Say it ain't so!

There's a new Theodore Boone book coming out, and USA Today has posted an EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT. OOOOOoooooooooooo. (<--my excitement is not genuine)

Judging by the first chapter—which boasts the same rampant didacticism, stiff writing, and annoyingly pedantic, judgemental, and holier-than-thou hero as its predecessors—it's going to be just as painful as the other two Theodore Boone books.

If these books didn't have John Grisham's name on them, I really, truly, don't think they'd ever have been published.

Comments

[Andrew]

Are you serious? It's called "The Accused"? Does it feature a young Jodie Foster?

[LG]

You actually managed to see the title? All I saw when I first looked at the cover was "John Grisham" and "Theodore Boone" (I wonder why "Boone" is slightly larger?). I don't know why they even bothered to use an image on the cover at all - they could have just bumped the font size up a bit more and used some shadowy effects for extra drama.

[Leila]

@Andrew: Right? The only way I can imagine myself watching the as-yet-unannounced (thank goodness) movie version is if it starred Jodie Foster (circa now) as Theo Boone. Because that would be too weird to pass up.

[Annie]

Part of me wishes the title were "Theredore Boone: J'accuse!" just so there would be something about this book to enjoy.

Seriously, before this series I thought Grisham was a perfectly respectable writer. Now I want to smack him and ask what in the world he's doing.

[Leila]

@Annie: That would be a much better title! The guys in the IT Department were just treated to a very similar rant from me -- I read a pile of John Grisham back in high school, and I'd always considered him a competent, solid writer of thriller/legal dramas. With Theo, he's lost all credibility.

[Afton]

I feel the same way about Witch and Wizard by the James Patterson book writing machine. It's not just pure crap. It's violence-inducing pure crap. (At the very least, throwing books, but thoughts of stabbing were definitely entertained.)

[Ruby]

I thought we didn't have to suffer this until June??

[Ruby]

"He said, "Okay, men, you know that today is the first day of the Pete Duffy trial, round two. We were allowed to watch the first day of the first trial, but, as you know, my request to watch the second trial was denied."

Several of the boys hissed and booed.

Mr. Mount raised his hands. "Enough. However, our esteemed principal, Mrs. Gladwell, has agreed to allow Theo to watch the opening of the trial and report back to us. Theo."

Theodore Boone jumped to his feet, and, like the lawyers he watched and admired, walked purposefully to the front of the room. He carried a yellow legal pad, just like a real lawyer."

Umm.....

[Ruby]

"She liked Theo because his mother had handled her first divorce, and because Theo had once given her some unofficial advice when her brother was caught driving drunk."
"...and ran at least two stop signs..."
Ahhhhh!!!!!

[Ruby]

"Theo took his release and tried to appear as if he might burst into tears."
"...and Theo knew every one of them."
I feel de ja vu coming on....

[Pat McCaffrey]

I couldn't get through the excerpt, it was so dull. I cannot imagine reading the entire book.

[jmfausti]

So glad it isn't just me. I'm currently reading the first Theo Boone book. I never stop before finishing a book, but there's just no way I'm looking to continue on with this series. Yeesh!