The Bore Book Club reads The Racketeer

[Groogrux]

Here's where to get it:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Racketeer-ebook/dp/B007SGLZP8/ref=tmm_kin_title_0

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-racketeer-john-grisham/1109601304

]http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/7752903/The_Racketeer_by_John_Grisham_[ePUB_Mobi]

What it's about:

Given the importance of what they do, and the controversies that often surround them, and the violent people they sometimes confront, it is remarkable that in the history of this country only four active federal judges have been murdered.

Judge Raymond Fawcett has just become number five.


Who is the Racketeer? And what does he have to do with the judge’s untimely demise? His name, for the moment, is Malcolm Bannister. Job status? Former attorney. Current residence? The Federal Prison Camp near Frostburg, Maryland.

On paper, Malcolm’s situation isn’t looking too good these days, but he’s got an ace up his sleeve. He knows who killed Judge Fawcett, and he knows why. The judge’s body was found in his remote lakeside cabin. There was no forced entry, no struggle, just two dead bodies: Judge Fawcett and his young secretary. And one large, state-of-the-art, extremely secure safe, opened and emptied.

What was in the safe? The FBI would love to know. And Malcolm Bannister would love to tell them. But everything has a price—especially information as explosive as the sequence of events that led to Judge Fawcett’s death. And the Racketeer wasn’t born yesterday . . .

Nothing is as it seems and everything’s fair game in this wickedly clever new novel from John Grisham, the undisputed master of the legal thriller.

352 pages

Post as you want about what you like about the book and where you are in it.

Remember to put up spoiler tags for anything that is a give-away to the plot line.

And a question, when do we all want to come together to post up final thoughts about the book, or when do we think we could all finish this book?

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Maybe February 20th?

[Groogrux]

1 month sounds easy enough!  February 20th it is.

[hampster]

I'm in. I have the book but haven't started reading it yet

[Momo]

Well this sounds good. Will have to check wtf my schedule for the month is though

[Groogrux]

With it being shorter than the last book and having over a month on it, I'd say we'll all be finished and waiting pretty early. 

I have the book now, I just haven't loaded it up on my tablet yet.  I'll start reading either today or tomorrow.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Gonna wrap up my Scientology book this weekend and get cracking on this

[Huff]

Up to chapter 13, probably about a 1/4 of the way through it. Really hooked me from the beginning and I don't want to put it down.

This isn't really a spoiler but just in case

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I don't know if it's because we read Gone Girl not so long ago, or because it's a suspense/law thriller, or that I've read a couple unreliable narrator books, but I kinda get the feeling that perhaps the MC is really guilty and this whole thing is about a well planned get out of jail card.

[close]

I'll probably read another couple chapters before calling it a night

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Finished Chapter 15.  It hasn't quite gripped me yet but it's good enough to keep me reading.

[Huff]

Was wondering if anyone was still reading. Finished a while ago.

[Groogrux]

I'm on the third chapter right now.  Been pretty busy with school.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Wrapped it up today.  This book is not very good.  The pacing is the biggest beef I have with it although it isn't the only problem

[Joe Molotov]

I wrapped up a few other books I was reading, so I started this. Just read the first two chapters so far.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Not sure if The Bore Book Club is dead or what but since it is considered the end of the timeline for this book, here are my spoilered thoughts:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

As I said before, I did not care much for this book.  However I'm sure it is fine for the target audience, who I assume are people who like to watch shows like Law and Order on the regular.

- The twists are pretty obvious.  If the protagonist cuts a deal and gets out in the first 20-30 percent of the book, you know that it isn't even remotely the end of the story.  This is common in Law and Order where they haul someone's ass in 15 minutes into the show and surprise, they're either not the guy or there's something shadowy and hidden about the story that gets revealed.

- The fact that Malcolm is not as perfect is also made obvious.  However I don't think that the author designed it to be a big mystery.  I think most L&O watchers know that not everything is as it seems.  They're just in it for the ride and that is ok.  I'm not expecting high caliber writing from a John Grisham book anyway.  However...

- The ride sucks.  The book is awkwardly paced.  Lots of long stretches of a whole lot of nothing going on.  The only moment of tension was when they leave the US for Antigua or whatever island they bailed out to.  Even the author managed to botch that by writing that the government was tracking everything anyway.  Then they all act like good buddies to the government agents after they made their escape.

Anyway, this book isn't for me.  The target audience will probably like it and it isn't a bad book, just not for me.  If you really like Law and Order and shows like that, this is for you.

[close]

[hampster]

I'm the one who requested The Racketeer and I haven't even started yet. I'm sorry my bore friends :'(

I'll start it this weekend

[Groogrux]

Honestly, after I posted the last time, I got another two chapters in and couldn't finish it.  It held absolutely no interest for me and I couldn't bring myself to pick it back up again.

I think it's safe to say that Grisham novels might not be mine, or the Bore's cup of tea.

Do we want to move on to something else?

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Sure, let's move on

[Groogrux]

http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2013-02-24/combined-print-and-e-book-fiction/list.html



As always, suggestions and ideas welcome!