The Rainmaker (1995)

Fiction

This is not only my favorite book of John Grisham's but also one of favorite books of all time. The story revolves around Rudy Baylor, who is in his final year of law school and has a good future set out for him, when everything goes wrong. He loses his job, gets dumped by his girlfriend, gets robbed, hits bankruptcy. From here on he struggles to earn respect, fights a case against the biggest law firm in town, which could either make or break his career, falls in love with the perfect girl - all to become the rainmaker. ( )

Quite a book about law and insurance companies. It takes a while to get going, but once the main trail starts the book becomes very fascinating. Great page turner. ( )

I know it's schlock, but I love it. ( )

Rudy Baylor, just out of law school and having just passed the bar exam takes on the case of the century. He takes on the case of a poor family whose son is dying of leukemia against the huge, greedy insurance company refuses to pay for the expense treatment that will save his life. Eventually the son dies before the trial has a chance to even get started. Its found out during the trial that the insurance company, for a period of a couple years, schemed to deny paying on all claims no matter their validity in order to save money. At the end of the trial, the company had a verdict against it for some $50 million. Shortly afterwards, the company goes belly up and the family and Rudy are left not recovering any money at all.

During the trial Rudy meets Kelly, a battered wife. During the trial they see each other on occasion, the first time was at the hospital after the deadbeat boyfriend knocks her around for the umpteenth time. As the trial nears its ending, Rudy helps Kelly file for divorce, which enrages the husband. The husband gets hit with a baseball bat in the head. Rudy actually does it, but Kelly tries to take the blame. Rudy get Kelly off because of the previous abuse charges and the husband's family threatening both of them. After everything settles down, they decide to drive far off into the sunset to start a new life together. ( )