Action/Adventure Aficionados discussion

The Paris Protection is our July group read! Feel free to dive in and participate in the discussion.

YAY! I'm looking forward to reading this one. I'll start during this weekend.

Just finished chapter 9 and here some observations:

- as usual I struggle with the chapters told from the POV of the antagonist (though I'm aware it's entirely my personal issue)
- I find it very interesting there's not only mention but a real story to Hanibal and his fights (helped to refresh the little I learn in school about him, plus it was quite a time ago) but think the bad guy's obsession with him somehow difficult to take seriously. I hope we get more information about his past to understand him and his motivation better - so far he's just another wacko in my eyes.
- it's rather unusal to find such young MCs in this area of service so I'm curious how it will develop and which impact it will have on the relationship of the two
- I loved her barb at the Secret Service and especially the presidential protection beeing such a male world and the fact she was denied it mostly because of her gender (I'm sure her mediocore markmanship didn't help though that's not the point *grins*)
- I'm glad chapter 10 is told from the POV of the female president and I'm looking forward to it. I'm middle in this chapter and loved this thought of the president so much I wanted to post it so I won't forget it (and find it easily if I need another chuckle): their uniforms decked with medals, ribbons, patches, and insignia in the military tradition of trying to display a lifetime of leadership and heroic sacrifice on the limited real estate of a man’s chest and shoulders. (loc. 677-678 - chapter 10)

- I fear SAC Alexander won't make it which will give much more responsibility to the new guys (aka MCs) but still hope he'll only be severely wounded because I like him (despite the relatively low page time)

I have to admit I've never understood politics or why someone would willingly have anything's to do with it (apart from those wishing or aiming for power above everything) and scoffed when I read or heard a person went into politics to do good or help people. Now reading this:
It was her job, not theirs, to understand the long-term implications this could have for diplomatic affairs in West Africa. But she understood the political issues perfectly, just as she understood the needs of her countrymen and -women in harm’s way. And as their leader, she had silently vowed never to abandon an American in trouble on foreign soil. It was a principle she was willing to go to her grave to uphold. (loc. 698-701 - end of chapter 10)
I think I understood a part of if. Even if I should take nothing else out of this book for me it was worth reading it.

I'd love to know what you think about this quote (especially the parts marked bold) and the original role of politicians and leaders. Do you agree with this statement or do you see if different (and how if you do)?

End of chapter 17:
- too many abbreviations, some I've never seen before (or seen only a different one e.g. special agent in charge I knew only SAC, here SAIC) - wish there were a part explaining those;
I acknowledge using shortened words adds a feeling of knowledge/reality/involvement but makes reading much more difficult - especially for readers new to the genre (I doubt they would understand very much of some parts). I'm no newbie but the second part of chapter 13 with all the aviation expressions and abbreviations got me lost; so far there're five abbreviations/expressions/codes I have no idea what they mean though suppose anything but 'Crash POTUS' wasn't that important I can't leave with (since this one appears another nine times after the two times uses as a 'joke' in chapter 12) I'd really love to know what this code(?) means. POTUS is clear but not Crash POTUS.

I'm at the beginning of chapter 44 and was wondering about a sentence: the unmistakable scent of perfume, which no agent would wear. The president had recently been here. (loc. 2568) is it true female secret service agents are not allowed to use perfume while on duty? Is it because it can dull the sense of smell?

Other than that:
- the action is pretty intense and even if not overly gory a bit too descriptive for me at times
- I'm so happy my initial fear about SAC Alexander was wrong (at least so far)

This message contains MAJOR SPOILER!

Just finished chapter 68 (another six to go) and since Italy just became European Master and are making too much noise to sleep I expect to finish before I can go to bed.

Chapter 65-68 contained the surprise I was waiting for the last ten chapters or so (I couldn't immagine them dying now so short before the end of the book). I loved this turn and as expected it wasn't without cost and we have to say goodbye to SAC Alexander - though I'm very happy he stayed that long with us.
All in all this chapter was way better than it started and I expected. There was this American pathos so common in this kind of situations and I'm getting used to it more and more. As soon as we got a small glimpse into the future I remembered there being another one very early in the book. Luckily they were so far the only two (I really hate it when an author uses them and comments something in the way 'it was just the beginning' or 'and then the situation turned completely' or 'it was the quiet before the storm' or something similar)

The Hannibal parts got more anoying than interesting with time and in the last third of the book I just thought Maximilian and partially Kazim just delusional and over the top. I can understand how that can be on purpose but struggle with this kind of stereotyping.

- chapters 70/71 ticked of pretty much every possible cliché

chapter 72:
- loved the reaction of the French and how they helped
- ticked off another cliché
- loved the details with the small weapon

The Epiloge didn't make sense to me in some parts, especially the open feeling at the very end (like the author keeps the option to continue the story with a new set of bad guys - not sure yet what I think about this)


General thoughts:
- some explanations/descriptions were repeated more than once (e.g. Air Force One is only used as call sign when the president is on board - which was somehow strange as other more vital ones were left completely out see my previous note on abbreviations and similar)
- some scenes/situations were too detailed (e.g. how long the perps needed to get through the catacombes on the way to the hotel) while other I wished to learn more about (e.g. what happened to Maximilians wife and son, how did they die and why did it have such an impact on his future personal development, basicaly we only learn their names and that they're a dead and perhaps linked to Rabin's assassination; why the assassinaton of Rabin had such an impact on his futer and why he was a branded criminal by his country is still not clear to me)

I'm too tired to think now so I'll be back later today (after some sleep) and see if I remember something I wanted to mention.

I won't check this thread anymore. Anybody interested to discuss this book feel free to send me a PM.