I cannot believe that Clare got through the whole 50 Shades book! I think I didn't even make it through the first chapter. Some of the worst writing that ever hit the best seller list. I can just imagine what a chore it was. Clare, you are a good friend!
At the moment I'm trying the first in the Lee Child Jack Reacher series. Surprisingly well written, though rather gory, but so far I'm liking the Reacher character. He seems to be another good-hearted tough guy like Harry Bosch, and it sucks me right out of my life, which is the point of my reading for the most part.
Hi Nancy:
it's been a while. Where have you been hiding?
I started the second in the 50 Shades series and finally gave up when something far more riveting came along. I gave the books back to my friend with an apology, but I just cannot see the books the ways she does. However, she loved the two books I recommended to her! One of which, by the way, was Susan Elizabeth Phillips' "Aint She Sweet" A Great and hilarious read. She writes the best dialogue EVER!
Some Jack Reacher books are better than others. Lee Child has a tendency to pare down his narratives. Take Reacher, put him, purely through chance encounters mind, in a crisis situation where no-one else seems to have a clue as to how to proceed and save themselves, and watch him go to work. But sometimes the environment Reacher has to work in is too closed off from the outside world, almost hermetically sealed and the fact of Reacher winning against some sinister co-orporation when it's 50 (all armed with machine guns) against 1, well it can be hard to suspend disbelief.
The absolute best one, imho, is "Bad luck and trouble." Here, Child's tendency to pare down the narrative and restrict the action to one single vicinity works well because it is relieved by a wider cast of characters interacting with Reacher and the bad guy he's taking down is affecting him personally, so he is emotionally engaged. See what you think.
Sometimes it is hard to view Reacher as "good hearted" because he seems so emotionally distant from the world through which he travels, merely a disinterested observer. With Reacher having so little real communication with others, even despite the frequent sexual escapades, he risks seeming sometimes as a cardboard cutout of a character.
With Tom Cruise about to take on the role, this will probably ruin it for me forever. I shall stay away from all trailers, movie posters, etc. Reacher is a loner, and about 6' 7" tall. Cruise will not and does not measure up. Plus I'm just sick of the sight of the man. This role is too akin to Ethan whatshisname in Mission Impossible. Audiences will have difficulty seeing much difference as both march through their films, firing off shots and cutting swathes through the bad guy population of the world.
Still, Hollywood does not see fit to consult me on casting decisions....
Have fun Nancy and good to hear from you again,
Clare