I am home from Sarasota, Florida. I did a fair amount of reading while I was away, and I’ve got a few recommendations for everyone.
Due to the upcoming event with Elmore Leonard, I decided it was time to check out the man’s work. I wanted to start with a critically acclaimed earlier novel of Leonard’s. Killshot caught my eye. After reading only a few chapters, I understood why Leonard is so highly praised. He is a great writer, and has a knack for telling a gripping story.
Killshot is the story of Carmen and Wayne Colson, a married couple who manage to find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Their paths cross with that of Armand Degas, a hitman also known as the Blackbird, and Richie Nix, a demented bank robber and killer. The two criminals, in fear of the Colson’s ability to identify them, set about to kill them in spite of police involvement and the witness protection program. However, the Colson’s are not the average couple, and Degas and Nix discover that they may be unable to meet the challenge.
I was hooked by Killshot from chapter one, and I would recommend the novel for first-time Leonard readers. Leonard’s character development is great, his language is creative and original, and the story is worth your time. Even if you don’t like crime fiction or mysteries, if you are a fan of fiction at all, you won’t be disappointed by this book.
Moving forward, since I was at the beach I figured reading a pirate novel made sense. Some months back, John informed me that John Steinbeck’s first novel, Cup of Gold, was an excellent book to read while looking at water. Being a fan of Steinbeck already, I decided to take the book along with me. I’m glad I did, the novel was entertaining and informative, giving a concise and readable account of the life and adventures of Captain Henry Morgan.
My first experience with Steinbeck came through reading Cannery Row. That novel helped propel me into my love for reading, and I have revered Steinbeck ever since. Cup of Gold is interesting because it allows the reader to see Steinbeck in his earliest years as a published writer. I read a few reviews of the novel, and some have suggested that Cup of Gold is an excellent book for young writers to read in order to see a great writer’s humble beginnings. Check this novel out if you want to see Steinbeck in historical fiction action, or if you’re interested in seeing his transition from a good writer to a fantastic one.
Lastly, treading nonfiction territory, I’ve been reading Francis S. Collins’s The Language of God. Collins is a devout Christian and devout evolutionist. He is head of the Human Genome Project, and is renowned in the scientific community. His book attempts to bridge the gap between the communities of faith and science. The Language of God spells out Collins’s reasons for subscribing to Darwinian evolution. At the same time, Collins delves into philosophical territory, acknowledging the fact that science will never be able to answer the fundamental questions of what it means to be human–his reason for practicing faith. Collins also spells out his reasoning for being a theistic evolutionist, and how these terms do not have to clash.
The book spells out many of the terms kicked around between scientists and believers, including Young Earth Creationism, Intelligent Design, and Theistic Evolution. Regardless of where one stands in relation to evolution, creationism, intelligent design, etc., Collin’s book is intelligent, elegant, and respectful. He is a refreshing and much-needed voice for the clashing communities of faith and science.
-Ellis
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