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Ford County
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Number 1 "New York Times "bestselling author John Grisham takes us back to Ford County, Mississippi, the setting of his first novel, A Time to Kill." "This riveting collection of short stories features an unforgettable cast of Wheelchair-bound Inez Graney and her two older sons embark on a bizarre road trip through the Mississippi Delta to visit Inez's youngest son, Raymond--on death row. A hard-drinking, low-grossing divorce lawyer fed up with his wife, his life, and the law plans a drastic escape after an unexpected phone call. A quiet, unassuming data collector sets out to bring down a flashy casino owner with his skill at blackjack--as payback for the theft of his wife. A stalker hunts victims in a retirement home, a lawyer confronts a vengeful adversary from the past, and a young man from a prominent family is driven off by scandal and fear--but finds unexpected redemption on the wrong side of the tracks. Often hilarious, frequently moving, and always entertaining, this collection makes it abundantly clear why John Grisham is our most popular storyteller.
344 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2008
2549 people are currently reading
11366 people want to read
About the author
John Grisham
482 books89.4k followersJohn Grisham is the author of more than fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include Framed, Camino Ghosts and The Exchange: After the Firm.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,546 reviews
December 16, 2019
An enjoyable collection of short stories; each one a small, entertaining dose of Grisham’s terrific writing.
April 7, 2017
John Grisham has been exploring genres other than legal thrillers and Ford County is on similar lines. A collection of short stories featuring a memorable cast of characters living in Ford County. Each story takes place within Ford County, some in Clanton & in all,a wonderful compilation of stories ; all enlightening, interesting, amusing and sad.
The book contains 7 short stories: Blood Drive, Fetching Raymond, Fish Files, Casino, Michael's Room, Quiet Haven & Funny Boy.
From a bizarre road trip with lots of dark humour to an emotional story about a family visiting a death row convict. From amusing con jobs to a touching story of a terminally ill young man abandoned by his family, this book explores extraordinary stories of ordinary people, all brought to life by brilliant storytelling. It makes you laugh, it makes you sad & keeps you entertained throughout. This one is a true gem.
The book contains 7 short stories: Blood Drive, Fetching Raymond, Fish Files, Casino, Michael's Room, Quiet Haven & Funny Boy.
From a bizarre road trip with lots of dark humour to an emotional story about a family visiting a death row convict. From amusing con jobs to a touching story of a terminally ill young man abandoned by his family, this book explores extraordinary stories of ordinary people, all brought to life by brilliant storytelling. It makes you laugh, it makes you sad & keeps you entertained throughout. This one is a true gem.
February 19, 2021
This is John Grisham's first volume of short stories,and I hope he writes more.I do find his legal thrillers a bit tiresome lately as I've read plenty of those and their sheer length and a certain amount of repetition have become issues.
As this volume shows,he is pretty good at writing short stories.As to why he hasn't written more,remains a bit of a mystery.
The setting is familiar,the American South,where many of his legal thrillers take place.More specifically,it is Ford County,Mississipi.
These tales of blue collar crime are crisp and interesting.He has written about some of these subjects before,death row inmates and lawyers looking to make a fast buck etc.
In addition,the very first story about the misadventures of a group of youth on a night out is compelling.
In another one,a young man suffering from a fatal disease comes back to his hometown to die,leading to much gossip.Plus,the story of the elderly inhabitants of a nursing home is a good one too.
The,brevity of these stories is a refreshing departure from the sheer length of his novels,which often run past 400 or 500 pages.
3.5 stars
As this volume shows,he is pretty good at writing short stories.As to why he hasn't written more,remains a bit of a mystery.
The setting is familiar,the American South,where many of his legal thrillers take place.More specifically,it is Ford County,Mississipi.
These tales of blue collar crime are crisp and interesting.He has written about some of these subjects before,death row inmates and lawyers looking to make a fast buck etc.
In addition,the very first story about the misadventures of a group of youth on a night out is compelling.
In another one,a young man suffering from a fatal disease comes back to his hometown to die,leading to much gossip.Plus,the story of the elderly inhabitants of a nursing home is a good one too.
The,brevity of these stories is a refreshing departure from the sheer length of his novels,which often run past 400 or 500 pages.
