A review of John Grisham's classic - The Summons

I have been a fan of John Grisham’s legal thrillers for as long as I can remember. A former lawyer who decided to pursue his passion for storytelling, Grisham writes what he knows - about law, and more interestingly how law impacts the lives of people.

Most of Grisham’s stories are set in Clanton and the Parrish nearby in Mississippi and he has been cranking out a novel a year for the past couple of decades. Each of his stories has ended up on best-seller lists selling millions of copies. 

His cult-like following was evident during a book signing I attended in Winston Salem, NC about 5-6 years ago. In this era of social media, it was interesting to see a hall packed with people who paid $25-$50  to meet their favorite author. Personal selfies with the man were extra. 

The Summons begins with the protagonist, Ray Atlee, a Law professor at the University of Virginia getting a letter from his dad summoning him back to Clanton Mississippi. Ray’s father, “judge” Atlee has been a beloved figure in the town of Clanton for decades and had a falling out with Ray and his brother Forrest. Judge Atlee was dying from cancer, which his estranged sons are acutely aware of. 

Ray calls up Forrest to ask if he’d gotten a similar summons from the Judge and Forrest says nonchalantly that he would try to be there. Ray drives 15 hours to Clanton, arriving an hour before the appointed 5 PM appointment.

He knocks on the door of their old family mansion with trepidation, and when he doesn't get a response, enters the house and walks up to the Judge’s study where the old man is sleeping - or so Ray thinks. He gets a diet soda from the fridge waiting for his old man to wake up. When he realizes that the Judge hasn’t moved even after the clock struck five, Ray suspects something is wrong. He makes small sounds to wake up his father and finally feels his pulse to find the Judge is indeed dead. 

Although the moment was long in coming, Ray is overwhelmed nevertheless. He is not sure what he must do but decides to walk around the house before calling the coroner and Harry Rex, their family friend.

While rummaging through the Judge’s study, Ray comes across a few filing boxes and on opening one is shocked to find stacks and stacks of 100 dollar bills bundled neatly. Ray’s mind begins to whirl and this discovery accentuates the shock of finding his father dead.

That his rather meticulous, honest, and well-known Judge in Clanton had stacks of three million dollars lying around is enough to raise all kinds of questions in Ray’s mind. But before he can begin to investigate, his immediate impulse is to hide the money before the coroner, police and hordes of visitors begin thronging in. Most importantly, Ray must hide the money from his brother who has been an addict for most of his adult life.

Ray’s search for the truth about the source of this amount and how it came into the Judge’s possession is filled with intrigue in Grisham’s classic narrative. 

Spoiler alert: After cheering Ray along on his admirable quest, we the readers are left wondering about the anti-climax.  

A novel like this made me reflect on the art and craft of storytelling along with the art of bringing to life the characters that Grisham has mastered. He does all this while taking the readers through the human side of law and lawyers. 

John Grisham's Camino Ghosts- another Grisham classic read by Whoopi Goldberg #booktube

 I’ve been enjoying audiobooks for over a decade and was thrilled when John Grisham's latest legal thriller, Camino Ghosts, became available in my library. As a longtime Grisham fan who has read most of his thrillers, listening to Whoopi Goldberg’s narration was the icing on the cake.

The story weaves a thread between the past—the saga of a slave ship that brought Nala and crashed off the coast of Florida—and the present-day life of Lovely Jackson, a descendant of those enslaved.

Set on Camino Island, the popular bookseller Bruce Cable shares with local author Mercer Mann the story of Jackson and how a resort developer is scheming to claim ownership of a deserted island. What the developer doesn’t know is that the island holds a remarkable history, and locals believe it is cursed.

Goldberg brings Grisham’s fast-paced narrative to life, making for a mesmerizing audiobook. Another five stars to John Grisham for this legal thriller!

Retreat at AOL for ‘The Art of Living Happiness Program’

 My Wife Suja and I had often discussed visiting the Art of Living (AOL) International Center on Kanakapura Road, especially since our son attends the Sri Sri Ravishankar School in North Bangalore. However, we hadn’t found the right opportunity to go, even though Vijay had made several trips to the Ashram as part of school activities.

