by David Baldacci
A war correspondent goes on a train trip to rediscover himself, and gets a LOT more than he bargained for.
Reviewed by: Michael J. Griffin
About Michael J. Griffin
I've noticed a trend among big-name authors lately: Taking a break from writing about detectives or lawyers tracking down bad people to write heartwarming books.
John Grisham did it first with "A Painted House" and then he revisited that territory this year with "Skipping Christmas."
James Patterson followed suit by nestling "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" in between Alex Cross books.
Now David Baldacci has joined the fray first with "Wish You Well" and now this book, "The Christmas Train." While I have not read "Wish You Well," I had to say "The Christmas Train" was an enjoyable entry into these ranks.
The novel begins with journalist Tom Langdon getting onto a train to go across the country from New York to Los Angeles to meet his girlfriend of three years. He hadn't originally planned to travel that way, but he's not allowed to fly for two years. A nasty incident with airport security at LaGuardia that culminated with Langdon breaking a security guard's metal detector wand over his knee.
So he finds himself on a two-part train trip to LA, and he figures that it will be a good chance to reflect on himself and what he has done with his life. The last thing that he expects is to find the one good thing that came in and out of his life to be on the train at the same time. Lo and behold, he runs into Eleanor Carter, the love of his life, who left him several years ago.
It's an understatement to say that this is a shock to both of them. Since they are both on a moving train, one can't just jump off to abandon the other. An uneasy dance begins, and some fireworks fly before the end of the book. No, not that kind of fireworks.
Things get even more complicated when Langdon's girlfriend from LA decides to surprise him on the train. It happens just as Langdon is getting Carter to loosen up a bit too.
Will Langdon convince Carter that he loves her or will he go back to his girlfriend, with whom he has a good physical relationship, but not a mental connection?
Baldacci packs the book with memorable side characters, like the eccentric Agnes Jo as well as a black bartender who channels Elvis, a reverend who is not really a reverend, a highly-successful movie director, and a couple of Amtrak porters.
This isn't just a feel-good story. Baldacci also weaves in several thefts and a perilous event that might keep everyone from getting home for Christmas.
While I like Baldacci's attempt for the heart-warming story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, I am also looking forward to his next book, where he might return to the lands of cynicism, although in this book, not everything is as it seems.
Click here to buy this book, or read more about it at Amazon.com: The Christmas Train
Copyright © by Michael J. Griffin, 2002
Reviewed by Michael J. Griffin:
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