3.5 stars
February 20, 2017
A sporadic and eclectic mix of dark and miserable storytelling, made all the better for me as it was narrated by Mr Grisham himself. A shadow was cast over every thought. This town of Clanton seems just horrible. A mix of disparate and dark characters with storylines combined. My favourite without a doubt was the last story of the lovely man suffering from HIV, and the selfless lady who cared for him. It was a short story collection where there was not necessarily a clear ending - and I think this was the point. Maybe this was a lesson on realism. Or pessimism?! Mr Grisham sounds like Barack Obama - short and to the point. I like listening to both; clear and articulate. Most of the way through I was thinking of the past President's style of speech. I could listen all day. The author is not a performer, but did well with his odd storylines that did not have any tangible endings. Really quite odd but very doable.
October 31, 2022
I started Ford County as an audiobook, which was read by John Grisham himself. I love listening to Stephen King reading his books. I assumed that any author would be good at reading their own material. Nope! Awkward pauses everywhere. By the middle of the second story, I stopped listening.
So, I had a little trouble getting into Ford County. Some were pretty good. Fish Files is classic Grisham, and Funny Boy is a moving tale. But I don’t think short stories are Mr. Grisham’s forte, at least not for the story-telling skills I think he excels at. But I wonder if I’d have a higher opinion if I had read the first two stories rather than listening.
So, I had a little trouble getting into Ford County. Some were pretty good. Fish Files is classic Grisham, and Funny Boy is a moving tale. But I don’t think short stories are Mr. Grisham’s forte, at least not for the story-telling skills I think he excels at. But I wonder if I’d have a higher opinion if I had read the first two stories rather than listening.
February 25, 2014
This book was so bad I couldn't finish it. I normally have enjoyed every other Grisham book and can depend on them for good light entertainment and occasionally a very well done, enlightening story. Ford County must have been written because Grisham had a commitmment with his publisher to churn something out. The book is a series of seven short stories abouth life in Ford County, Mississippi the scene of an early Grisham novel. I went through the first two stories and wondered; why did he bother writing this stuff? The stories are not interesting, they convey no message or idea other than that the characters are not very sympathetic or likeable rednecks. The endings didn't seem to have any object or finality to them other than the author had reached his alloted page count.
Now, I have to confess that I "read" this book as an audio book. I didn't realize that Grisham was going to be the reader until I had started listening to it. What a disaster. Maybe the book was better than it "sounded". Whatever cornpone southern authenticity he thought he would give it by reading it himself was completely sabotaged by his ineptness as a reader. His voice was monotonic and lacked any inflection or drama to it. His speech was so halting that it seemed he was inserting commas after every three or four words. Certainly Grisham wasn't trying to make more money for himself!
There should be a law against authors reading their own work. Seldom do they catch the voice of their characters as a good professional reader can do.
I see all the other 4*-5* reviews of this book in Goodreads and am left wondering : Is it me, or is it Memorex?
Now, I have to confess that I "read" this book as an audio book. I didn't realize that Grisham was going to be the reader until I had started listening to it. What a disaster. Maybe the book was better than it "sounded". Whatever cornpone southern authenticity he thought he would give it by reading it himself was completely sabotaged by his ineptness as a reader. His voice was monotonic and lacked any inflection or drama to it. His speech was so halting that it seemed he was inserting commas after every three or four words. Certainly Grisham wasn't trying to make more money for himself!
There should be a law against authors reading their own work. Seldom do they catch the voice of their characters as a good professional reader can do.
I see all the other 4*-5* reviews of this book in Goodreads and am left wondering : Is it me, or is it Memorex?
January 17, 2021
This is a wonderful collection of diverse characters in different settings. The stories are humorous, entertaining, light reading and had me repeatedly smiling.
Unputdownable
Unputdownable
November 3, 2019
I haven't read any other John Grisham novels, but I've heard enough about him to make me intrigued. So when I've stumbled upon this book, I've decided to give it a shot, and I am really glad I did. It was fabulous. I didn't know short stories could be entertaining and profound. John Grisham really knows how to tell a story.
The book is a collection of 7 short stories: Blood Drive, Fetching Raymond, Fish Files, Casino, Michael's Room, Quiet Haven and Funny Boy. Each one brings out a certain emotion: amusement, sadness, suspense, intrigue, and anger. I can't decide which one is my favorite since I liked all of them.
