The Appeal

This novel by John Grisham was a perfect reason to stay inside on those days when it was too hot and humid for me to exist outside the confines of my home. Granted, sometimes it wasn’t much cooler inside since there is no central air, even though the window coolers were making a valiant attempt to fight the good fight.

It’s been a while since I’ve cracked open a Grisham tomb. Not that I don’t enjoy his work, but there was a point when I had read so many that they all seemed to morph together and I couldn’t separate them in my recollection to even know which I had read and which I hadn’t. At that point I decided enough of that, lets move on. Guessing by the copyright date of The Appeal (2008), that was over a decade ago. But when someone offers you free books you’re pretty sure you haven’t read….you take them

Feelings of anger and frustration were constantly popping up while reading this book because it basically vindicated all the thoughts I’d had about how our political and justice system “works”. Yes, I know this is a work of fiction, but I 100% believe the characters are based on fact. The senator who has been in seat forever, working to help his big-business friends by stomping on the little guy. Big business working behind the scenes to buy political seats. Voters believing all the flashy ads coming at them on TV and in their mail non stop until election day, without ever checking to see if any of it is true.

While I was reading, it was kind of like watching a slow motion clip of a train trying to stop before it hits the car stalled on the tracks. You know what’s going to happen but you just can’t look away, because there is always hope for a miracle.

I won’t tell you whether the miracle happens or if the proverbial train hits the car full on or just delivers a glancing blow, you will have to read it for yourself. But I will jump on the soapbox for a minute and say that we really need term limits for our Congressional members and if they have left overs from campaign contributions at the end of their final term, maybe it should be donated, or put towards the deficit or something else for the common good. They are supposed to be there to protect our interests, and put the laws we want into motion. Not to become millionaire power-brokers only worried about the lobbyists and how large their bank accounts can grow. Republican or Democrat doesn’t matter because I am neither right wing or left wing. Like most people I talk to, I am middle of the road….I wish we could elect some politicians to represent us middle-of-the-roaders.

Okay I’m done, and like most of my reviews I spoke more about how the book made me feel than the actual story. But you can see a review about the story line anywhere and I hope I add another layer to your decision about whether or not to read this book. With the elections of 2020 coming up on the horizon, it’s a perfect time to crack this one open. As for the election itself, be a little cynical, look behind curtain, do a little research and vote for who you truly believe has your best interests at heart.