BOOKS IN BRIEF

Linda Sargent

“Pursuit of Honor” by Vincent Flynn, ATRIA Books ($27.95)

            A week after 185 people are killed in an attempt by terrorists to target the National Counterterrorism Center in Washington, D.C., Mitch Rapp and his trusted team member Mike Nash are brought before a committee to defend their actions against the terrorists. Despite the fact that both men risked their lives to save many workers in the building, the committee members feel that their actions were barbaric and extreme and want both men discharged from service.

            It’s easy for politicians sitting on the sidelines to judge the actions of those in the line of fire, whether that judgment be positive or negative. Rapp has often been in the position of trying to educate those same politicians about the realities of the threats against America and the extreme sacrifice that al-Qaeda is willing to make to meet their objectives. The measures that Rapp and his team are forced to take to protect the country place a high level of stress on his men.

            Vincent Flynn always does a good job of bringing Mitch Rapp and his team members together again to fight for the American way of life.

“Going Rogue” by Sarah Palin, Harper Collins ($28.99)

            Becoming Governor of the State of Alaska is not an endeavor that a person should take lightly. Unlike the “lower 48,” the state is the largest in the Union, spread out over 586,412 square miles. They are faced with their own specific challenges – bordered by Canada, the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and Russia. Being the least populated state in the U.S., infrastructure services such as transportation, roads, utilities and delivery services are unique.

            Sarah Palin won the election for governor of this large land mass because she was not willing to bow down to the large oil companies, was not part of the “good old boy” system, but was a common housewife and mother, a hard worker with high ethical standards. After winning the election, her first goal was to complete the Alaska natural gas pipeline so the state would not be so dependent on oil. During her term of office, she built roads to outreaching areas so they weren’t so reliant on air travel or sleds, brought water lines to remote areas, balanced the state budget, improved the quality of living overall for her state, and indeed completed the natural gas pipeline.

            When she was asked to run as John McCain’s running mate, she wanted to run her type of race, saying things in her speeches that she believed in, connecting with people the way she was used to, and being true to her standards and work ethic. “Going Rogue” gives the reader a look at life behind the scenes of the campaign trail and the post-campaign consequences for the unsuccessful party. Despite what your political beliefs may be, this is a “to the point, telling it like it is book” that does not gloss over life in the limelight.

“U is for Undertow” by Sue Grafton, G. Pl Putnam’s Sons ($27.95)

            Sue Grafton is getting closer to the end of her alphabet series with her latest book.

            Kinsey Millhone has entered into one of the most complex mysteries she has ever been faced with. A recent story surfaced in the newspaper retelling the unsolved case of a kidnapping that happened in the 1960s. As a result of the story, Michael Sutton visits Kinsey and tells her the story has stirred up memories from 30 years ago when he was a young boy. He is convinced that he witnessed two men burying the young girl who was kidnapped, and he wants Kinsey to locate the grave. Without much hope of being successful, Kinsey agrees to give him one day of her time.

            Her initial inquiries result in the location of the gravesite despite the change in landscape over the years. However, when the police are called in to dig up the site, the remains turn out to be that of a dog. Kinsey is further convinced that it is a waste of time when Michael’s family warns her about his active imagination, and that his memory of events may not be based on anything close to the truth.

            Kinsey is, however, drawn in, and finds that there may be more to Michael’s story than she originally thought.

            This is a good book to start on a cold winter day, sitting before a roaring fireplace, and can easily be read in one sitting if you don’t have anything else to do.

“American Sketches” by Walter Isaackson, Simon and Schuster ($25.99)

            Walter Isaackson is a biographer of well-known American politicians, scientists, industrialists, and creative thinkers. In this book, as the title suggests, he paints ‘sketches’ of great Americans about whom he has done considerable research and learned lessons that he uses in his writing career.

            From Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein to Bill Gates, Ronald Reagan, Henry Kessinger, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev and Woody Allen, Isaackson delves into what makes or made these individuals successful. Because they are all intelligent, one may be surprised to learn that other characteristics make them stand out in history, namely their curiosity and imagination.

            Each lecture or cutout from an editorial gives the reader insight into what drives them to be an integral force of their time. In addition, Isaackson explores the strength and perseverance of the people of New Orleans before, during and after Hurricane Katrina, and the love that the people have for their city.

“The Art of Thank You – Crafting Notes of Gratitude” by Connie Leas, MJF Books, ($14.95)

            In this modern technology age where everyone emails, texts and twitters, the idea of hand writing a thank you note has almost become a lost art.

            This book includes information on when thank you notes should be written, the benefits of writing thank you notes by hand versus computer, and the joy that such notes bring to other people. Leas includes copies of thank you notes that have been written throughout history, including the former first lady of Oklahoma, Kathy Keating, who hand wrote 1,500 thank you notes to various emergency and rescue responders and volunteers following the Oklahoma City bombing.

            Leas points out that when you write notes of gratitude, you focus on the feelings of someone else; the experience can be uplifting and almost spiritual. One woman writes at least one thank you note a day to someone who did something nice. Writing such notes completes a circle of generosity and makes people feel appreciated. Leas points out in the book that although Jonas Salk received many accolades from around the world for his work in medicine, the items he treasured most were the handwritten notes he received from parents and families thanking him for the impact that his work had on their lives.

            This book does not take long to read, but the overall message will stay with you long after you put it down. It would make a terrific addition to any bookshelf to refer back to again and again, or a great gift for someone you care for.