Personal Injuries (Scott Turow)

The story starts with a warning that this book is for lawyers. I found that to be true. The actual plot twists are not all that compelling. Overall, I'm glad I didn't pay full price.

"Personal Injuries" is actually the first Scott Turow novel I've read and I'm thoroughly impressed. From reading some of the other customer reviews, I've gathered that it doesn't follow the same format as the other books that made Turow famous. These reviewers are actually faulting the author for this. I would advise these morons to start on the John Grisham catalogue. Why do they think Scott Turow takes his time writing his novels? BECAUSE HE'S TRYING TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER STANDARD. And he succeeds immeasurably with "Personal Injuries". No, it's not a book filled with twists and turns, nor is it a legal "thriller" chock full of courtroom drama. It's a study of the legal profession itself with layers upon layers of brilliant characterization to keep the intelligent reader riveted until the end. In Robbie Feaver, Scott Turow has created one of the most memorable, intriguing characters I've ever read. He's an arrogant, enigmatic, law-breaking, rationalizing liar of a lawyer, but you just gotta love him. And that's exactly what this book is about -- understanding and forgiving the inherent flaws of humanity. It sounds like a lofty theme for a "lawyer's story" as Turow's narrator calls it, but Turow strikes the heart of it beautifully. At the finish, the reader is left pondering the imponderable hierarchy of values of the law. If you enjoy a thinking man's story (or if you just plain have a genuine admiration for great writing), don't miss this amazing, utterly believable, immensely enjoyable book.

Don't compare Turow with Grisham! Turow is, to me, an excellent character writer. If you like John Le Carre more than Ian Fleming, or Len Deighton more than Tom Clancy, or John Irving more than Harold Robbins then you will like Scott Turow much more than John Grisham. This is a wonderful story with truly interesting characters.

This is a great book, but you have to take the time to actuallyREAD it. The characters are fleshed out and work together very well inthe story. Skimming won't work. Sit down, sit back, and enjoy.