Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy

After a lapse of nearly ten years, Tom Clancy has returned to the best-seller list with his new thriller "Dead or Alive"

Former indomidable C.I.A. agent and ex-president Jack Ryan is now retired and writing his memoirs. His successor, a career politician, is more interested in image than reality, and has many veterans of the war on terror nervous about the safety of the U.S.

A terrorist leader known only as the "Emir" is planning horrendous acts against the free world, but has managed to remain hidden from the security agencies sent to hunt him down. Several anti-terror departments. some under the radar of government supervision, have put his capture on high priority - dead or alive.

Jack Ryan Jr, son of the former president of the U.S., is employed by a firm of financial security traders, which actually is a front for a group known as "The Campus". The employees of "The Campus" are trained to uncover and take out known terrorist activists, a fact unknown to Jack Jr's parents. Jack and his cohorts aggresively take on the dangerous task of tracking and eliminating "the Emir"

This novel stays true to the Clancy style, with courageous and loyal men putting their lives on the line to keep their country safe from evil intentions. With its nearly 1000 pages there is plenty of action, seen both from the eyes of Muslim terrorists and those who aim to stop their deadly plans. While not of the "can't put it down" intensity it is nevertheless a well polished tale of modern national security and those diligent operatives who manage to keep the world a peaceful place.

Steig Larsson, Our Days in Stockholm by Kurdo Baksi

The three novels compling the "Milleneum Triolgy" by Steig Larsson keep hanging around the best-seller lists, and an English movie version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is in the works. My limited research of Larsson had shown him to be a passionate, driven man, whose life had been cut short by an apparent heart attack. When I discovered a slim biographical account of his life at our local library, I knew it would be of interest to those readers who had plowed their way through his works of fiction.

Larsson was born to working class parents and worked at numerous jobs to fulfill his dream of becoming a journalist. Fellow journalist, Kurdo Baksi, was also a great friend and confident. His memoir of Larsson gives us insight into the causes that shaped his life and writings.

Larsson's ultimate goal was to inform his Swedish countrymen, and indeed the world, of the danger and injustice surrounding racism and predudice. His publication "Elle" was dedicated to anti-racism, as well as revealing the organized racist factions active in Stockholm. His articles led to death threats and actual vandalism and terrorist acts. However he never gave up on his vision to eliminate intolerance from his country.

For fans of the Larsson novels, this is a well-written and informative memoir of the strong opinions that shaped his writing. Sadly, he died before becoming internationally famous, but hopefully he would be proud of the legacy he left behind.

"Steig Larsson, Our Days in Stockholm" is available at the Cordell Library.

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

While not as prolific as some modern authors, Fannie Flagg has managed to attract readers to her well-written novels for several decades. Best known for Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, her books tell compelling stories in a gentle, whimsical manner, with a touch of humor.

As we are introduced to middle-aged Maggie, she is meticuously planning her suicide. She has decided on a method she believes will be the easiest on her friends and has compiled a detailed list of things to do before departing this life. Included on her list are items like giving away her money and personal items, making sure her bills are paid, and even leaving the refrigerator clean. She carefully constructs a good-bye note. Then when everything is ready, she receives a call which causes her to postpone the event.

Maggie, a former Miss Alabama, has worked most of her life as a real estate agent in her beloved Birmingham. For the most part she enjoyed a successful career, but the death of the firm's founder, and a downturn in the economy makes the future of the business uncertain.

After the death of her parents, Maggie's co-workers become her family. The firm's owner, Hazel, though short in stature is a whirlwind of enthusiasm and energy, and a constant encouragment to her staff. Brenda, although troubled with confidence issues and an eating disorder, has skills that complement Maggie's personality and they make a competent pair.

Events keep causing Maggie to put her suicide on hold. She becomes immersed in the research of the past owners of a Birmingham landmark mansion, and when she and Brenda discover a skeleton in the family's closet (literally), they have a mystery to solve.

Although the book deals with some serious issues, Flagg writes in such a light-hearted manner, readers don't become bogged down in depression and despair. Maggie's determined suicide preparations actually become tinged with humor, something not seen since that gig with Painless the dentist in the Mash movie!

Fannie Flagg's forte is her character development. You will love the people she creates in I Still Dream About You, even the villians! For the few hours it takes to read this exquisite novel, you will be thoroughly entertained. A good book and a cup of hot chocolate: what more could you want to start the New Year!

Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

Does anyone not love those short Christmas novels that show up on the shelves this time of year? You know the type - for the two hours it takes to read these little tales, you can escape the bustle of Christmas and get carried away into the emotional dilemma of fictional characters. Eventually you can watch the movie version on the Hallmark Channel and shed a few more tears.

This year, popular author Debbie Macomber has recently published her version of the Christmas novelette.

This sweet and gentle story involves Jake Finley, son of the owner of a large department store, and Holly Larson, who has custody of her young nephew while his father serves in the military in Afghanistan.

Both are in need of a Christmas miracle.

