If we talk about John Grisham, perhaps what goes to our mind is "The Confession" (later to review). What I've known, this author is specialized to do a lawyer story, jurisdiction or anything related to law term that I'm blind about. Putting aside the world of law he offers to us, there's a piece that really attracts me a lot. Among 4 novels, (which I only finished 2), "A Painted House" depicts a rough life of farmer life which centers its story flow to a 7-year-old boy named Luke Chandler. The Chandlers has been working as cotton farmers since World War has ended (I am not sure the war he is referring to). Even though he's still very young, he knows what trend happening on their cotton field. He's accustomed as an early-riser, helping both his parents and grandparents to work. As the harvest time of cotton is coming, The Chandlers hire Mexican workers and The Spruill to help them picking up the cotton. Problems keep entering this farm like the threat of flood, hurricane, unstable price of cotton, and personal conflicts among the workers which almost gets Luke killed. But, among these hardships, Luke has a great willing to paint his house so their house won't look that poor due to Hank Spruill's insult despite they do have financial problem. Luke is very determined to make his family feel better as at that time only few people could afford money to paint their house. The story appealing point might be different one to another. That's why reader-response does exist, if I may say. What appeals me is the repeated scene that doesn't feel monotonous though Luke feels so done with picking the cotton. In every scene, Mr. Grisham add tone of the feeling to each character. How the same atmosphere might vary to another characters. Not to mention, the detailed description of how Luke looks like, how boring and tiresome harvesting the cotton is, and how tasty biscuit his grandma makes. The reader is busy imagining. That's the 'magic' of Mr.Grisham which everyone can't deny. Baseball and worship activities also inserted neatly in the story. Moreover, the witty thoughts sometimes popped up from Luke's mind. "A Painted House" can be a proof that regardless the age, human is destined to strive for a balance, a better condition and recognition as well.
