Code to Zero

Follett, Ken.  Code to Zero.

The Penguin Group, 2000, 356 pages.

 The book Code to Zero might best be reviewed by Gomer Pyle, the affable sidekick with the southern drawl on American TV’s Andy Griffith Show. One word stated three times: "surprise,  surprise,  surprise." The true surprise was the singing ability of the actor who played Gomer Pyle, Jim Nabors. Check out his version of our national anthem. Nabors sang the anthem at the Indianapolis 500, more than once. Okay, now for Ken Follett's rendition of Code to Zero. Follett’s thriller has a few surprises, and then some.

The novel has some unique elements that challenge the reader to adapt at various points. One of these adaptations features transitioning from the early 1940's to 1958. Follett’s novel also moves seamlessly from the point of view of one primary participant to another. The novel does all come together in a logical fashion given the story lines, which again require adaptation on our part. The story lines deal with college life, the outbreak of war and personal choices ranging from marital to philosophical.

One of the main themes of Code to Zero is the United States’ response to the success of the Soviet Union in launching two versions of Sputnik. One wonders if the dog on the second flight found the accommodations to his or her liking. The clash of these two cultures also raised the question of which way of life was better for a world emerging from global conflict, a world in  which countries were emerging as independent entities trying to ascertain which style of government might best suit them.

Domestically in the U.S. this was also the time of McCarthyism, an era when people of all political stripes wondered who could be trusted and who could not. The author places all of the unfolding events in a seamless fashion as he skillfully connects the dots between the lives of the characters involved and the ramifications of their actions on a national and even an international scale.

One can do a roll call of sorts without giving away too much. As the story opens  in 1958, the key characters are: Luke, an amnesiac, his companion Pete, C.I..A. operative Anthony Carroll, research psychologist Dr. Billie Josephson, and rocket scientist Elspeth, as well as a few people who are first identified by what they are wearing.  We have agents (some power hungry, some with little regard  for the law). We have researchers of different types from study of the human mind to the U.S. response to Sputnik. What we have is a mess to sort out.

One man wakes up, ostensibly inebriated, only to discover another man in a similar state. The first man is Luke and he has no recollection of anyone or anything. As it is stated later, his memory has been wiped. The second man (passed out on the bathroom floor of a train station), is Pete, who calls the other man Luke. Luke is, by all appearances, a vagrant fresh off the street and fresh off a bender. Pete offers help but little comfort and virtually no answers.

These people all know, or knew each other, whether at Harvard or Radcliffe. They knew each other before World War Two as well as during World War Two. The author (gradually) reveals inter - personal dynamics which feature a love triangle as well as several  rivalries.

Some of the feuding is between the Central Intelligence Agency and the citizenry they are tasked to serve. There are experiments conducted on suspected sympathizers, there are members of the C.I.A. who adhere to the law, there are members of the C.I. A. who have virtually no regard for the law. There is a project Bluebird funded in such a way that funds can not be traced. 

The main character, Luke, faces overcoming  (irreparable?) memory loss while trying to rediscover the essence of who he is. Luke must overcome obstacles along the way, not the least of which is being accused of being some sort of double agent and someone trying to kill him.

As a lead-in to each and every chapter we are given a quotation consisting of a summary of how to construct, or the workings of, one part or another of a spacecraft. Ostensibly, with sufficient funding and access to component parts and chemicals, clever readers could produce their own orbiters. The rocket assembly instructions tie in, but seem an odd juxtaposition at times.

You will enjoy the book. At various points I did not know whether I was playing checkers or three tiered chess. I would welcome, crave actually feedback as this is somewhat of a departure from the norm for me. I like the transitions and the layered aspects of the book.

I enjoyed the dynamics of the characters’ decision-making and the accompanying morality play. Afficianados of genre fiction will find this a good read. Those new to Ken Follet's works may well become admirers. Enjoy reading, the author’s efforts make it worthwhile.

Manuscript Found in Accra

Manuscript Found in Accra, by Paulo Coelho.

Translated from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa.

A BORZOI book published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2013 (2012), 190 pages.

As readers, we determine the value and impact of that which we deem worthy of our time. This book provides options. We can see it as a work with complex theological implications. We can see it as a form of "self-help" which, while a valid approach, may unfairly diminish the book. Parents might value it as a tutorial of sorts. What Paolo Coelho’s novel does most of all, however, is to force us to confront what we think, what we value, and what we believe.

The story of the manuscript is revealed in the "Preface and Greeting" section. The preface is there for good reason. With this book, it is necessary to get off on the right foot. In the preface we learn that the text itself is the manuscript. It is a series of questions posed by the people of Jerusalem to the Copt, a man of faith and a philosopher, before and during the fall of Jerusalem.

The questions posed, and the Copt’s answers, can be taken as having varying degrees of simplicity or complexity. It is incumbent upon each reader to take as much or as little from the book as he or she wants to take individually. One can also accuse the author of a degree of redundancy. Such accusations are not merited in my opinion, but it is a point that some readers might choose to make.