In conclusion, this was an enjoyable book.
The book is a collection of 7 short stories: Blood Drive, Fetching Raymond, Fish Files, Casino, Michael's Room, Quiet Haven and Funny Boy. Each one brings out a certain emotion: amusement, sadness, suspense, intrigue, and anger. I can't decide which one is my favorite since I liked all of them.
In conclusion, this was an enjoyable book.
January 7, 2015
As most reader's know, Grisham is the master of the legal thriller. Surprise, surprise! He is also a very talented storyteller! What a delight this collection of short stories was.
He takes us to Ford County, Mississippi where we are introduced to quite a collection of characters. Some rather dull and normal, others quirky and pretty extreme all of them with an odd story to share. His words flow and paint the picture of these folks as they struggle with whatever curveball life has thrown them. The stories are sad, humorous and rather bizarre all rolled into one. Did I like many of the characters? No, but I was fascinated by their stories. He hits upon some difficult subjects.....greed, cheating, deceit, death and points a finger at many things wrong in todays society.
This put Grisham in a whole different light for me. One that I found very flattering. 4.5 stars.
He takes us to Ford County, Mississippi where we are introduced to quite a collection of characters. Some rather dull and normal, others quirky and pretty extreme all of them with an odd story to share. His words flow and paint the picture of these folks as they struggle with whatever curveball life has thrown them. The stories are sad, humorous and rather bizarre all rolled into one. Did I like many of the characters? No, but I was fascinated by their stories. He hits upon some difficult subjects.....greed, cheating, deceit, death and points a finger at many things wrong in todays society.
This put Grisham in a whole different light for me. One that I found very flattering. 4.5 stars.
February 3, 2023
In the interest of reading more books that have been in my library for a time, I finally picked up John Grisham's debut collection of short stories, Ford County. These stories take place in Ford County, primarily in Clanton, Mississippi. This was the setting of his book A Time to Kill, but Jake Briggance does not appear in these pages. As with most collections of short stories, some stand out as favorites.
Some of the most poignant included Fetching Raymond, the story of wheelchair-bound Inez Graney and her sons Leon and Butch embarking on a road trip through the Mississippi Delta in a borrowed van. They were driving to Parchman Penitentiary to visit her youngest son, Raymond, serving on Death Row with the appeals running out and his execution imminent.
Another favorite was Funny Boy, a gay man returning to Clanton to spend his remaining days before he succumbs to AIDS. Adrian long shunned by his wealthy and prominent family, lives out his final days in the black section of town in the care of elderly black woman, Emporia. The relationship that develops between them is heartening as they sit on the front porch sipping sweet tea with endearing conversations. One of Adrian's goals is to read all of William Faulkner's books to begin to come to terms with the South.
Other engaging stories in this collection included the tale of a down-and-out attorney, hard-drinking Mack Stafford. His wife wants a divorce. All seems to be at a loss when Mack is presented with a way out. What transpires is a great story that will leave you cheering. Another concerns Gilbert posing as a low-paid assistant hired by the local nursing home. It quickly becomes apparent that Gilbert has an agenda as he quietly and skillfully conducts his background check and research on Quiet Haven Retirement Home and its residents. Gilbert's purpose soon becomes apparent, a great story. At its heart, John Grisham is a master storyteller in this debut collection of short stories displaying the range of his talents.
Some of the most poignant included Fetching Raymond, the story of wheelchair-bound Inez Graney and her sons Leon and Butch embarking on a road trip through the Mississippi Delta in a borrowed van. They were driving to Parchman Penitentiary to visit her youngest son, Raymond, serving on Death Row with the appeals running out and his execution imminent.
Another favorite was Funny Boy, a gay man returning to Clanton to spend his remaining days before he succumbs to AIDS. Adrian long shunned by his wealthy and prominent family, lives out his final days in the black section of town in the care of elderly black woman, Emporia. The relationship that develops between them is heartening as they sit on the front porch sipping sweet tea with endearing conversations. One of Adrian's goals is to read all of William Faulkner's books to begin to come to terms with the South.
