BOOK REPORT: IAN FLEMING-The 'Spectre' Trilogy

The Writings In The Books.

24 Bonds later-from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig-and we have 'Spectre' but what do you know about the three books that are the spirit of arguably the biggest 007 feature yet?

George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan or even Idris Elba. Take your pick, but James Bond would be nothing without the M that sent him on his first mission and created him; Sir Ian Fleming. The original suave, suited and booted spy who played cards and Bond girls, from island to casino like it was all a game. Ever since his first classic book 'Casino Royale' that has inspired all the classic films from the man with the golden gun to this day, Ian Fleming was given a license to write that made him the Great British tux alternative to the tweed of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'Sherlock Holmes' sleuth detective. Making these classic chapters and bookshelves stories that are still as popular as they've always been in today's world of superheroes, monsters and robots.

The 'Spectre' trilogy begins with 'Thunderball' that was a lottery ticket winning movie for the one and only true Bond, Sean Connery. To this day the film remains a classic from the classic underwater scenes as tense as 'Jaws' to the iconic Bond villain that would end up being put to parody hilariously by Mike Myers' legendary Dr. Evil character in the spy spoof  'Austin Powers'. The rolling book introduces us to the legendary adversary Ernst Stavro Blofeld for the first time. It is as classic as any formidable Fleming novel that has inspired a massive movie that James Bond has returned in, 'From Russia With Love' to 'Goldfinger'. Does he expect you to read? No Mr. Bond fans they expect you to thrive (off this).

And you really will when the worlds most famous agent is sent on an impossible mission 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. Slaloming between the snow-scaped slopes of the alps to the avalanche that is Blofeld and his 'Spectre' organisation coming down on a Bond who just wants to get the job done and even find love among all this hate and madness...with tragic consequences. When it comes to Bonded books 'Majesty' may just take the crown as the most thrilling roller-coaster of stakes and emotions that Fleming has ever penned on paper that would one day become a picture on the big-screen.

From tragedy with hate comes the conclusion to the classic chapters of the 'Spectre' trilogy with 'You Only Live Twice'. As Bond faces off with Blofeld for an epic conclusion that's streak of revenge is offset with the serenity of a Tokyo trip to the Far East which shows 007 the way and wisdom of the samurai as James bonds with Japan and finds rebirth and peace to all this 'Spectre' war in more ways than one. Looking for an eye for an eye with the original Scarface there's more than meets one here for a spirited and haunting finale to 'Spectre'. With the writing on the wall and the author of all of 007's pain and power, the late, great Sir Ian Fleming's word will always be Bond. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

BOOK REVIEW: MYCROFT HOLMES (By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)

4.5/5

Holmes Court Advantage.

Magnified words from the legendary Arthur Conan Doyle of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes are read by a young man enthralled with the mysteries and stories to be solved from the famous Baker Street boy and his Mr. Watson doctor assistant. Yet these legendary tales aren't magnified by glass...but a pair of goggles.

A pair of iconic goggles that would take to the 80's Forum floor for the Showtime Los Angeles Lakers, as legendary NBA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sky-hooked his way to recording the all-time most points in his sports league history. This iconic number 33 would use the Sherlock Holmes powers of deduction that he read before games as inspiration in sussing out his opponents during contests. The way Detroit Piston Bill Laimbeer's knee is knocking and locking one night and his history of injuries in that area point to a weakness down low. The way the infamous Boston Garden parquet floor splinters in that particular position means Celtic Kevin McHale will go right. And if Cap himself just gets into that position under the baseline, extends his arm to an almost perfect right angles and pitches the ball like a putt it should glide into the basket like that, every time, without fail.

Now in retirement Kareem is using those great powers of vision to deduct something even greater. His biggest challenge yet. We all know this thoughtful and wise man can write, just like he can act in things from 'Airplane' to the 'Game Of Death' fighting martial arts legend Bruce Lee. The 'Time' columnist is the best of the best when it comes to pros who have now turned their hoop hand to prose. Following his self-titled, acclaimed autobiography, 'Kareem' had wrote many a New York Times bestselling, published classic. From 'Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants' to writing children's story's based around the game with the life metaphors and lessons that run through it from teamwork to individuality.

