The Ghost Without the Most

I recently finished Robert Harris' novel The Ghost and I have been mentally calling it the ghost without the most.

http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Robert-Harris/dp/1416551824/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264465145&sr=8-2

In this review, spoilers are present. If you have any plans or desire to read this book, skip the next paragraph entirely.

Supposedly, the main characters, Adam and Ruth Lang, are based on Tony and Cherie Blair. But maybe I am getting ahead of myself. The book centers around a ghost-writer who must help Adam Lang, the former British PM, write his memoirs. The first ghost has died under strange and suspicious circumstances but the money and possible prestige are too much for the new ghost to pass up. Enter The Godfather's line "an offer he can't refuse" here. From the get-go, weird things happen to the ghost and his kinda-sorta girlfriend breaks up with him over his acceptance of the job. Hmm, alright, I'm intrigued. Somewhat predictable things happen as the ghost becomes part of Lang's camp. Lang appears to be humping his way-too-admiring assistant, Lang's wife is more shrewd than she seems, Lang is more of a talking-head than he seems, etc. One twist I didn't see coming was the sexual relationship between the ghost and Lang's wife. In a way, it was really a bit of salacious filler. The ghost attempts to play all sides against the middle, yearning for the truth about his subject, but things rapidly unravel. Toward the climax of the book, the ghost is on a brief plane ride with Lang taking what would be his final interview. Lang has been accused of war crimes and has grown tired of fighting his critics. Maybe he'll move to America where he has asylum, who knows. Then kaboom. A bomber plans an assassination and Lang is killed. The ghost survives, finishes Lang's memoirs and spins out into his own private depression. Next climax comes when Lang's assistant brings the ghost to the launch party as her date. Information is revealed, events unfold, and the great big surprise is unveiled that Lang's wife was a CIA operative and the true brains behind Lang's rise to power. Wah-wah. Maybe if you're British this is a shocker that will send you over the edge. For me, as an American reading the book, I was like, "This is it? WTF. That wasn't a great amazing surprise." It was quite an anti-climax and made me glad the novel was concluded. I like Robert Harris' writing style and I would read more of his work. This was probably not the best introduction to his stuff. If you like political thrillers, read it. If not, skip it.


On to other things.

http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articlemcmatch.aspx?cp-documentid=23234446&GT1=32023

I stumbled upon this article today from MSN's home page and it spawned some unintentional laughs and inner commentary. I think the one that got me the most was this gem:

5. All My Friends Broke Up with Their Girlfriends
This is by far the most immature reason on my list. While my girlfriend and I are curled up on the couch watching The Devil Wears Prada, my newly-single guy friends are out shredding the karaoke waves with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin" and tearing up the town. That conflict gives me wanderlust. It's much easier when we are all in for a quiet Saturday night with the significant others.

If a guy is that attached at the tittie to his male friends that he cannot have a girlfriend if they do not, he needs to fuck off. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, just fuck right off. Saying that you realize it's immature but still continuing to do it tells me everything I need to know.

9. My Friends or Family Didn't Like Her
I pay close attention to friend/family opinions because they know me best, and they've earned the right to have their say. Also, friends and family may be able to see things inside the relationship that I'm too blinded to see.

This one also made me smile because you have to wonder sometimes if this isn't merely a cowardly excuse on one person's part to bail on the other one. Or if the pissy friends aren't jealous.


If you don't think that article can be topped, you are wrong. It gets even better with this tasty nugget:

http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articlecosmo.aspx?cp-documentid=23100736