Other engaging stories in this collection included the tale of a down-and-out attorney, hard-drinking Mack Stafford. His wife wants a divorce. All seems to be at a loss when Mack is presented with a way out. What transpires is a great story that will leave you cheering. Another concerns Gilbert posing as a low-paid assistant hired by the local nursing home. It quickly becomes apparent that Gilbert has an agenda as he quietly and skillfully conducts his background check and research on Quiet Haven Retirement Home and its residents. Gilbert's purpose soon becomes apparent, a great story. At its heart, John Grisham is a master storyteller in this debut collection of short stories displaying the range of his talents.
March 31, 2021
Grisham’s short story collection focuses on grifters, drunks, misfits and outright scoundrels. These folks are not Mississippi’s finest citizens—not even close. In ‘Blood Drive’, a group of three young men head to Memphis to give blood for one of their injured neighbors. In Grisham’s tale, their noble intentions soon devolve into absurdity and farce.
In ‘Fetching Raymond’, Grisham has a mother travel to her sons’ execution with her two other sons. Raymond is loquacious in his self-delusion that he will be granted a stay by the Supreme Court. His brothers know differently, but do not contradict Raymond’s optimism. I found this story to be Grisham’s strongest.
Justice is not served in many of these tales. The con men are often rewarded for their scheming, and certainly are not made to pay for their corruption. I kept waiting for righteousness to prevail in the end. Nope—did not happen.
In ‘Fetching Raymond’, Grisham has a mother travel to her sons’ execution with her two other sons. Raymond is loquacious in his self-delusion that he will be granted a stay by the Supreme Court. His brothers know differently, but do not contradict Raymond’s optimism. I found this story to be Grisham’s strongest.
Justice is not served in many of these tales. The con men are often rewarded for their scheming, and certainly are not made to pay for their corruption. I kept waiting for righteousness to prevail in the end. Nope—did not happen.
April 7, 2020
Гришъм и литературните му "роби" са го ударили здраво през просото в последните няколко години, до степен да не желая да купувам или да чета нещата излязли под името му.
Този сборник с разкази обаче май сам го е писал и на мен ми допаднаха всичките включени в него истории.
Та така, имайте си едно наум с този автор!
Този сборник с разкази обаче май сам го е писал и на мен ми допаднаха всичките включени в него истории.
Та така, имайте си едно наум с този автор!
March 27, 2024
John Grisham. The name commands me to pick up the book and read it. What I like from his book is the moral sotries about how justice is blind. He delivers it with no apology. And yet somehow, my heart breaks for the injustice of it all.
3 stars
3 stars
December 3, 2009
John Grisham heads back to his literary roots of Ford County. For those of you who don't recall (or didn't read the dust jacket), Ford County is the setting for his first (and possibly best) book "A Time to Kill."
After a disappointing legal thriller for his last new book, it's nice to see Grisham get back to the business of storytelling again with this collection of short stories.
Grisham pushes his boundaries as a writer, offering up stories that offer humor, pathos and character building. The requisite lawyer gone wrong story is in the book, but Grisham makes the caper-nature of what the guy is doing compelling and interesting enough and the story doesn't overstay its welcome.
The best stories are those that bookend the collection. The first about three guys heading to Memphis to donate blood to a local but who end up getting side tracked by a run in with the law, beer and then a Memphis strip club is wonderfully done and, at times, hysterical funny. The final story about a man with AIDs returning to town for his final days will put a lump in your throat and stay with you long past the final page being turned.
If you've given up on Grisham, you might want to come back for this one.
After a disappointing legal thriller for his last new book, it's nice to see Grisham get back to the business of storytelling again with this collection of short stories.
Grisham pushes his boundaries as a writer, offering up stories that offer humor, pathos and character building. The requisite lawyer gone wrong story is in the book, but Grisham makes the caper-nature of what the guy is doing compelling and interesting enough and the story doesn't overstay its welcome.
The best stories are those that bookend the collection. The first about three guys heading to Memphis to donate blood to a local but who end up getting side tracked by a run in with the law, beer and then a Memphis strip club is wonderfully done and, at times, hysterical funny. The final story about a man with AIDs returning to town for his final days will put a lump in your throat and stay with you long past the final page being turned.
If you've given up on Grisham, you might want to come back for this one.
