REACHER SAID NOTHING...

I've been meaning to write some things that I've learned since reading the Reacher novels...but there are so many things, I thought it best to start with one.  "Reacher said nothing" is constantly repeated throughout the entire series.  When you stop to think about it or look at how it is being referenced, it becomes a pretty good piece of advice.  A piece of advice I could have used about ten years ago when I was being interrogated by Internal Affairs while employed with the Sheriff's Department.  My interview went something like this:

IA:  "Do you know why you're here?"

S:    "I think so."

IA:  "Want to tell us about it?"

S:    They must know so I guess I'll just talk.  "It has to do with the falsification of time cards by the..."

IA:  "Time Card fraud?  When did this happen?"

S:    Oopsie...that's not what this is about?  "Ughhh.  It's been going on for about a year..."

Do you really want to know how it ended?  I had been reporting time card violations and working with the Department of Labor for close to a year before my interview with Internal Affairs.  It was only a matter of time before they got involved.  So naturally, when they started with such a vague opening I jumped right in with my two cents worth.  Their real interest: sexually explicit e-mails that the supervisors had been sending back and forth.  If only someone had told me about the Reacher novels before then...

Wikipedia says the following:   Reacher's demeanor is stoic and he does not talk much.  Reacher frequently does not answer when people make statements or ask questions, nodding or shrugging preferring the other party to fill the silence. A recurring line in the novels is "Reacher said nothing."

So in the future when we are being pushed for information by employees, friends, family, and others, we should remember to insert our name in the following sentence: "Sabrina, Kate, Richard, Leah, Jacque, etc said nothing" -and follow that advice. Always let others fill the silence. If it works for Reacher; it will work for us, too.

Does Lee Child Know...

how much I love reading about Reacher?  Does he know that I'm obsessed beyond reason?  Would he be surprised if I told him my husband has band me from reading these books on the weekend, and that I sneak them in the house and read them when Richard is asleep or in the shower?  I don't even remember the day Jack Reacher became a constant thought in my head or when I decided that all my current doings had to be centered around the dreaded question- what would Reacher do?  I just know that it happened and I'm willing to live with it and do any and all things within my power to make other women that I know read these books and become a Reacher thinker like me.  I'd consider myself a Reacher Creature-but I'm afraid the original creatures might not accept me since I'm still a newbie to the world of all things Reacher related.  I haven't even met Lee Child yet.  I don't have a signed copy of a book.  I learned about Lee Child while searching a website about my most favorite writer, his brother, Andrew Grant.  I have a long road ahead of me before I gain true acceptance, but I'm trying.  I have whizzed through all the games you can find on the Reacher/UK web page. I found Reacher before I had even started book six in the series.  Doesn't that score me some points?  I also bought my first hardback Reacher book yesterday and I'm signing up for Bouchercon 2011.  While my husband is thankful that I've found my own "passionate" hobby, I search through the Lee Child Forum on his web page secretly wishing I could be Webmaven Maggie for a day.  Reacher has become a permanent fixture in my soul.  There is no going back now!

 

What more can I say?  If my obsession with Reacher hasn't enticed you into reading these books then let me share some little known facts that will be sure to secure a place in your mind for this incredible man.

Name:  Jack Reacher

Measurements: 6'5", 220-250 lbs., 50" chest  (that's right, 50 inch chest!)

Hair: Dirty-blond
Eyes: Ice blue

Reacher left home at 18 and attended West Point.  After graduating, he served in the Army for thirteen years and "mustered out" as a major.  You don't even want me to tell you about his service awards.  Let's just say this man is everything a man should be and leave it at that. He currently loves to wander around the US-only because moving has always been a part of his life.  He's a lover and a fighter; two things that are essential and totally acceptable in Reacher's world.  I don't think he'll ever settle down, which certainly can't be a bad thing.  I mean, come on, I might find him wandering the streets of Magna one day and get to take him home with me.  Okay, so Richard probably wouldn't allow that.  But still- anything is possible, right?

