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A Firing Offense, Vol. 2 (1999)

by David Ignatius(Favorite Author)

3.81 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0679459367 (ISBN13: 9780679459361)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Random House Audio Publishing Group

review 1: "Reporters should not ordinarily engage in outside activities and jobs. That is especially true of connections with government, which compromise the newspaper's fundamental mission of independence and objectivity. Any deliberate violation of this policy will be regarded as a firing offense." -- from the (fictional) New York Mirror Handbook on StyleThe book's protagonist, Eric Truell, a rising star reporter at the fictional New York Mirror newspaper, finds himself skirting this rule as he pursues stories through CIA leads until he finds, while in pursuit of a story relating to just such a violator, a venerable newsman at his own newspaper, that he has crossed that line in order to do what "seemed like the right thing to do" and has to face the consequences. ... more It is interesting to consider how difficult it must be to follow such an edict when some of one's best news information may well come from people who expect a quid pro quo at some time.The book provided some interesting, thought provoking asides, observations, imbedded in the storyline as well, e.g.:La Puissance Occulte, "the secret power" -- that the world is now run by criminals; "power has slipped from governments into the hands of private organizations," -- currency traders, Mexican drug lords, the Japanese yakuza, Russian mafiya, international businesses ....re some Lebanese Christian and Muslims interviewees - "...the villages had been fighting for a century...the villagers didn't know why. They just knew that they hated each other.""I'm told he [a college classmate] made close to $5 million last year. But he lacks ambition. He wants to be rich and powerful, to live well, to take care of his children. I decided to become a journalist because I wanted more than that." The contemplative protagonist, Eric Truell, near the book's end: "I knew that starting over in this way was impossible. We are the sum of our choices and decisions, chances and accidents...I couldn't undo my previous life...It was all woven together in one fabric, which was my life."Despite these positives, I found the book a bit long and somehow the writing style didn't hold me well - 3.5 out of 5.0.
review 2: Another David Ignatius novel with excellent characterizations and plot.The principal character, a newspaper reporter named Eric Truell, is caught between his chosen profession and his attempt to 'do good'.There is plenty of depth to this character.Several points did not quite fit the rest of the narrative:1. Why did Arthur Bowman divulge his French connection to Eric Truell?2. Why did Bezy want Eric Truell to work for him? Truell had no management experience.3. Was the ex-CIA operator, Rupert Cohen, now reporter, just a novelist ploy to feed info to Eric Truell?4. Exploding lighters and a gas-filled pen. Carried on an airline flight. Maybe that's possible, while TSA is looking at shampoo.Overall, a very good read. less

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