May 17, 2010
At the end of this collection of stories, the reader is left with a deep, unsettling ambivalence. On the one hand, Grisham wields a sense of place and of language with a confidence that’s hard to beat. He places his characters in memorable, finely wrought settings, he gives them richly evoked material to work with, he writes dialogue that has the ring of truth to it. And then he observes those characters, as they move, live, and (mostly) suffer, with a chilly, anthropological detachment and emotional distance that’s initially distracting and, by the end of the book, has become nearly an embarrassment. At every moment, Grisham seems intent on reminding the reader that he’s not “one of them”; he writes with a sense of social distance that would probably raise eyebrows if his subjects were some other ethnic or regional group and not (largely) white southerners. In short, Grisham observes: He’s quite a good observer, as it turns out, but as a writer he’s simply not implicated. Grisham also has the bad habit of creating intriguing plots, compelling characters, and seductive settings—and then ending every story with a whimper. A few are very nearly shaggy dog stories: a complicated set up for an unsatisfying pay-off. Since he does it in every story, it’s clearly a style he has adopted deliberately. No doubt some readers won’t be troubled by the clinical cast of Grisham’s narratives and will appreciate his way of picking up a story, carrying it for a while, and then setting it down again without having handled it much. For me, the lack of empathy and the absence of resolution were equally discomfiting.
October 29, 2017
A collection of seven short stories, I bought it with high expectations. Didn't live up to it. The first one "Blood Drive" is about three people volunteering to go to the city to donate blood to one of the residents of Ford County. This is a funny account of their misadventures. "Fetching Raymond" is about a family of three, a mother and her two sons, visiting their third son in prison. This is somewhat a tragic story including "Michael'sRoom". "Fish Files" is about a down and out lawyer prospecting for a fortune by cheating his clients. It was kind of boring. I liked "Casino" & "Quiet Haven" but the last one "Funny Boy" simply takes the cake. It is a beautiful story about how a young white man dying of AIDS ends up in a black township near Clanton and is looked after by a black lady after being abandoned by his family.
The protagonist is not the character in the stories but Ford county itself. Its residents are depicted as racists, bigots, misogynists, petty thieves, creepy crooked lawyers and gold-diggers. I think this is the first book of its kind where the author has delved into short stoy format. But I liked Archer's stories more than Grisham's. Happy reading for folks interested in reading short stories ! Nothing great about it. Maybe for Grisham fans only.
The protagonist is not the character in the stories but Ford county itself. Its residents are depicted as racists, bigots, misogynists, petty thieves, creepy crooked lawyers and gold-diggers. I think this is the first book of its kind where the author has delved into short stoy format. But I liked Archer's stories more than Grisham's. Happy reading for folks interested in reading short stories ! Nothing great about it. Maybe for Grisham fans only.
March 26, 2025
A series of seven short stories based in Ford County, Mississippi, the setting of his first novel A Time To Kill. Grisham develops character and plot quickly and pulls the reader along nicely in each story.
📚
I’ve enjoyed his books/movies over the years but the courtroom drama theme started to wear me down a while back. Fortunately there’s very little of that here and what little there was turned out to be a burned out attorney looking to make a new start.
📂
Overall this was entertaining and I’d recommend for those who enjoy short stories.
📚
I’ve enjoyed his books/movies over the years but the courtroom drama theme started to wear me down a while back. Fortunately there’s very little of that here and what little there was turned out to be a burned out attorney looking to make a new start.
📂
Overall this was entertaining and I’d recommend for those who enjoy short stories.
March 3, 2020
Excellent novels set in south of Mississippi, each of that novel could be big book which I would devour gladly.
October 29, 2014
Ford County is a book of seven short stories, some better than others.
Although nothing very much happens in any of them, it was still an enjoyable read.
February 3, 2011
An absolute delight to read, I am not usually a short story reader, and was surprised this was, off course having read all Grisham's earlier and som sensational work, I was not sure if I was going to read it, glad I did.
He was able to take me to Ford County and give me a glimpse of what the people are like, as in every situation he portrays only a specific kind of family or person. I do not want to get into the story detail and by doing so spoil it for those people who are intending to read this.
