Deception by Randy Alcorn; 2007; Multnomah Books, Colorado Spring, CO ; 490 pages; 978-1-59052-616-3; 9/28-10/3

I saw more of the message of this book, this time around.  I was very intrigued by the Portland setting the first time I read this, back in July of 2007.  This is a book that Josh McDowell would appreciate.

Ollie Chandler is a rumpled homicide detective who looks like a cross between a bulldog, Sam Spade and Mike Hammer.  He wants to be a detective out of Mickey Spillane or Raymond Chandler, but he comes across more as a lovable loser, good at his job, perhaps too good.  Ollies’ mantra is “follow the evidence”  no matter where it leads.  In this case it leads right back to several of the detectives he works with, possibly even back to himself.  He follows every bit of evidence, including several red herrings, tossed in for good measure.  Almost every character in the book is taking part in some sort of deception, even Ollie himself.  This deception is not only occuring on the physical level but also on a spiritual level, Ollie is confronted by the Christian faith throughout the book by two columnists for the Portland Tribune, all three of them have been confronted with death one way or another.  This is a book where the evidence demands a verdict, Ollies friends’ challenge him to examine the evidence and follow it wherever it leads, Ollie resists until the very end, questioning his friends as much as himself.  The Vietnam War, cancer, old age, Downs  syndrome and hypocriscy all figure into the subplots.  The question that this raises for me is not how am I being deceived by others but how am I deceiving myself?  The Portland setting made this interesting with Flying Pie Pizzeria and Dea’s In and Out being places I have been.  RRRR

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.  A different life I hope in some ways.  Today I weigh in at about 333 pounds.  My doctors tell me I need to be around 200 pounds.  I got up at 5AM today and went walking from 5:22-5:55.  Usually when I was walking before I observed my surroundings, today it was all about just getting through the walk, today the only time I paid attention to details was when there was something in my way, or I crossed the street.  I think in all that time I took I walked about a mile and a half.  I want to get up every morning and walk (eventually run) and get down to 200 pounds.  It will help my body feel better, give me more energy and allow me to be around to annoy my sons for many years to come.  I want to be able to run a 5K and pretend that I am running with Pre, Shorter and Wottle.  Usain Bolt is way too fast for me too even pretend to run with.

X Wing, The Bacta War by Michael A. Stackpole; 1997; 349 pages; Bantam Books, New York, NY; 0-553-56804-3; 9/25-9/28

No longer an official part of the Rebel Alliance, Rogue Squadron fights a guerilla war against Ysanne Isard  who has taken control of Thyferra, the center of Bacta production for the galaxy.  Central to the story here are the interactions among the members of Rogue Squadron and the interactions between Isard and her few followers.  The book is character driven than action driven, the way all the different members of the two groups in central, not to say that there is not lots of action in this book.   It is another great addition to the Star Wars canon.  RRRR

My Soul to Keep by Davis Bunn; 2007;395 pages; Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, MN; 978-0-7642-0435-7; 9/22-9/25

Davis Bunns’ books are so compelling and gripping that I have trouble putting them down to do those that I get paid to do or that need doing around the house.  I have to pick up a book by someone else that I can easily put down.

Brent Stark is an Oscar winner who watched someone else accept his Oscar because he was in prison for driving drunk and almost killing someone.  While he is in prison he comes to faith in God which dramatically changes who he is.  After he gets out he starts a landscaping business and acts in community theatre, never taking the main role and making those he is working with look exteremly good.  He is approached by a group who want him to direct and star in a movie, this group wants to make uplifting family movies of high quality.  After seeking out two people who he had hurt immensely and seeking their forgiveness and participation in the project, he decides to carry on.  Their is a major Hollywood Studio coming out with a similar project at the same time and they do everything in their power to derail the project Brent is involved in.  It is the power of God versus the power of the World, and you can guess who wins.  A real page turner, that was incredibly difficult to put down, I always want more of the story when I am done.  There are two passages in here that I will never forget, one about how a good director galavanizes his crew and the image of the production companys name and logo.  RRRR

Heartland by Davis Bunn; 2006; Westbow Press, Nashville, TN; 391pages; 978-1-5955-4203-8; 9/20-9/22

Cowboy JayJay Parsons unexpectedly arrives in Hollywood and becomes the star of a TV show that seems to be a dramatization of his life.  Here is a hero for today, knows he is not perfect but has a strong moral compass.  As he lives his life the only way he knows how he exposes the corruption around him and enables those who wish to find the best in themselves.  Throughout the story there are portions that caused goosebumps and even moved me to get choked up.  JayJay is not sure why he is where he is but he gets advice from a pastor who reminds him to lean on his faith.  That faith enables JayJay to deal with what is going on around him and spreads to those around him.  This isn’t preaching but faith being lived out in a natural way on a day to day basis.  I didn’t think I was going to like this after the first two chapters and the plot device used to get JayJay to Hollywood, but the writing is so good that I didn’t to want to put the book down after that.  I believe that I stayed up too late reading and took some extended breaks to read this.  I am now on a Davis Bunn reading binge. RRRR