So I bought the above book at a second hand stall in AmCorp for RM10.
Let me tell you about John Grisham and my love-hate relationship with his books... I LOVE the idea behind his stories. The conspiracy theories, the drama of it all. But in my humble opinion, as an avid 'bookaholic' (yes, it's a real term), his writings lack execution. He fails time and time again to clinch a winner at the best possible point of his books. At one point, I gave up reading John Grisham. This was after "The Runaway Jury". So you might say I don't like John Grisham's novels. And I STILL maintain that I don't. (because truly, he disappoints so many time)
However, "The Appeal" comes along. This is not a new book. Of course not. It has been around for years. I only just picked it up this year. I have to say... This book DID NOT BLOW MY MIND. It gave me so much more than that. It was accurate and real. The execution was flawless. And I ended the book almost hoping he would give me what he always gave in his other books. A happy ending and the bad boys lose. But that's not real. So he gave the book what it NEEDED and not what it SHOULD have... I am told from my reading of reviews that instead of gushing about the book (which I am unabashedly doing right now), I should give the idea of what the book is about.
Here is a simple synopsis. The book opens with a surprising judgment for the Plaintif against a big corporation (think Erin Brokovich) who was found guilty of polluting the water of a small town causing the death of the Plaintiff's husband and child and creating a cancerous town. The damages awarded are huge. But now the trial is over, the appeal looms ahead. The book follows two stories. One of the struggle of the lawyers who risked everything to fight for the Plaintiff and their continous effort and struggle to maintain the verdict on appeal. And the other of the machine of the corporation fighting to win the appeal at all costs to avoid a floodgate of tort claims against the corporation including manipulating the seats of the supreme court to obtain a judgment in their favour.
It was worth it. The risk of buying another John Grisham. I still tasted the bitter after-taste of his previous books while making the purchase. But I was awarded in the end. Awesome read.
