Let me be honest: I've never done a book review before. And I don't even know what a book review from Kevin Jordan would mean to anyone -- perhaps it would be used as anti-advice to some. Which is okay. I think. Regardless, I've been in need of a way of keeping track of my thoughts about the books I read so that I can remember which ones are worth another read and which are not. So, if you want to know where The King of Torts by John Grisham lies on that scale, read on.
What happens when an empty man is tempted by bottomless riches? He accepts. Therein lies the first few chapters of John Grisham's The King of Torts. Clay Carter is a public defender who is working hard to make up for time lost after his father's law firm dissolves along with his dreams of the corner office. Adding insult to injury, Clay's girlfriend and her rich-come-weekend family want too much too quickly out of our protagonist and soon he finds himself single, poor'ish, and litigating on behalf of the guilty. Enter Max Pace, the proverbial stir to Clay's pot.
Clay soon finds himself much in the rich, with promises of more on the horizon -- more if he only keeps quiet about a drug gone bad. He does and it launches him down a path of becoming what he despises most. Max provides opportunity, opportunity provides fame, and fame provides money. But money is not the root of the happiness Clay seeks -- the man who has everything finds himself seeking that which money cannot buy.
I found this book to be a good tale about the realities of becoming what you condemn. In order to fight back against would-be in-laws, Clay plays the same game: private jets, lush offices, huge payroll. But the end for Clay comes all to quickly, much like the book. After turning the last page, I was left wanting more; that's the sign of a well written (but not quite satisfying) novel.
Kevin says: One read and back on the shelf
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Doubleday; (February 4, 2003)
Read other reviews at Amazon.com
