James Patterson
Penguin Random House Reviewed by Daryl Crimp RRP $40
James Patterson describes himself as ‘the world’s best selling author’ and ascribes his success to his ability to tell stories.
He admits he’s not great at writing sentences and tells stories as he speaks them but he learned early on that his forte was short, sharp and pacy chapters. Hook a reader, surprise them, turn them on their head—keep them reading.
The Stories of My Life follows the Patterson formula and is more a random collection of anecdotes rather than a memoir in the classic sense. Short chapters. Tight, concise writing. Irony and wit. An eclectic mix of subjects.
Surprisingly, it is a good read. Easy. Page turning. Mildly amusing. Not too taxing on the brain. Quick fodder to earn Patterson even more money. Enjoyable.