I'm starting book nine in the Reacher series and have posted the book cover on my blog. Ladies, you have to read these books.  We are all Reacher worthy!  At least Richard says my eyes and butt are...That's right;  I'm Reacher worthy, baby!

JUST TALKING ABOUT A BOOK-

I finished CRASHERS by Dana Haynes a couple of days ago and all I can say is....TOTAL PERFECTION!

The first pages of the book left me emotionally drained.  I could see, hear, and even feel what was happening as this jetliner met its doom. I actually cried more than once.  There is nothing better then flicking a few tears away while reading a good book.  After recovering from the visions I encountered during the aftermath of the accident, I braced myself for the in depth knowledge that I would eventually gain as Dana Haynes moved forward with the investigation by the NTSB in determining the cause of the crash.  Since I'm not one to write reviews, you won't find me rehashing anything specific about the book or telling you much about the characters.  That's because I want you to READ the book!  The only thing I will share is that the book has a handsome hero, an ex-Israeli spy chic, a creepy and evil engineer, Irish terrorists, and a story line that will keep you wanting more.  You'll want so much more that you will jump for joy like I did when you hear that Haynes is working on a sequel. 

BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA

I've been trying to figure out why I've been so moody and cranky the last two weeks when I realized that I'm missing my Jack Reacher novels.  I was supposed to start book nine over a week ago and I put it on hold to start a book that was suggested by some woman in New York.  I wrote about it last week.  It's a good book, but I really can't wait to get back to Reacher.  I miss Reacher.  I never would have thought I could miss a fictional character this much, but I do.  Such is life with no kids and too much free time on your hands.

In the meantime, I've been thinking about another book.  I've been waking nightly to claps of thunder, flashes of lightning, and the sound of hard rain hitting the windows.  Summer storms are one of my favorite things.  Mostly we have them during the day, but the past three weeks they've been pretty consistent and have been rolling through our neighborhood around two in the morning.  For some reason they keep reminding me of DRACULA.  Why- I'm not sure. 

I first read Dracula this summer when a neighbor suggested it during a dinner conversation.  In short, my neighbor hates the Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyers.  He's never read the books, but he knows enough about them (so he thinks) to form an opinion.  He thinks they are warping the mind of young women across the world and that vampires are evil creatures.  Clearly he hasn't read the Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward.  If he had, his opinion of vampires might be different.  Anyway, he feels vampires are evil and have no place in the world.  Now, lets skip forward three weeks later when we're at dinner again talking about our favorite books.  When I ask what his favorite book of all time is.....he answers, DRACULA!!!  Yes, we laughed, and he admitted his ignorance towards our last conversation.  He even offered to read Twilight out of guilt.  I told him not to bother.  The only book in the series that was worth reading was Twilight itself.  Plus, his opinion is so strong and negative  that he would never make it through the first chapter.  In the end, he let me borrow his copy of Dracula in exchange for two books I bought and hated.

By page seven of Dracula, I was ready to die.  I knew this was going to be the longest book I had ever agreed to read.  I mean really, how many pages of carriage rides do you have to read to get to the real story?  I guess you'll have to read it and find out.  In the end, Dracula was a page turner.  My neighbor said Mina Harker was a true heroine.  She is.  She has the patience, the grace, and the wisdom to lead a small army.  She's loved by all the men in the book.  She's loved so much that any one of them would be willing to die for her. In fact, one of them does.   I'm also equally impressed with Dracula's ability to play games.  While the men are busy following the walking dead around and plotting the end of Dracula, they forget to keep a watchful eye on their beloved Mina.  There time away; allows Dracula to play.  While reading this book I could understand why my neighbor loves it so much.  I ended up loving it, too.  So much that I'm seeking a leather bound copy for my collection.  If you want a great book to read on a dark and stormy day, or night, Dracula is my pick.  You should read it anyway and discover why vampires are so intriguing.

