Reader’s Diary

Bob Woodward

This is the story of the George W. Bush and his advisors during the three months following September 11. It’s a fascinating account of the aftermath of the attacks as seen from the White House and of the president’s conduct of the war with Afghanistan.

Thanks to Woodward’s fly-on-the-wall view (thanks, in turn, to his incredible sources) we see a president whose leadership comes, not from his intellect, but from his own certainty, his belief in objective right and wrong, and from his ability to choose and manage advisors.

There are hints in the books of the wider story, especially the story of U.S. special forces in Afghanistan, but “Bush At War” for the most part stays focused on the White House. No doubt it will eventually be superseded by more complete stories, but for now it’s probably the best account of Bush during those unforgettable weeks. I hope Woodward is even now gathering material for a similar book on the war with Iraq.

Bernard Cornwell

In this sequel to “The Archer’s Tale” Cornwell continues the story of Thomas Hookton, reluctant seeker for the Holy Grail. It has the usual Cornwell trademarks: a less-than-pure hero and finely drawn battle scenes.

It’s a rousing adventure and a good read. However, Cornwell gets the technical details right without convincing us that his characters are from the 14th century. Most notable is his complete failure to portray the era as an Age of Faith. This is not to say that all his characters should be devout and pure-or-heart, but they should seem to belong in a culture that believed. The story should be set in Christendom, but, on the basis of the characters’ motivations and actions, it seems more like our century sans medicine and indoor plumbing.

H. W. Crocker III

There are two things that make “Triumph” a rarity: it’s a readable one-volume history of the Catholic Church and it’s pro-Church. It has some flaws, but should be read by every Catholic with an interest in Church history.

Covering 2000 years in about 500 pages is a large task. Crocker succeeds admirably. The emphasis given different periods is reasonable, and the writing is not only accessible, but witty. Naturally, there’s a lot that isn’t in the book. It’s primarily the story of popes and kings; ritual and doctrine are only mentioned in passing and average lay Catholics hardly appear at all.

Crocker, a convert to Catholicism, doesn’t suffer from the anti-Catholic attitudes that infect most recent popular books about the Church. He believes that the Catholic Church is, as advertised, the “one, true, holy, catholic, and apostolic” church. His writing proceeds from that stance. He could be faulted for understating the Church’s faults and failings, but his explanations of those faults (the excesses of the Inquisition, for example) usually shows that they were less severe than they are usually portrayed.

Crocker doesn’t like Protestantism. He unabashedly holds that Christendom died when Martin Luther’s challenge to Rome’s authority succeeded and that the fruits of the Reformation were misery and suffering. Bold as his views are, they stand in refreshing contrast to the pseudo-objectivity and secular worldview that underlies most writing about the history of Christianity.

(”Triumph” has a valuable critical bibliography.)

Oliver North and Joe Musser

Marine Major Peter Newman goes to work for Clinton’s National Security Council and is charged with leading a special operations unit dedicated to hunting down international threats like Muhammed Farah Aidid. Unbeknownst to Newman, the unit’s security is compromised by the national security advisor and a UN official who is also a Russian arms dealer. The unit takes heavy casualties and Newman finds himself on the ground in Iraq.

Given the low quality of recent suspense novels by the likes of Clancy, this book is a welcome surprise. It’s tightly plotted and has an aura of authenticity that makes up for some of the less likely plot twists. What really distinguishes it, though, is a religious subplot. Newman’s unfaithful wife becomes a Christian and Newman himself is exposed to faith during a harrowing escape. This subplot doesn’t dominate the book, but serves to make the characters more believable.