The Smiths or the Book?

I never know if first lines are the first lines of Chapter 1 . . . or first lines for the book, . . . in this case first lines of the Prologue. 

Personally, I think the Prologue first lines are the ones that matter. It should be the first lines that open the entire book. We may all skip the preface in a nonfiction book, but in a novel? 

First Frost

My brother recommended a book for me. He knows that I love Dick Francis novels, and he felt that the Frost series was right up a similar alley. To a degree he was right. 

It's a fun book. Hate the cover, but the writing, and the style, and the small village in England is all there. No horse racing of course, but it's a fun book to read. A curmudgeon police detective is a good foil for the reader to follow.

If That's Okay

I was thinking more about friendship… Close, friends… And cutting away towed jumpers… Anyone who is an avid follower of this blog will remember my post on towed jumpers… And I think I mentioned Baldwin (see HERE).

I had a good friend once . . . a long time back . . . could easily be defined as my closest friend ever … who when writing to me said "I'll call if that's OK."

The Dichotomy of Leadership Books

Last year, or was it year before, I got to read Extreme Ownership by Lief Babin and Jocko Willink. It was perfect timing too, Congressman Babin (who I saw wearing an Airborne Wings tie pin) came by our office soon after and we gave him a tour. I was able to talk to him about his son’s book, and mention that not only was I in the Rangers, but that my foster cousin, Seth Stone, was in the SEALs. Congressman Babin was stunned. Apparently Lief and Seth were roommates at Annapolis. 

 

I use the lessons from Extreme Ownership just about everyday. It’s a great book with a great message. The writing is a bit simple, but overall the lessons are invaluable, especially for business people with no military background. Extreme Ownership is a natural part of leadership in the military. 

Book 2 Line and Page 1

So another first line in my "series" of novels posts. This one again by WEB Griffen. You know exactly what you're getting with that guy right?

This one is no different. Marines are, at least in his mind, kind of a type. 

Patriot Games First Line

I'm reading a bunch of books in series right now. I've read three books in WEB Griffin's Corps series . . . I've read a couple of Louis L'Amours Sackett's series, and I'm on Oliver Twists in my Dicken's series . . . I just finished the third book in my Clancy series. . . Patriot Games.

Not my favorite book in his series. He goes into WAY too much information about the morality of terrorism. It's more about Jack figuring himself out, than a good story. Personally, Jack comes off looking like a fucking weenie in this book. 

First Line of Second in a Series

I'm in a "series" mood. For a while I was in a "committment book" mood. I was reading huge tomes like Les Miserables, any Charles Dickens book, Dune, etc etc. Right now I'm hungry for series. I started with Harry Potter, then The Sacketts, and right now I'm reading WEB Griffen's Corps Series. I'm on book 2. I just started book two, and I have to say the first line is not incredibly intriguing. 

It's a fun series, and in fact I like most series because you get to know the characters so well. 

No More Ranger Games

So, I knew about this book. I heard about it years ago, and I meant to read it, just never did. Well, I had some time recently, so I picked it up and gave it a shot. 

The beginning of the book was a walk down memory lane for me. It was fun to hear about all the training I went through and the challenges and the schools, from the point of view of this other private who had to do it in 2003 or 04. 

Friends Again?

I got to go out to lunch the other day with an old friend. We used to be quite close, but life and times and work have driven us apart lately. Still, it was nice to see them. 

What I found funny was that they kept saying "they wished we saw one another more." I thought that was funny if only because I'm right here. Not going anywhere. Haven't gone anywhere. It's on them to make it happen. In fact I had been the one to invite them out for lunch or coffee multiple times, they had been the one who canceled on me all those times. 

Most Recent First Line

When I first read Tom Clancy's books, I think I was in college, I skipped Red Storm Rising. Jack Ryan isn't in it. Where's the central character? This is now my second time to read it, and although sure I miss Jack Ryan as a central character, but man, oh man is it ever a great story. 

Regardless, it's my time to read for fun, and I'm in the midst of a "series" jam . . . Hackett's, WEB Griffin, etc etc. So I read Hunt for Red October last month. This month, book 2 by Clancy, Red Storm Rising.