Mark Gilroy

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Search Results for: label/reacher

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Mark Gilroy May 5, 2014

Is Jack Reacher the Most Unique Character in Commercial Fiction?

a quick glance at jack reacher

Reacher has a major attachment issue – he can’t commit to living in one place.

In Jack Reacher, Lee Child has created one of the most unique and interesting male characters in commercial fiction today.

Army brat, West Point grad, and decorated military veteran, Reacher never lived in one place more than a year or two growing up or in his military career, so why start now? He doesn’t.

When Reacher leaves the Army – as a matter of honor, of course, he begins a new life as a drifter, traveling by bus or as a hitchhiker with the clothes on his back, a toothbrush, and an ATM card. He always finds trouble – and he is always ready to fight for the underdog.

Oh, and when his clothes get dirty, he throws them away and buys new ones. He’s not real particular on brands. So he’s done the math and it makes perfect sense to him.

Reacher is pretty lucky. None of the bad guys shoot as well as he does. And whatever mess he gets in the middle of, there is always an extremely attractive, independent, and unattached woman for him to consider the possibility of settling down with.

Reacher hit the big screen in 2013 with Tom Cruise in lead role, which created a storm of controversy with fans of the 6′ 5″ literary character. Cruise is always great in an action role. He’s not great at being taller than most everyone else in the room.

As of this writing Child has written 18 full novels … the series might finally be losing steam (at least for me), but Child has pulled off no small feat.

Adapted from my Pinterest board, Spies, Detectives, Hit Men, and Vigilantes.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Jack Reacher, Lee Child, unique literary heroes

Mark Gilroy November 23, 2011

Reacher, the Hardy Boys, 007, and Other Great Fictional Characters

From my childhood days reading the Hardy Boys (and if I was home sick and was out of new books, my sister’s Nancy Drew mysteries would suffice), I have always enjoyed mystery and suspense series featuring simple and complex heroes and anti-heroes. James Bond 007, Spenser, Jim Chee, Keller, John Rain, Gabriel Allon, and too many others to list here. In this video presentation I share a nice sampling of some of my favorite spies, detectives, and hit men. The psychological nuances created by the authors inspired me on how I developed my lead character in Cuts Like a Knife and Every Breath You Take, Detective Kristen Conner. Consider my novels a  tribute to the characters I have enjoyed so much – and the authors behind them. 

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Filed Under: Books, Presentations, Writing

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Mark is a publisher, author, consultant, blogger, positive thinker, believer, encourager, and family guy. A resident of Brentwood, Tennessee, he has six kids, with one in college and five out in the "real world." Read More…

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