About Bob Baer's novel: "Blow The House Down"

[Wetzelbill]

I have to say, I highly recommend it. You know, for a CIA officer, not really trained as a literary writer, Baer is very good. Stylistically, I mean. He's got some solid skills. Pretty easy to read, descriptive, at times beautiful. Nicely done.

As for content and info, Baer is awesome. He writes about stuff that only a CIA officer would know. Techniques on invasion, info on different groups in the ME, etc. Fascinating.

The story is set right before 9/11, when CIA officer Max Waller, stumbles across some info on an Iranian, who he suspects kidnapped and murdered his mentor, Bill Buckley, in Beirut in the mid 80s. This info links the Iranian, to an American and Osama bin Laden. Upon finding this info, Waller ends up finding himself in hot water with the CIA and other global intelligence communities. So all through the summer of 2001, he eludes surveillance and continues his investigation of a vast conspiracy. The story mixes fiction with real life characters. For example, former FBI Terrorism expert, John O'Neill, who ended up taking a job at the WTC and died there on 9/11, is a prominent character in the book.

It's worth reading, and although fictional, it makes some viable points. Fictional truths, I guess you would call them, and it adds interesting elements to the debate. :)

[wtmusic]

1. He's an impressive speaker

and they tend to make for good writers.

Thx for the tip. :thumbsup:

[ebdarcy]

2. Great book.

I finished reading it about two weeks ago. Baer's a good writer and he covers some very scary stuff. The book does make you think. I had to keep telling myself it was just fiction.

[Wetzelbill]

3. yeah he cuts pretty close to reality

it makes you wonder, that's for sure.

[ebdarcy]

5. Have you read "See No Evil"?

I know Syriana was based on it. I was planning on picking up the book after this quarter ends.

[Wetzelbill]

6. yes, I have

It's very good. Nothing really like Syriana though, the film is very loosely based on it. Some similarities for sure, especially between Clooney's character and the real life Baer.

It is an entertaining and informative read that stands on it's own though. Baer is a unique guy. He does some of the funniest things and gets in some amazing situations. It reads almost like a thriller, even though, it is nonfiction. I loved that book. So fascinating that I was fifty pages into it before I even realized it. I waded through that book like nothing. Couldn't put it down. :)

[Olney Blue]

4. It's on my list to read!

[TomClash]

7. He has a good editor too

Some of the book is decidedly not fiction.

[Wetzelbill]

8. definitely

and the "decidedly not fiction" parts are downright mesmerizing. :)