"Laconia" and Jack Reacher
 

I'm reading another Jack Reacher novel written by Lee Child, "Past Tense," and it is set in what the author calls "Laconia, N.H." and the surrounding area.

The problem is that the "Laconia" he describes and writes about does not seem to exist in reality: the stores, the layout, the roadways: it's as if he chose the name "Laconia" but then applied it to his concept of small town New England created from whole cloth.

For those who have read the book: does it seem that way to you as well?

Yes


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Agree - Laconia in name only. Liked the book!

On a side note, Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher? That was just wrong! Jack Reacher is 6' 5", 220 - 250 pounds (depending on the book). Tom Cruise, not so much...

If you’re only now reading Past Tense you’re only 9 months behind me and probably most Reacher lovers. That’s one of the authors that is on preorder and arrives on my kindle the day it is released.

I was excited to hear that there was going to be a movie until I found out Tom Cruise was starring in it. He’s just not the right size to play Reacher (and I’m not a big fan either). That was a few years ago and there hasn’t been another Reacher movie since. I understand Cruise owns the rights so if there is another one we’ll be stuck with him. If they made Past Tense into a movie they’d probably make it some town in Vancouver where it’s cheaper. Another blow for being authentic NH.

Doesn’t matter where, physically, a fictional place is. Sounds like the author’s intent was to place his story in a laconic setting such as many small towns in NH are. What more “laconic” name than “LACONIA”?

Agreed on Cruise, Laconia, and Child.

LOVE the series.

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Tom Cruise does as good a job as he can, given his *ahem* lack of stature.

But yeah, I'd like to see an actor playing the part who is as big and tough as the one Lee Child writes about, but no particular actor comes to mind.

Nominees for the part, anyone?

Kinda like Mark Wahlberg playing Marcus Luttrell in Lone Survivor


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Timely post - I just finished the book this morning! I agree about Laconia. It wasn't the city I know, and it seemed odd in using the name that the author wouldn't have at least mentioned the lake. Makes you wonder if he did his research!

How About...
 

I was thinking someone like Jason Statham (without the British accent) or Dwayne Johnson. Possibly Chris Hemsworth?

Ayuh
 

Yup. Kept trying to relate the places he mentioned versus the actual Laconia and came up with nothing. A little research on the 'Net and use of Google Maps would have fixed that particular problem.

I read an interview with the author. He has never visited NH but his books sell well in NH so he placed the story here.

He did sell out when he let Tom Cruise buy the movie rights to his Jack Reacher books.


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I forgot that there were two Reacher movies: Jack Reacher (based on One Shot) and Never Go Back. I googled movie three and found an article from November that said there would be no more movies and that a tv series was in the works. Lee Child was quoted as saying the tv Reacher would include a new actor more befitting the imposing, burley character he created in his books. Now we’re talking.

Just read that Amazon is producing the Reacher tv series. They did a good job with Jack Ryan and I’m sure Jack Reacher will be good too.

have not read a reacher book or seen the movie. I was a big fan of the Vince Flynn books. Are they similar?

Who for Reacher?
 

For years we have wondered who could play Reacher, and have yet to answer that. Cruise's demeanor isn't bad, but he is clearly not the guy. But those stories needed to be made into movies, so what are you going to do?
I have noticed that Lee Child does that: he picks out a town or an area of the country, but he doesn't follow thru with an exact description of what is really like. But love the books anyway.

Nobody has a character like Reacher. In all the other “male adventure” books the main characters are or were part of something (eg CIA or ex-CIA). Reacher is a drifter going from one adventure to the next with only the clothes on his back and a toothbrush. He even gets the girl sometimes. Check him out in Wikipedia but don’t read too much because you’ll want to binge read all 27 books.

Tom Brady
 

Sometimes a new, non-actor personality will do well, but for some it will be tough to overcome he image set by Tom Cruise. We all adapted to different actors playing James Bond, didn't we?
Tom Brady! He's got a built in audience, appears great on screen, and will need work in a few years.

Brady isn't big enough.

I'm thinking that Josh Duhamel might work, but he's only a tad over six foot and a few pounds shy of 200: he's probably not big enough.

Do you recommend starting with the first book in the series?

Yes. Though there are a few books that play with narrative timing, there's a lot in the first books that set up what follows.

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Tom Brady could be made to look “imposing or burley” with makeup but he has a boy’s voice. Not exactly what I’d expect Reacher to sound like.

Gronk!


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Nah, not really similar. In my opinion Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp character, and his books, are much better. RIP Vince...you were much too young.

Hmmm...maybe a new series for me? I love Parker, Sanford, Child, and most of Lehane. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE Tim Dorsey--funny as all get-out--and the Kingsbridge series.

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All good - Vince Flynn is a definite addition to your reading list. Also, if you haven't read them, Michael Connelly and CJ Box are good reads.

How about Harlan Coben & his Myron Bolitar series.


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Another great series!

I've got American Assassin on library request AND found out there's a movie version--let's roll!

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I have enjoyed the Jack Reacher books even though they are basically silent, tough guy versions of stories from "Murder She Wrote"... If memory serves, Jack's dad was mentioned as being from Laconia in a few books.

I always thought Liev Schreiber would be an ideal Jack Reacher in the movies.

Liev?
 

I thought he made a great "Mr. Clark" in the movie version of Tom Clancy's Sum Of All Fears.

Another possibility is Adam Baldwin.