I’ve just had the pleasure of reading many of Vince Flynn’s books although not in any kind of order, and all starring Mitch Rapp, a trained assassin of the CIA. Each of Flynn’s stories have a plot that is totally current; characters so alive they seem to be drawn with a fine lead pencil; his research is impeccable on countries and rulers, their laws and geography that gives an ability to write of men and women of Saudi or France or even Switzerland or Bosnia. These books are just overall winners that do appeal to either a masculine or feminine reader that like a strong plot and character.

Sadly Flynn has succumbed to cancer at a very early age; this bright and talented man is gone, and now there will be no more exciting books unless another writer, such as has been done with Robert Parker, pick up that heavy pen. Hopefully that may happen; to lose Mitch Flynn now would be tragic.

Another writer on a totally different scale is Dorothea Benton Frank who writes of the country she has lived and continues to live in. Charleston, South Carolina is a very unusual area, full of history and beautiful homes and extraordinarily friendly residents who spot you walking down the street and stop to speak to you and tell you of another area you must see. Ms. Frank writes of not just the City of Charleston but many of the outlying islands as well. Her books are a delight to read that give you the insight of the islands and its residents, but the delight of seeing these stunning places as a “tourist”. Additionally, somehow Ms. Frank has the ability to infuse the reader with the impression that she is sitting in an adjoining rocking chair on that welcoming South Carolinian porch and relating to you these stories. I highly recommend to our residents to try some of her books; they are a total delight, and especially, one that is dedicated to Christmas with an incredible menu and also those very special recipes.

The fame of our Library is spreading to a very small town in Louisiana. Grand Chenier had been hit several times with debilitating storms, and some of those did a great deal of damage to their small library. A neighbor of ours is one who works off shore on a boat; I send with him sacks of our donated books; and when he and his crew-mates have read them, they are then turned to the Library in Grand Chenier. This is the truest sense of neighbor helping neighbor and it will continue as long as books are available.

I know I’ve used the following quote for several years, but it really makes sense: Just think about it!

“WHEN AN OLD PERSON DIES, A LIBRARY BURNS DOWN!”
Karen Gillespie

And we certainly don’t want our Library to burn down!