Posted on 04/23/2012 6:01:48 PM PDT by hampdenkid
Have any of my fellow Freepers read Lee Child's Reacher novels, and if so, did you feel like he had a political agenda? The first two I read seemed to have a definite bias against mid-America, but I thought maybe it was coincidental. The one I'm reading now -- "Echo Burning" -- goes out of its way to slam white people, Protestants, and Texans.
If Child is a liberal bigot, I want ditch his novels. Anyone here have a feel for the guy?
I’ve never really detected much liberalism. Not much deep meaning just a guy trying to get along and when he finds injustice he kicks it’s ass.
I love the books and I’ve never had the sense that they were overly political, but I do get the feeling Child, a Brit, is catering to his leftist neighbors in NYC.
Good. Thank you. I love Reacher’s kick ass attitude. But, I hate it when Child seems to paint anyone from anywhere other than the East or West coasts as a bunch of bumpkins.
Just want to make sure I’m not getting attracted to a guy who can’t keep leftwing messaging out of his prose. Towards the end, Robert Parker’s Spenser books became little more than screeds against whites and straights.
I love the stories, and can’t wait for the next one.
Lee’s a product of our schools...
I find the stereotyping doesn’t interfere with the story, though I haven’t read his latest works. Maybe it gets worse.
This is a big help. I knew i could count on my fellow Freepers for straight-forward analyses. Thanks to all who have responded.
Here, I guess, is my take.
Reacher is a guy who knows, uses, understands guns and their purpose. He doesn’t hesitate to use one on someone who deserves it.
He also loves liberty, freedom, and the right to do what you want, including just walking through the country without being hasseled.
He defend the weak, protects the innocent, and doesn’t cower from those who would harm them.
He takes action where needed but doesn’t butt into peoples business.
Nah, doesn’t sound liberal at all.
Have read them all, am usually very sensitive to left-wing propaganda, and haven’t noticed it at all in his books. The one about the religious cult you mentioned I dismissed as so over-the-top that it wasn’t really a slam on Christians. And his latest — which is actually a pre-quel to the others — involves a corrupt Senator (always a popular subject in my book) and emphasizes Reacher’s military background. I love these books.
Yeah, you’re right — Reacher is probably a libertarian. Which is fine with me.
By the way, i was real disappointed to see that Tom Cruise is going to play Reacher in the movie coming out in December. Reacher is 6’5”, Cruise barely reaches 5’7”. Reacher is 225 pounds, Cruise tips the scales at 150 soak and wet.
What the heck kind of casting is that?
You’re right — he sticks up for the little guy and isn’t afraid to deal with the bad guys. Not my definition of left-wing, at all!
BTW..I had the good fortune to meet him a few times, and get to know him personally. When the first one was published, I'd read it, ( and loved it) before it became a hit..and in reading the author's note at the end, noticed that he was living in PoundRidge, NUY. Back then I was still living in Chappaqua, which is the the next town over, and I wrote him a note on his website telling him how much I enjoyed the book, though I did offer a few gentlescritiques ( which he gracioiusly accepted when he wrote me back. We exvchanged a few emails, then he invied me to an author's night at the local bookstore in Pound Ridge, and we went out after for a beer. He 's a thoroughly nice guy..he thought he had a book in him, decided to try and write it, and was astonished at the success he's enjoyed. I told him that IMO, Reacher was the 21st century version of Travis McGee..at the time, he hadn't read any of MacDonald's books, but he read them all after I mentioned them..
I’ve read just about all of them. Usually if I pick up on a bunch of BS I just put them away until I get more liberal in my outlook. I have some really really dusty books.
The Jack Reacher series will not offend your conservative sensibilities.
Tom Cruise is going to play Reacher in the movie coming out in December . . . .
DO YOU KNOW WHICH BOOK THIS MOVIE WILL BE BASED ON?
I don’t think Lee Child is liberal bigot. Maybe he leans left a little bit. Jack Reacher is the man. I’ve read all of the books. The only problem is that Tom Cruise will be playing him in the movie? Really? I would have cast the actor named Chance Kelly. He played Godfather in HBO series Generation Kill. Not Tom Cruise.
The books are awesome. Depends on what you mean by liberalism. If you see Iraq as liberal nation building, then yeah, probably a little liberal. If you see Iraq as a mistake in retrospect, then it reads libertarian.
I guess I never saw that bias - he does occasionally have a small-town sheriff character, but there’s also always a “good guy/gal” in the same mold, it seems. I like the novels, they’re a good 2 plane rides when I go TDY.
I’ve read every one and always look forward to his next one. It takes Lee 18 months to write one and I read it non-stop in three days. I’m on his web site.
Tom Cruise???? Reacher is like 6’5 weighs about 250 and they’re going to use Cruise??? What stupidity!!!!! Jason Statham is the guy to use. Or at the least Sylvester Stallone.
He sucks when it comes to writing about guns. All the stupid he puts in his books could be fixed by 5 minutes of even Google about calibers and ballistics.
I think he’s a pandering hack.
