The Associate
by John Grisham
|
List Price: Our Price: $1.49 You Save: $26.46 (95%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Associate
Book Review: A growing disdain for his readers
Summary: 2 Stars
[SOME SPOILERS CONTAINED AHEAD] The Associate is typical John Grisham; however, he seems to be developing a disdain for his fanbase, especially when it comes to satisfying endings. We all know that in the real world, a happy (or at least conclusive) ending isn't always possible, but until his most recent novels, this and The Appeal, Grisham allowed his readers to close the cover on the book with a sense of fulfillment and completion. He seems to have decided to abandon the formula of The Client, The Pelican Brief, and his other novel with a similar storyline, The Firm. He allows the reader to get caught in the same web of intrigue as his protagonist, and like his protagonist, we are left in the dark at the conclusion of the book.
I found the majority of the novel to be engaging, fairly well-written, and (mostly) compelling. Instead of resolution, we get a cliffhanger without denouement. As another reviewer commented, this is like The Associate, Part 1 (maybe that is the case and he intends to write a follow-up). One little nitpick is the ethics of the protagonist, Kyle. He presents as holier than thou with his deep sense of morality, yet falls into the same unethical behavior that brought down The Firm (at least in the film version): He charges his clients (at $400/hour) for doing nothing (in one instance Kyle drives around a courthouse in Manhattan for two hours and bills the client because he can't find a parking space, even going and filling the car with gas and getting a carwash.). Maybe this is supposed to show a character flaw, that he's not a "perfect hero", but he bemoans the fact that the other attorneys do this, but has no problem doing it himself.
The omniscience of the "bad guys" (we never know who they are) is also a stretch. Read if you must, but this is definitely second-rate Grisham.
Book Review: Blackmail
Summary: 4 Stars
We've come to regularly expect an interesting, rewarding novel dealing with the legal profession from John Grisham. The Associate is no exception. The reader is treated to a look at the protagonist's course of three years of law school, the honor of being editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Review, the dilemma of choosing between an idealistic post-graduate course or a highly-paid Wall Street law firm position, a cursory look at the rigors of the New York Bar Exam and the daily (and nightly) grind of a first-year associate at the "world's top law firm." All through the eyes of Kyle McEvoy.
Although Kyle plans to join a small Virginia public interest firm after graduation, he is blackmailed into accepting a proffered associate position with a top Wall Street law firm because of a youthful indiscretion (along with his three roommates) while in college. The purpose is to place him in a position to steal and deliver sensitive information regarding a law suit filed by a client so the defendant can better counter the legal action. The question, of course, is how Kyle can escape violating the Code of Ethics and other moral and legal duties.
All this makes for an interesting, and even, exciting plot. What isn't answered is just who is the "handler" forcing Kyle to betray everything he believes in. Kyle does come up with a half-brained theory which just doesn't ring true: that he is some government spy. Unfortunately, no matter what we believe, it is a little far-fetched, especially when Kyle accuses him of murdering one of his roommates. To think the government condones domestic murder defies belief (although, on the other hand, foreign assassinations have been known to occur). Otherwise, the author has once again delivered up to expectations.
Recommended.
Book Review: The Associate
Summary: 4 Stars
The Associate
John Grisham's latest book is "The Associate", which I just finished reading. I always enjoy Grisham's work and so I was eager to read this book once it was released to the public.
Grisham's previous release was "The Appeal". The first part of this book I was a little disappointed, for I thought he was rewriting the same story as in "The Appeal", yet with different characters. I should of known better for just as the background was being laid out for the reader in the first couple of chapter's, the stories plot made a dramatic turn, one I never would of suspected! Grisham's latest release is a fast and great read.
The story is centered on a young law school graduate and how he bends to please others through his actions instead of following his heart. This character's in this story are good, bad and questionable; morals are followed and broken. Similar to "The Appeal", the main character is dragged around in the book as a pawn, bowing to other`s commands. We again, thanks to John, get a detailed glimpse of how corporate and the government, dictate one's life to the extent where one over powers the other, like a game of cat and mouse. The book's hero, not only recognizes this game, he fights back. It is in his fight against the evils in his firm and outside of his firm, that result in his growth and leaves his conscience clean.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery, suspense, with a strong attraction to good over evil.
The conclusion ties up all the loose ends yet at the same time leave's the reader room to consider a sequel. I my self would love to see Grisham publish a squeal to this book for the character's were so well developed, that the reader wants to continue along with them despite their trails and errors.
Book Review: I seem to be in the minority.
Summary: 4 Stars
My two cents: One of the main reasons I enjoyed Grisham's latest is that I found all the characters to be completely believable. With a few well chosen strokes, Grisham managed to make me see and actually recognize each of his characters, as though they were people I had met at least once before. That hasn't always been the case in his previous novels.
I can't understand the issue some reviewers had with believing that a top-ranked Yale law student had plans to work for a legal aid group after graduation. The Ivy League law schools lay a heavy burden on all their students to go out and help the needy; do a year or two or three of public service. And as far as doubting Kyle would worry about the infamous party video and its ability to ruin his life - honey, I'm from South Carolina and I saw firsthand what those Duke students went through when charges were brought against them in a similar case (which Grisham refers to in his book to make his point) and I have no trouble believing Kyle would go to great lengths to avoid the same devastation in his own life. So yes, I thought Grisham made a very good case for Kyle allowing himself to be used as he was.
The plot was good and tight and kept me interested. I enjoyed watching Kyle discover those things that were so much more important to him than possible public disgrace, and start to fight back after realizing it was his only chance to recapture his dreams. Then when a friend is murdered, the stakes are raised and his very survival is in question, but again he outmaneuvers the truly bad men who have underestimated him. The ending was perfect, since I dislike a story that gets wrapped up with all the ends neatly tied and trimmed and stamped THE END. Grisham left it up to the reader to imagine the possibilities. I like that.
Book Review: Engaging and even...deep
Summary: 5 Stars
No offence meant, but I am really struggling to understand all this criticism against this book. OK, I admit this is not the right book for those who are looking for an action-packed legal thriller. For the action-junkies there are other authors that can deliver less sophisticated thrillers with a slight legal flair (e.g. Mark Gimenez, etc.). OK, I can also admit that Grisham's style has changed over the years: its once bubbly and almost cheeky style (remember the Rainmaker?) has now acquired a different intensity, this author is growing old and his style a bit drier. But is not at all turning duller, on the contrary. What did I like in this book? Well, I am a lawyer, and I worked in a major NYC law firm when I was younger, and I was amazed at seeing how accurate is the description of the life of a first-year associate in this book. The uncivilized working hours, out-of-mind partners who had more money that they could spend, the competition with other associates, the pressure to reach billing targets...being constantly tired. Even the relationship with Dale is extremely well described. They are obviously not in love, but in an environment like that their relationship is the closest you can get to real love. Some of the critics of this book have express the view that it seems not completed, as if a sequel were to come out soon. I really don't know what they are talking about. I don't want to put in the spoiler here, but the end is as coherent and rewarding as it could be. Finally, don't miss the scene where Baxter stares at the pint of beer in front of him...trying to decide whether it is worth to spoil a 3-month rehab program...these are very fine pages that only a former (or current?) alcoholic could have written...maybe Mr. Grisham has got something to confess?...