SPREADING THE PASSION

This past weekend I took my spouse with me to Barnes & Noble so I could pick up a new book.  Richard hates book stores.  I told him to look around while he waited and  promised that I would only be a minute.  This picture is what I found a few minutes later.  I've been trying to get Richard to read my favorite crime drama books but he's been showing no interest.  Imagine my surprise when he asked if he could buy the book he found. We had a great weekend sitting around the house reading books.  I hope this is the beginning of many more shared interests.

Holding my breath

A flight from my home in Utah to my father's home in Oregon doesn't last long; somewhere just over an hour. My husband and I were flying  to Portland on a clear fall afternoon and  looking at a perfect view of Mt. Hood when suddenly the plane dropped.  It wasn't a big drop, but it was hard, and it landed us in the worst section of turbulence I've ever been a victim of.  The plane shook rapidly and without any certain rhythm, and if felt like it was searching for a perfect piece of air to catch. The women on board were crying and the children were screaming that blood curdling sound that makes your ear drums pulse. Overhead bins started opening, dumping luggage on the passengers below, and all I could feel was the pain in my fingers from locking them around my arm rests in that well known death grip.  I remember my husband taking his hand to hold my face and telling me to breathe. It took me a few seconds to understand what he wanted me to do.  I was terrified.

I relived every moment of this experience in the first pages of CRASHERS, by Dana Haynes.  It was one of many moments in just the first 68 pages that made me hold my breath.  Dana's writing is incredibly descriptive and makes you become a witness to all things that happen in this book.  His decision to write a book about what the NTSB endures when they investigate crash scenes is beyond brilliant, and his ability to bring life to all the characters in this book made me forget that I was reading a work of fiction. 

When the pilot of the plane, Meghan Danvers, screams just before the crash; I heard it and I held my breath. I could feel her emotions as she wrestled to save this flight from its final outcome.  I've experienced the same scream myself and know how difficult it is to be in a situation that you ultimately can't control.  Likewise, when a survivor of this crash walks away uninjured and emotionally breaks down while being questioned; I could feel his terror.  I couldn't breathe and I broke down and cried. 

I've said from the beginning that my blog is about me bringing a little bit of reality to what I'm reading. This is the only way I know how to write.  All I can do is encourage you to buy this book.  I need to know how many other people hold their breath like me.   Dana Haynes has officially made it to my list of writers I want to grow old with. 

What people are saying

People have been asking how my practice shoot with the SIG SAUER went this week.  Here's what I know.  The SIG SAUER may have been the weapon I was hoping to show off in my next dream with David Trevellyan, but it turned out to be too heavy for my wrist and the trigger pull was too long. My husband had me try his Beretta .40 caliber which is much lighter and has a shorter trigger pull.  It suited me perfectly.  The following image will show you just how much I improved after changing my weapon choice. That's right, people.  I hit dead center!!! Looks like I'm ready to do my part in saving my most beloved character in my dreams!  I'm still waiting for the dream to be rewritten.

COMMENTS FROM SOME READERS!!!

Thanks for the email, but I have already started my day reading your blog. I've already decided the same thing, that I need to start my days reading your blog!! Have a great day!!!  Ginger B.

Grasshopper,

I know I sound like a broken record when I say this, but thank you once again for your willingness to help out anytime a need comes up. You are an incredible asset to me and I very much appreciate all that you do.

(…and now the blogs are just an added bonus!)   Pam S.--Pam is my supervisor, and yes, she really does call me Grasshopper.  I call her, Master.

You are very eloquent in your thoughts and imagination. You are something else, friend. Very descriptive, imaginary, adept to what is going on. WRITE THAT BOOK!!!  Christine H.--sorry friend, but I don't have an interest in writing a book.  Plus- I might get sued for trying to make money talking about all these writers and characters.

And a big THANKS goes to Leah for telling her father about my blog and letting him know about the David Trevellyan series by Andrew Grant.  I have no doubt he'll love them! 

It looks like this little blog is starting to work!