But now Kareem is entering a whole new arena all together with his salute to Sherlock...or should we say his military brother 'Mycroft Holmes'. Abdul-Jabbar's new novel is a spin-off success like the Robert Downey Jnr films and the Benedict Cumberbatch T.V. shows. Keeping the detective alive like the spy of Ian Fleming's 007 Bond in this British intelligence age of 'Spectre'. Far from glorified fan-fiction from a celebrity this is an original alternative like Mitch Cullen's older 'Mr. Holmes' work which was turned into a movie with Sir Ian McKellen. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be proud. This original story that sees Holmes heading to Trinidad to investigate a haunting horror on the shores of its beaches is a deep story of investigation and influence that not only understands the Holmes family, but the military grade character of the elder Mycroft too. Sherlock makes some highlighted appearances to for all the hat and pipe fans but this inspired book is something fresh and new altogether. With all that's on the bookshelf of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's library this may just be his best work yet. Not only does he craft a sensational story, the American's command of the old English style, language and Holmes narrative is perfection. This old school Lakers player leaves Hollywood for Baker Street and the elementary result is one that is dear. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

BOOK REVIEW: CARON BUTLER-TUFF JUICE

4/5

Tuff Gets Going.

Shots have been fired across the headlines this week as former Washington Wizards All-Star Gilbert Arenas has hit out at Caron Butler for his account of the Agent Zero's infamous locker-room gun-incident with former NBA player Javaris Crittenton (who is now serving 23 years in prison for a separate, manslaughter crime. Such a waste of such raw talent) over an unresolved gambling debt in his new already, Pat Riley to Mark Wahlberg acclaimed 'Tuff Juice' autobiography. Just for both sides of the argument, Butler states that after some gun talk threats from either sides, Gilbert laid out four guns and asked Javaris to pick one to be shot with. Arenas says he laid those guns out for Crittenton to choose which one Gilbert would be shot with. The whole situation was a mess!

Either way we are seriously digressing. That's not the issue here. The issue here is this annual. This amazing autobiography from Mr. Tuff Juice himself, Caron Butler is what we really need to focus on and how he turned away from the life of the streets to ball...something his teammates shouldn't have reversed once they made it too. Caron Butler's autobiography is inspired and the perfect influence for any young players looking to get into the game of basketball...not "the game", which in reality is anything but one. This is more. More than being a star under Coach Calhoun for UConn. More than the potential of being a top ten drafted star for the Miami Heat. Or more than being trade worthy for the Lakers Shaquille O'Neal with big-man Brian Grant and fellow underrated modern swingman Lamar Odom (thoughts and prayers...get well L.O.). More than what could have been in Hollywood. More than that was in Los Angeles as a Clipper. More than the ring as a Maverick in Dallas. More than the homecoming in Milwaukee as a Buck. More than the forecast for Thunder in Oklahoma City. More than this valuable veteran becoming a Piston in Detroit's Motor City machine. More than what could be as a Californian King on the throne in Sacramento. Even more than a powerful foreword from former teammate Kobe Bryant...now that's one hell of a co-sign from a guy where all waiting for him to be writing his own career tome. And of course more than what happened in D.C. More than all of this. But it's all here. All Caron has become. Because of all he has overcome.

Guns...gangs...drugs...death and all the wrong side of the street in-between. Substance abuse, not of his body...but others. Selling drugs and running with gangs. All until it stopped, not with a prison sentence, including the solitary, cruel confinement of 'The Hole', but when Caron decided enough was enough. He wasn't going out like that. Even if he could make a million on the street before he hit the stage of the NBA Draft, he wasn't going out like that. There was only one court Butler wanted to get caught up with...and he's been at its veteran, journeyman service ever since. But for a man whose played for almost ten teams over a decade and has found a home where he'll always belong to each respective city with each franchise, he never left the streets of Racine. He's never forget them, showing this NBA player more than cares with all the extra-curricula activities he's doing with the boys and girls to keep them off the streets and in the education of schooling everyone else from the books to the gym. And if you want to get there...you could start with this book. The NBA career may as well be the exceptional epilogue, because the life and times of young Caron Butler is what this is all about and it's life worth living and learning from. So you can do it too. Or he or she never has to. The struggle to survive behind the stratosphere if success. Caron Butler has overcome so much and the outcome is more than inspired...it's influential. It's not scripted on dry-erase...it's a real hit to the hardwood. It's not Hollywood...it's Racine. It's not Kobe...it's Caron. It's not the NBA....it's life. This is what it's all about. This is the juice. You don't think so? You don't like it? "Tuff"! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

