The Appeal
by John Grisham
List Price:
Our Price: $3.74
You Save: $10.26 (73%)
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 Summary Information
Author: John GrishamEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-11-18
ISBN: 0385342926
Number of pages: 496
Publisher: Delta
Book Reviews of The Appeal
Book Review: A fictional story that sounds a critical alarm for the USA
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not surprised that this novel has generated to date 650 reviews or that most of the reviews are negative. When we pick up a novel by Grisham, we expect a good story and a happy ending. We do not expect to be left feeling uncomfortable and helpless about the reality of our situation and the responsibility that each of us bears. I imagine most readers thought, until the last page, that a miracle would save the day: Jeannette Baker would receive her compensation, Krane Chemical would have to face its liability and perhaps bankruptcy, and Carl Trudeau would fail.
The Appeal is not a great novel but it doesn't matter this time: In the edition that I read, Grisham says, in the final page, that the novel is partially based on reality. No, I find the novel to be a flashlight on what we all fear is the truth but hope is not: that America has become a corrupt country insofar as concerns our elections and therefore our most important public servants and institutions.
There is no escaping that the costs of elections are completely out of control. There is no way for a public servant to finance a major election or re-election campaign today without huge amounts of money from other people. Those other people, individuals, PACs, lobbies, other organizations, want a return on their investment. Doesn't it make common sense that a publicly elected official today cannot be truly independent if he wants to be re-elected?
You know that you suspect this is the truth. This novel and it's author's admission at the end that the story is based on reality, and plain common sense tells you that this is the truth. Who hasn't nodded at another's comment on how corrupt Washington has become? Why else would Canada have extremely strict no-loophole rules about campaign financing that are designed to ensure that an elected official owes nobody?
Look at how polarized and screeching politics have become in America. Look at how the Republican party, once a proponent of such foundational values as hard work, education, thrift, self-reliance, and charity, has become infused with extremism where people listen to rich entertainers like Rush Limbaugh and Fox News and default to their ranting opinions rather than take the time to study the issues thoroughly and form their own views rationally . What caused this development? Self-interest brought to a head by the naked cronyism of the Bush government and the un-presidential behavior of Bill Clinton. We are often not served by great people with great ideas anymore, and that's our fault because we don't demand content-rich, level-playing field election campaigns.
Look at the extreme amounts of money that corporate CEOs pay themselves as if they alone are responsible for their company's success rather than the many underlings who do the real work and have most of the ideas. Those CEOs, those Carl Trudeaus, are part of those people who finance, or arrange the financing of, election campaigns, and then demand results from those elected.
Who amongst you is not appalled by the recent Supreme Court decision, on the technical grounds of protecting the right of free speech, to allow lobbies to threaten an elected official with extreme adverse re-election spending if the official votes against their interest, in other words to practice a form of extortion? Whose interests are served by this decision? Certainly not the general public. Just imagine describing our current system of elections and such a decision to the Founding Fathers of our country; they'd probably say: throw those people out and copy Canada, quickly!
Who among those of you who are literate is not appalled by the TV advertising of election campaigns and the misleading effect of taking sound-bitten facts out of context? In The Appeal, Grisham underlines that such advertising cannot possibly tell a whole story or provide sufficient information for reasoned decision-making. You know instinctively that this is true and you also know that TV campaign ads are often all that most voters use for their decisions. That's what happened in Bush vs. Kerry where misleading attack ads swayed many. Look at the recent senate election in Massachusetts, won by Republican Scott Brown over Democrat Martha Coakley (reminiscent of Ron Fisk and Sheila McCarthy in the book). The election cost an incredible $23 million. You can be certain that the people who financed the winner will want something in return other than just great governance in the interest of the public's greater good. How about that expensive TV ad run by Brown that used images of America's historical battles for liberty? The ad did not mention any of Brown's ideas or accomplishments; it simply tried to associate Brown with the magnificent ideas and accomplishments of others long ago and in a different context. Yet, I received several emails from family and friends that said it was the best campaign TV ad they'd ever seen. When I asked them to tell me why when the ad was empty of the candidate's own ideas and disconnected from the issues at hand, they were unable to respond. Good salemanship, perhaps, but at what cost?
Thank you, John Grisham, for finding a way to draw our attention to the greatest threat facing our country today.
Summary of The Appeal
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 listeners 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.
Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.89
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
The Summonsby John Grisham
Delta; Published: 2005-09-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops:
The King of Tortsby John Grisham
Delta; Published: 2005-12-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Playing for Pizza: A Novelby John Grisham
Bantam; Published: 2011-08-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.85
Price in other shops:
The Partnerby John Grisham
Delta; Published: 2005-04-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.92
Price in other shops:
The Last Jurorby John Grisham
Delta; Published: 2006-04-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.80
Price in other shops:
Ford County: Storiesby John Grisham
Bantam; Published: 2010-08-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.05
Price in other shops:
The Brokerby John Grisham
Delta; Published: 2006-09-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.45
Price in other shops:
The Associate: A Novelby John Grisham
Dell; Published: 2009-09-22; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.73
Price in other shops:
The Innocent Manby John Grisham
Dell; Published: 2007-11-20; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.93
Price in other shops:
The Confessionby John Grisham
Dell; Published: 2011-07-19; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.69
Price in other shops: