Before you start reading, I have completely ruined the ending, so if you want to read this book (which I hope you don't), do not read on. I have just finished reading The Appeal by John Grisham. I kept reading because I thought there would be some sort of gratification at the end after reading line upon line about people suffering through agonizing trials. I guess I was wrong. This book is about the town of Bowmore and how a chemical plant tainted their water for years and eventually people started getting cancer and started dying. One particular woman, Jeanette Baker ends up suing Krane Chemical for the loss of her husband and son due to the chemical poisoning. The jury rules in favor of Baker, but the verdict quickly goes up for appeal. Carl Trudeau, one of the major shareholders in Krane's stock decides he will do anything to reverse the verdict when it goes to the supreme court justices. He hires a company for a hefty price to "purchase" one of the seats up for grabs in the November elections and get rid of the more "liberal" judge in that seat who was up for re-election and get a judge that would be sure to rule in favor of the chemical company. So the book goes through all the motions of the elections and everything, and I'm sorry to say, the bad guy totally wins!! The good guys go bankrupt, hundreds of people lose out on the money that could have helped them with their medical expenses, etc... While this ending probably goes along with more "real life" situations, I can't help but wonder why I read this book just to be completely disappointed. I will probably never read this book again. Come on John Grisham!! Good guys need to win!!
