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A review by alex_ellermann
No Middle Name: The Complete Collected Jack Reacher Short Stories by Lee Child
4.0
The Jack Reacher character has spawned 24 books and two movies. I liked both movies, so I figured it was time to give the books a chance.
"No Middle Name" is a collection of Jack Reacher stories that, for the most part, hew to a simple formula: the titular Reacher shows up somewhere, outsmarts some evildoer(s), beats up some evildoer(s), and goes on his way. I think I can reasonably assume that this is the same formula as full-length Jack Reacher novels.
And hey, y'know what? These stories are pretty good! They aren't navel-gazing, MFA in Creative Writing bullshirt. They're solid tales well told, and I lost track of time while reading them. Author Lee Child's writing style is workmanlike, and these stories probably won't lead you toward deep thoughts about the meaning of life. But they rocket right along, they don't overstay their welcome, and they add up to a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.
Will I now be in a hurry to read some proper Jack Reacher novels? I don't think I'll seek them out; I've "got it," if that makes sense. If, however, I were to find myself in a bookstore with nothing to read, I'd be perfectly happy picking up another book by Lee Child. This guy knows how to tell a story.
"No Middle Name" is a collection of Jack Reacher stories that, for the most part, hew to a simple formula: the titular Reacher shows up somewhere, outsmarts some evildoer(s), beats up some evildoer(s), and goes on his way. I think I can reasonably assume that this is the same formula as full-length Jack Reacher novels.
And hey, y'know what? These stories are pretty good! They aren't navel-gazing, MFA in Creative Writing bullshirt. They're solid tales well told, and I lost track of time while reading them. Author Lee Child's writing style is workmanlike, and these stories probably won't lead you toward deep thoughts about the meaning of life. But they rocket right along, they don't overstay their welcome, and they add up to a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.
Will I now be in a hurry to read some proper Jack Reacher novels? I don't think I'll seek them out; I've "got it," if that makes sense. If, however, I were to find myself in a bookstore with nothing to read, I'd be perfectly happy picking up another book by Lee Child. This guy knows how to tell a story.