Catherine Harlow has a sexual appetite, and she also is ambitious in other ways, but sometimes sex gets in her way from making rational decisions. Catherine is intelligent and she has a great job, but what has come to control her life is her frustration that she has never been able to have an orgasm. In her quest for this pleasure, she loses control over her sexual appetites and her reason, making her unable to have a normal relationship with a man.
Catherine soon becomes involved with several different men, including her much older, multi-millionaire boss, Harrison Foote III, Tom, a Welshman who is the most decent of her lovers but unable to give her an orgasm, and Homer Zudd, who lives in the basement and has strange sado-masochistic passions. All of these men want Catherine and she is apparently willing to give herself to all of them in her quest for sexual gratification.
While the novel is named for Homer Zudd, Catherine is really the main character. What I found compelling and fascinating was that Catherine could rationally find reasons to be with all men. Her indecisiveness and her sexual hunger provided an interesting portrayal into someone who seemed sexually addicted and unable always to control herself. While the men in the novel were all smitten with Catherine, only Zudd ever seemed really out of control-and even he did not lose control in his passion since he had his own reasons to want Catherine that went beyond sex.
In some ways, Zudd seemed a bit stereotypical-the crazy person who lived in the basement-but Zudd's craziness I found to be fascinating. He believes he can use Catherine to help him breed a superhuman race. It was almost like a madman scheme from a comic book, yet I found him convincing as a character.
Without giving away the plot, I will say the novel culminates in some violence, which when the book was first written in 1976 was perhaps more shocking than it is today. The novel is set in New York, and destruction of the city is threatened in the novel, and the city is also violent and immoral. What may have been unthinkable back in 1976 is today too likely after the events of 9/11. I think Alan Grossberg will probably hit a real chord with this novel.
While some women may find Catherine's character belittling to women, the truth of the matter is that there are sexual addicts out there who make bad decisions because they cannot handle their cravings. I read the book and Catherine's relationship with Zudd especially as an example of what can happen when a person does not control her or his desires. The borderline into insanity or an inability from stopping oneself from what is wrong or just not healthy is not that hard to cross.
I think anyone who enjoys a lot of action and erotic love scenes, with a little sado-masochism on the side-in other words, a mature and not easily offended reader-will enjoy "Zudd" by Alan Grossberg. I personally found the character portrayals well-developed, which for me was the strong point of the novel. Female readers may find Catherine offensive, but I think male readers will simply find the novel entertaining.
Ask a writer to define him or her self and you'll often get a wordy exposition on the meaning of life, referred to as plot dump. There's always been a great deal of hubris among "serious" writers. They consider themselves among the most interesting people on the planet. If you happen to meet one or two celebs they'll even have you believing them. As with the dizzying displays of cereal boxes, popular authors occupy all the shelf room while unknowns are lucky to make it to the bargain pile where I find many a good read.
Dead Writers Society In the olden days (not that old), a newly anointed would stake out a corner at a writers' cocktail party comfortable in his frayed tweed jacket puffing his vanilla scented pipe, while admirers drifted like lemmings to the scintillating monologue on his early life as an impoverished boy from a small mining town in the west. Up and coming women authors preferred the security offered by the armrest of an overstuffed club chair, where Arthur Miller, James Michener, Ayn Rand, Truman Capote, Lillian Hellman, Saul Bellow gathered to share juicy gossip. They're gone, but we have their writings.
The Money Pot of Popular Culture J.K. Rowling notwithstanding, the volumes lining today's book shelves resemble more the disappointing motion pictures lining up at the box office. With Wall Street owning Hollywood, we rarely see a winning novel successfully translate to the screen, even one as visually gorgeous as "Evening." The reason? The writing. Take for example the following narrative passage direct from the novel "Evening" by Susan Minot:
"A new lens passed over everything she saw, the shadows moved on the wall like skeletons handing things to each other. Her body was flung back over a thousand beds in a thousand other rooms. ... In her mattress there beat the feathers of a wild bird. -Susan Minot"
In my view even the skills of Michael Cunningham ("The Hours") who wrote the screenplay for "Evening" were insufficient to bring Minot's written word to the screen. Somehow her prose was lost in translation. Again it's the writing.
As with so many good writers, Robert Ludlum scored greatly with "The Bourne Identity." But the melody (yawn) lingers on as long as the movie franchise continues to make him rich. At least Ian Fleming did his Bond best to make the sex, fun and villains more innovative each time. One cannot argue with the goose that lays the golden egg, ergo the runaway successes of James Paterson, Nelson DeMille, Jeffery Deaver, Michael Connelly, DavidBaldacci, Tom Clancy. The list, of course, is longer and includes all the ladies as well: Danielle Steel, Sandra Brown, Nora Roberts, Sue Grafton, Patricia Cornwell, etc. They are masters of their craft. The public loves them, their publishers love them and everyone is happy...everyone except all the worthy writers who cannot get past publishers' or agents' gatekeepers, or they have neither the money nor the confidence to self-publish successfully.
Swimming With Writers The world is literally swimming with writers, multitudes of writers-everywhere. And the World Wide Web is one of many places where you find them. What? You say you want to be a "serious" writer and you don't think the Web is the place for your talents? Admittedly there is some bad writing on the Web. There's also bad writing and misspellings and bad grammar in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other venerable publications. Maybe some of today's tech graduates didn't bother to learn how to spell or put a sentence together.
