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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
The question I asked myself while reading this book was "is this really how Washington DC works?" I have to believe that there is some truth mixed into the fiction. Although I appreciated the strong women portrayed throughout this book, I don't feel that the 1950's would have allowed them this. With all that said this book had a John Grisham feel with the underdog verses the bug establishment.
Mostly fun to read, with an interesting historical backdrop. With respect, however, I think Mr. Tapper is better suited for nonfiction or spoken word.
I won a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway.
What did I think?
It was fine. Only fine.
Parts of it were fun, and there is something to be said for Tapper's historical research to make the book feel somewhat authentic. (I guess I don't know for sure, I certainly wasn't around in the 1950s.)
But then right after one of those authentic-seeming moments, a character would do something like worry about if they were using the "correct gender pronoun" for someone. (This actually happened.)
This certainly wouldn't have been on anyone's mind in the 1950s, and it was just such a glaring hole through which you could almost see the late 2010s waving and yelling 'HELLO!'
There was a tighter and more suspenseful story in here than the one that was told, and I almost had to fight as the reader to make it the focus while Tapper spent chapters on wild horses and their migration patterns...or something like that.
Including real life people into a fictional world was interesting, especially with Sen. McCarthy and Roy Cohn, since our current White House occupant has a Cohn poster up in his bedroom.
All in all, this really isn't a bad book. Especially by comparison to some real stinkers I've read in this genre before. So this one is fun if you're willing to turn off your brain a bit.
What did I think?
It was fine. Only fine.
Parts of it were fun, and there is something to be said for Tapper's historical research to make the book feel somewhat authentic. (I guess I don't know for sure, I certainly wasn't around in the 1950s.)
But then right after one of those authentic-seeming moments, a character would do something like worry about if they were using the "correct gender pronoun" for someone. (This actually happened.)
This certainly wouldn't have been on anyone's mind in the 1950s, and it was just such a glaring hole through which you could almost see the late 2010s waving and yelling 'HELLO!'
There was a tighter and more suspenseful story in here than the one that was told, and I almost had to fight as the reader to make it the focus while Tapper spent chapters on wild horses and their migration patterns...or something like that.
Including real life people into a fictional world was interesting, especially with Sen. McCarthy and Roy Cohn, since our current White House occupant has a Cohn poster up in his bedroom.
All in all, this really isn't a bad book. Especially by comparison to some real stinkers I've read in this genre before. So this one is fun if you're willing to turn off your brain a bit.
Good start to a politcal series. Loved the intrigue with the history mixed in.
Just keep reading
Decent There are a lot of twists and turns but they all com near the end. Hold out it gets good and just shows what lengths some may go for politics.
Decent There are a lot of twists and turns but they all com near the end. Hold out it gets good and just shows what lengths some may go for politics.
I do love a good political thriller, especially one set in the relatively near past. This one is layered and benefits from having an author who spends a lot of time observing and analyzing people in power.
There may or may not be a mystery there, but I’m not wasting my time for it to arrive.
Half way through and we are still marveling at the ponies.
2 stars because clearly the author researched the period but failed to bring them to life.
Half way through and we are still marveling at the ponies.
2 stars because clearly the author researched the period but failed to bring them to life.
3.5 stars. Loved the historical fiction aspect and the window I got into 1950s conflicts. Ultimately, this book was too slow for my liking and although the ending was satisfyingly action packed, felt wrapped up a bit too neatly.
I thought this was okay, but I probably would have been better off reading instead of listening.