Evening News, The : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Hailey's Weakest Book
Review: I read this book looking forward to an insightful view of an industry - the in the tradition of Airport, Hotel, Moneychangers, and many more. What I read was Hailey's weakest book. While his statement and theme of an independent press is good, the story cracks in many places. If Hailey can't do better than this, he should fish in Bermuda and retire from writing.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down!
Review: This book kept me up till 7am and I completed the first 2/3 of it in one go (Then I had to get some sleep..). It describes the TV news networks very well, down to the detail of how the technical side works, and at the same time the story keeps you spellbound till the last word.

It is the first book I have read by Arthur Hailey, but it sure won't be the last!

Rating:
Summary: Formulaic, predictable, and highly inaccurate.
Review: This one is very likely Hailey's worst book. In fact, in my opinion, it stank. The plot is formulaic, and Hailey, as he has tended to do over the past 20 years, mistakes overpessimism for profundity. But I digress.

In "The Evening News" we are supposed to believe that the electronic news media functions as a form of superagency that can and does outperform the FBI and CIA while simultaneously acting at a level above that of the government. What nonsense. The whole plot is permeated with this tripe.

I will give Hailey credit for keeping the book moving. Although this book had little to say, it at least says it at a brisk pace that makes for a quick, if unsatisfying, read.

A mediocre book from a writer capable of much better.