Books for Prep | |
 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
Binding: PaperbackEAN: 9780582453524 ISBN: 0582453526 Label: Pearson ESL Manufacturer: Pearson ESL Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 90 Publication Date: January 11, 2002 Publisher: Pearson ESL Reading Level: Ages 9-12 Studio: Pearson ESL Related Items: Alternate Versions: Click to Display Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display Editorial Review: Amazon.com Review: John Grisham's novels have all been so systematically successful that it is easy to forget he is just one man toiling away silently with a pen, experimenting and improving with each book. While not as gifted a prose stylist as Scott Turow, Grisham is among the best plotters in the thriller business, and he infuses his books with a moral valence and creative vision that set them apart from their peers. The Brethren is in many respects his most daring book yet. The novel grows from two separate subplots. In the first, three imprisoned ex-judges (the "brethren" in the title), frustrated by their loss of power and influence, concoct an elaborate blackmail scheme that preys on wealthy, closeted gay men. The second story traces the rise of presidential candidate Aaron Lake, a puppet essentially created by CIA director Teddy Maynard to fulfill Maynard's plans for restoring the power of his beleaguered agency. Grisham's tight control of the two meandering threads leaves the reader guessing through most of the opening chapters how and when these two worlds will collide. Also impressive is Grisham's careful portraiture. Justice Hatlee Beech in particular is a fascinating, tragic anti-hero: a millionaire judge with an appointment for life who was rendered divorced, bankrupt, and friendless after his conviction for a drunk-driving homicide. The book's cynical view of presidential politics and criminal justice casts a somewhat gloomy shadow over the tale. CIA director Teddy Maynard is an all-powerful demon with absolute knowledge and control of the public will and public funds. Even his candidate, Congressman Lake, is a pawn in Maynard's egomaniacal game of ad campaigns, illicit contributions, and international intrigue. In the end, The Brethren marks a transition in Grisham's career toward a more thoughtful narrative style with less interest in the big-payoff blockbuster ending. But that's not to say that the last 50 pages won't keep your reading light turned on late. --Patrick O'Kelley Product Description: Trumble is a low security prison and three of its inmates are former judges who call themselves The Brethren. They spend hours planning crimes to make money outside the prison. But one of their scams goes wrong and traps an innocent victim, a man with dangerous friends. A daring thriller from a best-selling writer. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Good BookJohn Grisham is a great writer and I enjoy reading his stuff. Its so easy to read! Rating:  - Eerie parallels to the 2008 election"The Bretheren" (published in 2000) depicts in part a presidential run where a smooth talking unknown candidate is propelled into contention by a behind-the-scene powerful force. Unprecedented 10's of millions of dollars are funneled to his campaign through somewhat nefarious means. Various events and an "October surprise" are planned to help the candidate gain office. The candidate looks and sounds great on TV. You can't help but think 2008 election when reading this book. The specifics are very ... Read More Rating:  - Depends on the ReaderThe Brethren is an interesting book in some ways. A government agency tries to control a Presidential election. With a man who they believe has no skeletons from his past. At the same time 3 Judges who fell from high society on separate crimes at different times are trying to get rich using an extortion scam. It wasn't that good of a book in my opinion but it depends on the reader. This book was not a particularly good read to me. Rating: - Only Vaguely Legal Thriller Provides only Vague ThrillsThree former judges are spending their retirement in a federal prison. Though this is a far from optimal situation for the judges, they make the best of it - by running mail scams. Unfortunately, one of their nets catches a big fish with dangerous friends. The Brethren is, perhaps, John Grisham's least interesting and least thrilling book. As my brief (but actually quite thorough) description may indicate, the plot is thin. Three judges run a mail scam and an important person becomes ... Read More Rating:  - mediocrity revealed at lastGrisham's novels are highbrow trash and this one, the Brethren, finally shows him for what he is: not worth the price of the book at all. He has made millions with his stories but this one is not at all captivating or fetching. He should go back to sitting in the southern sun. 
In association with Amazon.com | |