James Patterson wrote a book with Bill Clinton called “The President Is Missing” — and it became the best-selling novel of 2018.
I enjoyed it.
The President’s Daughter is not a sequel.
In this one it’s the ex-POTUS President Matthew Keating, a former Navy SEAL, who has his daughter kidnapped.
It’s silly, of course. But I like this book even better.
The audio version is well done. One of the few novels with multiple readers that worked for me.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
After reading the book, I learned a mini-series had been adapted in 1997.
Edgler Vess is the bad guy. Real bad.
Koontz is very skilled at inventing bad guys.
Click PLAY or watch an example of Vess on YouTube.
The book is well written. Original. Scary.
I recommend it.
I finally got around to trying a Louis L’Amour book.
Hondo had been recommended as one of his best.
He’s been one of the most popular writers all time and displays surprising skill with the pen in writing cliche Western books like Hondo.
That said, I won’t read more. I’ve no interest in Western novels. Ranch romance. Good guy vs bad guys. Too much formula.
ALMOST as good as The Martian (2011).
Project Hail Mary is a 2021 science fiction novel by Andy Weir. …
Set in the near future, the novel centers on middle school-teacher-turned-astronaut Ryland Grace, who wakes up from a coma afflicted with amnesia.
He gradually remembers that he was sent to the Tau Ceti solar system, 12 light-years from Earth, to find a means of reversing a solar dimming event that could cause the extinction of humanity. …
… Ryan Gosling plans to star as Grace in the film adaptation.
What I like best about Weir is his ability to make arcane science entertaining and interesting.
Excellent.
The Cellist is the 21st title in Daniel Silva‘s Gabriel Allon series.
It was released on July 13, 2021 and subsequently reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List …
The book draws heavily from the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 American presidential election as well as the U.S. Capitol events of January 6, 2021. …
The plot is contemporary and interesting. Action is limited by COVID restrictions.
Dictator Putin and President Biden are important characters.
Some of my favourite characters from past books — especially Christopher Keller — are included.
I have no idea why Allon is still front and centre in the field. As leader of the Mossad he should be working behind the scenes. And should definitely RETIRE after this one.
Koontz has published over 100 novels.
I did get into his Odd Thomas series.
In 2017 he began his current Jane Hawk series.
“I very much need to be dead.”
These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for—but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demand: find the truth, no matter what. …
Amazon
The book is well written. The plot hooks immediately.
Jane is a badass.
Great plot. Good writing.
Main complaints you’ll hear are about the rambling story with no clear ending. Apparently that’s how he puts books together. Starts without knowing exactly where he’s going.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
A story of date rape.
Jon Krakauer wrote a book that much influenced my thinking:
The book follows several case studies of women raped in Missoula, Montana, many of them linked in some way to the University of Montana.
Many of the rapists were football players, protected from the justice system.
In Beartown, the 15-year-old daughter of a small town Swedish hockey team general manager is raped by the 17-year-old star of the Beartown junior team.
Fredrik Backman is an excellent writer. This is an important book, as is the Krakauer.
Themes of family, friendship, loyalty. Ethics.
I recommend Beartown.
I also read the sequel, Us Against You. Not nearly as good.
The book was adapted for TV and is available on HBO.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I love the McKinty books.
But his stab at science fiction young adult novels somehow doesn’t work for me.
The Lighthouse Land was first in the trilogy. I got through it — but won’t continue with the next two.
They would be great for young teens.
The Mosquito Coast is based on the novel of the same name by Paul Theroux published in 1981.
It also loosely adapted from the 1986 film which starred Harrison Ford. It premiered on Apple TV+ on April 30, 2021.
The series stars Justin Theroux, nephew of Paul …
As with many of the Apple TV shows, it’s very well done.
I recommend it. But many find the plot unnecessarily confusing with too many twists and turns.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Season 2 will take the family to some place like where Harrison Ford ended up.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
One of the great short stories, “In the Cart” was published 1897.
The author was aware of the dire conditions which teachers had to live in rural Russia.
I listened to a lecture on the tale from a book by George Saunders, professor at Syracuse University — A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life
Rick McCharles 