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The Rainmaker (Paperback) (平装)
by John Grisham
| Category:
Law, Fiction |
| Market price: ¥ 148.00
MSL price:
¥ 138.00
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| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
It's a excellent book of portraying the lowly everyday working man who never loses sight of his dream despite obstacles. |
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AllReviews |
1 2   | Total 2 pages 11 items |
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Los Angeles Times (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-02 00:00>
Great fun to read...The complex plotting is Grisham's major accomplishment. |
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Jeffrey Clinard (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-02 00:00>
Rudy Baylor has nothing. He delivered pizzas and waited tables to get through college and law school. He passed the bar, and got his licence - and one interesting case in a throwaway class in his last year at law school.
Circumstances force him into ambulance chasing with a man who never passed the bar. But Rudy's one case is legal dynamite. His clients were the victims of a bad-faith case that is textbook. He has the dirt, and has the witnesses that has the dirt. He has a favorable judge. He is even smart enough to know how to turn the defendent's high priced lawyers into unwitting shills for his case.
Maybe being a rookie with nothing to lose worked in his favor. He had no money, no professional reputation, or anything else to lose. The trial scenes are amazing. The green kid, the rookie, absolutely humilates the defendants, as well as the best legal defense money can buy. Trust me, they wre rueing the day that he was ever born.
Yeah, Grisham rigged the facts, the evidence, and everything to favor the rookie... in short a case any trial lawyer would love, combined with the favorable judge. It's still fun. I have to say though, if Grisham could rig the trial in Baylor's favor, he could rig the outcome. Maybe the point is that his client got the justice she deserved, I have to feel her lawyer should have walked away from it all with the money. Still, he got the girl - and maybe that was enough. Along with the knowledge he quit being on top.
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Roger Buffington (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-02 00:00>
"The Rainmaker" is one of Grisham's better novels ("The Firm" still remains my favorite by Grisham). It is the story of a young law student-then lawyer who is trying to make it in the legal profession; specifically, in the world of small-time civil litigation. Young Rudy Baylor lucks into a fairly big-time case, and the fun begins.
Grisham gives us a cynical, funny, and mostly authentic look at the law. Oh, there are a few flaws. I doubt many judges would ever favor one side as much as the judge did in this novel, although I suppose such things happen (I've seen it once.) But overall, Grisham gives the reader a more or less accurate look at the world of civil litigation. This give the novel a gritty sense of realism that carries the reader through what is mostly an excellent read. There are some hilarious pieces to the story-I love that "paralawyer" guy. And Grisham's cynical portrayal of big firm lawyers hits the mark. This is a very funny book.
One of Grisham's better ones. By the way, the novel is quite a bit better than the movie.
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A reader (MSL quote), Morocco
<2007-02-02 00:00>
This amazing, "hard-to-put-down" book portrays the life of a young law student, Rudy Baylor's rather short career as a lawyer in Memphis. Very unpredictable, you will never know what is going to happen next if you do not keep on reading. It is really surprising to see an author that can change the situation of the whole story in few pages and make it sound like a real piece of of literature. John Grisham, with his amazing knowledge of law weaves perfectly the two subjects that don't seem to go together well: Courtroom/law and Suspense. It is really intriguing to see the author give great amount of details about the court that in our normal life would put us into sleep in less than 5 minutes. In this ingenious work of literature, you can experience all kinds of emotion: sadness, happiness, love, fear, hatred...Adding to all the compliments on this novel, this book is frightfully realistic and its story could happen anytime and anywhere around us. In addition, Grisham depicts the corruption of the U.S. Courtroom, the law firms, and harsh reality about insurance companies. This book can be compared to a car with a diesel engine; starts real slow but once it reaches above 100km/h just keeps gaining speed. That means the first 100 pages of The Rainmaker is rather boring but after that 100 pages, the novel becomes a really "hard-to-put-down-page-turner".
In short, this book is a masterpiece legal suspense novel, probably the best one in the 21st century. There are only two faults about The Rainmaker. It is that the book has a rather deceptive ending and that the book is only about 500 pages. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-02 00:00>
This is the first Grisham novel I've ever read, and I enjoyed every page. The Rainmaker is well paced, engaging, witty, and surprisingly resonant. I could completely relate to Rudy, the main character, and I rejoiced at his triumphs, great and small, and I sympathized even with his petty, less noble moments. He's just a regular guy trying to make his way in the world and do some good while he's at it, and it was fun partaking in his journey.
Grisham has a great sense of humor, and I still find myself smiling over the title "paralawyer" and the preppy Waspishness of "Trent and Brent". The line, "Go chase an ambulance," is both cruel and hilarious, yet once you get to know Deck, you understand that he doesn't even have enough shame to be offended by such jabs.
I laughed aloud during the jury selection passage, and I found myself cringing during Rudy's confrontation with Cliff, aka "Fists of Fury, Redneck Style". I chewed my lips constantly in suspense through the last third of this book, and I was loath to put it down. Let's just say that I was definitely drawn into the story.
I'd recommend this book to anyone since the characters are realistic, the writing style is sparse and elegant, and there are little realisms and moments of truth that catch you off guard in their simplicity. This book contains grief and tragedy, but never once does Grisham cheapen his characters by resorting to maudlin, pity-party tactics.
I will now be on the lookout for another Grisham novel that's as engaging as this one. If you buy this book, you're not likely to be disappointed.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-02 00:00>
This book is about Rudy Baylor, fresh out of law school, who has been assigned to an incredible case that just might be the greatest insurance scam ever.