Suja’s birthday fell in December. While we went out for lunch to celebrate, we couldn’t plan an extended outing or trip as it coincided with Vijay’s preparation for his board exams. Like most schools, his teachers had placed a strong emphasis on pre-board preparation, and he was deeply immersed in his studies.

While Vijay was engrossed in his studies, Suja and I felt the need for a breather—Suja more so than me. I thought a retreat at the Art of Living (AOL) would make a meaningful and “experiential” gift post birthday/New Year. The idea struck me when I received a mailer from the Art of Living the weekend before her birthday, and we discussed it together. The mailer read:

“The Art of Living Happiness Program can help you rediscover your joy, cope with the stresses of everyday life and become a calmer, more confident you.”

The retreat seemed perfect—it offered Suja a well-deserved respite from the monotony of daily life while doubling as an experiential visit to the Ashram. Although intrigued, Suja agreed to sign up for the program with a touch of trepidation. After all, she hadn’t been on any solo overnight outings, except for occasional trips to visit her mother and sisters in Delhi.

Suja spent the next few days eagerly anticipating the break and meticulously planning the logistics for her outing. While packing her bags, she thoughtfully prepared a menu and an itinerary for me to manage the household—ensuring everything was in order for Vijay, my elderly mother who lives with us, and our energetic Beagle. 

The residential program was scheduled for three days, from January 3rd to 5th, with participants required to check in at the Ashram by 9:30 PM on the night of January 2nd. That evening, Suja booked an Ola cab and arrived at the Ashram in plenty of time to settle in for the night.

The next evening, Suja called me and Vijay while waiting to go for dinner. She sounded ambivalent about the first day’s sessions. The initial morning had felt a bit underwhelming, especially after the buildup leading to the workshop. Adjusting to a new bed in an unfamiliar place, along with waking up early for yoga and meditation, added to her discomfort. However, she mentioned the eclectic group of co-participants—many had traveled from across India, and some even from other parts of the world.

During her call on the second day, Suja sounded much more upbeat. She shared how the slow start of the first day had given way to a more engaging pace as the program progressed. The group dynamics—forming, norming, and storming—had begun to settle, and the course structure, designed to gradually immerse participants into the program, started to resonate. By then, Suja had made a few friends and spoke enthusiastically about the serene environment: the sprawling campus, the safe and well-maintained grounds, and the ample space to walk around.

The program was scheduled to conclude early on the third day, as several international participants needed to travel back. I decided to drive down to pick Suja up.

The AOL Ashram campus, spanning 250 acres in South Bangalore, is immaculately maintained. I parked my car in the lot outside the campus and entered through the ‘fountain’ entrance. After calling Suja, she suggested I take a shuttle to Annapurna—the large food court, which also houses a small café. I reached there after lunch, met some of Suja’s new friends, and we enjoyed coffee at the Sri Sri Café just outside the campus.

Suja and I spent some time walking around the campus, admiring the beautifully landscaped grounds and various facilities. Finally, we packed up and began the drive back home, feeling refreshed and content.

Notes from Sujatha’s Reflections After Returning

• The program was structured for self-reflection, guided by experienced teachers or coaches who followed a pre-designed schedule. 
• It is neither overtly religious nor heavily spiritual; the primary focus is to help participants step away from their daily routines and reflect on life and the “bigger picture.” 
• Many participants joined the program with a specific agenda or a pressing issue they wanted to reflect on. 
• While participants were encouraged to share their stories with one another, the teachers maintained their focus on imparting techniques. They skillfully deflected queries about individual personal issues, keeping the sessions aligned with the broader objectives of the program. 
• The program offered participants tools like breathing techniques, kriya and meditation  to seek “inner peace” and techniques for coping with life’s stressors, equipping them to return to their daily routines with a fresh perspective. 
• Designed as a three-day retreat, the program facilitated a journey through the forming, norming, and storming phases of group dynamics, fostering camaraderie among participants. 
• The AOL center provided food and accommodation, both included as part of the course “donation.”