Two From the Heart, by James Patterson, Frank Costantini, Emily Raymond, and Brian Sitts

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.

Willie Nelson: It’s a Long Story, by Willie Nelson and David Ritz

Willie Nelson: It’s a Long Story, by Willie Nelson and David Ritz

Who doesn’t know or hasn’t heard of Willie Nelson?  Just another guitar strumming, twangy-voiced country singer, right?  I shared you skepticism.  Never would have thought to pick up the book except that a close friend, who is known for his excellent taste in literature and country music, told me, “Ya gotta read this book!”  He followed up with, “I wish it had been longer and he would have shared even more stories.”

Started out as a courtesy read.  Then I couldn’t put it down. Found myself falling asleep at night with the book propped on my chest.

Yeah, but Willie Nelson?  You bet. The man has lived several lifetimes, been in and out of debt, is married to his fourth wife, with a whole string of children following in his footsteps, and who went from ‘can’t get a job’ to being an American institution.

We often think of performers simply waltzing into the spotlight of TV or suddenly and without warning strumming a few songs on the radio.  Overnight sensations.  With Willie Nelson, that’s not how the story goes.

He comes from a traditional or semi-traditional Texas childhood in the no-where town of Abbott, raised by his grandparents and taught to praise the Lord.  And how he got where he is today is a jagged, broken-glass trail of being true to himself and never giving up.

What does never giving up mean to you?  Retaking a driver’s test?  Maybe going out for the team again after being cut last year?  Willie puts a whole new spotlight on the phrase ‘don’t ever give up.’ For decades he struggled.  Often his wife and kids were a meal away from starvation, while he tried to sell his musical talents in honky-tonk bars and strip clubs across Texas and around the country.  Sometimes, when hope was but a fading memory, he found a pal who could hook him up as a disk jockey, or find him work doing odd jobs, or selling this and that door-to-door.  His then wife worked hard as a waitress while raising two kids nearly by herself. But, Willie’s music always stuck with him.  He wrote, he sang, he never gave up, even when the doors kept being slammed in his face, or smashing his foot.

He connected with people and as he did, he became enamored of different types of music, many of which he would go on to sing with such giants as Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles.  Country. Jazz. Blues. Pop.  The notes resounded within him.  Music was his Polaris and is to this day.

But, fame and success comes at a heavy price, so heavy that most of us are not willing to pay it.  Not willing to move around the country looking for work, or going through four marriages or becoming successful only to be hammered by the IRS.

Willie Nelson’s autobiography is a straight-forward adventure in living life your way, without compromise or loss of direction or spirit. Every page is a lesson in living, in sticking to your guns in true Texas style, and keeping hope and good humor alive in the midst of triumph and tragedy. The lessons are simple, but true.

Be confident, but not arrogant.

Appreciate those around you.

Take success and failure with the same gentle attitude.

Love your family.

Love your friends.

And most of all, be true to yourself.

A good book?  Hell, no, it’s far better than that. It’s a lesson in being strong and resilient, loving, kind, and faithful to what means the most to you.  I promise you, if you pick this book up, you won’t want to put it down.

Camino Island by John Grisham

Camino Island

Camino Island, John Grisham’s latest doesn’t start out as a page-turner, but that’s how it ends up.  Along the way, you’ll meet thieves, a bookstore owner in the town of Santa Rosa, on Camino Island, Florida, and a young and semi-failed novelist and former resident.

A motley group of thieves, who seem to have little in common besides greed, plan a perfect heist of rare manuscripts from the Princeton University library.  With the manuscripts insured for twenty-five million dollars, insurance investigators snap into action, along with the FBI. Do they work together? In which book have you ever heard of two agencies working in harmony? But, in this case dual purposes make perfect sense.  Insurance companies don’t care about the crime only the recovery of property, and the FBI only cares about arresting the perps.

Mercer Mann, a less than successful novelist and former resident of Camino Island, is recruited to return to her childhood home and go under-cover. The target is Bruce Cable, who runs a successful independent bookstore, but makes most of his money dealing in rare books.

Let’s take a look at the unfolding.  First off, as Grisham admits in the end notes, he knows nothing about the Princeton Library, or the nuts and bolts of robbery and the result is his robbers are as interesting as cold oatmeal, which is odd because he’s known for character development, as much as compelling plots.  His books, like The Firm, The Pelican Brief and the more recent Rogue Lawyer, all grab you from page one and sweep you along on a twisting, turning ride.  Not so with Camino Island.  But, if you plod through the first 15% (yes, I read it on Kindle), you’re treated to some real John Grisham. You’ll know Bruce Cable and Mercer Mann as well as you know Mitch McDeere (The Firm), Darby Shaw (The Pelican Brief), and Danilo Silva (The Partner).  Once Grisham develops a character, you’re hooked into a plot with unexpected detours, unexpected pleasures, and a raucous ending.

A cardinal rule of writing is, write what you know about.  Well, as an experienced practicing attorney, John Grisham knows the law and he also knows people.  When he combines those with an ingenious plot, he has a winner.  Camino Island is another winner, but like an experienced gambler, you have to be willing to accept a few bad hands before the money rolls in.