Nerve (published in 1964) - Jockeys and horses, a book by Dick Francis

Richard Stanley Francis or Dick Francis was born in Pembrokshire, Wales, England on October 20th 1920. His father was a renowned jockey and Francis was catapulted in to the world of Horses, Jockeys and racing. He droppd out of school to train as a Jockey and was fighter pilot in the Royal Air-force during World War II. After the war Francis became a celebrity Champion Jockey winning over 350 races. He was the lead Jockey for the Queen Mother. But he had to drop out of Horse racing after a serious fall an d became a racing correspondent for Sunday Express. Dick Francis churned out numerous best sellers and most of his books deal with the mysteries in the realm of Horse racing and Jockeys. He wrote more than 40 international best sellers and is the recipient of numerous awards. Being a three time recipient of Mystery writer of America's Edgar Award he was made the Grand master of MWA. He is also the recipient of Britain's Crime Writers Association's Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. He also has the Gumshoe award to his credit. He was accorded in CBE in 2000. Dick Francis died in his Caribbean home on February 10, 2010 bringing down the curtains to an illustrious life.
Rob Finn is the black sheep of the family of talented musicians. Not only he cannot sing he cannot get the love of the woman he wants. Finn is head over heels in love with Joanna who finds his attentions unwarranted due to the fact that they are first cousins. Finn learns to ride at the outback and is hired as a trainey jockey when he reaches England.



He rides the tempestuous horses and his fearlessness helps him to overcome the most beastly ones. Slowly his fame spreads and he is catapulted in to the big league of horse racing. After basking in the glory of great wins he finds sinister going ons around him. Vicious rumors are spread about fellow jockeys and soon suicides and murders happen. Canards are spread about Finn who suddenly find his rides sluggish and his winning streak severely down in the dumps. Word goes around that he has lost his “Nerve”.
As Finn tries to find the answers about himself, he looks into the death of his colleagues and finds similar patterns and rumors surrounding their ends. As he investigates he is kidnapped and is tortured and given up as dead. But the resilient Finn manages to escape and gets the police and tries to piece the puzzle. Now the motivation is to find revenge for his torture and Finn goes against a powerful adversary whose motive is to destroy jockeys who do conform. This tale is the ultimate revenge drama of a determined but unassuming man against the power corridors in the racing land. The ending is superb and you feel for Rob Finn as he struggles to find his place in the competitive world of horse racing and love. He wins the former, but alas I feel cheated as Joanna who rescues him does not return his love.
Again a great racing story from Dick Francis in his typical crisp English. Readers can feel the yesteryears Britain through his writings, especially the English Gentleman's stiff upper-lip. Rob Finn is the typical hero who plods through torture, injury and bad luck to find a smile. Again a great mystery solved with out the high tech devices, just by pursuit and brains. A great book to take home.

The three Sirens (published in 1964) - Authored by Irving Wallace

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book “sins of Peter Fleming did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was abest seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies. He died on June 29, 1990.
The three sirens published in 1964 is a racy novel of sex and infidelities. It deals with the repressed sexuality in our modern times and civilizations and how the myth of sex implodes when it comes in contact with the free society. It also talks about sexual freedom, the gender issues and how cultures clash. It depicts the dangers for conversion of the natives by so called civilization and laments the loss of traditions and cultures lost in the name of uniformity and civilization.



Dr. Maude heads a group of anthropologists and their families who reach a remote Polynesian island to study the culture and traditions of the so called islanders. Here they reach a veritable paradise with beautiful scenery and amazing life. Here they comes across the islanders who are sexually liberated and unshackled. Sex is no longer taboo in this community of 200 odd people. Here you have husbands having frigid wives visiting sex huts, free necking and sex escapes on the beach.
So the anthropologists coming across such a free society question their own outlook on life and love. Soon many form their own agendas in their mind. Some join the natives, some try to convert them and some are just fascinated by a new study given to them. One of the daughters of the anthropologist fall in love with one of the island boys, another's son succumb to temptation and some marriages are ruined. Many indulge in their own fantasies and show the bored natives the western way of life. But these contacts bring about the ruin of the island paradise similar to the serpent which wrought the destruction of Eden.
Irving Wallace can be said as the pioneer in analyzing the sexuality reports, like the Kinsey reports for the development of his plots. But I feel that his over the top narration of the sexual interludes almost borders on porn. The book about the rights of the natives gets mired in the sexual content and conquests. It looks like a teens fantasy novel and I would not like to recommend for a mature individual. It is a western fantasy about the life described by a commune living 60's flower child. Not a shade on his other novels.

The Man (published in 1964) - the turmoil when a Black Man becomes President of the United States

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had Emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book “Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies.
As you read The man, you just feel that Wallace is holding a mirror to the society which has to prove itself in accepting people who we ourself prove to be different. Today the Barack Obama presidency rolls on you just cant be amazed by the events of the 60's where a racially charged America forced to accept a black president comes up to our expectation to truly prove its secular and equality credentials.



A quirky accident, kills the American president, vice president and the pro term speaker which throws up the question of succession. Douglas Dilman, the President Pro Tempore, largely a ceremonial position, is thrust in to the limelight to succeed the slain president. The ultimate question remains in the book lingering, will America boiling in the race cauldron accept a black president. The book follows the ethical and moral questions about race discrimination which emotionally scars and almost overwhelms a capable man.
Douglas has to maintains a distance with everybody. He cannot encourage any black friends for the fear of alienating white constituents. His family itself is torn between his son who enjoys being the beacon of black power to the daughter who has given up on her race. His relationship with his secretary, Edna Foster is very cautious one which involves a no close door policy. The other senators and right wing newspapers pillory his every stance right on domestic policies and international relations. The author portrays each cruel barb with such force that the reader feels enraged by the tactics of the villains. The portrayal of Eaton and Zeke Miller as ambitious upwardly mobile whites in a racially vitiated atmosphere is real.
But Douglas Dilman is no remote controlled mannequin. He slowly comes on his own confident in his abilities and truth which makes his opponents desperate. So the motion is set in to remove the president, the motion of impeachment. Soon character assassinations, threats and bogus impediments are laid down which actually befuddle the public. But will the truth survive, will the senate be blinded by color believe the lies of Miller and Co or uphold the constitution which says “ All Men Are Equal” and will Douglas Dilman win the trust of his children, lady love and the public to be true inspiration and commander in chief?
These burning questions remain and shades of Harper Lee's “try to kill a mocking bird also emerges”. A true inspirational story which will resonate through generations.