The Push by Tommy Caldwell

After finishing A Wanted Man on September 16, I had a few days to get back to Chernow's Hamilton.  Then when it was our turn for The Push by Tommy Caldwell from the library, I gladly put Hamilton down again and started this on September 28 finishing on October 12.  The Husband read it immediately after me.

I'll preface this with this fact: I love reading books about mountain climbing.  I don't particularly like climbing mountains.  I'm not certain what it is that I find so utterly alluring about mountain climbing books, but they are fascinating to me.

The Husband and I saw a movie called "The Dawn Wall" on September 19th.  This is the documentary of Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson's first ascent of the Dawn Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite.  In addition to books about climbing mountains, I also really enjoy movies about climbing mountains.  I personally don't like to climb mountains.  I've spent a few hours (total) in indoor climbing gyms, and it is fun.  But I really don't have a desire to go out and climb an actual mountain.  I like seeing mountains and appreciate their sheer beauty, but I don't have the desire to climb one.  If you haven't seen it or even heard about it - watch the trailer.  I guarantee you'll want to see the movie.

At the end of the movie, after the credits roll, Tommy came onscreen and talked about his book, The Push.  Of course, The Husband and I really wanted to read it.  It duplicates a lot of what is in the movie but in much more detail.  As with other climbing books I've read, climbers all seem to have this fire and drive within themselves, an obsession, to be on the mountain constantly pushing themselves for more.  As Tommy said, "We are capable of so much more than we can imagine."

It's true.  I think that is part of what I enjoy about reading these books - I get to meet (through their words) people who accomplish such amazing feats - more amazing than even they (sometimes) can imagine.  It's about challenge and living up to and through the challenge.  It inspires me to live up to the challenges in my life.  They may not actually be mountains made of rock and dirt, but they are mountains (or hills) nonetheless.  I love tales about overcoming obstacles.  The Push certainly illustrates that Tommy Caldwell has overcome more than his fair share of obstacles, and he's not nearly done yet.

See the movie and read this book.  They are amazing and inspiring.

A Wanted Man by Lee Child

After finishing Relic on September 6, I picked up A Wanted Man by Lee Child.  I started this on September 7 (happy birthday to my brother) and finished it on September 16.

Oh, Lee Child, you do know how to spin an addicting and entertaining book.  This is another in the Jack Reacher series from Lee Child, and like the others, does not disappoint.

Also like the others, we meet Jack Reacher in the middle of nowhere hitching a ride.  This ride, like some of the others, begins a hellish, nightmarish, and twisty few days for Reacher and others.

There was a murder in a small town, and the FBI have been called in (among others) to figure out what happened.  Reacher gets picked up on the highway and becomes wrapped up in the situation.

As always, Reacher's keen eye and cop's mentality help him figure things out.  Also as usual, his military experience and contacts help him out, as does his mental and physical toughness.

There were some twists and turns I didn't anticipate, including the fact that this is one of the few novels (spoiler alert) in which Reacher doesn't get the girl.

These are entertaining books, quick reads, and I always like them.  If you need some mind candy (what I call quick, easy, entertaining books), you can give this series a try.  Unlike some other series books, I don't think it is super important to read these in order.