" as a street lawyer on a crusade for justice against the bad guy dapper-dons adorned in Hermes suits. Larry King prime-time is next for Michael Brock.

This has "movie screenplay" written all over it. Thematic expressions of good guy under-dog David the protaganist, versus the Goliath nemesis of Drake and Sweeney, the antagonist. The fight for justice. To right a wrong. David vs. Goliath--and David triumphing. Perhaps some suburban cul-de-sac liberals will feel they aren't donating enough of their years-old canned food from their suburban gated community cupboards. (Volunteering is out of the question--they don't have time.) The sensitive may shed a tear. First year law students who are clueless will trick themselves into believing they'll be a pro bono lawyer after law school for a couple of months after they read this book, before they completely forget about it. Hollywood will be shooting this one down the road. Once again, film-makers who live in Malibu will feel good about themselves after they call this one a "wrap."

John Grisham takes the lawyer who is hungry to remember his conscience on a ride worth experiencing in Street Lawyer. Although the author consistently denies writing his legal thrillers with a social motive in mind, me thinks he doth protest a bit too much. You cannot read this book and remain comfortably barricaded on the upper floors of some skyscraper, awaiting the next billable hour report. Grisham's characters clearly show that The Law Hurts, and does so deliberately blind to the consequences of actions taken by those who are "just doing their jobs." As the novel unfolds, the reader cannot help but question whether professional set apart for special recognition and privilege in our society ought ever be able to say, "I was just doing my job." The people for whom the law exists are out there on the street, waiting for you to remember why you went to law school in the first place. The pace and action are more plausible than most outside the bar will think - and hopefully Grisham's treatment of homelessness and social justice will impel more than a few within the bar to do more than think. The book is a must read for the lawyer who still can recall his or her calling, and an excellent adventure for everyone else.

Let me start with some praise for Grisham's best work: THE FIRMwas an interesting well written novel with what to me was an originalplot. For that he deserves his wealth and fame. That said, I think it is sad that Grisham has since styled himself through his writing as the defender of the underprivledged, sacrificing his future in the battle against those in power. If that last paragragh sounded overblown and sappy, try reading THE STREET LAWYER. The plot,the charactors, and especially the moral tone of the book are garbage. The title charactor isn't a hero, he's a disillusioned fool. He leaves his position of power and burgeoning influence to work the streets where everyone he encounters seems full of great wisdom and courage as long as they are homeless or working for social services. Our "hero" bravely chucks aside his material trappings and corrupt values to bring justice to the street. I have news for Mr. Grisham. I worked the streets for 18 yrs, same types of neighborhoods, and same sort of charactors. His world is a fantasy that doesn't even make good reading. I found that street people are generally anything but "typical people who have run into a little bad luck".Not even close.The real street people are often dirty,drunk,high,loud and/or combative. Many others are very private. Many have mental problems. The one true generality fitting real street people is that the are very independent. They take pride in their independace. Most have very interesting personalities.They are not lost little lambs.They don't want to be pitied. Mostly they'd like to be left alone. They do resent be talked down to by misunderstood idealists. Please Mr Grisham, stick to writing what you know something about.

John Grisham has a great gift for creating page-turning chapters. Unfortunately, they do not become page-turning books. This book is bad on sooooo many levels, I don't know where to begin. The unsympathetic characters, the story line that ends up going nowhere, or the self-indulgent, preachy plot. And while we're on the subject of self-indulgent and preachy -- if I hear one more millionaire rail against the evils of money, I may upchuck.

I was rather surprised to see how boring this book can get. It has a great plot and the beginning is quite good. But after you get through the middle it's hard to keep reading. The author seems to have such a great obsession with telling the reader about what's legal and what's not that it got to a point it was hard to stick with getting through the book. The only reason I read it till the end was to see how the law suit would end up. Which was, rather predictible.

Grisham has gotten tired. This book has none of the well-crafted plot twists and turns that made his early books exciting. After the opening "drama" which takes up the first few chapters, nothing much happens. And the book is preachy. Grisham has a sermon for us, namely that we should help the homeless. It is clear that the only reason he wrote the book is to give this sermon. And he hammers us over the head with it for several hundred pages.

Somewhere along the line, Mr. Grisham toppled off his storytelling ladder deciding that the social statement was a more compelling exercise than the entertainment of his readers. I suppose we should have been forewarned with his recent engagements with the tobacco and insurance industries, but our continued purchases in hopes of another 'Firm' or 'Client' seems to have stimulated him to continue in this (moralizing) direction. Surely, the pharmaceutical industry is next, followed by professional sports then Bill Gates and company. If you revel in moralizing lecture/statements on (name the subject), you'll want to read this and all subsequent Grisham books. Me, I prefer stories and entertainment. I'm sticking with P.D. James, Louise Erdrich, Larry Bond and Patrick OBrian. I want my money back.

Once again we see a lawyer who is about to make a lot of money but all of a sudden finds a truckload of trouble. Michael Brock is on his way to partnership in a huge DC firm but gets a little compassionate and takes a big paycut, a divorce, smaller apartment and everything that goes along with taking a 90k cut in his annual income. He goes into DC's worst streets to help the homeless and the poor in general. The novel overall is good, giving us a view of the homeless, but is a bit extensive with the confidential file. Great book but not near the caliber of "The Partner" or "The Firm".

Many people say this book was not Grisham's best, but I do believe they missed his point of the story. This book actually moved me to the awareness of the homeless. Most of us sit in a comfortable chair reading and say, "Entertain me now!" I do highly doubt that an attorney would leave his prized job to do what he did, but it is possible. Some would say to stay put with the firm and use that income to save the homeless. In this story, Michael Brock decides to hit the pavement, dodge personal attacks on him and make a difference in D.C. This book moved me to be aware of the less fortunate in my own community, and I will do more to help others who need it.