THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

Of all John Grisham's books, this is the most substantive.  Although written in the terse style typical to the author, that the book is non-fiction sets it apart. 

The innocent man is Ron Williamson, the much loved and doted on son of a poor family in Oklahoma. 

When in his teen years, Ron's life ambition was to become a major league baseball player.  As a star player in high school, Ron’s goal seemed realistic.  However, Ron’s poor health early on in his career, coupled with his use of drugs and alcohol quickly sabotaged his chances.  Ron lost his dream, not once, but several times due to his destructive habits.

After a gruesome murder of an acquaintance of Ron’s, Ron became the suspect.  Ron insisted on his innocence but was subsequently charged, jailed, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death row.

The book of Ron’s ordeal is flooded with documentation, even partial transcripts of police interviews and court proceedings.  The documentation however causes the book to be repetitive, and somewhat lengthy.

The abolishment of the death penalty is the object of Grisham’s book.