Paul Sweeney
Well, Memorial Day has passed, and summer is edging closer and closer. Of course living in Florida makes that less exciting than it was when growing up in Philadelphia. I remember the ice cream trucks, the lightning bugs and the picnics in the park, but of course it was the last bell on the last day of school that really made it all perfect. I suddenly had hours and hours to read whatever I picked and had no tests to see how well I read it. Of course when I moved to Florida and began teaching, that last bell of the school year brought the same promises, so I dedicate this month's MADDERLY REVIEW to all of the students and teachers out there. Have a wonderful summer reading just what makes you happy.
On another note, I was lucky enough to hear Jeffrey Deaver speak this past week and found that he is almost as good a speaker as a writer. The venue was terrific...a cozy room in the local library that sat approximately 150 people. He began by reading his book to us, and I was afraid that this would be an endless hour. Being a master of suspense, he knew just where to stop though, and he then told us a bit about himself and his varied careers. He kept us laughing throughout his presentation and the time flew. I love hearing authors explain how they got from the initial stack of rejections to the New York Times best sellers list, and Mr. Deaver's story didn't disappoint. He proved, as most author's prove, that perseverance is key to most successful ventures. I can't wait to read The Skin Collector, his latest thriller.
Speaking of thrillers, someone asked me to name the one that most stands out in my mind. Believe it or not, in 1983 I read a book entitled Fallback by Peter Niesewand. I remember reading something halfway through the book that caused me to heave it across the room. It was mostly a thriller but spiced with a bit of Scifi. If you can find a copy anywhere, grab it up, read it ASAP and let me know what you think?
We are off to New York this weekend to visit friends and family. Even though the book seller's convention is there (and tempting) this weekend, the only book related thing I have planned is reading on the plane. This is a time to be spent with friends and family catching up and eating great food. We are going to try Jonathan Waxman's restaurant, Barbuto, and I will have a full report next time. Until then...happy reading.