BOOK REPORT: THE BLACK DAHLIA/THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY

THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY: Ripley's game is one of dark deception. If you thought Matt Damon's (the man who right now is an expert in getting lost in space) con was on in the 'Oceans' trilogy than wait until you see him in 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' adaptation, you and Jude Law hope without a paddle. Still, before the marvellous movie also starring leading ladies Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett came the brilliant book, a classic by 'Strangers On A Train' legendary writer Patrica Highsmith. A slick, globetrotting, cat and mouse, catch me if you can thriller between New York City and the picture postcards of Europe that sees an insecure confidence trickster trying to convince the socialite son of a wealthy man to come home...but with a deadly twist will he ever? This perfect prose is a dark description of the anxiety of loneliness and the trappings of jealousy. Its not only a fine tuned story and woven plot...its also only a straight forward look at the weakness of human nature that blindsides you like a change in tide in a sea of trouble. Classically complex like only book muses like this are. 'Talented' is not the word.

THE BLACK DAHLIA: Dripping in noir and dark red blood. Part of 'American Tabloid' writer James Ellroy's quartet set in Los Angeles is off the Q.T and very "hush, hush" like 'L.A. Confidential'. Based on the real Black Dahlia murder mystery in Los Angeles this Hollywoodland homicide was adapted into a movie starring leading men Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart and femme fatales Scarlett Johansson and Hilary Swank. Read with slick, classic lead cop investigative narration like its been ripped fresh off the typewriter, you feel how all drawn out this is like the case of the unsolved 'Zodiac' killer that demonised the angels of the city of Los Angeles. With brilliant boxing ring asides with the fire and ice of two partner cops in busting crime in the jaw, like the fire and ice of classic Laker Baylor and West this rages like a bull. All the way until the end which seems to go on until one of California's cruellest mysteries is brought to a light realer than a cinematic one. Until then the death of the Dahlia will never fade to black. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

BOOK REPORT-'THE MARTIAN' & 'CHILD OF GOD'

THE MARTIAN: When Mars attacks and you find yourself lost on the red planet out in space, this will be the perfect desert planet book for you to pass the light years. Martin Weir's Life on Mars survival guide that has been called 'Apollo 13' meets 'Cast Away' is so deeply rooted in scientific theory you'll be forgiven for thinking this was fact as you get deeper into this fiction that is thrilling, exciting, nerve wracking and even hilarious as our lead log storyteller Mark Watney see's the funny side of being a Robinson Crusoe on his very own planet, becoming a botanists hero by growing his own food to keep himself from starving to death. This survival of the fittest book even has an against the odds, inspiring story of its own. Only being released two years ago via some 99p Kindle editions and chapter by chapter free giveaways on the authors websites and already about to be one of the biggest Oscar season movies of the fall next week starring Matt Damon lost in space for the second straight year after going 'Interstellar' with Jessica Chastain again in 2014. Soon this sensational story won't be alien to anybody. To everything else this Martian will be gravity.

CHILD OF GOD: Devil knows there's nothing godly about the central character in this Cormac McCarthy classic, this is 'American Psycho' with a twisted Tennessee turn. This is definitely not for children...or the faint hearts, or even those that it takes a lot to offend. The 'No Country For Old Men' and 'The Road' writer gives us another dark, shadowy story that is dripping with 'Blood Meridan' and is a far stampede from 'All The Pretty Horses'. The rapist that stalks these pages like your worst nightmare rewoken from a horror even Hollywood wouldn't screen is evil walking around like the dead, but McCarthy maps out his life like he would for any human being...with respect for the story. The process of writing. And its in Cormac's signature style that we get some perfect prose, even if our subject is the furthest thing from it. But compared to author it doesn't matter. Any child from Cormac is written by the hands of a God. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

BOOK REPORT

USAIN BOLT-FASTER THAN LIGHTNING: An insane bolt of lightning strikes across the track in mere seconds in front of a mêlée of millions around the stadium and world. Striking gold three-times and three-peating again back-to-back. Striking that famous pose on the iconic podium of the five ring sport. Burning bright like the eternal flame of inspiration. Who said you couldn't catch lightning in a bottle twice? Now how about three times? Because we've got the perfect way for you to get ready for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil next year, early. With this amazing autobiography from the Ali of athletics that you will run through in record time. Forget 9.96 seconds. This perfect personality for sport keeps you fit with some life motivation from the cool runner whose races against time has made him the biggest Jamaican export of iconic inspiration since Bob Marley. Every little thing is alright when it comes to a man than literally went the extra mile to move the whole world. Running it now it's time to go back to the blocks and start with how and why. After reading this you'll believe he can do it again, because Usain will still be in the membrane past 2016. Bolt up!

