I am in awe of people who have the knack of imparting a feeling of comfort, who make strangers feel as one of their own in a short span of time. On a similar note, John Grisham accomplishes this commendable feat in his latest work, The Last Juror. The reader, as I see it, *literally* grows up with the protagonist, Willie Traynor, in Clanton, Ford County, Mississippi.

Willie is a reckless 23-yr old, (all the more reason for me to identify with the character), who buys the local flagging newspaper setup in this nondescript southern state town. However, Ford County, Grisham says, was just the right place to die in, for the obituaries were colorful and the words devoted to the cause, many.  After a couple of murders, interesting court cases, local elections, and an exclusive on one of the town's black families, Willie finally strikes gold, nearly a decade after he'd bought the unit.

The charm about the book is its simplicity, small town people, small town problems, the reluctance to allow outside influence into their microcosm, and yet, the reader, a stranger to this tale, is absorbed almost immediately, into their humdrum of daily existence.

If you are looking for at-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense, then look someplace else. This one is recommended for those who have enjoyed Grisham's other warm stories, A Painted House and Skipping Christmas

(As for moi, I have returned from a near-death experience, of the blog I meant, but one never knows when one would decide to plunge off the cliff again, without the parachute this time)

Current Music : Annie's song - John Denver
(I looooveeee this song. Strong vocals, more than a dash of the guitar, touching lyrics, and voilà, the perfect song to rouse the romantic in you)