The questions asked range from questions about beauty, to loyalty, to solitude, to defeat and even good fortune, in this case luck. To be thorough in listing all of the topics Coelho explores would be to diminish interest in the work. Not because of what is revealed as Coelho’s narrative unfolds, but because this author's perceptual prism may differ from that of any given reader. 

The Copt speaks often of "the Unwelcome Visitor" while also mentioning the devil at times. Sometimes the two beings correlate; at other times not. Love is a major thematic component of the novel, but is found in all forms, and goes by different names.

The key to reading Manuscript Found in Accra is to ask yourself, how much do you want to get out of this book? How comfortable do you feel challenging your own belief system? Perhaps this book could spark a debate among faiths and beliefs widely held. Perhaps this book could skew the way we look at things sufficiently to foster changes in some faiths. Coelho says that his goal is not to teach wisdom as universal thought.

Coelho’s book also deals with a multitude of problems each of us faces in real life. To reiterate the point: a reader could finish the book and conclude that he might have had a similar experience had he elected to submit to therapy/ analysis.

Perhaps in the end the value of the book lies in its power to force us to decide what we want out of it. You may conclude that it’s a waste of time. You may conclude that Coelho’s book prompted you to contemplate life at a whole new level. What you ought to consider trying is reading the book. You may end up taking one item or point of view from the experience and as a result enjoy some aspect of life more. If that is not a sufficient reason to pick up this book, I would be hard pressed to understand why not.

Review by Robert White

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Florence of Arabia

Florence of Arabia , by Christopher Buckley

Random House, New York, 253 pages

It all started with a phone call in the middle of the night. Of course it did! Florence Farfalletti answers the phone and here we go! All she is doing is trying to help a friend. Next thing you know she is writing a strategy memo for the state department, all of which gets her reassigned pronto.

Rather than starting in the beginning we are actually somewhat in the middle -  east that is Matar pronounced mutter and Wasabia. England and France were drawing lines on a map. England had Winston Churchill, after knowing that, who France had really didn't matter / mutter. Matar was given a port on the sea and Wasabia was land-locked and forced to pay Matar fees for water access via pipeline.

The Emir of Matar as was the case with all males screwed every female anything that moved. If you weren't procreating you weren't trying. Fortunately for the French the Emir had a brother. The French wanted a leader they could control.

Florence, now a free agent had a plan. After her stint and subsequent transfer were put in the rear view mirror, suffice it to say, she pursued other options.

What we end up with is an eclectic mix of soldiers of (mis) fortune?? One of whom is a public relations specialist. Another is a southern stalwart named Bobby. Then there is Uncle Sam, he is one plugged in connected individual.

Florence, in conjunction with Princess Leila (Emir Gazzy's) wife - well one of many anyway form TV Matar. This proves to be news women can use. It also proves to rile the royals.

I can give spoiler alert chapter and verse but the elements are in place. Contrary to my characterization by snippets this is crafted. We haven't even mentioned sibling rivalry yet.

Oh by the way. People are routinely threatened. People are routinely tortured. People routinely have their heads chopped off. By the way don't forget to say Allah be praised.

Too thin on detail? The omission is intentional. I will tell you this book is hilarious. I did not like it a little I flat out loved it. 

Reviewed by Robert White

Florence of Arabia, Synopsis

Florence of Arabia, by Christopher Buckley

Random House New York, 253 pages 
  

Okay fellow readers buckle up because this has all the makings of a wild ride. Brace yourself for more than a bit of humor as well.

Florence Farfaletti is a deputy to the deputy assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs (DASNEA ).She had, earlier in her life lived in the middle east and was married. The topic of children came up followed by the talk of a second wife followed by Florence getting out of dodge and back to the sovereign soil in the U.S.

It is then that she joined the government. One fateful night she receives a phone call. The state department has a range of six colors to signify event intensity. Florence has three cool, Oh shit, and holy shit.

Nazra was the youngest of four wives of Prince Bawad. He had been reassigned from his ornate / ostentatious mansion  overlooking Washington D. C. back to the homeland. Nazra had become accustomed to the western lifestyle and wanted no part of the life style adjustment.

Three a. m.. and Florence is awakened by a phone call. It is Nazra whom she knew from her own time in "Mutter". She was seeking asylum and wanted Florence to help. Where Nazra's problems start is where Florence begins to tilt at windmills.

In the aftermath of the asylum escapade she authors a position paper that is circulated at high levels. This results in her recruitment of an eclectic mix which steps well beyond the box. The box they step into may be called Pandora's before all is said and done.

All things are possible. All is well that ends well. Or all things simply end at some point.

The author of the annotation would plead guilty to spoiling on a micro level but only in so much as to introduce the frying pan to the fire.

Thanks for reading - enjoy the book !

Synopsis by Robert White