I purchased this book several months ago, and finally began reading it first for an hour last night, and finished it tonight in one of my own frenzied reading spells.
After reading it, I urge everyone to read this book. Of course, it is entirely fiction, as Grisham acknowledges, but its topic is quite real, and mirrors what we have seen played in politics for quite a few years.
I wont give anything away here, but during this entire primary season there was one reality that I always eventually honed in on, and it was our US Supreme Court. The reality offered by this book is that all of our courts are under assault, and most especially those courts that rely upon "elections" for the various Judges of those Courts.
If any of you really wish to focus in on the assault not only politically but judicially on the average ordinary American, I think Grisham actually, in this piece of fiction, totally scored just what we are fighting against. I hate plugging any author of modern day fiction, but I simply cannot resist plugging this book and asking everyone to read it now, as soon as yesterday.
If you ever wondered about political connections with religious connections with business connections with PACS suddenly appearing out of nowhere in support of a particular "candidate", honestly, this book gives you a look at what is happening behind the scenes, in a "fictional" manner of course; that you will immediately recognize.
While I was always disturbed about what is happening behind the scenes, and knew there was a powerful force there that we should be fighting against, honestly, I am just shaken tonight, and this from reading a bit of fiction. The fiction just is too real, and I have seen continued evidence even within the last few days with Gramm, and the other McCain lobbyists, not to mention the "preacher" stuff with Hagee and what's that other fruitcake's name? Then seeing Lieberman out there actually enjoying his eventual participation in a Hagee event?
Is media really shocked by Scott McClellan? Offended at his suggestion that our liberal media failed? I cannot tell you how many letters to the editor, and even e-mail I have sent over the last 8 years to numerous media outlets suggesting my outrage at their own capitulation. I finally got one printed locally about the Pentagon/Media/Analyst scandal, and I had to convince the editor of the editorial page I wasn't really attacking the local paper just railing against the failures of media (especially corporate media) as it related toward the American public.
We honestly do have much at stake in this 2008 election cycle, and it isn't only the office of Presidency. I am solidly behind Obama but I am never fooled into thinking his is the only campaign that might make a difference.