THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion
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WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!!
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David wrote: "I am reading The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer. I started it because the wife bought the book for me on sale and I like his TV show. IT is a great book, a real old fashioned page turner and the man ..."Brad Meltzer is a good author, but I do not believe The Inner Circle to be his best. The book sets up Nico for a prequel about his secret military past. Book of Lies and the Zero Game are better.
Mod
It seems as if his books have diminished as his fame has increased- he has a TV show now- Decoded , I think- so his attention is on more than just writing- which is fine- his early books are terrific
I just finished Oceanspace and I've started Moby Dick.
I'm working my way through the late 50s and early sixties in Stephen King's new book 11/22/63. I did some more research on the Kennedy assassination, which I find particularly frustrating. I don't think that we will ever know everything about that mess. However, we can be sure that there was much disinformation and misdirection from the very beginning about the coup d'etat of the 20th Century. Lyndon Johnson, J. Edgar Hoover, Edward Clark, Clint Murchison, Richard Nixon and maybe even the young George H. Bush already had a shadow government in place before the shooting. Note: The Kill Kennedy party at the Murchison estate the night before had no mobsters present. The mob was good enough to use, but certainly was never part of this cabal's "inner circle." Too many assumptions made about the assassination. 1. Just because the 6th floor of the book depository was not the best spot for a shot and that 3 shots could not be taken in 6.3 seconds with that rifle does not necessarily mean that one successful head shot was not taken from that window and it does not have to be from Oswald. The poor bastard was just drinking a Coke and had no idea. Mac Wallace, Lyndon's primary henchman left a pinkie print up in the sniper's nest. Ooops! Doesn't mean that a shot was even taken there. He may have simply left the rifle and the 3 shells. It would have taken an expert sniper to make that shot from that window and Oswald wasn't that good. But no way even if someone was shooting from that window did ALL the shots come from there.
Another problem is Dealey Plaza is unique in that a shot echoes so it's hard to tell where it is coming from. Recently, after much work with scientific technology (shades of light) and mathematics concerning trajectory one man figured that the head shot "came up from the ground." He was at first confused about his finding until he discovered the perfect sniper's spot-down in a storm drain-the rectangular hole you see under a sidewalk where a curb would be. A manhole is usually close by and in this instance was. The "big event" explains WHY secret service and HOMELAND SECURITY weld manholes shut during modern day big events and political visits. Keep in mind that the sniper did not need to go in and out from the manhole. There was a direct escape route out of the sewer by foot. Hidden and a built in escape route. Too perfect.
Then there is CIA Cord Meyers, architect of Operation Mockingbird. Using the press to send disinformation to the public, while hiding key truths. Goes against the Constitution (freedom of the Press) and breaks the law as the CIA is not supposed to operate inside the U.S. JFK was screwing Cord's wife, which doesn't help matters. Some hard feelings there. Howard Hunt of Watergate fame was also involved and was there in Dallas that day. David Morales, a CIA assassin was also involved and no doubt capable of being a shooter. Bill Harvey was also involved and some believe that George H. Bush was there in Dallas that day. Did he have advance knowledge of "the big event"? Note that all these people are of the same right-wing ideology and that this assassination had repercussions for decades to come in the policies and operations of the U.S. government. It is said that Joseph Alsop, a key writer for the "free press" of America was also the star of Operation Mockingbird under Cord Meyers. Moreover, Alsop and Phil Graham helped to persuade JFK to alter his first choice for Vice President, Symington, to LBJ. Graham later committed suicide by shotgun on August 3, 1963. Funny how there was so many suicides associated with this event-before and after. But others say that it was J. Edgar Hoover that blackmailed JFK and coerced him to "choose" LBJ as his running mate. Of course, the head of the FBI would be helpful in any cover-up afterward. Hoover was at the Kill Kennedy party the night of November 21, 1963 at Clint Murchison's place. When LBJ arrived they all went behind closed doors for a secret meeting. LBJ's mistress, Madeline Brown stated that when LBJ came out he said "after tomorrow those Goddamn f...in' Kennedy's will never embarrass me again. That's not a threat. It's a promise."
Quite a spider web. A conspiracy if there ever was one.
Rick wrote: "4cats wrote: "Have just finished 
- decided to give a conspiracy thriller a go and was pleasantly surprised ( I didn't like Da Vinci Code at all), the prose in this was b..."While I generally stick to one genre, I don't think I could read just one genre exclusively - I like to mix things up too.
Right now, have (in no particular order): Persuasion/Austen, The Second World War/Corrigan, Firebird/? (Alternate Hist/SF), a couple/four romance books, and I lost count of how many ebooks (also several genres) waiting on me to read them toward reviewing....