Grisham tells a great story, somehow making a boring trial so interesting, you can't stop turning pages. From page 1, you find yourself cheering for the good guy, booing for the bad guy. You become sad or mad when Drummond (the bad guy) does something, and then can't stop yourself from smiling and letting out a little giggle when Rudy (the good guy) does something totally unexpected and stops Drummond's plan in its tracks. And in some places you stop breathing when Rudy or Drummond presents an unexpected clue to the jury.
There is an upleasant anti-climax at the end, but Grisham rarely has good endings. Believe me, the ending's not that important if the book is so interesting, you can read 200 pages in one sitting.
The Rainmaker is definitely Grisham's best book and there will always be a place for it on my bookshelf.
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Graham Hamer (MSL quote), France
<2007-02-02 00:00>
Summers are hot in Memphis, and the sweat is sticking to Rudy Baylor's shirt. His creditors are biting at his heels and the future's not looking too good. Once he had ideas of breezing his way through law school and jumping on the dollar train to anywhere. Now he doesn't even have a job. He's grasping at straws, and one of them is a smoking-related insurance dispute. The family are poor and Rudy Baylor struggles to file the lawsuit. In a novel heavy with suspense and legal shinnanekins, Rudy eventually gets to court and finds himself against a heavyweight corporate defense team. That's when he discovers he's in way over his head, facing a nightmare of lies and legal maneuverings. What started as a small insurance claim explodes into a million-dollar war of nerves that could even cost the young lawyer his life. Rainmaker is not Grisham's finest book, but it's certainly not his worst. At his worst, Grisham can pick up three stars from anyone. At his best, ten stars is not enough. This novel fits easily into the five star category. On the final page, it leaves a satisfied reader and an author who has met his commitment to deliver the goods.
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Natalie M. (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-02 00:00>
In the book, The Rainmaker, the author, John Grisham, skillfully presents a case of good versus evil. The main character, Rudy Baylor, is a struggling law student trying to make it in life. With no job and no place to live, he stumbles onto a case that will either bring him fame or ultimate failure. In this case, Baylor is up against professional, smart, and crafty lawyers. The lawyers and the rest of the society are both impressed when the inexperienced Baylor crushes them in the courtroom.
Hollywood has created the typical story line for a story. The hero always ends up winning. Well Grisham diverts and steers to and from the typical. Readers are kept interested because they do not always know what is going to happen next. There is even a murder drama placed in the already exciting world. Baylor and his girlfriend, Kelly, go to her old apartment to get some of her clothes. "I place the car, and take a deep breath. 'Are you scared?' she asks. 'Yes.' I reach under the seat and get the gun" (Grisham 412). To make matters worse, they meet up with Kelly's abusive ex-husband. There is a struggle and in the end, only Baylor and Kelly stand. Towards the conclusion of the book, there are two great endings. In the courtroom, there is an overwhelming victory. "We the jury, find for the plaintiff and award actual damages in the amount of two hundred thousand dollars... And we the jury find for the plaintiff and award punitive damages in the amount of fifty million dollars" (Grisham 402). The second happy ending in the book comes at the end. Baylor and Kelly, leave together. "We smile and giggle as the land flattens and the traffic lightens. Memphis is twenty miles behind us. I vow never to return" (Grisham 434). With the thrilling scenes and interesting details, Grisham's book comes to life as everything unfolds perfectly in time.
Many people have praised The Rainmaker. One critic has written, "The case against the insurance company is a classic David vs. Goliath scenario. Mr. Grisham expertly weaves all these plot lines together and keeps the pages turning with bright, vivid and entertaining writing" (Thomas Magnum). This critic is correct. Readers learn throughout the book that perseverance always wins. Baylor, the inexperienced lawyer, gives inspiration to the little people in the world trying to make it in life. In classic Good vs. Evil cases, the outcome usually leans towards the good. Although this is known, Grisham exemplifies his great ability of writing and guides readers on a journey that leads to reality.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-05 00:00>
A young man, struggling through college with a job and classes and the upcoming bar, finds out his future job is gone. He's in debt because his girlfriend dumped him right after buying her expensive jewelry, while facing the one of the worst Lawyer job markets around, and he just got evicted. This no luck kid finds the case of a lifetime.
Grisham expertly weaves a story about this young lawyer during a crucial time of his life. Through chance, he joins up with a sleazy law firm, finds and rescues a helpless girl, and takes on a large corporation. It's a touching story that really makes you root for the main character. The book is easy and fun read, and like any Grisham novel, the pages fly by.
The book is not perfect however. The ending is predictable and corny, and the hard luck story gets old after a while.
I suggest this book to anyone that wants a good read. I would not recommend the movie though, as it doesn't capture any of the essence.
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Thomas Magnum (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-05 00:00>
After The Firm, John Grisham stumbled through low quality efforts The Pelican Brief, The Client & The Chamber. He got away from crisp writing and strong character studies of his first two books and threatened to lapse into hackdom. On The Rainmaker, he gets back to those original traits. Rudy Baylor is a young lawyer who looses his job with a promising firm and has no other prospects. He worked at a bar where shady characters frequented and the owner who likes him hooks him up with a small law firm. It is a less than scrupulous firm, with an ambulance chasing attitude. Rudy is schooled in the art of hanging around hospitals from Deck, a squirrelly little guy. In the meantime he moves into an apartment over the garage of a lonely old widow, Miss Birdie. He tends to her yard and starts working with her on her will. He also gets a case for a young man whose dying and his health insurance company refuses to pay for his medical treatments. While hanging around the hospital, he meets Kelly, who turns out to be a victim of spousal abuse. He gets involved with her while working on his cases. The case against the insurance company is a classic David vs. Goliath scenario. Mr. Grisham expertly weaves all these plot lines together and keeps the pages turning with bright, vivid and entertaining writing. The Rainmaker is the best book of his career.
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1 2 | Total 2 pages 11 items |
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