Three books by three authors who are so popular in our Library that requests and reservations are made for those books as newly published. Those three are James Patterson, Stuart Woods and John Grisham, authors that are constantly being read and re-read by the residents of POC. And, the plots of two of these books are extremely topical for our current events in our country.
SAIL, by James Patterson, although published in 2008, is a tale that has not lost its newness or scariness despite the time lapse. An extravagantly wealthy mother of three, recently widowed, decides to take her dysfunctional children on a cruise in her husband’s 62’ sailboat for two months during the Summer. Captaining the book is her brother-in-law, who has been an around-the-world sailor (blue water) and remains in love with her. Leaving from Newport, Rhode Island, the planned cruise will take the two adults with those very reluctant children to the Caribbean Sea. But, barely out of port, the incidents with the kids begin; Mark, the 16 year old, becomes stoned; and Carrie, who has been bulimic following her father’s death, tries to drown herself. Saved by their Uncle Jake, the Captain, these kids eventually come to grip with themselves and their world. And then, the accidents happen. Patterson’s books are extremely easy to read as he uses short sentences, though very descriptive ones, and short chapters. His knowledge of his subject is excellent; he must employ a large number of researchers. Good book to enjoy; the time spent of the family marooned on an island is quite interesting.
THE KING OF TORTS by John Grisham, written in 2003, is very timely as it centers around Class Action suits, and one finds a new one being advertised daily in a television commercial. Grisham explains how and why they are and what they are in simple, easily understandable language. Fascinating explanations and even more intriguing is the machinations an attorney takes to become top dog in the Class Action. Reading how one Action starts and the amount of money being expended by the attorney to pursue more clients, really leaves the reader with a bad taste in his mouth. The time for tort reform has definitely been reached and is really overdue. But Grisham has the talent for making his characters completely believable; however, I don’t know if I want to consider some of them my neighbors or friends. His plots move and move, and his sentences create a longing to speed through the paragraph for the next one.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE by Stuart Woods, an author who is extremely popular with many of our male residents, is set in London with MI-5 (Intelligence) and NYC and Washington D.C. with the CIA. On the loose is a female member of a terrorist cell of Al Qaeda, bent on revenge for the deaths of her brothers and father. And her mode of terror are bombs carried in a van or car and ignited by remote control.
Jasmine Shazaz is the bomber; her father was an associate of Bin Laden, and she has learned her craft well. Starting in London, she assassinates the Minister of the Foreign Office and then continues with another lethal bomb. As her picture is then broadcast throughout London and England, she enters the United States by private plane and starts to work.
This then brings into play Holly Barker, the Assistant Director of the CIA under the administration of Will Lee. Lee first entered into Woods’ novels in his books, CHIEFS and RUN BEFORE THE WIND, prior to becoming President. Also making his appearance once again is Stone Barrington, a former agent with the CIA and an attorney in NYC; often recognized as a “man about town” as he likes to hang out at many famous restaurants in Manhattan such as Elaine’s and 21. Both Barrington and Holly are involved with locating the terrorist and stopping her before any major damage evolves.
Stuart Woods’ books are very entertaining; his sentences are structured to hold your attention and yearn for more as you finish chapter after chapter. Somewhat light reading; a good plot that is not too heavy; interesting characters; and descriptions of the “hot” spots in Manhattan are intriguing. But the scenario involved in this book is terrifying.
