A Painted HouseA Painted House
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1952, seven-year-old Luke Chandler lives on his family's cotton farm in rural Arkansas. At harvest time, the family hires a crew of Mexican workers and a family of poor hill people to help pick. Over a few weeks, Luke sees things he must keep secret, including a murder, and the summer brings love, violence and a flood that changes everything.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It's Grisham's most personal novel, based on his own childhood, with no lawyers at all.
You'll love it if you liked
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Last JurorGood to know
It's quiet and nostalgic. There's violence and a birth.
By the numbers
- Readers9 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller54 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #475 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #1374 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2514 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by John Grisham
The Pelican Brief
The Widow
The Client
The RainmakerIf you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Verity
Gone Girl
The Martian
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Quick answers
Is A Painted House worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #2,514 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 58.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Painted House about?
In 1952, seven-year-old Luke Chandler lives on his family's cotton farm in rural Arkansas. At harvest time, the family hires a crew of Mexican workers and a family of poor hill people to help pick. Over a few weeks, Luke sees things he must keep secret, including a murder, and the summer brings love, violence and a flood that changes everything.
How long does it take to read A Painted House?
About 12 hours (466 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Painted House?
If you liked it, try To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain or The Last Juror by John Grisham.