6/10
A little heavy-handed at times, but I learned a lot about urban homelessness and poverty. Certainly very readable--the story moves along well. ( )

story was good but not very suspenseful, and a little predictable. enjoyed it but could not give a 4. ( )

This is a Grisham legal shenanigans story I hadn't read previously. The social justice plot was a well-done aspect, though parts of the narrative dragged in places. The MC (Michael Brock) had too many injuries to really recover as rapidly as depicted, which derailed credibility to some extent.

Despite that 'niggle', the story was engaging and the characterizations were strong, especially Mordecai Green and some of the high-powered, corporate lawyers. The suspense was mild and doesn't ramp up the tension unbearably. A quick read that was worth the time spent in this Washington-DC milieu. ( )

As always John Grisham entertains with this thriller. I really enjoyed this book and I think it appears as if Grisham himself seemed quite disturbed by the plight of the homeless. Corruption of the law and justice play a big part in the book and which appears to continue to this day….. ( )

solid Grisham work, with a minimum of courtroom drama. Good insight into what "street lawyers" do...and depressing to read about the homeless and their sad existence. ( )

I found it to be intriguing from the very start. I could hardly put the book down wanting to know what was going to happen. Good read. ( )

Grisham, John. The Street Lawyer. 1998. Bantam, 2005.
John Grisham is well-known for writing legal thrillers that highlight problems in our justice system and the legal profession. The Street Lawyer is a good example of what he can do. Michael is a fast-tracked lawyer in a big D.C. law firm. When a homeless man invades the firm’s offices and humiliates the lawyers for not helping the poor and homeless, Michael is drawn into an investigation of unfair evictions. His traumatic experience leads him to quit his job and go to work for a street law firm specializing in pro bono work for the homeless. The story illustrates how poorly our justice system protects the rights of the homeless. The system is geared toward helping those who pay for legal help, not those who can’t. The book makes us respect those who fight the uphill battle to protect the rights of the homeless and validate their worth as human beings. Note: The Street Lawyer should not be confused with Michael Connelly’s The Lincoln Lawyer (2005), which is set in Los Angeles and features a lawyer who works out of his car and defends drug dealers and gangsters. Both are readable, though Connelly is more focused on action than the legal issues. 4 stars. ( )

The Street Lawyer deals with homeless people, and a lawyer who gave up his position in a major law firm, the high salary, and the perks to work for the poor and homeless for very low wages. The book takes a sympathetic view of the poor and downtrodden, and does makes the point that society could do more for the deserving poor. That may make some readers somewhat uncomfortable, especially those who feel that the majority of the homeless are in that situation due primarily to bad choices they've made. Grisham deals more with the others, those who have ended up in the streets due to unfortunate circumstances, or the inability to overcome being dealt a bad hand. You get a sense of some typical stereotypes, e.g., evil, greedy lawyers, corporate greed, ignoring the needs of the poorest around us, etc., but while not necessarily all universal truths, open minded readers will recognize that many of these symptoms do exist in society. The book won't make everyone feel more socially responsible, especially toward the homeless, but certainly will make most people readdress their own views, and open some eyes to the problems the poorest among us have to face.
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Enjoyed it. Still relatable to this day in regards to homelessness and how society turns a blind eye to it. ( )

Grisham does know how to tell stories. He also is fond of crusading. He does both here.

Michael Brock, on the fast track to big bucks in a large legal firm, has an epiphany after being held hostage by a homeless man who calls himself "Mister". First, Michael is curious about what Mister really wanted. He does not believe the homeless man would have hurt anyone. Just a few inquiries makes him more curious.

He meets Mordecai Green, lead lawyer of a firm that assists homeless persons for free, and he follows him around to various shelters and other assistive organizations, learning what issues homeless persons face and what kinds of help are effective. Meanwhile, he finds anonymous notes that lead him to a file in his firm, a file that tells the story that led Mister to his actions. He makes a decision to copy the file, and this decision sends him on a course of action that changes his life forever.

So Brock becomes a "street lawyer", making much less than he was previously, and about to lose his marriage as well. And things really heat up. We can admire him for not questioning his decisions, even though he does look back in wonder. I think most of us would second-guess ourselves at least once.

It's a lively book, and Brock is a character we can get behind. A satisfying, if unrealistic, journey. ( )

I remember reading John Grisham's first novel not long after it came out. I was sucked in with the first sentence and enjoyed every last word of it. I've enjoyed some of his others nearly as much but not until Street Lawyer have I been able to repeat the same wonderful experience. This is the kind of story I like - a very compelling plot, beautifully told, full of characters that are vivid and as flawed as not. ( )

Michael Brock ist der aufsteigende Stern bei einer einflussreichen Anwaltskanzlei in Washington D.C. Er führt ein Leben auf der Überholspur, bis eine Geiselnahme sein Leben vollkommen verändert. Der Geiselnehmer, ein herunterkommener Obdachloser, wird erschossen. Michael forscht nach den Hintergründen diser Tat und spürt ein schmutziges Geheimnis auf...

Another page turner by John Grisham. What would you do with knowledge gained through nefarious actions? How would you react if you were held as a hostage? ( )

Another John Grisham that doesn't disappoint. It really makes you think about the homeless in your area. ( )

Excellent book. Grisham at his best. Wonderful plot line and characterization. ( )

A highly paid lawyer has an encounter with a homeless person which changes everything - he becomes a street lawyer. Really good - pageturner... ( )

I am re-reading some old John Grisham books that I enjoyed the first time round to see if my perspectives have changed in 10-15 years...

