BOOK-REVIEW
Book: The Painted House
Author: JOHN GRISHAM
Publisher:
Rate: FANTASTIC!!!
JOHN GRISHAM. A very renowned name in the literary field. Usually seen with a 'grippy' novel about lawyers and their intentions, this one comes as a total surprise. It’s a novel with a rural background. The isolated corn fields , a rural town , the church and the other such details bring out the rural touch as wanted by the author.
The main character is luke chandlier. The whole narration is by him.Though a boy of seven, his character is shown maturing with the happenings around him. Though a boy who follows religiously the country's basketball team, he is even worried about their harvest. The luke's family comprising of his grandparents and parents gives a homely feeling to the novel, though the whole novel is based on the exposure of the boy to the world. The tale also ropes in characters who try to exploit the innocence of the boy. The boy petrified at such situations , seeks solace in his tears or by joining the family and discussing about their member in the army. The author seems to have lost a relative of his in the army, which makes him very 'touchy' on the subject. The boy's infatuation is dealt with good caution.
The crippled boy helping luke in painting the house stresses the good will gained by him in the former quarters. The town fights and the murder followed by the investigation of luke, take the boy to the state of maturity where he decides to tell the things that may bring peace and keep the farm duties running in their house. The move by luke is paid duly by the workers by going on in their duty.
The climax is the one, which carries a message to the readers. It is often seen in India where moving to a developed country seems to be the invitation to paradise for some highly 'INTELLECTUAL' people. But what results there is not totally by their desire. Here we see the luke's father shifting his family and his future prospects to the 'CITY'. But the young luke appears not too happy with such a kind of separation with his grandparents. Though lured with all the comforts of the city he is unable to let go his village premises. Alas, this kind of emotions are totally unheard of, among IINDIANS!![ READ NRI'S] This may make some of them to think about their homeland, not that it will bring tears to those infatuated eyes!
Coming back to the novel, it is one of the best from John Grisham. Read it and sympathise the wandering of the seven year old soul in this world.
I RATE IT AS FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!
JAYANTHAN R
ANY SUGGESIONS OR COMMENTS CAN BE FORWARDED TO ME.
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