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50 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JANUARY 2019 The Book Club selection for January is The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. This is not a biography or tell-all. It is a wildly readable new novel that can only be defined as a thriller set in today's political world. As explained by the Washington Post, this isn't the first work of fiction by a U S President — Jimmy Carter published a novel about the Revolutionary War called The Hornet's Nest. The publishers gush that it is the first novel informed by insider details that only a President can know. While there aren't any redacted secrets, it does provide insight on the former President's ego and a fair reflection on his political frustration. As summarized by the Washington Post, the novel opens with the Commander in Chief, President Duncan, preparing to testify before a House select committee. Duncan thinks, "My opponents really hate my guts, but here I am just one honest man with rugged good looks and a sharp sense of humor." Facing a panel of sniveling political opportunists intent on impeaching him, Duncan is caught in a semantic legal debate. Duncan is called by Congress to explain what he has been up to, but he can't reveal the details of his negotiations with terrorists set on destroying the country. While Duncan does not have the same background or foibles as Clinton, many of the details of the book are shared by both men. The whole 500-page book takes place in just a few days as a terrorist and his beautiful partner aim to crash the internet and every electronic record and device that uses it. Only one handsome man can stop this, but it's not easy for the President of the United States to slip out of the White House and foil international terrorists, particularly when some congressmen are intent on his impeachment. Thus the title, The President is Missing. Regardless of your political point of view, please join us in The Lodge on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 9:30 am, when we will discuss this fictional work and its possible reflections of today's political arena. Everyone is welcome. We'd love to see a few more men who read and would like an opportunity to share their insights on the books we read. If you would like more information, please call Doreen Sanders at (951) 769-1913. ~ Steve Cooley Book Club Writers' Club Happy New Year fellow writers! Are you making any New Year's resolutions? How about adding the following to your intentions? • Organizing your journals, diaries and/or blogs for publication. Look for common themes. • Re-read your poetry. In addition to the aesthetics, notice if the poetry underscores a historic point in time. Can you add historic references to the poetry and develop that? • Commit to writing or reading every day. Jot down ideas, concepts or words that inspire you. • Reflect on the previous year's challenges and life's passages. Identify feelings associated with each. • Doodle. • Set publishing goals (if you're so inclined). Backward map the steps you will to need to accomplish the goal. Calendar the objectives. Come to the Writer's Club meeting on the second Tuesday of every month at 1:30 pm and 6:30 pm and share your own inspiring New Year's resolutions. Whether you're an aspiring writer or published author the Writer's Group will support you. ~ Karla Noonan (951) 902-5407