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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.