Some family scenarios are unbelievable, the abuse of alcohol is central to most stories, and being familiar with the effects alcohol can have on a human being totally understandable, the family ties in spite of ridiculas circumstances are something els, I can only imagine Mr Grisham having practiced law for years in that part of the US know of which he speaks.
The last story "Funny Boy" is a moving story about a redneck communities reaction to a person living with aids back in the late 80, all in all the book is well worth the investment in $$ and time
He was able to take me to Ford County and give me a glimpse of what the people are like, as in every situation he portrays only a specific kind of family or person. I do not want to get into the story detail and by doing so spoil it for those people who are intending to read this.
Some family scenarios are unbelievable, the abuse of alcohol is central to most stories, and being familiar with the effects alcohol can have on a human being totally understandable, the family ties in spite of ridiculas circumstances are something els, I can only imagine Mr Grisham having practiced law for years in that part of the US know of which he speaks.
The last story "Funny Boy" is a moving story about a redneck communities reaction to a person living with aids back in the late 80, all in all the book is well worth the investment in $$ and time
March 6, 2012
A great collection of short stories by Grisham, that illustrates the ways of the South. As Grisham is not a series man (save his new Theodore Boone work), there are no recurring characters to tie these tales to (at least to the best of my recollection). Each is masterful in its own way and acts as an excellent stand-alone.
The six stories are well-developed and share nothing in common, other than the county in which they are set. Ford County shows the various forks in the path that a group of people living in one small parcel of land can have and all the trouble that can erupt. Grisham weaves an excellent tale in each story and keeps the reader interested from the get-go. No story is like any of his full length work and that is a refreshing change of legal pace.
I would highly recommend this work to anyone interested in a little break from the hectic ways of life... or in need of something to kill a few hours, with a large glass of sweet tea or lemonade.
Well done, Mr. Grisham!
The six stories are well-developed and share nothing in common, other than the county in which they are set. Ford County shows the various forks in the path that a group of people living in one small parcel of land can have and all the trouble that can erupt. Grisham weaves an excellent tale in each story and keeps the reader interested from the get-go. No story is like any of his full length work and that is a refreshing change of legal pace.
I would highly recommend this work to anyone interested in a little break from the hectic ways of life... or in need of something to kill a few hours, with a large glass of sweet tea or lemonade.
Well done, Mr. Grisham!
February 6, 2010
Loved it. He makes the people he writes about in Mississippi so believable. Several weeks after reading it, I am still thinking of some of the portraits he gives us:
- the impoverished mother and her two grown sons traveling to the state prison for the third son's execution for murder. She's in a wheelchair strapped to the floor of a van they had to borrow from the older son's boss. The family's last meeting before the prisoner enters the gas chamber is quite poignant. This is the most tragic story in the book. It's about poverty, class, broken homes, alcoholism, and many other things. More than anything, it's about dealing with the cards you're given, even when they're all low numbers and jokers.
- the professional swindler who befriends residents of an inhumane nursing home. He's there to trick them out of their money - and the way he goes about this is quite clever - but he also provides companionship and empathy to a group of very lonely people whose own families have long since stopped caring.
- the litigation lawyer looking for his next big break. He finally gets one, but not before revealing his shady character and, ultimately, a pretty shallow life.
I'm not normally a Grisham fan, although I love the films that have been made out of his books, especially Runaway Jury and The Firm. This rare short story collection may just make me go back and check out the rest of Grisham's work.
- the impoverished mother and her two grown sons traveling to the state prison for the third son's execution for murder. She's in a wheelchair strapped to the floor of a van they had to borrow from the older son's boss. The family's last meeting before the prisoner enters the gas chamber is quite poignant. This is the most tragic story in the book. It's about poverty, class, broken homes, alcoholism, and many other things. More than anything, it's about dealing with the cards you're given, even when they're all low numbers and jokers.
- the professional swindler who befriends residents of an inhumane nursing home. He's there to trick them out of their money - and the way he goes about this is quite clever - but he also provides companionship and empathy to a group of very lonely people whose own families have long since stopped caring.
- the litigation lawyer looking for his next big break. He finally gets one, but not before revealing his shady character and, ultimately, a pretty shallow life.
I'm not normally a Grisham fan, although I love the films that have been made out of his books, especially Runaway Jury and The Firm. This rare short story collection may just make me go back and check out the rest of Grisham's work.