Jake had made an executive decision to order 500 high dollar robot toys, and his future with the family business depends on his ability to get them sold before Christmas.

Holly must figure out how to come up with the money to make Christmas special for little Gabe, while adjusting to the role of caregiver.

Enter Mrs. Miracle, who mysteriously shows up to work in the toy department of Finley Department Store. Initially Jake is dubious about her ability to identify with the patrons and sell the products. But when she seems to have a talent for customer service, including selling the $250 robots, Jake is thrilled to have her on board.

Holly and Jake meet in line at the local Starbucks, and predictably a romance blossoms. Holly learns that Jake and his father haven't celebrated Christmas since a Christmas Eve tragedy claimed the lives of Jake's mother and young sister. Holly makes it her goal to help them put the past behind them and enjoy the season once again.

Mrs. Miracle becomes entangled in all their lives, plus a few others, and everything comes to an emotional climax on (of course) Christmas day.

This is a great book to relax with during the busy season. The characters are lovable and the plot fast moving enough to keep you fascinated throughout. So treat yourself to a little quiet time, and read yourself into the spirit of the holidays.

The Confession by John Grisham

Who can resist a new John Grisham novel, and with his latest "The Confession" he is back in his element with a new legal thriller.

The book opens in Topeka, Kansas where Keith Schroeder, pastor of St. Johns Lutheran Church is visited by Travis Boyette. Boyette, a recently released prison parolee, has a confession to make and a amazing story to tell. He admits to killing a young women nine years earlier in Sloane, Texas, and has learned a another man is soon to be executed for the crime. He has been diagonosed with a terminal brain tumor and wants Keith to help him right this terrible wrong.

Keith and his wife quickly do some online research and learn Boyette has a history of sexual crime, and was in Sloane around the time of the murder. They also discover the evidence was sketchy in the conviction of Donte Dunne, a black high school football star.

Eventually Boyette convinces Keith to drive him to Texas to tell his story to authorities and hopefully postpone the execution. The next few chapters are a frenzied race to beat the clock ticking against Donte.

This horrible miscarriage of justice is emotionally seen through the eyes of the families of both the murdered young women, and the falsely accused young man.

At the center of the matter is defense attorney Robbie Flak, a brash ,driven defender of lost causes. He has worked feverishly for nine years on Donte's case and continues to fight for him up to the day of his execution.

This is not Grisham's first venture into the issue of the death penalty. "The Chamber", "The Innocent Man" and a short story included in "Ford Country", all deal with the controversary surrounding execution of criminals for their crimes. However this extremely well written novel is a blatant tool for Grisham to expound on his opposition to sentencing citizens to death. If you are offended by this viewpoint, it might be well to skip this book. However you would be missing what some might consider Grisham's greatest work. Expect to shed a few tears, and experience some disturbing thoughts for those wrongly accused of crimes. It's impossible to put this one down once started, so allow yourself a cold winter week-end, and enjoy.

Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs

Kathy Reichs' successful "bones" crime fiction novels made their way into a popular television series. Main character Dr.Temperance Brennan, a brilliant forensic anthropologist, amazes readers and viewers alike with her ability to solve crimes using her vast scientific knowledge.

In "Spider Bones" Tempe makes her way to Hawaii to figure out a comfusing puzzle of identifying veterans supposedly killed in View Nam. While in the Aloha state, she is asked to assist in the identification of a man discovered in the ocean in several parts.

When her life if threatened, law enforcement decides there is much more to these cases than originally thought, and what Tempe discovers leads to a dangerous group of criminals.

Kathy Reichs, like Tempe, is a forensic anthropologist, and fills her novels with a smorgasbord of scientific facts. While most of this technical knowledge is beyond the comprehension of the average reader, it makes for interesting reading.

"Spider Bones" follows a complicated plot, and you will have to pay close attention to recall who is buried in whose coffin. But it is definitely a good pick to fill the hours on a cold winter week-end.

Getting to Happy by Terry McMillan

Terry McMillan has raised African-American fiction to new levels with novels like "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" and "Waiting to Exhale". The latter, published in 1992, dealt with the lives of four black women, and their often tumultuous search for love. A well-made, star-studded movie soon followed.

"Getting to Happy" re-introduces us to Savannah, Gloria, Robin, and Bernadine - older and with new life challenges to face.

Successful journalist, Savannah, discovers facts about her husband which cause her to reevaluate the status of her marriage.

Bernadine's methods of dealing with her bitterness may be self-destructive.

Gloria suffers a tremendous loss, and finds it difficult to move on.

Debra endures a unfulfilling career and must seek unorthodox methods to meet new men.

As before, their friendship is the strength they draw upon to live each day and face the future with hope.

Although McMillan has become the standard for black literature, this book transcends racial boundaries to address universal problems and conflicts shared by women world wide. Cleverly written, with each women telling her own story, this book will capture your attention and compassion. All McMillan's book are sparkling jewels and "Getting to Happy" is no exception.




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