books_with_style's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first John Grisham book i have read, it won’t be the last. How a chapter about three judges in prison and the CIA buying a presidency, added up in the same place surprised me
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
4.0
Really good book, enjoyed but thought the ending could have been better!
amerdale's review against another edition
4.0
Meine Rezension: https://amerdale.wordpress.com/2014/04/18/gelesen-john-grisham-die-bruderschaft/
marc_le's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Homophobia
caleighdecker's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
joypouros's review against another edition
3.0
I use John Grisham as a palate cleanser when I've just finished something gripping and can't decide what to do next.
As always, the pacing and writing style keeps you turning the pages... even when the plot is really lacking, which unfortunately is the case here.
As many have said, there's no protagonist. Who are we rooting for? The people doing the scamming? The guy helping the scamming? The people doing the lying? The guy not in charge of his own life and is just going wherever he's told? I don't care too much what happens because I don't care about any of the people.
Instead of much plot/good characters, this book relies on a general "Can you believe the strings that can be pulled?!?" and that's not as interesting.
And the book hasn't aged very well. The plot was based on a scam that ran through magazine ads and relied on the shame of being gay. To be fair, while homophobia is not as accepted, it does exist and it's not like there aren't still people living double lives and scammy people willing to exploit that. And that would still be a huge spill to a politician who wasn't out yet. But a crummy and low-tech scam 20 years after the book was published.
Overall, not one of the better Grishams.
As always, the pacing and writing style keeps you turning the pages... even when the plot is really lacking, which unfortunately is the case here.
As many have said, there's no protagonist. Who are we rooting for? The people doing the scamming? The guy helping the scamming? The people doing the lying? The guy not in charge of his own life and is just going wherever he's told? I don't care too much what happens because I don't care about any of the people.
Instead of much plot/good characters, this book relies on a general "Can you believe the strings that can be pulled?!?" and that's not as interesting.
And the book hasn't aged very well. The plot was based on a scam that ran through magazine ads and relied on the shame of being gay. To be fair, while homophobia is not as accepted, it does exist and it's not like there aren't still people living double lives and scammy people willing to exploit that. And that would still be a huge spill to a politician who wasn't out yet. But a crummy and low-tech scam 20 years after the book was published.
Overall, not one of the better Grishams.
deeholly's review against another edition
5.0
Love the creativity of Grisham on this one, as well as the creativity of the characters! Superbly written.
traky007's review against another edition
2.0
Eh. Who were we supposed to be rooting for? What was the point? There was no suspense, no character development, no moral, no point. The cover would have you believe it's a thrill-a-minute crime caper. Instead, it takes half the book to get to the part of the story you discovered after reading the back cover, and if you keep reading to see if there's something else in store, you'll be disappointed.
The writing isn't bad, really, and it was a pleasant enough way to waste a boring few hours at work. Some of the characters were interesting, even though some appeared briefly and for no reason, and the CIA-driven conspiracy was hilarious (unintentionally, I'm sure). But unless you have a few hours to kill on mindless fluff, don't bother.
The writing isn't bad, really, and it was a pleasant enough way to waste a boring few hours at work. Some of the characters were interesting, even though some appeared briefly and for no reason, and the CIA-driven conspiracy was hilarious (unintentionally, I'm sure). But unless you have a few hours to kill on mindless fluff, don't bother.
theitaliandream's review against another edition
2.0
it was a semi-interesting crime book, mostly bland. and I really can't get over the homophobic undertones