THE JIM MURRAY READER: "As a kid, I didn't read Dr. Seuss, I read Jim Murray. In the 1979-1980 season, my parents had the newspaper spread across the table, as they did every morning. I was just at the age when I could read it, and recognize what was going on in it. Calendar section, ugh. Front page, meh. I said, "Wait a minute, what's this?" It just jumped off the page in 3-D. Kareem had gotten injured in Philadelphia, and Magic was going to start at center. And it pulled me in like a novel or something. I dove right into it." Nothing says it better than these words from modern day musical inspiration Ben Harper, as the famous Lakers fan tells us about his memories with Pulitzer Prize winning sportswriter and journalist Jim Murray. A man who has been ringside and courtside to write first-hand columns on everyone from Muhammed Ali and Michael Jordan. It's only legal pad in typewriter fitting that the greatest sportsmen of all-time were wrote about by the greatest sportswriter who wrote about more than just the game as his wonderful wordplay and magical metaphors brought sports and life together as one. Like so many hand in hand talk and write about today. The man who could spend an entire article talking about the way Magic passes the ball handed us a lifetime of work and to anyone who wants to start theirs with his needs this catalogue of classic collections of Jim Murray readings. We could never put it better than the master Murray, but get the scoop like Jackson, Jim is the reason this writer writes! What more can you possibly say? TIM DAVID HARVEY.

BOOK REPORT

CORMAC McCARTHY-THE ROAD: 'All The Pretty Horses' and 'No Country For Old Men', can put your bookshelf back together again. Cormac McCarthy is a writing icon and this Cormac classic from the man who recently penned the script for the Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem movie 'The Counsellor' became a movie masterpiece itself starring the vivid Viggo Mortenson. This bleak but beautiful book is set in the silenced post apocalyptic wasteland of an eroding earth that you can see on our dishelved characters grimy faces of grit. The may not be any zombies or undead like creatures hunting our survivors in a modern day Hollywood cliche, but the real thrill here is the testament of this tenacious story. It's not just an enduring story of survival, but an endearing one of the love and bond between the relationship of father and son that shows you love can conquer any and everything. How a book can warm your heart and break your soul at the same time is as insightful as it is inspired but this real and raw road takes you to paths and places you never thought or dreaded you'd go.

JAMES PATTERSON-MARY, MARY: Mary, Mary quite contrary how does your bookshelf grow? Thankfully quite exponentially due to James Patterson and the American writers own Sherlock Holmes character, Detective 'Alex Cross'. The D.C., D.C. who has solved many classic cases by the book, including 'Along Came A Spider' and 'Kiss The Girls' and has even appeared in many hit movies as Morgan Freeman and Tyler Perry's Cross. Here Alex makes the cross country trip from Washington to Los Angeles to solve some real Hollywood homicide. Movie stars and celebrities are getting owned left, right and downtown centre and we no the cluedos don't lead to Perez Hilton on Rodeo Drive with a laptop, even if some threatening letters are being wrote. So whose making the final cut in this script flip? And will this twist have a happy ending?

STEPHEN KING-ON WRITING: Heeeere's Steeeephen! The King of books is back but like you've never read him before. The mastermind behind so many classic books and the movies they have made like 'Carrie', 'The Shining', 'The Shawshank Redemption' and 'The Green Mile' is back with a memoir like no other that isn't all autobiographical arrogance like the self portraits from most Hollywood types. Want to write the next 'It'?! Well tough you ain't Stephen King and he wont show you! He'll tell you all about it mind and show you your own way with tips of the trade in writing your own story. This is a writing guide as much a great aid as the late, great Syd Field's Screenplay service. Even giving us a behind the pages look at how he crafted some of his classics as well as his own survival from a horrific accident that has given him another lease at life. The king of kings, King rules the game of thrones that is storytelling for the bookshelves, even more than George R.R. Martin. Now you don't have to resort to using a sledgehammer to keep this King and his subjects in your house. TIM DAVID HARVEY