Monday, November 29, 2010

Week 1

Well... let's start with the characters.

Rapp- Rapp intrigues me just as much as he intrigues all of the instructors. I love all of the"games" he is playing; being the first at some things, but making sure that he's not the first in others. Just trying to get a feel for how things work and what he is working with. He seems to be at the top of the class, but doesn't want the others to know.

Kennedy- I like her a lot. I think she knows what she is doing. I am glad that she is sticking up for Rapp, unlike the other one who got sent over seas and ended up getting kidnapped. Kennedy knew he shouldn't go over there, but her word didn't apparantly matter. I think Kennedy needs to stick to her guns. I like though that there is a woman in the mostly male dominated field.

Hurley- I can't really figure him out. I think he is just a stubborn man. He doesn't like it when people go over his head, even if it is for the better. It sounds like he may be losing his edge, whether it is in the "ring" with Rapp, or just his decision making... letting the match with Rapp happen in the first place, or the fact that he disobeyed his own rules.

Victor- What is his deal??? I can't figure him out either. He just runs his mouth and feels that the rules don't apply to him... and the fact is, they don't. Why didn't he get kicked out for prying the information from the other guy? Why was he allowed to punch the other guy in the face? I wonder if he maybe works undercover to try and get the other guys to crack. Or if he is just an arrogant asshole? I will tell you what... I LOVED the fact that Rapp just took him out on the mat. It was long overdue and well deserved.

I am very interested to see how long this "bootcamp" will take place in the book. It's hard to show character build when the characters are not allowed to talk about their past. I wonder, also, how many more guys will fail and leave.

What do you guys think? MOM... you too!!!!!!

5 comments:

  1. OK, here goes. I like what you thought about the characters being introduced here.

    Rapp is definitely the most interesting character I've come across. He is deliberate, skillful, studies quietly his opponents and surroundings, is very aware, and just. He is also very lethal and I can see him as the title of the book. I definitely want him to have my back. I can feel secure knowing he is in my corner.

    Kennedy,- I do like that she is a very controlled, reflective and methodical. She does her job well and is also good to have in your corner. She sees things as they are and works to put her objectives in place. A fair person.
    Her being a woman in a man's world shows that we can do the job if she is the right person. She's a good judge of character.

    Hurley - He was very good and still is but he is getting older. I think he reacts the way he does cause he is feeling a bit threatened, especially by Rapp. He is still needed but the handwriting is on the wall and even though he won't admit it, he knows that his time for being effective is coming close.

    Victor - He is such a "jack-ass" however, I can't help but think he is a plant. That his job is to undermine and try to show guys their weaknesses. That's why the "sergeants" don't seem to do anything to Victor and lets him get away with his obnoxious behavior. So he acts this way to throw the guys off and in that way is successful. When Rapp first meets him, Victor tries to get him to tell him his real name. Rapp doesn't fall for it but Bill did in the end and he was let go. That shows that under torture, he will give in so that is why he got the boot. But because he is so good, he truly rubs everyone the wrong way and the guys are irritated by him. Rapp got the best of him cause he is quiet, studies quickly what he needs to know in his opponents and uses those weaknesses to come up on top. What do you think?

    Anyways, am reading to the next part but need to know what chapter I have to stop at. My kindle doesn't show page numbers as in the book.

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  2. Went to the book store and looked at the American Assassin book and wrote down the chapters that correspond with the page numbers so I am all set. I've read up to the second part and will wait for your notes/discussion.

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  3. Week 2 Hi Honey,

    I couldn't wait anymore cause I want to keep reading so this is my thoughts on the book for this section.

    I find that Rapp is a quick learner. He does this by observing and studying, aware of his surroundings. He knows that Lewis is testing him. He watches Lewis observing him constantly. Rapp keeps to the rules but is frustrated by the way the leaders don't follow the same rules which doesn't seem fair to Rapp. It's nice to see a little background on him - a gifted athlete, his love for Mary who died in the Pan Am explosion over Scotland.Anger keeps Rapp's pain away and he wants revenge for this act on those who committed it. That's why he signed up for this. Lewis has to convince Rapp that Hurley is good at what he does. He showed initiative when given his first assignment. Impresses Kennedy, Lewis, but not Hurley. He gets to meet Stanfield.

    I like Stanfield. He knows his job and handles it well. He is quick to see and understand what his people are doing and respecting their choices, like Kennedy's in finding Rapp. He doesn't like Hurley's methods of deception in the training of his men. They seem to have a long history together. He knows his weaknesses and is honest about what goes on around him. He realizes that Hurley needs to go back out in the field. He and Hurley both see that Islamist are becoming a huge problem.

    Lewis, I like him. He is calm and studies people and situations carefully. He interprets things correctly.

    Kennedy = she continues to impress me, especially the fact that she is a woman dealing with men constantly. She doesn't back down and knows what she is doing. She is aware that her department needs to adapt, change course and tactics.

    I was correct in Viktor - he was a plant.

    Hurley = he is definitely a wild card but that makes him good at his job and survives. Very stubborn and it is not in his nature to confront his mistakes. He does to me feel threatened by Rapp so he does background checking on him on his own. But I think it is fascinating that Kennedy and Lewis and STanfield all feel that the reason Hurley has his back up is because Rapp is a reminder of himself.

    It's getting really interesting.

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  4. Me again,

    Forgot to give you notes on Sayyad = wow, this guy is heartless with "morals"? This is an oxymoron but does fit the terrorists picture. They're heartless, mean and cruel but adhere to no alcohol, religion as they see it. Can't respect someone like him but he is good at what he does. Devious. Sayyad knows that there are men in power that have loose lips cause Ivanov knows way too much.

    Then, there is Ivanov in Moscow. Another devious, selfish, brutal man. Describes what is wrong with Russia. The games they play.

    Love the fact that Rapp was able to get rid of Sharif in under 4 minutes and yet it seems like forever. He is beginning to see that Hurley is good at what he does. AFter Hurley was straightened out by Stansfield, his training to his men were meaningful. It'll help keep them alive.

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  5. I like that we kind of knew that the one guy was actually an instructor.... All of the "looking away" by the other instructors led us to believe that.

    Rapp is a very quick learner, and he doesn't seem like his emotions would get in the way. But his emotions did get in the way in his very first mission. I continue to think, just as everyone at Langley is the reason Hurley can't stand Rapp is because Rapp reminds him of himself when he was younger, just a bit better, and that scares him and makes him jealous all at the same time.

    I am looking forward to seeing Rapp;s and Hurley's relationship continue to grow seeing as they are working with each other.

    Sorry it took so long to respond. I will have the next section done by tonight... I am almost done with it.

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