The hill people and the Mexicans arrived on the same day. It was a Wednesday, early in September 1952. The Cardinals were five games behind the Dodgers with three weeks to go, and the season looked hopeless. The cotton, however, was waist-high to my father, over my head, and he and my grandfather could be heard before supper whispering words that were seldom heard. It could be a “good crop.”Thus … crop.”
Thus begins the new novel from John Grisham, a story inspired by his own childhood in rural Arkansas. The narrator is a farm boy named Luke Chandler, age seven, who lives in the cotton fields with his parents and grandparents in a little house that’s never been painted. The Chandlers farm eighty acres that they rent, not own, and when the cotton is ready they hire a truckload of Mexicans and a family from the Ozarks to help harvest it.
For six weeks they pick cotton, battling the heat, the rain, the fatigue, and, sometimes, each other. As the weeks pass Luke sees and hears things no seven-year-old could possibly be prepared for, and finds himself keeping secrets that not only threaten the crop but will change the lives of the Chandlers forever.
A Painted House is a moving story of one boy’s journey from innocence to experience.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from John Grisham’s The Litigators.
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Sadly, it was the worst Grisham book I’ve ever read.
I think one of the best books from Grisham. I hope there is a sequel. Absolutely a favorite.
Different from most of his books, but veery good
This was a real departure from the law stories that I usually enjoy from John Grisham. It was an interesting story about a family and their dynamics. As well as others that they interacted with.
Loved the book! Would recommend!
My wife and I read this book years ago. We think it is one of his best books. We would highly recommend this book.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read it but I thought it was a great book. Really made me think about the way life used to be.
A classic!
something unique from this author worth reading. You will enjoy this book tremendously.
Right up there with Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Great novel.
Always good
Loved it.
John Grisham at his very best. This is one of my favorite books. The story of the coming-of-age of a boy in rural Arkansas reminds us of how to respect those different from us and the importance of family. These are lessons which need to be reinforced today.
Not a typical Grisham book, but very interesting as a human interest tale.Definitly worth reading.
An around entertaining read. I related to it because my family were all cotton farmers. The characters were very interesting. Each person was well defined and I found myself thinking like them. There was a strong sense of personal motives throughout the story and also some of the people were characterized as good and some evil. Very engrossing.
Very different for John Gresham. Great read
The best legal fiction writer of his time, Grisham always delivers a great read that is tough to put down. Not quite up to his earlier classics, A Time to Ki;;, Pelican Brief, etc. but still a first rate read.
Unlike other John Grisham books. This one took me to a different time and place. Although I have enjoyed many of his books, this one was my favorite.
I love JG’s non legal books far more than I like his legal thrillers – and I like his legal thrillers a lot. A Painted House, again, for me, shows his skill in building a world and commenting on our world from within the one created on the page. It won’t leave you singing and dancing, but it will leave you thinking.
Just a good book