Reading response 1

Book: Don't Blink

By: James Patterson

Don't Blink is a mystery novel. I bought it at a used book store in Soldotna Alaska during a missions trip. It has been suspenseful, action-packed, and mysterious full of twist and turns that I love trying to predicting.

The book is told in the first person view of Journalist Nick Daniels as he tries to find out who murdered a mafia lawyer. He quickly realizes he cannot trust anyone when investigating this horrendous crime. Nick was in the restaurant when the crime occurred and witnessed not only the lawyer killed but also two police men. After several days of his own investigation he finds himself visited in another restaurant by a stranger.

Page:143

"I don't know yet," I said, "But for sure the cops sitting at the other end of the counter might. Would you like me to call them over?"

I have to admit I felt pretty smug pointing out the two policemen in uniform saddled up to the counter with their coffees about a dozen stools away.

 But the stranger-Doug?- didn't even bother to look. He kept his eyes trained on mine.

"The last time you were in a restaurant with two cops- that didn't work out too well, did it? I don't think so."

I suddenly didn't feel so smug, or protected, either.

Nick is a bit of a wild card.  In many ways he reminds me of my brother. they are both not afraid of anything, quick witted, and love being the hero. That mentality obviously isn't the safest way to deal with situations and gets Nick in trouble through out the book.

Page 130

"Shut up!" he barked at the poor girl. " You're fired." 

Fired? You've got to be kidding.

"what are you doing? she was only trying to help me," I said, dumbfounded. "I was a customer here, too. actually, I am a customer. I was about to have a steak."

My new best friend, Jason, gave me a drop-dead stare. "was I talking to you?"

"You are now."

This is a great example of Nick jumping into a situation that might not be the best to get involved in. In fact he gets beat up because of it. He is like any other hero in any other story. to be honest James Patterson wasn't exactly original with this character. nothing about him screams unique. Nick isn't the only character who makes me suffer from deja vu, but he is definitely the most predictable. 

I must say that I am impressed with Patterson's writing. although i may be a little board by the characters, the plot keeps you on edge. he in fact gives off the idea that you should not trust anyone! every person Nick talks to either winds up dead, or turns on him. It truly makes the reader feel a little paranoid themselves. the best example of this is when Nick is kiddnapped by Eddie Pinero a mafia boss.

page 118

So this is it. I couldn't help thinking, this is how i die. what a joke.

Not while fleeing an attack by the Janjaweed militia in Darfur, or by catching typhoid fever, as I did a couple of years back in India while doing a piece on the prime minister, Manmohan Singh.

No I go down in my own backyard, New York City. All because of a recording I had never intended to make.

Christ, how did Eddie Pinero find out about me so fast then again, am I really that surprised? he probably has more people on his payroll than the NYPD.

Nick drives off to what could possibly be his death, but in true hero fashion he proves he won't die because he is sarcastic. No one can die while being sarcastic (it is a rule of writing)! He escapes this dangerous scene but soon realizes he may never be safe again. It leaves a question though how many chances does nick have before he runs out of luck.