The Street Lawyer was a favourite in the past. It tells the story of Michael, a wealthy lawyer climbing the ladder at a prosperous firm, Drake and Sweeney. His marriage is in trouble but he surrounds himself with work, competing with his soon to be ex-wife. Who is the most ambitious and who will earn the most money? But in a dramatic turn of events, Michael finds himself held hostage by a homeless person that his firm had been involved in evicting from a "squatters site." Life intact, Michael sees the emptiness of all of the things he has been seeking and sets about making some changes.....

I think I will never be able to give a Grisham book less than three stars as I always enjoy them for the story alone. However, this book had me thinking on a different level this time around. What Grisham is presenting here is basically a call to action to help the homeless or what Christians might call a social Gospel but without the Gospel. This would be fine for a secular author but Grisham claims he is a Christian with a deep private faith.

Grisham suggests through his novel that meeting the physical needs of a person will completely fulfill them. That feeding, clothing and sheltering people should be the goal of all those in a position to help financially and by giving time. Jesus tells us to help those in need and he had a special heart for the poor. God condemns those who neglect or abuse the poor and demands impartiality and justice. But that is not enough and doesn't get to the heart of a person's problems in life. It will not be the fulfillment they are looking for if they are not also told the truth about Jesus.

I feel strongly about this issue as many are providing help without hope around the world. A focus on earthly matters does not prepare someone for eternity. This novel, still a page turner, left me feeling empty on second reading--there is no mention of God unlike some of Grisham's other books. I also struggled with the way the main character's marriage dissolved as if it was inevitable.

The novel does highlight the meaninglessness of wealth and the purposelessness of climbing the corporate ladder. There is a little bad language, no sexual content and limited violence. Grisham fans will enjoy this book but maybe Christians should have a different perspective. For further discussion about help without hope see my posts below:

http://christianmissionaryuk.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/is-gospel-answer-to-every-pr...
http://christianmissionaryuk.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/help-without-hope-ultimate-t... ( )

His stories are easy to read. This one was a bit predictable but well written as always. ( )

Michael Brock gives up a lucrative practice at a prestigious DC law firm and becomes an advocate for the homeless as a street lawyer. Filled with realistic characters this is a well written book. ( )

Michael is a lawyer in a big American firm and climbing his way up to a bigger position with the associated salary and sees nothing changing that. However everything changes when a homeless man forces his way in with a gun and takes several people hostage including Michael. Who is he and what does he have against this particular company?

Michael decides to investigate and finds himself in the world of the homeless which is totally out of his comfort zone.

This book follows the usual Grisham mould of a lawyer forced to reconsider his life choices and does it well.

Everday people live without knowing where they will sleep or where the next meal is coming from and this book gives an insight into the struggles faced by them. Michael is somewhat idealistic at times but through the book gets to know what his real values and priorities are. ( )

I like Grisham books because they are easy reads and he takes a subject and delves deep, teaching his readers along the way.
The message I got from this book is that people who work hard and make money should feel guilty about 'homeless' people who don't want to own an alarm clock and don't like the restraints of having to be somewhere - like work - at a particular time.
The government doesn't give people who work handouts so I'm more for cheering on the workers rather than the druggies, alcoholics, thieves and the downright lazy.
Sorry Mr Grisham I'm not recommending this one - except to the bleeding hearts.
I'm giving it 3 stars because the writing was good and there is nothing between "I liked it" "I didn't like it". Hello, editors .... not the first time I've commented on the deficient star rating.
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This book was ok. I seem to always be disappointed with Grisham. Because of all the hype and the bestseller status, I expect so much more. Although the stories are usually well-written, I just don't find them interesting or worth my time. This book took me FOREVER to finish...lol ( )

Lawyer quits ritzy job and takes on homeless social activism ( )

John Grisham is one of my go-to guilty pleasures. When I want a fast read with a reasonably good story that I can read quickly, I often choose a Grisham. Like all his books, this one stands the test of what a ripping yarn should be like.

This book starts out with a bang. A group of corporate, well off attorneys are held hostage at gun point by a homeless man and quizzed on their generosity. The homeless man is quickly taken out by a sniper but the issues raised launch the rest of the story. I had to admit to wanting to know more about the man but it is really only touched on in the rest of the story.

The main character becomes deeply disillusioned with corporate law. Many of his colleagues try to convince him to take time out and do some public interest work and then come back and continue to greedily line his pockets. Throughout the book, except for about three characters, no one can understand why someone would walk away from making a lot of money because they find it soul destroying. This was one thing in the book I found eminently understandable. I have walked in those shoes (miles) and the one good thing to come out of re-reading this is that it made me think about what I did before to make my own life more meaningful.

At any rate, the story revolves around the homeless: their invisibility, their resilience, their vulnerability and their facelessness. There are a few red herrings that I wish Grisham would have followed to a more logical conclusion and explained a little bit better. The reality is, life is often inexplicable so maybe it's better to just embrace what's written and enjoy the rest of the story without diving too deep - after all, Grisham books are more about entertainment than a deep examination of life.

This is a decent book for a two day read. It's fun, enjoyable and easy on the brain and eyes. It stimulates a little bit of thought without driving you crazy. It's summer. Grab this one and park yourself with a beverage in a comfy chair and read. Preferably while on a great vacation somewhere.

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Take it from a guy who reads about once a year, it's a pretty good read! It even managed to inspire me to get out and do some community service. ( )