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!