Here are a few books that Article III Groupie has read or is looking forward to reading:
Anonymous Lawyer, by Jeremy Blachman (of Anonymous Lawyer blog fame). This is a quick, fun read. Some readers -- especially those who have actually worked at law firms, unlike Blachman (who was spared that fate) -- may find the satire too over-the-top, a few plot details implausible, or the humor a little repetitive. But the book has some laugh-out-loud moments, and it's briskly plotted. In short, it's a good summer book. Enjoy it by the pool or at the beach.
In the Shadow of the Law, by Kermit Roosevelt. A3G briefly blogged about it last summer; now it's out in paperback. A3G hasn't read it yet, but a law school classmate strongly recommended it (as did Alan Dershowitz). Roosevelt is one of the Elect (OT 1999/Souter), as well as super-cute. This book is on A3G's nightstand.
Courtiers of the Marble Palace, by Todd C. Peppers. Given her obsession with Supreme Court clerks, Article 3 Groupie can't wait to start reading this one. It's worth buying just for the appendix material alone, which includes a comprehensive listing of Supreme Court clerks from 1884 to 2004 (by justice). WOW!
Becoming Justice Blackmun, by Linda Greenhouse. This book, by the Femme Fatale of One First Street, received glowing reviews when it appeared last year. Now it's also out in paperback. Get your hands on a copy, stat!
The Interpretation of Murder, by Jed Rubenfeld. This historical thriller, based on the life of Sigmund Freud, won't hit bookstores until September (although A3G has finagled herself a copy, 'cause she's that cool). It's not about legal subjects; but its author, the hunky Jed Rubenfeld, is a professor at Yale Law School (as is his stunning wife, Amy Chua).
Rubenfeld's publisher, Henry Holt, paid him an eye-popping advance (reportedly $800,000). It's also supporting the book with a $500,000 marketing campaign. They're betting big on this one.
Interesting factoid: Blachman and Rubenfeld share the same editor (John Sterling) at the same publisher (Henry Holt), as well as the same superstar agent (Suzanne Gluck of William Morris, the queen of literary dealmaking). If you think the legal world is small, check out publishing circles.
Happy Reading!
Excellent list. Thank you.
Posted by: Marcy | August 18, 2006 at 06:28 PM
Jeremy Blachman (author of Anonymous Lawyer) did work at Wilkie Farr in New York for a summer. And the book is great!
Posted by: KF | July 27, 2006 at 11:41 PM
Question: Is Kermit Roosevelt Teddy's grandson? I believe one of TR's son died a hero as a flyer in WWI, another one was a general, the first general landed in Normandy with the troops in WWII (portrayed by Henry Fonda in the Longest Day). And TR had a son named Kermit.
AD thought KR filched Turow's plot. As a matter of fact, it might have been from a real case that was on Court TV. The Forensics found it odd that the DNA from a new rape case matched a convict's who was serving time. He tried to prove that the DNA test was unreliable, and he was wrongly convicted.
Posted by: ic | July 27, 2006 at 02:37 AM
Have you read Indefensible by David Feige yet? It's fabulous!
Posted by: Rebeccafrog | July 26, 2006 at 04:01 PM