Until that September of 1952, Luke Chandler had never kept a secret or told a single lie. But in the long, hot summer of his seventh year, two groups of migrant workers -- and two very dangerous men -- came through the Arkansas Delta to work the Chandler cotton farm. And suddenly mysteries are flooding Luke's world. A brutal murder leaves the town seething in gossip and suspicion. A beautiful young woman ignites forbidden passions. A fatherless baby is born ... and someone has begun furtively painting the bare clapboards ...
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Until that September of 1952, Luke Chandler had never kept a secret or told a single lie. But in the long, hot summer of his seventh year, two groups of migrant workers -- and two very dangerous men -- came through the Arkansas Delta to work the Chandler cotton farm. And suddenly mysteries are flooding Luke's world. A brutal murder leaves the town seething in gossip and suspicion. A beautiful young woman ignites forbidden passions. A fatherless baby is born ... and someone has begun furtively painting the bare clapboards of the Chandler farmhouse, slowly, painstakingly, bathing the run-down structure in gleaming white. And as young Luke watches the world around him, he unravels secrets that could shatter lives -- and change his family and his town forever.... "From the Paperback edition."
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
I love author John Grisham. In this story I learned indepth about "cotton-picking" around the 1950's. I related because my father picked cotton as a boy in the south. Well written, with slow twists and turns, unlike Mr. Grisham's other stories. Indeed it was a painted house - of the Mexicans and Americans working together picking cotton, to paint a human-house story; and then the actual old house that was never painted, getting painted by an invalid boy. Awesome storyline.
Sheryl J
Willsgang
Dec 10, 2007
A departure for Grisham.
In this novel by Grisham, A Painted House, he tells the story from the perspective of seven year old Luke Chandler. Luke lives with his parents and Grandparents in the low lands of Arkansas. The family comes from a long line of cotton farmers and they face the prospect of harvesting a bumper crop of cotton but must find the right migrant workers to help them complete the job. Set during the time of the Korean war. Luke and his family struggle to earn enough money to pay off the farm depts. The hire two groups of migrant workers, the hiill people and the mexican laborers, who each bring color and an element of mystery to the Chandler farm. Luke's life gets very complicated when he witnesses violence up close and he must then decide how to protect himself and his family. I especially liked the rural setting with Grisham's flair for colorful and accurate descriptions of small town life and the struggles that real folks go through. Overall a very solid book and an enjoyable read.