Tuesday, July 13, 2021

The Worst Thing


Book: The Worst Thing

Basic Information : Synopsis : Characters : Expectations : Thoughts : Evaluation : Book Group : New Words : Good Quotes :  References

Basic Information:

Author: Aaron Elkins

Edition: ePub on Libby from

Publisher: Berkeley

ISBN: 0425240991 (ISBN13: 9780425240991)

Start Date: July 9, 2021

Read Date: July 13, 2021

304 pages

Genre: Fiction, Mystery

Language Warning: None

Rated Overall: 3 out of 5


Fiction-Tells a good story: 3 out of 5

Fiction-Character development: 3 out of 5


Synopsis (Caution: Spoiler Alert-Jump to Thoughts):

Security expert is sent to Iceland to give training at a fish processing conglomerate on how not to be kidnapped. He has had prior experience of being kidnapped also as a hostage negotiator. His prior experience as a kidnap victim leaves him subject to panic attacks and fear of being not in control, such as in an airplane. He feels he can control things short term with medicine.


He sees a psychologist before he leaves who gives him a few pointers in facing his panic attacks.



His training sessions go well until the president of the company who decided not to attend is the subject of a kidnapping attempt. The president is killed but the security expert’s wife is taken hostage. She is released in exchange for the security expert.


The mastermind of the kidnap attempt has had prior dealings with the expert and wants revenge. The story goes on with the security expert trying to escape from his panic attacks and his captors. None is successful until the end. The security expert figures out a way to escape right into the arms of the police who have figured out where he is being kepts.


The end of the book has a round with the psychologist who reveals the secret behind the security expert’s panic attacks.



Cast of Characters:
  • Bryan Bennett-Security developer and trainer. Also a negotiator
  • Lori Bennett-Bryan’s wife
  • George Henry Camano (Paris)-kidnap specialist
  • Zeta Parkington-psychologiest
  • Baldur Baldursson-CEO of GlobalSeas
  • Magnus Halldorsson-college professor, part of anarchist group
  • Stig Trygvasson-Kidnapper, male, volatile
  • Gullveig Valisdottir-Kidnapper, female
  • Julian Minor-negotiator
  • Ellert Ragnarsson-Icelandic police, detective chief inspector

Expectations:
  • Recommendation: Laura for our book group’s Summer read
  • When: May 2021
  • Date Became Aware of Book: May 2021
  • How come do I want to read this book: Book group book
  • What do I think I will get out of it? A good summer read.

Thoughts:


I had a belief, not formed from books but from personal experience, that each life has a defining moment, an episode that shapes and colors, for good or ill, all that follows.


In order to be rid of the damn things [panic attack] for good, you have to face whatever it is you’re most afraid of—the very worst thing.


When Lori, Bryan;’s wife gets nervous, the police let her know that Bryan knows how the game is played. Some game. Also kidnapping is not known in Iceland according to Elkin. So how would the Icelandic police know how the game is played?

The 2020 OSAC report says that Kidnapping Threat: While uncommon, most kidnapping cases involve drug-related debt collection and domestic/parental disputes involving multinational couples. There have been no reported cases of political kidnappings. In 2017, Iceland investigated its first potential abduction/murder case. The case involved the homicide of a 20-year old Icelandic woman, allegedly by foreign sailors, whom she met over social media.


The more they knew I wanted something, the more power they had over me. Wonder how general of a statement this is.


I cannot believe that in Iceland all the stuff which kept Bryan captive, such as a neck restraint,would be very common in Iceland? Wouldn’t that arouse suspicion?


Chp 35. A bit of humor. Parkington discovers the real past of Bryan, saying he will have an interesting time when he gets back from his relaxing trip to Iceland.


Chp 36. Bryan disables Camano with a spork-a new use for one.




Evaluation:

The Worst Thing is a “suspense” type novel. In this case you sort of know the hero will make it out alive and probably pretty well, after all, he is giving most of the narration. But sometimes the narration is taken over by the hero’s wife or the “bad guy”. There are pretty clear delineations about whose thoughts are being recorded.


Parts of the book seemed intriguing; other parts just seemed too convoluted. But then again, this was a summer-time read, so it does not need to be believable. Just not too unbelievable. So pick up the book, read and enjoy. Just do not overthink it.



 
Notes from my book group:

Book group really did well. They picked up on the psychological angle, one which I really did not have the background to explore. It was fun hearing them.


What did you start calling the protagonist? Bryan or Bennett? The bad guy? George, Henry, Camano, or Paris? Why?


Why pick Iceland as the setting? Was this to have unpronounceable names?


My questions or comments do not get better from here. So chime in or put up with my questions.


Bryan says that he had a belief, not formed from books but from personal experience, that each life has a defining moment, an episode that shapes and colors, for good or ill, all that follows. (chp 2) How did Bryan form this opinion? Does this book back up this statement? Do you think it is true? Have you had your defining moment yet?


When I read the book, there were three words which came to mind: fear, avarice and deceit.


Does Elkins describe panic attacks accurately?


Dr Parkington’s advice on panic attacks is In order to be rid of the damn things for good, you have to face whatever it is you’re most afraid of—the very worst thing. When is it not good advice? Does Byran follow her advice? What are the results? How does this play into the story line? Do you think that is good advice? Are there things of the mind which make sense?


What does Brian Bennett fear? Has he learned to cope with his fears?


Camano described his success to the system. How did his system work? Why did it break down this time?


How does avarice get Camano into trouble? Is he overconfident? Why does he change his rules on plotting out kidnappings? What services does he provide?


Deceit plays a big part in this story. Where does deceit take place? Does deceit come back and always “get” a person?

 

What did you think of the ending where Bryan’s mind has been playing tricks on him for all those years? Do you think the author was fair in this story line twist?


How do you want your life to change because you read this book?


Many of these questions are either from or adapted from LitLovers.

Why the title of The Worst THing?

Does this story work as a suspense-thriller?

Did the ending seem fitting? Satisfying? Predictable?

Which character was the most convincing? Least?

Which character did you identify with?

Which one did you dislike?

Every story has a world view. Were you able to identify this story’s world view? What was it? How did it affect the story?

In what context was religion talked about in this book?

Was there anybody you would consider religious?

Why do you think the author wrote this book?

What would you ask the author if you had a chance?

What “takeaways” did you have from this book?

What central ideas does the author present?

Describe the culture talked about in the book.

How is the culture described in this book different than where we live?

What economic or political situations are described?

Does the author examine economics and politics, family traditions, the arts, religious beliefs, language or food?

How did this book affect your view of the world?

Of how God is viewed?

What questions did you ask yourself after reading this book?

Talk about specific passages that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating, disturbing, sad...?

What was memorable?

Reading Groups General Fiction Guide




New Words:

  • Megillah (2): a long involved story or account
  • Weetabix(23): a whole-grain wheat breakfast cereal produced by Weetabix Limited in the United Kingdom. It comes in the form of palm-sized (approx. 9.5 cm × 5.0 cm or 4" × 2") rounded rectangle-shaped biscuits.
  • après-panic coma (30): Might be made up

Good Quotes:

  • First Line: The food had been wonderful, the wines had been excellent, and the crème brûlée was slipping down our throats like nectar from Valhalla.
  • Last Line: World, here we come—Paris, London, Tokyo

 


References:

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