Mar 31, 2002 05:28 PM
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(Updated Oct 21, 2002 10:10 AM)
A Painted House is all about a 7 year old boy in rural Arkansas and his cotton-picking days with his father, mother and his paternal grandparents.
Unlike any other Grisham book, A Painted House is the story of Luke and his transition from an innocent little boy to an all-knowing 7 year old. One can call it also the death of innocence.
It all begins one summer day when the cotton is ripe for picking and Lukes grandfather goes into town to gather some help from the mexicans and the hill people. He manages to get help from ten mexicans and a family of seven from the hill.
The hill people namely the Spruills consist of Mr. and Mrs. Spruill, their sons, Bo and Dale, their teenage daughter Tally,another son Hank whos a bully and a meanie and a retarded boy named Trot.
Luke takes quite a fancy to Tally who returns his feelings albeit platonically. Luke is wary and a little afraid of Hank and is witness to Hanks slaying of one of the towns boys.
During that cotton-picking summer, Luke witnesses so much to change his life forever. His favorite uncle Ricky who was called to Korea to fight the war keeps in touch through letters. Luke is also exposed to his first sighting of female flesh by none other than Tally herself.Luke also bears witness to the brutal slaying of Hank by the mexican.
Luke is also privvy to a shameful family secret. One of the poorest families in the district bears an allegedly illegitimate child of his uncle Ricky. The Latchers are sharecroppers like the Chandlers but have a tiny army of children to feed. Fifteen-year old Libby Latcher is the mother of Lukes first cousin.
Things take a turn for the worse when the rains arrive and the cotton crops are destroyed forcing the younger Chandlers to leave rural Arkansas for greener pastures.
A Painted House is colourful in every way. There are no courtroom brawls, no fancy case arguing, just a plain 'ol story. Quite a refreshing change from all the legal jargon. The language is simple and flowing.
