A Secret Woman: A Novel

by James J. Patterson

In clothing, Bermuda Shorts are a kind of casual formal wear - and in this collection of essays, Bermuda Shorts is the perfect metaphor for James J. Patterson's fundamentally serious but playful literary style. Patterson writes like the love child of Henry Miller and Mary Karr, with all the contradictions that implies -- a philosopher who thinks best over a glass of fine wine; an ex-Catholic still haunted by the image of the Crucifixion; an irreverent political satirist whose patriotism flies the flag of another iconoclast, Thomas Paine. Patterson grew up with a foot planted in each of two worlds -- one in Washington DC, the Capital of the Empire as he calls it, where the wheels of power spin, and one in rural Ontario, where his Canadian mother insisted the family spend their summers. His father, one of the wizards of twentieth century newspaper publishing, introduced him to the city's wheels of money and power, which he would later navigate as an entrepreneur, starting his first business at 20. But those Canadian summers introduced him to a different world - one where a cedar strip boat was better than any car, and where the ghosts of those who'd previously inhabited the family's island house floated out over the water of Lovesick Lake. It is those two worlds that blend in this collection, in reflections both serious and playful, on what it means to be a man, an artist, an iconoclast, a patriot, a lover, as the 20th century rolls over into the 21st.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Mildred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great James Patterson book, haven't read one yet I didn't like, nice beach afternoon book.

[Patrick DiJusto · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of essays, mostly sports related, by the shorter half of the mid-1980s art folk satire duo The Pheromones

[Joan Hetherington]

An interesting read. Stumbled upon this book mistaking this author for a different one. Really enjoyed it.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not particularly one I’d read again but interesting short stories on a range of topics.

[Jgrace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bermuda Shorts - James Patterson

3 stars
This is a mixed bag of essays on many subjects, obviously collected over a period of time. There are several rather repetitive essays dealing with his time as a musician. These selections touch on the politics and social climate of the 80’s and contain an ongoing rant against conservative viewpoints. (Not that I disagree with him, but he was ranting, not presenting an opposite viewpoint) Most of the essays are to some degree autobiographical and the best are filled with nostalgia. I’m not much of a sports fan, but Patterson is passionate in his love of sports and his dedication as a fan. I found the sports essays (even those about football which I do not enjoy) to be the best of the lot.
I read the kindle version of this collection. I was disappointed that there weren’t any references to when and where each essay was first published. I’m fairly sure that some were texts of speeches, but there were not any references to indicate that either.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This guy's a better thinker than he is a writer. Which is to say, he's got interesting stuff to say, but lets his defense of himself get in the way of him saying it effectively.

For example, there's this chapter about how after years of having season seats at a sporting event next to a guy who wouldn't talk to him, he breaks through the guy's reserve and they become big friends and huge talkers. THen the guy kills himself. And at the end of the piece, I have no idea what the two of them talked about that made their relationship so important to Patterson. He never recounts a single conversation they had together, despite calling the piece "Gabbing with O'Reilly." If Patterson had made O'Reilly a real person with actual conversations instead of spending the essay discussing how his seatmate must have disliked his (Patterson's) long hair and hippy style, and how he's right to be the way he is, and more about himself himself himself, it would have been a much more touching piece.

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were parts I really liked, and others I found redundant. Let's start with redundant things and get the ugliness out of the way. There were three times in the book where it was not a short story, but only a title. While I enjoyed reading a clear headline, I was disappointed to turn the page and find another headline. There could have been something, anything.
For the good parts, there were two clear moments in the book I connected with enough to really absorb. They were That Was Then, This Is The Pheromones and The Myth Of The Casual Fan. I really must say, being a "Die-Hard" Hockey fan, the latter of the two really hit home for me. It was a great short, and one I am to share with other "Die-Hards" such as myself.
Not for everyone, you really have to be a short story fan to appreciate the work.

2.5/5

[Julie Ditton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a book of short stories, but a collection of essays on a variety of subjects. The first half of the book contains several autobiographical stories about the author's isolated childhood island summer home in Canada and about his time as a traveling musician as a young adult. It was interesting to gain insight into his life. But many of the other stories are sports essays and commentary on a variety of subjects. For the most part, I found the book dry reading and shelved it several times before I eventually finished it.

[Andrewkb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of eclectic essays on life. Some are very personal and some universal.

I especially enjoyed Patterson's essays on sports. He captures what draws people to the communal experience of watching sports and the relationships that are made in the stands.

Definitely worth a read.

[Michele Stroba · Rating 1 out of 5]

Love Patterson but didn't enjoy this book. I had a very hard time staying involved and ended up shelving it

[Debra B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up this book at a local library used book sale. Thought it was a book of short stories, but it is a book of short essays. It held my interest. Author has a good sense of humor. I enjoyed it.

[Nancy Velure · Rating 3 out of 5]

Men.