Two From the Heart, by
James Patterson, Frank Costantini, Emily Raymond, and Brian Sitts
This book has a very different
format. It’s neither a full novel, nor a collection of short stories, but
rather two novellas only hooked together by the cover of the book. Ok, granted both are sorta love stories. Although I’d characterize the first one,
“Tell Me Your Best Story,” as more of a travel log and the second “Write Me A
Life,” as an adventure, with elements of science fiction. But, as odd as it may seem, there are
intersections and tangents that connect the two.
Both are written in James Patterson’s
breezy style of straight forward prose, which I like because I’m a simple guy,
with simple tastes and not looking for an author who’s main point is he’s
smarter than I am. Once a writer starts
his tangle of jagged almost incomprehensible babble, I lose the thread and go
from reader to fly swatter.
Fortunately, Two From the Heart is very readable and
a quick read at that. Call it a weekend book and even then you can read it all and
still take Sunday off.
Patterson’s co-writer on Tell
Me Your Best Story, is Emily Raymond and it’s definitely written with the
tender sex in mind. Soft morning sun.
Edges only as sharp as the smoothest of river rocks. It’s all so very moving and sweet as autumn
cherries. If there are touches of
sandpaper, it’s 3000 grit and gentle enough to sooth the rash on a baby’s round
little rump. Harsh words? Perish the thought. Hard nose dilemmas? Sure.
Should I stir the cream in my coffee?
What a nail biting decision.
There is sweet sadness, but please don’t worry. Oh, the tension!
So, I didn’t like it? Yes, matter of fact I did like it. It’s
wrapped around a trip and one we’ve all thought about taking, visiting old
friends and meeting new ones. The book
reads like having a series of amiable chats with old girlfriends, without scars
and threats of violence. Definitely
written with a woman’s voice. And yet there is something intriguing about
reforming your life that makes you wonder if you could.
Write Me A Life, on the other
hand, is written by Patterson, of course, plus Frank Costantini and Brian Sitts
and definitely has the smell of engine oil, beer and cigars. But, rather than a gentle rowing across a placid
pond, this novella features a unique plot, constant suspense, and memorable
characters. Yes, there are even some
attitudes and clarion calls for romance between men and women. What if someone wrote you a life and had the
hutzpah to carry it off? Interesting
concept. You go to a novelist and say,
my life is a very successful bowl of blah.
I don’t care what it costs, just make it happen.
Makes me think it’s really
possible to do, but not easy to do. Take
so many of my friends, for example. Past
middle age. Retired. Married. Children. Grandchildren. What would you do to change your life? I mean really change it. Not just try for the umpteenth time promising
yourself to lose those 30 pounds, or take a cruise to wherever. I’m talking about changing your FREAKING
LIFE! How about creating a whole new
life, without divorcing your entire family?
Write a novel? Maybe hire a personal trainer and cook? Buy a motorcycle and drive across the country
just to meet new people and see what opportunities abound? Go to France for half a year to write that
novel and learn French? Start a
business? The possibilities are endless.
And now do you see how the two
tales in this book are similar? The
characters in both stories are jumping into the roaring waves of discovery and
letting the tide of life take them places they’ve never been.
You start to read this James
Patterson et al book and you kinda, sorta like it, but it seems to be going at
a slow, loping pace. Then you hit the second
tale and the pedal goes to the metal. You
read the last page and not long afterwards you start to ponder. Any book that
leads you to ponder your life and its possibilities, is a good book. This good book sneaks up on you as many of
James Patterson’s books do. It’s all the
better for it.
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