From THE TIMES and NEWS-STAR, Jan. 4
The best book I read in 2014 was two books, the second of
which had been available since 1978.
Better late than never.
Herman Wouk's World War II daily double, the historical
novels "Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance," was my
ride of the year. Mercy. And if I can this year watch the miniseries that was
so big in the 1980s, I'll die a happy man.
Wouk's effort comes on the heels of my favorite series
read last year, Rick Atkinson's WWII non-fiction Liberation Trilogy, and Steig
Larsson's "Dragon Tattoo" trilogy in 2012.
All three had been available for a few years before I
read them. The good thing about being late to the party is you don"t have
to wait for the author to complete the series. Hollah!
I would have read none of the above unless friends had
suggested them. A dicey maneuver, suggesting books. But I'd rather cull through
the misses than miss the good ones. While we have different tastes and what
floats my boat might not float yours, we still need to throw caution to the
wind and suggest, with qualifiers. (Such as, "You might hate this, but I
loved it!" That warning gets you off the
hook.)
So please keep the suggestions coming. Here are my
favorites of 2014, behind Wouk's home run, which I can't recommend enough. (I
enjoyed Wouk's "Don't Stop the Carnival" years ago, and have his
"The Caine Mutiny" on tap for this year. Joy!)
Best of Authors I Hadn't Read Before: Phillip Meyer is
relatively new on the scene. "The Son" is the best Texas-Western saga
I've read since Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove." These next three
were, like "The Son," recommended, enjoyed and deeply appreciated and
I'll be back for more: "The Rewrite Man," a Hollywood novel by Bryan
Forbes (1982); "The Kill Artist" by Daniel Silva (1998), my
introduction to Israeli spy Gabriel Allon; "Heartstone" by Phillip
Margolin (1978), written in an elementary style (his first of many novels) but
with twists you won't figure out.
Biggest Surprise: Not close. "Kiss Me Like a
Stranger" by Gene Wilder
(2005) was not only well-written but informative -- if
you're a Wilder fan as I've been since "Willie Wonka" -- and
emotional. The deeply talented Wilder shares in a helpful and moving way.
Favorites From Old Reliables: "Deadwood" (1986)
and "Paris Trout"
(1987) by former newspaperman Pete Dexter. The first is
filled with conversation like the kind in the movie "Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid." The second is equally real and disturbing dialogue from
disturbing characters. "The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and The Fire That
Saved America? (2009) by Timothy Egan is carried even more by Egan's wonderful
writing than it is by the story of a 1910 wildfire that had a decent shot at
burning up the Pacific Northwest.
Best Autobiography: No question. "His Ownself: A
Semi-Memoir" by Dan Jenkins, who long ago retired the "Teddy's
Favorite Author" trophy.
His newest effort, "Unplayable Lies," sweeps up
stories from the PGA Tour and goat-ranch courses of his youth; it will be
available for your reading and laugh-out-loud pleasure in February.
Best Semi-Biography: "The Mantel of Command: FDR at
War, 1941-42"
(2004) by Nigel Hamilton. Obviously I enjoy work on WWII,
but this is peeking into the back rooms of American policy and witnessing a
polio-stricken man holding his country and clashing egos together and getting
them to pull in the same direction during the most pivotal time of the 20th
century. Hamilton is working on Part II.
Special Salute: To screenwriter and novelist William
Goldman for "Adventures in the Screen Trade" (1983) and "Which
Lie Did I Tell"
(2000), part memoir and part advice, a lyrical narration
of the stories behind the people who make our movies. (A lot of times, boys and
girls, they're winging it.)
There are more, but this chapter must end here since this
is, after all, not a book. A quick thank-you to my stand-bys like Elmore
Leonard and John D. MacDonald, and to my friends who have the kindness to say
now and then, "Hey, have you read...?"
(HA! As I typed that last sentence my phone rang. My main
man Dr. Pat Garrett said, "I've got a box of books for you. Just came in.
Be over in five or 10 minutes." Hung up. Thank you Dr. Garrett! Thank you,
Lord! Thank you, Dewey Decimal and Guy Who Invented the Printing Press! I am
usually not an exclamation point guy, but this could be a really good year.)
Got any 2015 suggestions? Bring it! Happy New Year and
Happy Reading.
