Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Book club discusses "The King of Lies"

(I'm behind with our book club session reports, so here's the one for our February book discussion.) The most recent book club had a good and genuinely lively discussion about first-time novelist John Hart's book The King of Lies." Hart is a local writer and longtime North Carolina resident whose story is set in Salisbury, N.C. Here's a pix of Hart as shown on his website www.johnhartfiction.com.



The book's story follows a 30-something lawyer Jackson Workman "Work" Pickens who comes to a crisis of direction in his life albeit when his missing father turns up dead and he's identified as a possible suspect in his death. Pickens is worried sick his sister may be involved with their father's death and he goes to desperate lengths to protect her...

Overall, most of enjoyed the book although some of the the central character's actions were considered bone-headed and that led to a fair amount of discussion. The mystery story itself was appreciated and a couple noted a local Charlotte restuarant that drew their attention too. It is a kick to read a book with local settings which you've actually seen.

As a good sign for the writer John Hart, several asked if the writer has another book coming out soon and double-checking his personal website this week I see that he does. It is entitled Down River and its release date is early October.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Childhood favorite bound for the big screen--

I suppose I read The Hardy Boys series like any boy who enjoys reading and what's not to love with kids several years your senior solving adult mysteries? Of course, with a brother 14 months younger, it made the adventures seem a little more real. In fact, when I read those books, this is one of them with the same cover:

Of course, it is not surprise for fictional characters to last for years and years, they will change with the times or have some sort of reincarination. So, that's the case with the Hardys too. I read this week on the Entertainment Weekly website that the detective team will come to the movie screen in the coming future as adults in an action/comedy "The Hardy Men" starring Tom Cruise and Ben Stiller.

While this certainly is an interesting idea, is it a good idea? I'm curious what the writer(s) come up with here.