I have read all but the latest one. I love them. Jack Reacher does the right thing every time. My son loves them also.
That pi$$ed me off...Reacher gets in a lot of physical scrapes and part of the solutions is that Reacher is bigger or equal in size to the bad guys...and he kicks butt...Chuck Norris would run from Jack Reacher.
There is no way Tom Cruise can pull it off and even though I have the entire series in hardbound (love 'em), I won't go to see the movie.
I like his books and have detected no agenda except individual responsibility and the desire to be left alone.
I will say Child does not know about firearms and should get a proof reader who can help him with obvious errors. That would increase the enjoyment for me and other savvy gun owners without compromising the stories at all.
Studio magic, I guess. My thought on who would make a good Reacher... Liam Neisen, Tom Selik (maybe too old), Maybe even the guy who played Aragorn in LOTR.
BUt NOT Tom Cruise!!! no way no how!
Any more thoughts???
He doesn’t ask them why, he just takes care of them.
He's not preaching liberal tripe, but sometimes I get the feeling he is not far from wanting to do it. Again, I put it down to his being a Brit and not understanding the basis for some American viewpoints.
Stallone is only 5’9”.
The movie is based on the novel One Shot.
Here’s the IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790724/
Nominations to play Reacher: Brock Lessner.
“Echo Burning” is my favorite Reacher book, perhaps because it was the first one I read. I absolutely love the scene in the beginning of the book where he messes up that cop at the bar (not knowing he was a cop—just thought he was a regular creep) and sneaks out of town.
I’ve read them all now. His latest is excellent; he’s had a couple clunkers, too, IMO. In fact, I told myself if his latest book wasn’t better than the last two, I wasn’t going to read any more of them. But he was back in form and I’m still a fan.
I absolutely understand where you’re coming from about the liberal bias of some authors these days. I’ve erased several authors from my read list because they just couldn’t keep their liberal idiocy out of their fiction. Guess they have enough readers and don’t need me.
While I agree with Jason Statham, I also like Hugh Jackman.
Okay, Stallone at 5’9 vs fancy pants Cruise???? I go for Mel Gibson if they want to use short guys too. But Cruise????
My only thing with Stratham though would be his accent. Reacher is American so that would be a problem. I’m still gagging over the fact that Cruise will play the part. Leave it to Holly-gag to totally mess up a good character/story. “Shooter” comes to mind - based on the book “Point of Impact”
They may as well have cast Pee Wee Herman. What a horrible decision.
Maybe with enough people writing to complain they might change. Nah, don’t think so. Even Arnie sounds good.
Plus the fact that he also doesn’t have the size.
Jack Reacher is a 6’5”, 250 lbs bad ass that will throw a piece of furniture at your head if nothing else is handy.
It’s the very essence of his character; he’s huge, intimidating, and uncontrollable. He is a force of nature.
I just cannot believe that Lee Child supports this choice.
I think the guy that played the Comedian in Watchmen could do it if he bulked up. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0604747/
Cruise must have bought the rights. Or, Child wants a "name" for his movie to do well. Neither one will fill Reacher's shoes.
The movie’s already made.
The movie will be based on “One Shot” — which I thought was outstanding.
Here’s a pretty good piece on Cruise playing Reacher. Apparently Child has no problem with it.
I would have selected Jason Statham. Or Tim Tebow. :)
Rats. Well it’s one I won’t go and see.
My mind has been polluted. I can’t read another Reacher book without comparing Cruise in there as him.
As another poster wrote: Cruise may have bought the rights to the movie or Lee Child wanted a name. I remember watching an old movie with the family titled “Von Ryan’s Express” - In the book, Von Ryan, an American pilot captured by the Germans steals a train, etc, etc. In the book, Von Ryan is a 6’ blond haired, blue eyed guy. who played the part??? Frank Sinatra.
I would have selected Jason Statham. Or Tim Tebow. :)
WHEN I STARTED READING THE REACHER BOOKS, I ENVISIONED LIAM NEESON FOR THE PART OF JACK-NONE-REACHER.
But Tom Cruise? If they go that route, why not Dustin Hoffman?
I found out the name of the movie is “One Shot” - I could see Cruise as the shooter but not as Reacher. Good Grief!!!
I don’t see Reacher as overly muscled. He is just tall and big. Cruise is short and buff, but that won’t make Reacher. That and the stupid grin he has. I have a feeling that Reacher doesn’t grin to often.
I was really enjoying these books until echo burning. Clearly Lee knows nothing about Texas and nothing about the brave men and women who risk their lives every day protecting our borders. He should be ashamed of portraying them in such an evil light. Not one more dime will he get from me.
I have read Reacher novels- always considered to be modern Macdonald Travis Mcgee type- minus houseboat and water
The latest Reacher novel “wanted” had so many bad reviews I passed it up and I was a fan of all the earlier Reacher novels.
Same thing with Randy Wayne White who I would say is closer to a Travis Mcgee figure. Just a couple of years ago his name was very popular, and then he went down hill.
Its a shame when a noted author loses his or her appeal.
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