Couple recent finishes: Survivors (SF), Spotlights & Shadows (Biography), & Velvet Totalitarianism (NF, Fic, History/historical)
I have read Borstal Girl - Eileen MacKenney and A Wayne in a Manger - Gervase Phinn. Now I am about to carry on reading Time Bomb - Jonathan Kellerman
I just finished reading The Keep by F. Paul Wilson. Now, I've decided to tackle The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
Mod
- decided to give a conspiracy thriller a go and was pleasantly surprised ( I didn't like Da Vinci Code at all), the prose ..."Love that about books- can take you anywhere!! great selection of books!
Mod
Facinating post Jamie- very well written and VERY thought provoking
Jamie wrote: "I'm working my way through the late 50s and early sixties in Stephen King's new book 11/22/63. I did some more research on the Kennedy assassination, which I find particularly frustrating. I don'..."Definitely a tangled web and I doubt we will ever know the whole story. I enjoyed this book even though I do not share the author's belief that Oswald did it.
In the last week I read The Devil by Ken Bruen and Double Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, both of which I enjoyed very much. Taking a short break from fiction to read Night by Elie Wiesel and a couple of Civil War books. Still plugging along with the new audiobook biography of Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie.
Mod
I saw Elie Wiesel
speak in Rochester NY, years ago. Unforgettable
Just about to finish "The Crippled god" by Steven Erikson. It's the last book in his Malazan series. Great story, but really confusing. I'll give myself a mental break for a while, then go back and re-read the entire series to see what all I missed.
I just finished Cutting for Stone, which was a phenomenal read, even though it's not a mystery, but a family saga. The author is a doctor, so there are a lot of medical situations in the book, and the India/Ethiopia/US settings are very interesting. I learned a lot!I've started reading an old favorite, Murder on the Orient Express. Since I'm writing a variant of a locked-room mystery (a group of whitewater rafters stuck in a remote river canyon with a killer, in my case), I thought I'd return to this locked-room mystery written by a master, for inspiration.
Jamie wrote: "David wrote: "I am reading The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer. I started it because the wife bought the book for me on sale and I like his TV show. IT is a great book, a real old fashioned page turne..."Just finished The Inner Circle last night. I will check out the ones you mention. Thanks.
Jamie wrote: "I'm working my way through the late 50s and early sixties in Stephen King's new book 11/22/63. I did some more research on the Kennedy assassination, which I find particularly frustrating. I don'..."I have read many-I think these make you think
1. Best Evidence by David S. Lifton
2. Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy by Jim Marrs
3. Ultimate Sacrifice: John and Robert Kennedy, the Plan for a Coup in Cuba, and the Murder of JFK by Lamar Waldron, Thom Hartmann
My next JFK book will be "Somebody would have talked"
Also try 4. Bloody Treason: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by Noel H. Twyman 5. Blood, Money and Power by Barr McClellan 6. LBJ: The Mastermind of JFK's Assassination by Phillip F. Nelson 7. The Texas Legend by Billie Sol Estes 8. Mob Lawyer: The Inside Account of Who Killed Jimmy Hoffa and JFK by Frank Ragano 9. JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why it Matters by James Douglass 10. Family of Secrets: The Bush Dynasty by Russ Baker. 11. Google the essay “LBJ-CIA Assassination of JFK” by Robert Morrow. 12. The Radical Right and the Murder of John F. Kennedy: Stunning Evidence in the Assassination of the President Harrison Livingstone 2006 13. Who Killed JFK? Carl Oglesby 2002 14. The Men Who Killed Kennedy : The video series (best and most credible I have seen)
Several people in the position to know something have talked from LBJ's mistress to several different lawyers. In the secret audio tapes of Jacqueline Kennedy only recently released we learn that Jackie suspected that LBJ and a group of businessmen from Texas were behind her husband's assassination. She certainly seemed to be on the right track.
Excellent list-I liked the TV series. I always felt that LBJ helped Hoover cover up the conspiracy but that he was not initial involved. I notice you didn't include Mark Lane or Jim Garrison. I always thought they had some credibility. I bet our moderator moves this to a separate folder, which would make sense. This should cover the Xmas list for JFK students.
I just started A Real Piece of Work by Chris Orcutt. It's the first book in his Dakota Stevens Mystery series. His blogs let me know he is an excellent writer. This new novel is letting me know I underestimated him.
A friend lent me11 22 63, it's officially my book of the month. He also lent me Skipping Christmas which I may read this weekend.
Rick wrote: "Susie wrote: "I am re-reading Hide by, Lisa Gardner to refresh my memory before the movie tuesday night on TNT"Susie- curious how you find the film after reading the book!"
The movie may be ok if you haven't read the book Bobby Dodge is one of my favorite characters and they wrecked him totally emasculated him so I was disappointed!
