The Appeal
by John Grisham
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Book Summary Information
Author: John GrishamEdition: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2008-01-29
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: Doubleday
Book Reviews of The Appeal
Book Review: Good book with weighty issues
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Appeal" is a legal thriller, but unlike most in the genre that plow through the dramatics of an intense trial, this one begins with the jury's verdict and lets the fireworks ensue afterward. Several subplots and numerous characters introduced along the way keep things interesting, and in typical John Grisham fashion, several meaty issues of the day arise. These issues include blatant disregard for the environment by a huge corporation; the role of big money in politics and political fundraising; and large settlement fees in tort cases.
The biggest point Grisham makes in "The Appeal" is that elected judges on state supreme courts should not be influenced by the people that backed them in their election. In other words, keep private money out of judicial elections to keep the judicial system free of political favors and bias; judges should make rulings based on the state constitution, not what their political backers desire. Like many, Grisham feels that supreme court judges should be appointed by a nonpartisan committee based on passed merit, not elections. Grisham is far from being alone in this way of thinking. Coincidentally, while I was reading "The Appeal," an article by Mike Lawrence titled "Illinois needs to leave wonderland of judicial politics" talked about the exact same thing.
In "The Appeal," the tragic town of Bowmore, Mississippi, is inundated with horrible water that has killed and sickened many of its residents. The heartless company that caused the water problem, Krane Chemical Corporation, refuses to admit it did anything wrong and won't pay up for the heartache it caused the town. Carl Trudeau, who runs said company, ultimately hires a firm that specializes in working to elect supreme court judges who will consistently rule in favor of big businesses so that massive tort fees can be avoided. Along the way, several other side stories in the book keep things lively.
Though "The Appeal" is good, there were a few things about Grisham's storyline that didn't ring completely true. For instance, I had a hard time believing that the small, practically bankrupt firm of Payton and Payton wouldn't have received assistance from a much larger firm to fight Krane Chemical. It happens all the time in the legal world, and I would think many big law firms would salivate at the opportunity to take Krane's money, despite some of the obstacles. Additionally, in this day and age, it's hard to fathom that Krane Chemical would so blatantly disregard environmental laws in the U.S. -- and do it with such an evil sneer. Sure, it's a sad fact that many companies all over the world choose to disregard environmental rules. But the lack of remorse in Grisham's ultra-conservative, ultra-rich and somewhat cartoonish antagonist (Trudeau) seemed a bit overboard. Also, Grisham's attempt at bad karma sideswiping one of the main characters at the end of the book was an interesting surprise, but it felt a tad contrived.
Those points aside, "The Appeal" is an enjoyable read that offers much to ponder.
Summary of The Appeal
Politics has always been a dirty game.Now justice is, too.
In a crowded courtroom in Mississippi, a jury returns a shocking verdict against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste into a small town?s water supply, causing the worst ?cancer cluster? in history. The company appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court, whose nine justices will one day either approve the verdict or reverse it.
Who are the nine? How will they vote? Can one be replaced before the case is ultimately decided?
The chemical company is owned by a Wall Street predator named Carl Trudeau, and Mr. Trudeau is convinced the Court is not friendly enough. With judicial elections looming, he decides to try to purchase himself a seat on the Court. The cost is a few million dollars, a drop in the bucket for a billionaire like Mr. Trudeau. Through an intricate web of conspiracy and deceit, his political operatives recruit a young, unsuspecting candidate. They finance him, manipulate him, market him, and mold him into a potential Supreme Court justice. Their Supreme Court justice.
The Appeal is a powerful, timely, and shocking story of political and legal intrigue, a story that will leave readers unable to think about our electoral process or judicial system in quite the same way ever again.
As the author of twenty bestselling books, John Grisham has set the standard for legal thrillers since the debut of The Firm in 1991. Enjoy this Q&A--as well as a personal note to Amazon readers--from John Grisham.
The actual trial is not a terribly significant part of the story. Most all of the action and intrigue begins after the trial is over, with the verdict and the subsequent appeal.
2. The Appeal overtly suggests that elected judges can be bought. If the novel is meant as a cautionary tale, what's next--the Presidential primaries?
Why not? Over one billion dollars will be spent next year in the Presidential primaries and general election. With that kind of money floating around, anything can be bought.
3. Speaking of electoral politics, you've been more vocal recently about your political views ... first supporting Jim Webb for Senate and now endorsing Hillary Clinton for the White House. Have you given any thought to running for office yourself?
No. I made that mistake 25 years ago, and promised myself I would never do it again. I enjoy watching and participating in politics from the sidelines, but it's best to keep some distance.
4. This is your first legal thriller in three years. How did it feel to get back to the genre that started it all, and can fans expect another thriller from you next year?
I still enjoy writing the legal thrillers, and don't plan to get too far away from them. Obviously, they have been very good to me, and they remain popular. I plan to write one a year for the next several years.
5. Your nonfiction book The Innocent Man continues to be a bestseller in paperback. In your ongoing work with The Innocence Project, have you come across another story of the wrongfully convicted that begs to be written as nonfiction?
There are literally hundreds of great stories out there about wrongfully convicted defendants. I am continually astounded by these stories, and I resist the temptation to take the plunge again into non-fiction.
6. What's on your bedside reading list at the moment?
1. The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin
2. Eric Clapton's autobiography
3. East of Eden by John Steinbeck.
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