I’ve just had the pleasure of re-reading many of Dick Francis’ books, while on our remarkable and long trip to Albuquerque, although not in any kind of order, and have thoroughly enjoyed the renewed acquaintance of his books. Dick Francis was a very remarkable gentleman; once the steeplechase jockey for the Queen Mother of England; and then, following injuries and age, retiring and began writing a column concerning racing, both steeplechase and flat, for a London paper. This then transpired to turning his knowledge into books concerning racing as a background but featuring many other businesses.

One of my favorites was a book entitled BANKER, starring a young man employed in an Investment Bank in London. He deals in requests for monies ranging from several thousand pounds to several millions; definitely high finance. One of the appeals for money comes to him in the request of a loan to purchase a former racer and put him to stud with an unbelievable amount of money to return each year. But there are several others who become bad guys in an unbelievable plot to stop this. Interesting reading; excellent plotting; and one in our country has the opportunity to learn more about racing in England.

Imagine a conglomeration of: a cynical journalist who is forced to publicize his employer’s activities; his live-in girl friend who earns her living as a telephone sex operator; two inept and bungling would-be burglars; a charming but forceful white haired woman as founder & president of an environmental organization; the vice president and head of publicity for the Amazing Kingdom Park, who owns all the oxford blue shirts in the area; the developer and owner of the Amazing Kingdom theme park who deeply resents Disneyland’s success; and the former governor of Florida who wears a marble as a replacement for an eye and lives in the wilds of Florida, storing his treasured classic books in a wrecked automobile in a salvage yard . Then enter, not just several Marshals with the Witness Protection Program, but a couple of active members of the Mafia. And a plot develops that leaves you giggling as you read each sentence.

Carl Hiassen is the author of NATIVE TONGUE; he has been the journalist and columnist for the Miami Herald since graduating from college; his aim is to somehow stop the paving over of Florida with concrete as has another well known writer, John D. MacDonald, creator of that fantastic character, Travis McGee.

Please come into our Library during December and see the decorations and also sample some of our Holiday snacks on the main table. And if you don’t have a Library card, now is the time to get yours. See you then!

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!
kubeckasue@yahoo.com
361 798-0560