But look at those thousands of websites. Everyone is selling something. Everyone is competing for someone's business. The ones that last are making money. They must know something. One of the things they know is how to write. Or, maybe they can't write and they hired a writer like you. Maybe you can be one of those for hire while you write your great American novel or work your other enterprise on the side. Here's a quote from one of successful author Terry McMillan's websites:"Too many of us are hung up on what we don't have, can't have, or won't ever have. We spend too much energy being down, when we could use that same energy-if not less of it-doing, or at least trying to do, some of the things we really want to do. -Terry" The Writer's Secret Terry's advice is so simple so positive. We live in a sad complicated world. But when we focus on sadness, like fear and terrorism, it drags us down to that level. Writers with vision have an enormous advantage over people who see only the darkness. The writer's secret lies in the unique vibrations they have, vibrations that become thoughts then words that translate into actions that can change attitudes. Writers can do what swimmers do-dive deep, enjoy the liberating depths of their quietude, surface, splash around and whoop out their joy to the sky. Out on the water, only God can hear. In this sizzling summer of global turmoil take the plunge. You surface as the writer you're meant to be and the world is your oyster.
I will share with you what I found when last I pried open my oyster of secrets: The swimmer says, though I cannot leave my footsteps in the ocean, it is the corporal intimate solitude of swimming that sets me free. Agreeing, the solitary writer adds, it is the ocean of my mind that frees me-the waters of pure consciousness wherein reside the footsteps of lifetimes. Unencumbered by conversation, both swimmer and writer dive deep; roam unexplored islands in the stream to be one with the distant shore.
New York Times best-selling author David Baldacci discussed his new novel, "The Collectors," on its publication day as part of the Books & Beyond series sponsored by the Library's Center for the Book. In this sequel to "The Camel Club," renegade CIA agent Roger Seagraves has set himself up in the business of freelance assassination and treason. The Camel Club, a group of four dysfunctional crime solvers that includes a Library of Congress staff member, rises to the challenge after the sudden demise of the head of the Library's Rare Book and Special Collections Division. The Library's Preservation Office plays an important role in the story, as does the "Bay Psalm Book," the earliest extant book (1640) printed in British North America, which was bequeathed to the Library in 1966 by Adrian Van Sinderen.
One thing in the United States that citizens feel is of the utmost importance is the ideal that; All Men Are Created Equally. This meaning that under the eyes of the law justice must be carried out equally. Most of us know that it is not, and that those of wealth and privilege often feel above the law and use money and influence to keep it that way. And too that point, I read an interesting book last weekend that I would indeed, like to recommend to you:
"The Winner" By David Balddacci 1997.
This novel is about an offspring of a very wealthy family who stood to inherit 100s of millions of dollars, but the money was siphoned and lost by relatives, he was determined to get what he deserved and so he devised a scheme to do just that. It involved scamming the lottery and his plan worked perfectly, until one day an award winning reporter studying how lottery winners won and then became broke in very short amount of time, and this was repeated over and over again for a decade or more. Except for one year, were all the people who won, had increased their winnings and were living a life of leisure?
The entire scheme becomes unraveled and it is one of the most intriguing novels you will read. Perhaps you may have read DavidBaldacci's other New York Times Best Seller; "Absolute Power and Total Control" also a great book. Interestingly enough, after reading this book, I understand the mindset of the main characters and I think it will also be a fun read for you as well, go get yourself a copy today!
New York Times best-selling author David Baldacci discussed his new novel, "The Collectors," on its publication day as part of the Books & Beyond series sponsored by the Library's Center for the Book. In this sequel to "The Camel Club," renegade CIA agent Roger Seagraves has set himself up in the business of freelance assassination and treason. The Camel Club, a group of four dysfunctional crime solvers that includes a Library of Congress staff member, rises to the challenge after the sudden demise of the head of the Library's Rare Book and Special Collections Division. The Library's Preservation Office plays an important role in the story, as does the "Bay Psalm Book," the earliest extant book (1640) printed in British North America, which was bequeathed to the Library in 1966 by Adrian Van Sinderen.
Has Oliver Stone met his match in Harry Finn? You will have to read "Stone Cold" to find the answer.
The Camel Club members, along with its leader Oliver Stone, are respected and feared in Washington, D.C. This club's purpose is to keep a watchful eye on what is going on and as a result they have gained both friends and enemies. There isn't anything the leaders would do to prevent The Camel Club from discovering things they do not want made public.
Stone and the other members of The Camel Club are now trying to protect Annabelle Conroy. Annabelle did something unthinkable to casino big wheel Jerry Bagger, who murdered her mother. Jerry is now out for revenge.
Harry Finn then enters the picture. Harry is just like any other normal family man but he really lives two lives. He has many skills and helps to keep us safe. Finn was hired for a job to prove that there were several flaws in the security system and was able to slip into an airport and place a bomb on a plane without anyone getting suspicious. The Department of Homeland Security got authorization for this job and hired Finn to carry it through. Finn's other job is that of an unstoppable killer and he is now out to get Oliver Stone. Men from Stone's past are turning up dead.
Now the big questions are who will win and will they both survive?
It is not a must to read these two prior books by DavidBaldacci - The Camel Club and the Collectors - but I think it would help you follow along with the story. The author has created some very interesting characters for this novel and the reader will learn to like them even though they might be someone you should have doubts about. The character I liked the best is Harry Finn because he reminds you of James Bond all over again. It is a difficult feat to top the other two books in this series but DavidBaldacci has accomplished this and more. Stone Cold is the best in the Camel Club series yet. This book has it all - spies, suspense, action, twists and turns. Be sure to add "Stone Cold" to your reading list.
