The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning

The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham is a remarkable book about, as the title suggests, coming to terms with the imperfections of the human species. The authors draw from a vast array of scholars and philosophers from the most ancient to the very recent. Curiously, the authors particular focus on the writing of Bill Wilson, one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, and they note the wisdom of Wilson’s prolific writing in alignment with more highly regarded thinkers. If you’re interested in Bill Wilson as an important positive force on modern day society, then you’ll find this book to be an important compliment to Wilson’s writings. Unlike most of the rest of the book, I think the authors botched the penultimate chapter entitled “Forgiveness.” As is typical of some other authors, they also give lip service to the psychoanalytic writings of Freud, and then are critical of it without really understanding the concepts they criticize. Nonetheless, this is a wonderful effort. Kurtz and Ketcham have helped me with some better language and concepts to address the many less-than-perfect aspects of human lives we lead.

The Force

The Force is the 7^th Don Winslow book reviewed in the blog, and in this one, he’s changed venues from Southern California to New York City. Winslow’s character and plot development have only gotten better, and if it’s possible, even more gripping. Detective First Grade Dennis John Malone was a veteran sergeant of NYPD’s most elite unit, The Manhattan North Special Task Force. He had graduated from the police academy with all the necessary idealism, but then he faced the real world of police action and the erosion that happened to his idealism. This is a story about corruption, guns, drugs, and sex. After decades on “Da Force” when Denny finally got arrested and placed in the MCC (Metropolitan Correction Center), he thought to himself, “At least, at last, tell yourself the truth. You know exactly how you got here. Step by motherfucking step.” This novel is about Denny’s steps of degradation, the environment in which that occurred, and the myriad of people who were most impacted by his decisions. This is not a book with good guys – just bad guys. Great writing – if you start this book, be prepared to put the rest of your life on hold until you’ve turned the last page.

Presidential Intentions

Presidential Intentions is the first book in a trilogy about Samantha Harrison, who was the first woman Republican candidate for president. The set up is that she will run against a woman on the Democratic ticket. The book sets up the next two novels, so this one is an introduction to Harrison’s character, her family, and those important people around her. Although I’ve not gotten to the second and third books yet, I will certainly do so. It looks like the author is appropriately setting up this conservative candidate to have some very real personal struggles, such as when her right-to-life position is challenged by her daughter’s decision to go through with an abortion. Also, although not personally in favor of the death penalty, as the Governor of Virginia, she must decide whether to allowed a psychopath, Peter Vasquez, to be executed, the very man she had been successful prosecuting some years earlier. I’m eager to read more of the story, so the second book, Presidential Declarations is near the top of my ready queue.

The Wanted by Robert Crais

Devon Connor is a single mom who is worried about her teenage son.  Tyson has never been a good student but he has always been a good kid.  However, his latest transfer to an alternative high school has resulted in new friends, Alec and Amber, who appear to be leading Tyson astray.  Tyson suddenly has new expensive clothes and electronics plus rolls of cash.  Devon is concerned Tyson is dealing drugs but doesn’t want to call the police until she’s positive Tyson is breaking the law.  So, she hires Elvis Cole to investigate.  Elvis quickly learns that Tyson is involved with the two other wayward souls, robbing rich people’s homes.  Foolishly, they keep the merchandise they want and fence the rest.  Elvis gets a list of the victims and their reported stolen merchandise from his cop friends who also tell him they have a video of the perps and expect to soon make an arrest.

Devon hires a lawyer and strikes a deal with the ADA for Tyson if he confesses and turns himself in.  After much coercion Tyson agrees but then disappears before his intended surrender.  Turns out he is infatuated with Amber and wants to warn her of her impending arrest.

Meanwhile, Elvis learns that the police aren’t the only ones looking for the teenage burglars.  Harvey and Stemms are two ruthless hitmen who have been hired by one of the victims to retrieve a stolen laptop computer apparently containing incriminating information about the owner.  Harvey and Stemms know no bounds when it comes to getting what they want.  They also have the video of the crooks and discover their identity before the cops.  They kill one witness and arrange a fatal accident for Alec before he can warn his partners.  Elvis enlists the help of Joe Pike.  Now they are in a race to find Tyson and Amber before either the hitmen or the police make their move.

Crais comes through with another hit in his Elvis Cole/ Joe Pike series.  The contrasting personalities of the two detectives hold your interest to the end.  Elvis with his smart-ass remarks alienates some but endears others.  Pike’s stoic, ‘just the facts mam’ style comes off as just cool.  Together they keep you in anticipation of their direct and decisive response to unwarranted violence.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance look.

Law and Disorder

Law and Disorder is my second Mike Papantonio novel, and it’s the first in his series about Attorney Nick Deketomis, aka “Deke.” In this legal thriller, progressive attorney Deke takes on two powerful adversaries at the same time, a pharmaceutical company whose product killed his daughter’s best friend and nearly killed his daughter as well (he’s also contenting with a corrupt court), and a Texas oil refinery that has been polluting the water table for years and killing the locals as well. The oil refinery is owned by two brothers who inherited their billions and who play their game by psychopathic rules (sounds remarkably like the Koch brothers). When they try to set Deke up for some bad publicity, he accidentally kills his assailant and is then charged with murder. The doctored video of the assault does not look good for Deke. The news coverage is disastrous for the family. I raved about the first Papantonio novel, and I’m equally impressed with the second. The courtroom drama is incredible. So, Mr. Papantonio, when are you going to write your next novel? I’m ready to pre-order it now.

Two Girls Down

I got the chance to read a prepublication thriller from Simon & Schuster, Two Girls Down, by Louisa Luna. Jamie Brandt was a single mother who understandably struggled to deal with the responsibilities for her two girls, 10-year-old Kylie and 8-year-old Bailey. The girls’ father just took off when Jamie was born and he had not been seen or heard from in years. On the way to a birthday party for Kylie’s friend, they stopped at a Kmart. The girls stayed in the car while Jamie ran in to buy a gift which she could barely afford. Despite having been under strict orders not to leave the car, by the time Jamie returned, the girls had disappeared. Very quickly it was determined that they had been kidnapped.

Luna brought a great cast of characters to this story. Alice Vega was the protagonist who specialized in finding missing children, and she was very good at it. Arriving from her home in California, Vega needed some local assistance, and she turned to recently disgraced and voluntarily retired police officer Max “Cap” Caplan, now doing very mundane work as a private investigator. There was more to Cap than his story suggested. He was a divorced father with a precocious 16-year-old daughter, Nell. There were other well-designed individuals in the police department and in the families of all the principal characters, but Vega and Cap were the ones who carried this story.

As Luna developed the characters and set up the plot, the first chapter was a little slow, but by midway through chapter two, I was hooked. My only frustration was that my own life kept interrupting me from reading it all the way through in one sitting – it was that good. The author had twists in the plot that I did not see coming – the resolution was not what I expected. Vega and Cap are the sorts of characters that could carry a long set of novels. I hope to see more from Ms. Luna. The novel is scheduled to be released after the first of the year, so get this one reserved right now.