Double Cross - James Patterson

After reading "Cross", the Alex Cross installment right before this one, I knew I had to read the current best seller.  Luckily for me a, friend had it in hardback and I am one week into it and it is a humdinger of a story.

I have read several of the Alex Cross installments by James Patterson and they are some real page-turners to say the least.  All of the chapters are short, to the point and each one forces you to keep reading until the book is finished.  I think Mr. Patterson is so popular these days because people are fascinated with forensics, murder, death and meyhem and that's all there is to it.  With show's like the L&O and CSI franchises which everybody is hooked on, the only logical step is to also be hooked on James Pattersons, Alex Cross character - if for no other reason, because he's a nice mix of all the TV shows when you get tired of watching TV and want to enjoy a real good book sometimes.

Morgan Freeman played Alex Cross in one or two of the film versions of several books and as far as I'm concerned, Morgan Freeman is Alex Cross.  He is all that I see in my minds eye while reading an Alex Cross novel.

Anyway, "Double Cross" has psychos and then some more psychos and it's all kind of scary because you'd like to think these kind of people don't exist, but we all know they are out there.   There's the DCAK, killing people in the most unusual way -  with hundreds of witnesses - at a play, at a huge football game, on the freeway, from a high-rise...you get the idea.

The killers are taunting Cross because they each have a score to settle with him.   Oh yes, there are at least two killers involved and they are "psycho-pathetic" and beyond redemption. 

I'm sure I'll finish this one sometime this week.  Even while reading fast, I'll be reading slow because I'll hate for the story to end. 

Black Lightning by John Saul

I first started reading books by John Saul years ago - can't recall how many years ago.    His very first book I'm aware of is "Suffer the Children.  A chilling story about strange goings on in a small town.  It seems in most of his stories young children are the usual victims of strange deaths and other mayhem. 

I recently finished "The Homing" also by John Saul and it was a frightening tale about insects running amuck in a desert town.   The kids in this story were adolescents, with raging hormones and rebellious spirits that drove the adults crazy.

Nevertheless, it was a very good read.   John Sauls story always seem to come from some dark place in the human psyche which usually ends up being very disturbing because I for one believe most of it is, well...plausible.  

At the end of "the Homing"  there was an introduction or excerpt from another tale to you to the bone involving a serial killer called "Black Lightning" and it is a doozy.   I am trying to read it while also reading Deborah Santana's book, the Space Between the Stars."

"Black Lightning" is a huge distraction because it's unlike any John Saul book I've ever read before and it's very scary.   Until now, "The God Project" was my favorite John Saul book, but it looks like "Black Lightning" is making it's way up to the number one spot.  

Ok, I am down to the last fifteen pages of this story and I'm getting really scared and worried.  This book has been one shocking thing after another.  At first, I thought...no, that can't be it.  Now it's beginning to look like...this is it and "IT" is downright frightening.  

Ok, I finished the book and I felt the ending was somewhat of a let down.  I hate it when that happens.  The story was still riveting and scary just the same.  It had to do with split personalities, suspended animation and realizing that anything truly can happen.

The Space Between the Stars by Deborah Santana

One Sunday a few weeks ago, I was watching a PBS station and an author, Deborah Santana was discussing her book "The Space Between the Stars."  I jotted down the title and made a mental to browse it online. 

At the time I was reading "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz - a book I'd had for years, but just recently felt the need to read it.   In it's introduction is mentioned the "space in-between" and he was referring to the stars - and I thought to myself "hey, this cannot be a coincidence; because I do not believe incoincidences."  

At that point, I felt compelled to have "The Space Between the Stars" I went to ebay and  found it at a reasonable price.  In less than a week, I had it in my possession.  Needless to say, it is a wonderful book by the ex-wife of the rock/blues icon Carlos Santana.   

I recently learned they are now divorced after 34 years of marriage and three children together.  She is a very colorful and poetic writer.  Her story telling is musical, warm and spiritual.    

Deborah Santana and I have from what I've read so far, two things in common.  She has worked for a "phone company" right out of high school and she grew up in a Pentacostal church as a child which instilled the fear of God in her at a very young age. 

It is not a book that I want to rush through.  It is loaded with details and feelings about the things that have happened to  her throughout her life that have made her who she is today.  I want to take my time reading it;  to savor the words on the page and picture the scenes in my minds eye.  I can already feel it's a story I hope, will never end.

I am currently reading about her first date with Sly Stone with whom she ended up falling deeply in love with.  He in turn did not appreciate her and ended up treating her very badly to put it mildly. Really there is no mild side to that type of behavior.  If he's still living he should be ashamed of himself. Deborah's mother wrote her a beautiful poem summarizing her short but tumultuous relationship with Sly Stone.

Right after Sly; she fell very hard For Carlos Santana who in comparison seems to be a kinder and gentler soul.  They are on a spiritual journey together and madly in love with life and each other. 

The story of her life is very engrossing not just because of the musicians she's been with but because of her spirit and strength.  Even while she's with Carlos, in the back of her mind she's thinking what she needs to be doing for herself.

Welcome

If you are receiving this email it's because I have your email address and I consider you a friend.  You may have met me at a venue for live music in Atlanta such as Maddy's in Decatur, Fat Matt's Rib Shack, Marlow's, Blind Willie's, etc.  More than likely at one of Chicago Joe Jones' gig at one of those places.

I was usually the one up, cuttin' the rug to a tune I couldn't sit down on.  It has always been my intention to spread "RuthieWorld Cheer" wherever I go and the best way to spread that cheer is through dance - if you ask me.

I am attempting to establish a presence on the web and thought the best way to accomplish that is through my friendships with the many wonderful people I met while living in Atlanta for the last 20 years.  I am amazed at how fast that many years have gone by.

I am currently living in Bainbridge, GA. a small town about a 4 hour drive SW of Atlanta.  It's an interesting lil town not far from the Florida border and close to Tallahassee.  There's not much live music in Bainbridge to speak of, but nice and quaint just the same. 

I hope you'll let me entertain you with my stories about life in a small Georgia town.  I'll try and keep it interesting and un-usual.