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"You Don't Do It For The Money. You Do It For The Soul."
Soul searching. Kindness. Greed. Suspense. Drama. These are only a few words that describe John Grisham's novel, The Street Lawyer. In this story, a wealthy lawyer transforms into a street lawyer that helps the homeless receive justice. Grisham incorporates current events and people in the news to enable the reader to relate to the plot more. Grisham makes the reader more aware of contemporary issues, such as homelessness, poverty, lack of generosity, and the greed of large law firms. Grisham has the ability to make you understand the lives of homeless people better by having you witness the experiences that the main character goes through. Michael Brock has everything a young lawyer would dream of- membership in a famous law firm, a $750,000 a year salary, 3 years until he makes over a million dollars a year, an expensive Lexus, a $2,400 a month apartment. Then why would he want to give it up for a $30,000 a year salary and a closet for an office? Michael's friend, Mordecai, said it best -"You don't do it for the money. You do it for the soul." Michael became a public interest lawyer who concentrates on helping the homeless because of a traumatic experience he was in. Michael and members of his firm are held hostage by a homeless man who was just evicted from his apartment by Michael's firm. The homeless man was killed but Michael was left emotionally altered. Michael then decides to initiate a crusade for the homeless. He , first, helps out at a soup kitchen and then gets involved in a law firm that specifies with the homeless. This story takes you into the world of the homeless. You realize what it is like to go to bed hungry, live in a car, walk around with all your possessions, not knowing where you are sleeping that night, etc. It opens your eyes to the hope and despair in the lives of the homeless. It also opens your eyes to the greed of wealthy lawyers. Michael experiences, first hand, the deaths of a homeless mother and her children. Drake and Sweeney evicted them from their building. They were found freezing to death in their car. The deaths of these innocent people helped ignite his passion for justice for the homeless. The Street Lawyer teaches the reader to be more generous to those who do not have as much as you. "If you do not do it for others, do it for your soul."««««« Stephanie Seidell
It made me think!
It's not the "Partner", but I hope that it makes you think about your fellow man. I have always said that we make our own destiny, but as I see more of the world I continue to open my eyes to the sadness we call humanity. The constant efforts of the few to take from those, least able to defend their possessions. I work very hard for the dollars I earn, but I always try to find time to help those that don't have what I have. I read in "The Street Lawyer" a message, one that some feel Grisham is being preachy, others say right-on, while I say, if it bothers you, maybe you feel some guilt. While I would like all those who profit from tales of Humanity, to share thier new found wealth with the cause, I don't know Grisham well enough to say he will.
A side bar, after finishing this book I listened to a local Chicago artist sing a song he had written about a true event in his life. The song title is "Snow Man" by Wes Davis. This song is so moving that I hope the movie moguls use it as the theme song when they take this book to the screen. Wes's lyics for the Snow Man ring true with Michael Brocks' experiences, the snow, the helplessness, the reason for being, and simply the art of caring.
It made me think! Thank you John
PS, John, if you read your reviews, I want you to know that I called you a bastard for the ending to Partners! I couldn't believe you left the kid without the money or the girl.
I understand where the negative comments are coming from but
...I still liked reading this one. It's one of Grisham's lesser works and a bit too preachy but if you're not looking for anything special it WILL keep your interest. A good, rather mediocre read that's entertaining and not like Grisham's other works, which says something...
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DVD's
A lawyer learns about life on the street 
