The Widening Gyre

Rating:
Summary: Spenser on the power of love and the pain of separation
Review: "The Widening Gyre" is the second consecutive Spenser novel in which Robert P. Parker takes the title from William Butler Yeat's poem, "." In this case the phrase is from the first part of the tercet that ends, "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold." This time around our hero is sitting in his office having a beer when he is hired to provide security for a senatorial candidate. Congressman Meade Alexander, a born again Christian who believes America needs a moral and spiritual awakening is running against another Congressman, Robert Browne, who is reportedly connected to the Mob. If you are wondering what these two are doing running for a U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts, remember, this is a work of fiction. As often happens in a Spenser novel, there is more that meets the eye: Alexander is being blackmailed to quit the race and throw his support to Browne. There is a videotape of his wife, who has an obvious drinking problem, having sex with some college kid. Meade wants Spenser to make the problem go away. Not because of politics, but because he loves her and does not want to see her hurt. Our hero is having his own problems in the realm of love because Susan is pursuing his doctoral work in Washington, D.C. and will not be home for Thanksgiving. However, Paul Giacomin, the surrogate son that Spenser saved in "Early Autumn," has come home and we quickly realize that as much as Spenser and Susan argue about his macho Weltanschauung, it is Paul who probably understands him best. Although Susan Silverman was much more of a presence in the previous novel, in "The Widening Gyre" she is much more on his mind, and it is there relationship that the title ultimately characterizes. However, Spenser has promised Alexander to do his best, but all he has to go on is the videotape and the inevitable feeling that the coincidences add up to something decidedly more certain. Eventually our hero follows the right people around and comes up with a solution to Alexander's problem that just might work. Now if he could just do the same thing about his relationship with Susan. This is a decent Spenser novel that certainly continues the protagonist's progression.

Rating:
Summary: Spenser on the power of love and the pain of separation
Review: "The Widening Gyre" is the second consecutive Spenser novel in which Robert P. Parker takes the title from William Butler Yeat's poem, "." In this case the phrase is from the first part of the tercet that ends, "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold." This time around our hero is sitting in his office having a beer when he is hired to provide security for a senatorial candidate. Congressman Meade Alexander, a born again Christian who believes America needs a moral and spiritual awakening is running against another Congressman, Robert Browne, who is reportedly connected to the Mob. If you are wondering what these two are doing running for a U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts, remember, this is a work of fiction. As often happens in a Spenser novel, there is more that meets the eye: Alexander is being blackmailed to quit the race and throw his support to Browne. There is a videotape of his wife, who has an obvious drinking problem, having sex with some college kid. Meade wants Spenser to make the problem go away. Not because of politics, but because he loves her and does not want to see her hurt. Our hero is having his own problems in the realm of love because Susan is pursuing his doctoral work in Washington, D.C. and will not be home for Thanksgiving. However, Paul Giacomin, the surrogate son that Spenser saved in "Early Autumn," has come home and we quickly realize that as much as Spenser and Susan argue about his macho Weltanschauung, it is Paul who probably understands him best. Although Susan Silverman was much more of a presence in the previous novel, in "The Widening Gyre" she is much more on his mind, and it is there relationship that the title ultimately characterizes. However, Spenser has promised Alexander to do his best, but all he has to go on is the videotape and the inevitable feeling that the coincidences add up to something decidedly more certain. Eventually our hero follows the right people around and comes up with a solution to Alexander's problem that just might work. Now if he could just do the same thing about his relationship with Susan. This is a decent Spenser novel that certainly continues the protagonist's progression.

Rating:
Summary: Spenser on the power of love and the pain of separation
Review: "The Widening Gyre" is the second consecutive Spenser novel in which Robert P. Parker takes the title from William Butler Yeat's poem, "." In this case the phrase is from the first part of the tercet that ends, "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold." This time around our hero is sitting in his office having a beer when he is hired to provide security for a senatorial candidate. Congressman Meade Alexander, a born again Christian who believes America needs a moral and spiritual awakening is running against another Congressman, Robert Browne, who is reportedly connected to the Mob. If you are wondering what these two are doing running for a U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts, remember, this is a work of fiction. As often happens in a Spenser novel, there is more that meets the eye: Alexander is being blackmailed to quit the race and throw his support to Browne. There is a videotape of his wife, who has an obvious drinking problem, having sex with some college kid. Meade wants Spenser to make the problem go away. Not because of politics, but because he loves her and does not want to see her hurt. Our hero is having his own problems in the realm of love because Susan is pursuing his doctoral work in Washington, D.C. and will not be home for Thanksgiving. However, Paul Giacomin, the surrogate son that Spenser saved in "Early Autumn," has come home and we quickly realize that as much as Spenser and Susan argue about his macho Weltanschauung, it is Paul who probably understands him best. Although Susan Silverman was much more of a presence in the previous novel, in "The Widening Gyre" she is much more on his mind, and it is there relationship that the title ultimately characterizes. However, Spenser has promised Alexander to do his best, but all he has to go on is the videotape and the inevitable feeling that the coincidences add up to something decidedly more certain. Eventually our hero follows the right people around and comes up with a solution to Alexander's problem that just might work. Now if he could just do the same thing about his relationship with Susan. This is a decent Spenser novel that certainly continues the protagonist's progression.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: I listened to the unabridged audio cassette of this book, while traveling around town. I prefer not to get the condensed versions of the books where you miss the development of the story and characters and get only the basics. While this book did get a little too sentimental, I have to say that it was for the better. To get the insight into Spenser and how he feels in lieu of always getting the stony detective that defeats all his enemies and solves the crime was interesting. I thought the story itself was intriguing. Okay it wasn't as complicated as plots can be, but I definitely didn't find my interest wandering. I have read one Spenser book and listened to a couple of others on tape, and I have to say that this book will keep me going. If you haven't read or listened to a Spenser book before I do not feel that you will be lost out jumping into this one.

