About Jack and MItch

Post 34:

            Whilst I learn the technical aspects of actually putting a book out (NERD!) I’m trying to keep up with my reading. I can get really desultory at times. Like someone else’s style is going to bleed over into mine.

            Right. I’m really in danger of becoming one of those darn Kurt Vonnegut types.

            I wish.

            So if you’ve read along at all you may have noticed that I tend toward older fiction and the newer stuff I get into is… how does one say… not crappy.

            Now this is where I put myself right into the weeds. I love me some Jack Reacher. Great character, keeps the pages turning, the story is what matters, and that’s that. That is why people love those books. I’m one of those people.

            I’m reading one of Vince Flynn’s novels right now. They go quick, a lot like Reacher. You look up and you’re a hundred pages in. There’s not a lot of fluff in these puppies. I have a really smart friend and argue that this series (Mitch Rapp) is too simplistic and insulting, but I make this argument for two reasons. First, I’m a jerk that’s trying to get under my friend’s skin. Second, there is a little validity to what I’m saying.

            So, the characters in these books are a little ridiculous. They can do everything, they’re pretty much badass heroic—I won’t say one-dimensional, but I really want to.

            But even if they don’t adhere to my dimensional requirements, what’s the big hang-up? Mitch Rapp is a hero and he’s gonna do his hero thing and there’s a bad guy and a coherent plot and a really good book and that’s frigging that.

            So that’s my review. Vince Flynn novels are great. They are entertaining, and hell, you even learn stuff.

            If I have any beef with these types of page-turners, it’s that they are so substance over style. Bear with me for a second. I know that I just sounded like a prick, but sometimes I’m just thinking that maybe a little more effort could’ve gone into the choice of words or how the characters are introduced. Maybe. Or maybe that stuff just gets in the way of the badass being a badass.

            I don’t know the answer. I remember when I was around ten, I loved Tom Clancy novels. Think I read every one of them. Page-turners. I have no idea what a U973457483-A Naval Carrier is, but the man made things interesting.

            Not sure where I got with this. I want to make wise choices about what I listen to, watch, and read. There’s no right answer. But there’s righter ones than others. Guess it’s for figuring out along the way.

            I award myself no points. See you after.