April 11, 2012
I picked Ford County up to listen to as I was traveling to a conference. Interestingly enough, I have not read any other John Grisham novels, but this appealed to me because it consisted of short stories. I like listening to short stories because you can listen for short blocks of time and take a rest without forgetting necessary details to keep you in the plot (as with listening to a novel).
Ford County consists of seven short stories set in and around Clanton, Mississippi. The stories are rather dark in nature and few of the characters likeable. Normally, I wouldn't have appreciated the concoction of rough characters displayed with little chance of redemption, but I ended up being captivated. It may have been, in part, due to John Grisham's way of telling the stories. His southern accent and "folksy" presentation style leave you feeling you are sitting on a front porch somewhere listening to him tell his favorite stories. Grisham is obviously engaged himself by the characters in the stories, so he draws you in by the way in which he presents them.
Since this short story collection is not Grisham's usual genre, I would now be interested in reading some of his novels. Better yet, I would love to listen to him read one of his novels to me. He's a great storyteller!
Ford County consists of seven short stories set in and around Clanton, Mississippi. The stories are rather dark in nature and few of the characters likeable. Normally, I wouldn't have appreciated the concoction of rough characters displayed with little chance of redemption, but I ended up being captivated. It may have been, in part, due to John Grisham's way of telling the stories. His southern accent and "folksy" presentation style leave you feeling you are sitting on a front porch somewhere listening to him tell his favorite stories. Grisham is obviously engaged himself by the characters in the stories, so he draws you in by the way in which he presents them.
Since this short story collection is not Grisham's usual genre, I would now be interested in reading some of his novels. Better yet, I would love to listen to him read one of his novels to me. He's a great storyteller!
February 1, 2015
If you're a rabid Grisham fan, you might want to think twice before picking up this book.It's a far cry from many of his other books. A legal thriller it is not. Despite his reputation as a "pop" author, this man knows how to tell a tale.
As a writer myself I understand the challenges of composing a short story. Here is a collection of them, all set in rural Mississippi, and everyone's a gem. I've marked it for re-reading, that's how much I enjoyed them.
There's nothing profound here, just the simple schemes of simple folks, that will either amuse the hell out of you or, in the case of one or two, bring a tear to your eye.
As a writer myself I understand the challenges of composing a short story. Here is a collection of them, all set in rural Mississippi, and everyone's a gem. I've marked it for re-reading, that's how much I enjoyed them.
There's nothing profound here, just the simple schemes of simple folks, that will either amuse the hell out of you or, in the case of one or two, bring a tear to your eye.
October 9, 2019
Гришам не го бях чел с години , тези разкази ми дойдоха като глътка свеж въздух .
December 11, 2025
4 stars
Not the standard for John Grisham - this is a book of short stories. Seven stories in all. They are all centered around Clanton, Mississippi, Ford County. What makes all seven stories unique is the way they end. The major connecting theme in this book is "life goes on".
Not the standard for John Grisham - this is a book of short stories. Seven stories in all. They are all centered around Clanton, Mississippi, Ford County. What makes all seven stories unique is the way they end. The major connecting theme in this book is "life goes on".
June 20, 2020
Всяко място има своите истории: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/o...
Първата история, ”Кръводарители”, е трагикомична – няколко младежи поемат към града, за да дарят кръв след злополука с техен съгражданин. Но малко алкохол и примамливата идея за стриптийз объркват плана – до степен, че те ще преживеят най-откачените часове, които ще променят изцяло животите им. “Да докараш Реймънд” е на другия полюс, драматична история за последните часове на осъден престъпник и сбогуването с неговото семейство. “Миризливи досиета” е чиста комедия, посветена на едва връзващ двата края адвокат, който внезапно получава възможност да направи удар – за което се налага само да зареже всичките си принципи и да струпа един куп измами.
Издателство Обсидиан
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/o...
