Independent Reading Prompts:
1. Pages: 1-55 (February 21, 2012) Have you had any similar experiences that are portrayed in the story? When Mitch McDeere was going through many interviews for Bendini, Lambert & Locke, he was told a lot about all the qualifications and profits from his potential work. Whenever the firm representatives described a benefit, Mitch, being a top five lawyer from Harvard, the author described that he got really excited but hid his emotions in front of the firm. I know that hiding over excitement might imply professionalism and I could recall using this trick several times. 2. Pages: 56-98 (February 22, 2012) You may have learned something really interesting that you never knew before. Share it. In the small law firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke, the associates and partners charge their clients for every hour they work on their files and every minute or second they think about them. That is how a firm with only 41 members receives so much profit. I wonder if law firms in real life operate this way as well. If they do, Ill definitely remember this the next time I hire a lawyer. 3. Pages: 99-146 (February 23, 2012) Do you have any strong feelings about a character? Eddie Lomax who takes the role of a personal detective in The Firm makes me feel apprehensive. I am concerned about the fact that Mitch McDeere has made up his opinion to trust this guy. Knowing that so many characters in Bendini, Lambert & Locke are watching Mitch and the FBI is attempting to contact him; my personal instincts in his place would be to deny anybodys trust. 4. Pages: 147- 222 (February 24, 2012) What have you learned about your values, attitudes, or beliefs? I have understood the value of information while reading these several chapters. Eddie Lomax got murdered because he knew secret information about the firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke that no one was supposed to know. People are willing to kill others and sacrifice lives of individuals to prevent the leaking of secret information. This is clearly the wrong way to deal with a situation however it shows a lot about the value information holds. 5. Pages: 223- 286 (February 25, 2012) Do you agree/disagree with a certain character? I disagree with the character Bill DeVasher. He works as the head of security in the firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke. To my knowledge so far, Bill commits the most illegal crimes in the firm. He eavesdrops on other individuals personal lives, he is in contact with the mafia, and he enjoys re-watching interesting segments of the firms employees personal lives. I definitely disagree with this
Dan Petrenko
The Firm John Grisham
character because anyone who does so many negative acts in their job, even though theyre getting paid, is considered an outlaw and a bad influence. 6. Pages: 287- 362 (February 26, 2012) Were you puzzled by anything while reading the story? I was surprised by the fact that Tammy Hemphill went through so much trouble for Mitch (Drugging a partner of the firm and stealing his documents while hes on vacation.) She committed illegal crimes to help Mitch to receive all the files for the FBI when he is the one getting paid. He hasnt known Tammy for along time but they have this weird relationship as if they had known each other since birth. I find it really surprising that Tammy would do anything for Mitch. Perhaps she has feelings for him. 7. Pages: 363- 393 (February 27, 2012) How has the author kept you interested in the story? The author has kept me interested in the story by ending every chapter with an uncomfortable position for a character. For example, Chapter 30 ended when Mitch McDeere threatened an authority in the FBI. Mitch said: You promised to help my brother escape from prison. You have a week. If not, Ill disappear with your money. And so will your career. The story hooks the reader when each segment finishes with an unsolved dilemma. 8. Pages: 394- 429 (February 28, 2012) Do you empathize with a certain character? I cannot empathize with Mitch McDeere in his current position. He has go the FBI threatening him to do dangerous tasks for them and hes got the Morolto family mafia out there to kill him. This situation is wrecking his entire life. All he wanted was to be a lawyer and to get paid. I have never been put in a situation like this. I can only imagine what he is going through. 9. Pages: 430- 473 (February 29, 2012) Was there something in the text that confused you? When I read that Mitch McDeere no longer wanted to support the FBI, I was baffled. The FBI would give him money, help his brother escape from jail, and put his family through the witness protection program if he would help them bring down the firm. Although he had so much pressure on him that I could see why he wouldnt wan to co-operate with anyone. The FBI was giving him tasks that were so dangerous that made killing him a goal for the mafia. Both the firm and the FBI were all over his personal lives and I guess Mitch just had enough. Although, he cant just keep on hiding forever, he will soon enough have to make a choice. 10. Pages: 474- 501 (March 1, 2012) Did you like how the story ended? Why or why not? I liked how the story finished with an ending of hope. Mitch, Abby, and Ray have escaped to the Caribbean where they would live the rest of their lives.
Dan Petrenko The Firm John Grisham
Tammy was rewarded for all the work she has done for Mitch. The FBI was also given the key to where all the documents of the firm were hidden. The Morolto family and firm were all driven to court and arrested. Although, Mitch felt sympathy for all the lawyers in the firm who had no choice, he knew he had his whole life ahead of him. 11. Entire Book (March 2, 2012) What was the main message of the story? The main message of the story was No matter how hungry you are, check the nutrition label before you eat. Mitch McDeere was starving for money, for a big house, and for an expensive car that he signed in with the Firm without any investigations of who they really are and what they really do. In life, especially when dealing with money, you dont receive something for nothing. He had to pay for letting his hunger for wealth, control his actions. The firm turned out to be doing dirty work for the mafia. If he werent going to help the FBI bust the firm, he would be put in jail.
Dan Petrenko
The Firm John Grisham