September 25, 2003

The Testament

I had never read a John Grisham novel until yesterday. While in St. Petersburg we happened to stop in at a used book store. I remembered that somebody had told me about a Grisham book which dealt extensively with Brazil. I asked the clerk about it, and he directed me to The Testament. I picked it up, and began reading it as soon as I got home.

I soon found that I could not put it down. It is a riveting narative, and the details Grisham includes about Brazil and the Brazilian culture. What's more, the portrayal of missions and missionary life is refreshingly positive.

In the book, an American billionair makes out a will which excludes all of his children, except for one illegitemate daughter who now serves as a missionary to the Indians in the Pantanal region of Brazil. Upon the billionair's death (I won't spoil the plot, but the account of the making of his will and his subsequent demise is nailbitingly intense!) the executor of the will is faced with finding the heiress before her greedy siblings can successfully contest the will.

In order to do this, he enlists the help of a lawyer, Nate, who has little to lose in life. It is Nate's job to go to the vast Pantanal swamp and try to find the heiress.

One of the most surprising aspects of this book is the spiritual journey taken by Nate as he treks through the jungle in search of the billionair missionary. The Gospel is portrayed more clearly than I have ever seen in any secular work. Grisham, a Southern Baptist, is clearly a very talented writer who succeeded in inserting his Christian faith without upseting the plot of the book.

This book is a tremendous read. I recommend it for any who are interested in Brazil, missions, Christianity, or legal thrillers.

Posted by Andrew on September 25, 2003 4:48 PM.

Comments

Posted by: The Chairman at September 28, 2003 12:13 AM