Първата история, ”Кръводарители”, е трагикомична – няколко младежи поемат към града, за да дарят кръв след злополука с техен съгражданин. Но малко алкохол и примамливата идея за стриптийз объркват плана – до степен, че те ще преживеят най-откачените часове, които ще променят изцяло животите им. “Да докараш Реймънд” е на другия полюс, драматична история за последните часове на осъден престъпник и сбогуването с неговото семейство. “Миризливи досиета” е чиста комедия, посветена на едва връзващ двата края адвокат, който внезапно получава възможност да направи удар – за което се налага само да зареже всичките си принципи и да струпа един куп измами.
Издателство Обсидиан
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/o...
May 16, 2011
Did you ever read a book about an area and decide that you might want to go and visit or perhaps retire in that area? John Grisham's Ford County, a collection of stories, had the reverse effect on me. I don't ever want to even get close to that geographical area. Why? It appears that Ford County, if Grisham's works here are any indication, is the capitol of Deep, Dark, Depression, U.S.A. The people in these stories are all so sad and their situations are so dark that on would need the light from a nuclear explosion to provide the light that a candle provides to a dark room.
One recurring theme in the stories is the small-town rumor mill. From the first story about an injured worker in the city to the final story about a hometown boy returning home with AIDS-- almost every story featured the small-town rumor mill working overtime. In some cases the rumors were comical, in others they were depressing.
The other recurring theme is a sense of hopelessness for some folks. For example, one family goes up to the prison to visit their relative who is on death row. The hopelessness and the stark reality of facing his fate and the cessation of further stays of execution was utterly depressing. The lawyer, who is brought face-to-face with the family on the other side of a case and their brain-damaged child offers no hope, just utter sorrow for how some folks are forced to live. The slow and agonizing death of the AIDS afflicted man in a town where he is ostracized by both his lifestyle and disease was a discouragement. The guys who go to the big city in order to give blood for an injured friend, but end up making it a drunken journey leave the reader stunned with their callous behavior.
The stories were all depressing. The fact that they were well written means little. I've read books with hit-or-miss stories-- some impressing me with their tale and others forcing me to skip over them. These all were compelling enough to make me feel the need to complete them, but each one left me wondering, "Why did the author bother to write this interesting story that has such unsatisfying conclusions."
Finally, it hit me. Grisham was writting to the people of that area. Perhaps he was subtly telling them to get a life. Either way, for me, it was a message that was meant for someone else. Rather than feeling a naughty thrill from reading someone else's mail, I felt it was sort of like reading my mother-in-laws promitional letters from publisher's clearing house. Not worthy of much interest, so move on.
One recurring theme in the stories is the small-town rumor mill. From the first story about an injured worker in the city to the final story about a hometown boy returning home with AIDS-- almost every story featured the small-town rumor mill working overtime. In some cases the rumors were comical, in others they were depressing.
The other recurring theme is a sense of hopelessness for some folks. For example, one family goes up to the prison to visit their relative who is on death row. The hopelessness and the stark reality of facing his fate and the cessation of further stays of execution was utterly depressing. The lawyer, who is brought face-to-face with the family on the other side of a case and their brain-damaged child offers no hope, just utter sorrow for how some folks are forced to live. The slow and agonizing death of the AIDS afflicted man in a town where he is ostracized by both his lifestyle and disease was a discouragement. The guys who go to the big city in order to give blood for an injured friend, but end up making it a drunken journey leave the reader stunned with their callous behavior.
The stories were all depressing. The fact that they were well written means little. I've read books with hit-or-miss stories-- some impressing me with their tale and others forcing me to skip over them. These all were compelling enough to make me feel the need to complete them, but each one left me wondering, "Why did the author bother to write this interesting story that has such unsatisfying conclusions."
Finally, it hit me. Grisham was writting to the people of that area. Perhaps he was subtly telling them to get a life. Either way, for me, it was a message that was meant for someone else. Rather than feeling a naughty thrill from reading someone else's mail, I felt it was sort of like reading my mother-in-laws promitional letters from publisher's clearing house. Not worthy of much interest, so move on.
December 22, 2020
This is a wonderful collection of short stories. I re-read it after almost 10 years, I am surprised that I had forgotten this completely. The stories were all unique, some hilarious, some sad but all of them were entertaining.
November 3, 2019
I have read all of John Grisham's books but just finally got around to reading this collection of short stories about the fictional town of Clanton and Ford County, Mississippi. They are immensely entertaining stories. If you are a Grisham fan and never read this book, you should.
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