My Hero!

The last time I bought a book on opening day, it was the long awaited seventh installment of the Harry Potter series. I love to own books, but I try to only buy books that I have read and  immensely enjoyed so I don't have shelves full of mediocre books that I will never read again. The exception- besides Harry Potter- is Lee Child's newest book which came out on Tuesday. I picked it up on release day and read it that evening...and I was not disappointed!

Lee Child's 61 Hours is the latest installment in the Jack Reacher series. Reacher is an ex-military cop who drifts from town to town with only the clothes on his back, a foldable toothbrush and an expired passport. He is homeless by choice, used to his military upbringing and career in which he moved constantly. He feels restless when he is in one place for too long, so he drifts all over the United States, buying clothes as he needs them (even carrying a small bag makes him feel tied down) and always in search of the perfect cup of coffee. Reacher is a giant- he is 6'5 and he weighs about 250 pounds. His battle scars from the military and his many misadventures add to his imposing looks. He is not looking for trouble as he drifts from town to town, but trouble always finds him.  He will operate outside the law when his sense of justice warrants it. Whether he's protecting an innocent or it's self-defense, or whether he's punishing someone for a ghastly crime, Reacher's violence is always justifiable. He is reluctant at times to get involved in other people's concerns, but once in he will do his best to help and protect others. Reacher is the ultimate hero, and can always be relied upon to save the day.

It is not just the unusual and very likeable hero that makes these novels so great. Lee Child is a master at creating suspense. He writes in a straightforward, sparse style, never using a word he doesn't need. This builds up and creates suspense, so these books are hard to put down.

In 61 Hours, Reacher finds himself stranded in a town in South Dakota during a bitterly cold blizzard. He is soon helping the police to protect an old woman-and key witness- and to hunt down an unknown killer. He soon learns that there is a greater conspiracy at work, and that the corruption may have spread to the police force. The police must abandon the town during a riot at the nearby prison, leaving Reacher as the woman's only hope. Will he be able to keep the both of them alive? The suspense picks up throughout the book until the unforgettable conclusion- let's just say that I'll be buying the next installment, which will be released in October.

If you decide to read the Jack Reacher books, there are thirteen other novels. I would recommend reading 61 Hours last, or at least after you've read a few other ones. These are not books that must be read in order, but the first novel is The Killing Floor. I read them out of order, and each book is a story of its own- you'll pick up details of Reacher's early life and personality as you go.

In short, if you want novels with an unforgettable hero and pulse-racing suspense, try Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. You will not be disappointed!

    

Father knows best?

In a recent conversation with my parents, I mentioned that I wanted to start reading more classics. While I love many classics, including everything by Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, I find that I need to be in the right mood to read them. Consequently, I have a long list of authors I would like to try but just haven't gotten around to, such as John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemmingway. My Dad, a big fan of John Steinbeck, recommended an author I had never heard of, a Mr. Nevil Shute. The late Nevil Shute has written several books, many taking place during World War II or on the subject of aviation (Shute was an aeronautical engineer as well as a popular novelist). While I have only read two of his novels at this point, I now consider myself a big fan of Nevil Shute. Here is a little taste of the novels I have read- I hope you'll give him a try too.

On the Beach is perhaps the most well known of Nevil Shute's novels. After a nuclear war has wiped out most of the earth's populations, the few survivors await for the radiation sickness to come. Shute introduces some unforgettable characters in this book who all cope in different ways- a young woman who copes with levity and plenty of alcohol, a young couple with a new baby who plan next year's garden and find respite in day-to-day tasks, and an American submarine captain who finds comfort by pretending that his wife and children are still alive and well, waiting for him to return home. Some characters deal with their coming deaths with grim finality, while others cling to hope. Shute writes in a very straightforward, simple manner. He makes every word count, and the pace carries on despite the sometimes mundane events in the novel. This novel is almost anti-climactic, yet somehow that makes it all the more compelling. I found myself clinging to hope at times, while at other times I was overwhelmed with despair. This is the kind of novel that doesn't let go of you once you have closed its pages- it clings to you and makes you think. Wonderful.

The Pied Piper is a more exciting, suspenseful narrative, yet it is written in the same straightforward, highly readable manner as On the Beach. In this novel, an elderly Briton travels to France for a fishing trip during the Second World War. His vacation is cut short, however, when he learns that the Germans are invading France. He agrees to take two young children back to Britain with him, and he soon finds himself in danger as the country becomes increasingly battle-stricken. As he makes the slow and arduous journey, Mr. Howard finds more children who are in danger, and before long he has quite the collection of children to take care of and bring to safety. The old man deals with declinining health, bombs, Nazis and intrigues. This is a wonderful novel - it is highly readable, and it has an engaging, suspenseful plot.

I'm glad I took my Dad's advice and gave this author a try. I'll be sure to take his advice more often in the future- at least on the subject of books!