JUST TALKING ABOUT A BOOK-

I finished CRASHERS by Dana Haynes a couple of days ago and all I can say is....TOTAL PERFECTION!

The first pages of the book left me emotionally drained.  I could see, hear, and even feel what was happening as this jetliner met its doom. I actually cried more than once.  There is nothing better then flicking a few tears away while reading a good book.  After recovering from the visions I encountered during the aftermath of the accident, I braced myself for the in depth knowledge that I would eventually gain as Dana Haynes moved forward with the investigation by the NTSB in determining the cause of the crash.  Since I'm not one to write reviews, you won't find me rehashing anything specific about the book or telling you much about the characters.  That's because I want you to READ the book!  The only thing I will share is that the book has a handsome hero, an ex-Israeli spy chic, a creepy and evil engineer, Irish terrorists, and a story line that will keep you wanting more.  You'll want so much more that you will jump for joy like I did when you hear that Haynes is working on a sequel. 

Holding my breath

A flight from my home in Utah to my father's home in Oregon doesn't last long; somewhere just over an hour. My husband and I were flying  to Portland on a clear fall afternoon and  looking at a perfect view of Mt. Hood when suddenly the plane dropped.  It wasn't a big drop, but it was hard, and it landed us in the worst section of turbulence I've ever been a victim of.  The plane shook rapidly and without any certain rhythm, and if felt like it was searching for a perfect piece of air to catch. The women on board were crying and the children were screaming that blood curdling sound that makes your ear drums pulse. Overhead bins started opening, dumping luggage on the passengers below, and all I could feel was the pain in my fingers from locking them around my arm rests in that well known death grip.  I remember my husband taking his hand to hold my face and telling me to breathe. It took me a few seconds to understand what he wanted me to do.  I was terrified.

I relived every moment of this experience in the first pages of CRASHERS, by Dana Haynes.  It was one of many moments in just the first 68 pages that made me hold my breath.  Dana's writing is incredibly descriptive and makes you become a witness to all things that happen in this book.  His decision to write a book about what the NTSB endures when they investigate crash scenes is beyond brilliant, and his ability to bring life to all the characters in this book made me forget that I was reading a work of fiction. 

When the pilot of the plane, Meghan Danvers, screams just before the crash; I heard it and I held my breath. I could feel her emotions as she wrestled to save this flight from its final outcome.  I've experienced the same scream myself and know how difficult it is to be in a situation that you ultimately can't control.  Likewise, when a survivor of this crash walks away uninjured and emotionally breaks down while being questioned; I could feel his terror.  I couldn't breathe and I broke down and cried. 

I've said from the beginning that my blog is about me bringing a little bit of reality to what I'm reading. This is the only way I know how to write.  All I can do is encourage you to buy this book.  I need to know how many other people hold their breath like me.   Dana Haynes has officially made it to my list of writers I want to grow old with. 

What was that about?

The book I'm about to read must be really, really good because I just had a dream about it last night, and I haven't even read the first page. It hasn't even been purchased yet. I have an idea of what its about, but for the most part, I've been trying to stay away from the Barnes & Noble over-written reviews. This is what happened in my dream. I promise to clarify the facts that I know about the book at the end. Are you ready? My dream starts-NOW!

I was sitting at the kitchen table in my neighbors house when I noticed a copy of CRASHERS by Dana Haynes sitting on the table. The conversation went a little like this-

"Are you reading this book, CRASHERS?"

"No, we bought it for Ethan."

"Why would you buy this book for Ethan? He's only ten."

"We assumed it was about puzzles because of the front cover."

"Well, it isn't."

As my neighbor continues to talk, I pick up the book to look at it. The first thing I notice is that there are children's illustrations inside. They are very colorful pictures. One illustration is of a plane crash site. The ground is charred and black and there are jagged metal pieces scattered on the ground. In the middle of the picture is a man wearing a dark jacket with the letters NTSB on it. He's holding a baby Jesus. I know! A baby Jesus! And that's not even the first thing I'm worried about when I see the picture. My first thought was about the Barnes & Noble lady with the advance copy that I wrote about in my last post. I remember thinking to myself, that out of everything she wrote, she never once mentioned that this was a children's book with colorful illustrations and big print. No wonder she found the book easy to read and finished it in one day. She never mentioned baby Jesus, either. That woman vexes me. Then I woke up and laughed!

_____________

What I can tell you about CRASHERS is that this is not a children's book with colorful illustrations and big print. I'm fairly confident baby Jesus plays no role in this book, or at least I don't believe he's being rescued at a crash site by a member of the NTSB. I can also tell you that this book is going to be awesome because I've already dreamt about it and because the writer is from Oregon. I'm from Oregon, so that means Dana Haynes already gets a star from me!

BUYING IT TODAY. READING IT TOMORROW. WRITING ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK.