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Gray Mountain by John Grisham
Publication: Oct. 21, 2014
Pages: 384
Geographical Setting: Appalachian Mountains/New York
Time Period: 2008
Plot Summary:
There is
uncertainty in the economy and Samantha Kofer is furloughed with the smallest
possibility of being offered her job back, as an associate with “Big Law,” at
the end of a year—if she interns for a non-profit legal firm for a year. Samantha Kofer is wondering what she has
gotten herself into. Looking for ways
out of Brady, Virginia (population 2,200), as she provides legal service to
“real people with real problems,” she tries not to get involved. However, she is thrust unwillingly into a big
case against a very powerful industry—Coal.
Now, she must be aware at every turn she makes, every word she speaks,
every contact she makes. While people she has gotten to know and care about in
such a short time are dying, she must make decisions. Will she know whom to trust? Will she trust herself?
Invisible by Carla
S. Buckley
Nonfiction
What makes this book a Thriller?
- Law Jargon interspersed throughout
- Protagonist is fighting against large power
What makes this book a Suspense?
- Reader knows what might happen
- Over the short time period of a few months
- Survival of protagonist is a guarantee
Appeal:
Pacing—Compelling. Reader is drawn to find out how the
protagonist will win when facing a
large, powerful, and dark antagonist.
Tone/Mood—Uncertainty abounds as we
wait for trouble to pop up around the
corner. This is helped with glimpses of
what the antagonist is capable of from
the past experiences of secondary characters.
Characterization—The characters develop
all the way up to the end of the book,
while the events happen over a short period of just a few months.
Read Alikes—
Fiction
A Walk Across the Sun
by Corban Addison
- Also a legal thriller, has a compelling writing style, character-driven, human rights theme
- Like Gray Mountain it has compelling style. Suspenseful. Character driven.
Stand Up That Mountain
by Jay E. Leutze
- A real life big industry versus little people legal event set in Appalachians.
Holley, thanks for sharing this book! I liked that you recommended the NF read-alike that is similar because of the shared themes of big industry vs. small town. While it's not a book, I really enjoyed that element in the movie Erin Brockovich, so this (or the NF read-alike) would be a great recommendation for me to continue learning about this them.
ReplyDeleteDid you like the book? You did a good job with the synopsis and explaining the elements of the book. I just always find a person's personal opinion on the overall book helpful! In the rare times I'm at my desk in the back and so is my colleague, she gives me book after book and her opinions on them. She was a big help in deciding which genres to do for these annotations!
ReplyDeleteDid you like the book? You did a good job with the synopsis and explaining the elements of the book. I just always find a person's personal opinion on the overall book helpful! In the rare times I'm at my desk in the back and so is my colleague, she gives me book after book and her opinions on them. She was a big help in deciding which genres to do for these annotations!
ReplyDeleteThis has been on my want to read list as he is an author I usually enjoy. The fact that there is a female protagonist is a welcome change. It sounds as if it might be a little too predictable though as we already know "the formula".
ReplyDeleteI am John Grisham fan, but I haven't kept up with his releases the past several years, I didn't even know about this book! Your synopsis makes me want to add this to my "To Read" list. I love an underdog story, or a protagonist going against a huge corporation. Laurie has a good point that I appreciate Grisham using a female protagonist, which is rare for him.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely got me interested in this book! I really like the idea of reading a book with a strong female protagonist and a main character fighting a big power. Even though thriller & suspense is not my normal genre, this sounds like something I might want to read. Good call on the nonfiction readalike, too. When I get into a book I like to do at least some background reading on the setting, background, or some other aspect of the story.
ReplyDelete