Rating:
Summary: Getting hooked on Spenser
Review: I listened to the unabridged audio cassette of this book, while traveling around town. I prefer not to get the condensed versions of the books where you miss the development of the story and characters and get only the basics. While this book did get a little too sentimental, I have to say that it was for the better. To get the insight into Spenser and how he feels in lieu of always getting the stony detective that defeats all his enemies and solves the crime was interesting. I thought the story itself was intriguing. Okay it wasn't as complicated as plots can be, but I definitely didn't find my interest wandering. I have read one Spenser book and listened to a couple of others on tape, and I have to say that this book will keep me going. If you haven't read or listened to a Spenser book before I do not feel that you will be lost out jumping into this one.

Rating:
Summary: Ho hum...
Review: I wonder if Robert Parker has grown tired of Spenser. I have. This book just doesn't have the same feel as some of his earlier books. In this one, I had a hard time liking Spenser. He has a drinking problem. He's no longer just a gormet. He's a glutton. Finally, Spenser feels a little better, but only after a short visit with his girlfriend. Give me a break! By the way, Susan (his girlfriend) was a pretty shallow character in this novel.

The weak plot isn't anything we really care about, even though it's supposed to involve some pretty steamy stuff. Instead, it's about some pathetic, unlikeable people who do stupid things---not very exciting. Luckily, it's a quick read.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent.
Review: This book explores the changes relationships go through while delivering the action/adventure Spenser fans crave. Finally some changes are occuring in his relationship with the too perfect Susan Silverman; this portrayal of her as perfection personified has palled a long time ago. Not enough Hawk though; need more Hawk.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: This book is an absolute must-read in the Spenser series. Not that the mystery is all that thrilling; it isn't. No real surprises. But for the development of the character of Spenser, flaws and all, it can't be beat. You may not like Susan - I'm not even sure that Spenser himself really likes her - but this book explains his deathless attachment to her. The theme of less-than-perfect relationships, and commitment to a flawed partner, plays through both the mystery (the wife of a fundamentalist congressman is caught cheating on film, and he is loyal to the point of self-sacrifice) and the interraction between Spenser and his own lady love (Susan sells out). One of the things that elevates Parker above other writers is his attempt to tell a universal truth, as all fine authors do. He doesn't always achieve it, but in this book he does. (Not enough Hawk, though.)

Rating:
Summary: Sensitive
Review: This is the 10th book in the Spenser series.

Spenser is hired as a guard on the U.S. Senate campaign of ultra-Christian Meade Alexander. He soon finds out that Alexander is being blackmailed with the threat of making public a video of his wife in bed with a young man. Alexander truly loves his wife and would rather give up his political aspirations than humiliate her.

Susan is in the midst of a one-year internship in Washington D.C. for her Ph.D. Spenser goes to D.C. on his case and finds Susan different in significant ways. "Her face was as it had always been: intricate, beautiful, expressive. In the last year somehow it had also become faintly remote, as if always she were listening to a whisper, barely audible, from someplace else: her name, maybe, tiny and hushed."

Spenser is also very sensitive concerning the middle-aged women he sees having sex with four "college boys" who are secretly taping the rendesvous. "These women were real, with the fine roughening of skin here and there, the tiny sag at the breast, the small folds across the stomach that real women, and men, have. . . . That kind of vulnerability shouldn't be handed around. It was for someone who loved you and was vulnerable too."

Rating:
Summary: Sensitive
Review: This is the 10th book in the Spenser series.

Spenser is hired as a guard on the U.S. Senate campaign of ultra-Christian Meade Alexander. He soon finds out that Alexander is being blackmailed with the threat of making public a video of his wife in bed with a young man. Alexander truly loves his wife and would rather give up his political aspirations than humiliate her.

Susan is in the midst of a one-year internship in Washington D.C. for her Ph.D. Spenser goes to D.C. on his case and finds Susan different in significant ways. "Her face was as it had always been: intricate, beautiful, expressive. In the last year somehow it had also become faintly remote, as if always she were listening to a whisper, barely audible, from someplace else: her name, maybe, tiny and hushed."

Spenser is also very sensitive concerning the middle-aged women he sees having sex with four "college boys" who are secretly taping the rendesvous. "These women were real, with the fine roughening of skin here and there, the tiny sag at the breast, the small folds across the stomach that real women, and men, have. . . . That kind of vulnerability shouldn't be handed around. It was for someone who loved you and was vulnerable too."