Structure of John Grisham’s “The Rainmaker”

There is much that can be said about the physical structure of a book. This subject covers everything from the thickness of the paper used to the method of binding. All of these things can change from printing to printing, hardcover to paperback. As such, they have no real bearing on the story being told. There are some elements of physical structure that are constant, however. John Grisham ‘s “The Rainmaker,” was published by Dell Publishing, a division of Random House, Inc. in 1995 and reprinted by arrangement with Double D

“My decision to become a lawyer was irrevocably sealed when I realized my father hated the legal profession. I was a young teenager, clumsy, embarrassed by my awkwardness, frustrated with life, horrified of puberty, and about to be shipped off to military school by my father for insubordination. He was an ex-Marine who thought that boys should live by the crack of the whip. I’d developed a quick tongue and an aversion to discipline, and his solution was simply to send me away. It was years before I forgave him.” (1)

Later in the same conversation she tells him:

John Grisham masterfully uses elements of narrative structure to craft his novel “The Rainmaker.” He uses the point of view to force the reader to identify with the protagonist. He artfully weaves multiple plots together to create superb narrative. He subtly uses grammar and structure in dialog to reinforce setting and define characters. In short, John Grisham proves once again that he is a master of his craft.

Another interesting aspect of Grisham’s style is the way he structures dialog. Grisham uses grammar and sentence structure in dialog to aid in lending credence and realism to the setting. Like most of his works, this story takes place in the south, specifically in Memphis, Tennessee. The following passage is early in the book when Rudy is speaking to Dot Black for the first time and Dot is explaining her case:

“Problem is, the transplant costs somewhere around a hundred-fifty-thousand dollars. We ain’t got it, you see. The insurance company’s supposed to pay it because it’s covered in the policy right there. Sumbitches said no. So Donny Ray’s dying because of them.” (21)

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