Tiffany wrote: "A friend lent me11 22 63, it's officially my book of the month. He also lent me Skipping Christmas which I may read this weekend."Oh My Gosh! 'Skipping Christmas' was one of the BEST Book Surprises. I've remembered it, recommended it, for the past four years - that is - since I discovered it! Agreed! ~Emily~
I have two different books of short stories on the go, just started them both;
by John Wyndham and
by Roald Dahl, which my wife informs me was a TV series back when she was a kid in the England.
Mod
Susie- curious how you find the film after reading the b..."
Thanks- why am I not surprised that Hollywood messed up (Polite term as we James Masoners do not type curse words!) another book!!
Have just finished the immensely enjoyable A Redbird Christmas - Fannie Flagg. I am now about to embark on reading Private London - James Patterson.
I just started "In The Garden of Beasts," by Erik Larson. I don't read much nonfiction, but it seems compelling, and I'm liking it quite a bit, by the same author who wrote, "Devil In the White City." I also recently started reading, "Cold Mountain," by Charles Frazier, but am having great difficulty getting into it.
Also, I have asked for Stephen King's new novel, "11/22/63," which I'm counting on getting from my dad for Christmas.
Beth wrote: "I just finished Cutting for Stone, which was a phenomenal read, even though it's not a mystery, but a family saga. The author is a doctor, so there are a lot of medical situations in..."I enjoy Agatha Christie's novels. They are not necessarily the best written mystery novels, but ya gotta admit, she is one of the very best puzzle mystery writing designers around. I have started a book into film club in which the third week of the month we watch a movie, then Thursday, discuss the book and the movie, for my local library. We've chosen, "Murder on the Orient Express," for our second book.
Despite the fact that I do indeed read several mysteries throughout the year, I had somehow not heard the term, "a locked room mystery." Cool term!
Mod
Love Christie! like an old friend to mystery lovers!
To me - Ultimate "Locked Room Mystery" was And Then There Was None
Fiona (Titch) wrote: "Have just finished the immensely enjoyable A Redbird Christmas - Fannie Flagg. I am now about to embark on reading Private London - [author:James Patters..."Redbird Christmas is one of my favorites!!
Has just finished Private London - James Patterson. In morning I will read There's Something About Christmas - Debbie Macomber.
I am starting Touched by Angels and The Christmas Thief because I wanted some light holiday reading. I also wanted to try one of Debbie Macomber's books and I love mysteries and have read much of Mary Higgins Clark's work.
Mod
Love the very nice plot of
Good Morning ?AfternoonI have just started to read The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry
I have enjoyed the other books and his anti-hero Cotton Malone.
So Far so good
Good afternoon!I just finished Sexing the Cherry by Jeannette Wintersen.
Am reading these:
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test
The Robber Bride
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
I am reading/listening to Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings by, Alison Weir I love her fiction books and was excited when I won an ARC of this one I couldn't get into it at all so I got the audiobook sometimes they are better for a dull book but honestly the only reason I am finishing this one is because I have to review it. I didn't need pages and pages of how old Mary was and Weir seems to just be calling out the mistakes made by other historians without giving any difinitive answers to what actually happened. I am about half way done and keep hoping it gets better since Weir is one of my favorite historical fiction authors but this non-fiction is reading like a bad textbook.
Mod
great book!
Rick wrote: "Susie wrote: "I am reading/listening to Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings by, Alison Weir I love her fiction books and was excited when I won an ARC of this one I couldn't get into..."I see you liked it alot Rick it is getting better but the first half is just really slow!
I've started "In The Garden of The Beasts," by Erik Larson. He also wrote, "Devil In The White City." I don't read much nonfiction, but his topics are compelling. The novel follows the Ambassador to Germany during the Hitler years.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.Only just started, but have spent considerable time looking at Alcott's biography. Quite a girl.
The genre is in the area of what I myself write. Always interesting to see how other people present their protagonist, especially as Alcott is so highly rated.
Mod
I agree that parts can be dry at time- and did feel the same as you- but when I finished the book- I really felt that it was a very well done job- and worth getting through the slow parts!
I'm reading Rainwater - think it might be the best I've read all year. I'm always looking for books that span genres. The author usually writes thriller/suspense, but this one is different entirely.
Rick wrote: "Susie wrote: "Rick wrote: "Susie wrote: "I am reading/listening to Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings by, Alison Weir I love her fiction books and was excited when I won an ARC of t..."Thats good to know Rick as I do love Alison Weir's books!
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THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
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Susie- curious how you find the film after reading the book!"
Well already I am worried as DD Warren is described in the book as having curly blonde hair and she is played by a very dark haired actress but I have hope!!