tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post1448511543265333889..comments2024-03-29T09:55:28.798-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Ken Salikof on Helen MacInnes, Ian Fleming's ChallengerJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17900129282943641492020-09-15T00:15:48.089-04:002020-09-15T00:15:48.089-04:00Growing up, I've read all of Helen MacInnes...Growing up, I've read all of Helen MacInnes' books that I could get my hands on. Waxing nostalgic, I was trying to revisit her books, but had great difficulties finding any at the local libraries. I think the newer generations are missing a lot. <br />Alistair MacLean, many of whose books were made into movies too, was another; Evelyn Anthony, whose "The Tamarind Seed" was on the big screen too, with Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif; Adam Hall/Elleston Trevor and his Quiller series; James Leasor's Dr. Jason Love (Passport series); James Mayo/Stephen Coulter's Charles Hood... "Those were the days....", well, at least Le Carre and Deighton were still going strong until the end of the century - I just blazed through the latter's Bernard Samson trilogies recently.OldHongKongerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08272788296499601992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55071784279479505322016-02-25T11:18:20.486-05:002016-02-25T11:18:20.486-05:00I think that Helen MacInnes is an amazing author. ...I think that Helen MacInnes is an amazing author. I reread her books and find them just as suspenseful as the first reading. And it is sad, that as Hollywood has moved from fairy tales to spy stories--that they overlook some of the best stories or if they make a movie from a book they change the story so that it does not reflect what made the story good in the first place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-272445375304917912014-05-27T15:55:19.605-04:002014-05-27T15:55:19.605-04:00Avid Helen MacInnes fan; have read all of her book...Avid Helen MacInnes fan; have read all of her books, still have some of my favorites in paperback and hardcover. I loved that her books were literate, with a well-informed view of the political reality of the world. She did have great settings, characters, plots--even when they were darker than I'd hoped for--still a great read today!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-47422783222501590172014-05-26T10:32:09.837-04:002014-05-26T10:32:09.837-04:00Hi, anonymous. The Jackie Kennedy spy novels are ...Hi, anonymous. The Jackie Kennedy spy novels are published under the pseudonym, "Maxine Kenneth," as requested by the publisher, hence the confusion you are having. I hope you enjoy them, along with the Helen MacInnes novels.L.A. Confidentialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15389745776260888022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54383758503472697282014-05-25T18:04:36.697-04:002014-05-25T18:04:36.697-04:00Susan, thank you for introducing me to Helen MacIn...Susan, thank you for introducing me to Helen MacInnes. ironically, many people in my family loved reading her novels but I did not know that until I asked them!<br /><br />Look forward to reading Helen MacInnes. <br /><br />I reserved a copy of the new book about JK but the name is not Salikof on the library catalog. it is Ken M something.<br /><br />I can think of several authors overlooked by history. But they are not mystery authors so I am not sure this applies here.<br /><br />I loved Barbara Cartland novels at University though I cannot find any of her books in the bookstore now. I am glad I saved several of her books. <br /><br />Look forward to reading Helen MacInnes and other authors, which I've never heard of.<br /><br />~hmdtAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23358069492017401202014-05-25T16:07:30.079-04:002014-05-25T16:07:30.079-04:00Helen MacInnes was a favorite back in the day, and...Helen MacInnes was a favorite back in the day, and I'm sure I read them all--perhaps it's time to re-read. A couple of my somewhat obscure favorites are the late Douglas Clark (DCI Masters) and Arthur Upfield (DI Napoleon Bonaparte - an Australian Aboriginal detective). I have all of them that I could find.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03391950295138370796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-64489927155246669292014-05-25T01:00:37.113-04:002014-05-25T01:00:37.113-04:00Ken, I missed that letter when I was there... I ha...Ken, I missed that letter when I was there... I had no idea! You are good!Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-18352104469431431832014-05-24T20:54:40.406-04:002014-05-24T20:54:40.406-04:00Thanks, Reine. The idea for the Jackie books only...Thanks, Reine. The idea for the Jackie books only came to me because of a letter in the Kennedy library in which she wrote about the possibility of going to work for the CIA in the early 1950s. As soon as I read that, I knew I had to write a book about what might have happened had she actually gone on to become a secret agent.L.A. Confidentialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15389745776260888022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56519764041515630472014-05-24T20:41:31.153-04:002014-05-24T20:41:31.153-04:00Nancy, that's an excellent point — perhaps we ...Nancy, that's an excellent point — perhaps we should do a post sometime on "Peril and the Drooping Bodice"?Susan Elia MacNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349842866995778987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78387925076321755342014-05-24T20:26:38.884-04:002014-05-24T20:26:38.884-04:00Hallie and Susan, I hope you feel better very soon...Hallie and Susan, I hope you feel better very soon.<br /><br />Beverly, what a lovely tribute to the authors...Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-5657878563779056332014-05-24T20:21:16.169-04:002014-05-24T20:21:16.169-04:00Ken, I am stunned hearing of Helen MacInnes now fo...Ken, I am stunned hearing of Helen MacInnes now for the first time. So interesting that you have taken off with Jackie Kennedy as a spy of that era. How perfect! I never would have thought of it but love the idea! Wow!Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82527952855931134612014-05-24T19:40:12.347-04:002014-05-24T19:40:12.347-04:00I read some MacInnes books in my girlhood days, an...I read some MacInnes books in my girlhood days, and now I remember why: sexy book covers! Scratching my head now--why did peril always make the lady's bodice droop on the cover art? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07942318489020190662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-11948197212644807722014-05-24T17:41:12.912-04:002014-05-24T17:41:12.912-04:00Oh, LOVE Frederick Forsyth... Must reread.Oh, LOVE Frederick Forsyth... Must reread.Susan Elia MacNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349842866995778987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-1361287510947618002014-05-24T16:46:29.080-04:002014-05-24T16:46:29.080-04:00Thanks, Lynn. I forgot about Frederick Forsyth. ...Thanks, Lynn. I forgot about Frederick Forsyth. He came along a little later. His first novel, Day of the Jackal, was published in 1971. But what a debut! That book is impossible to put down; even when you know the outcome of the story, the suspense is unbearable.L.A. Confidentialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15389745776260888022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68778056740751503822014-05-24T16:04:38.213-04:002014-05-24T16:04:38.213-04:00Hi Ken ~ What a coincidence to find others who lov...Hi Ken ~ What a coincidence to find others who loved Helen. My late father-in-law's favorite authors were Helen MacInnes,John LeCarre, Ian Fleming and Frederick Forsyth. (Day of the Jackal)That's what inspired me to read more of the genre in the early '70's.<br /><br />I think I'll really enjoy your Jackie series! Glad you posted today, brings back good memories!<br /><br />Hope you feel better, Hallie and Susan!Lynn in Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624333137637840905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35506407310944038662014-05-24T14:28:59.352-04:002014-05-24T14:28:59.352-04:00She's my all-time favorite! (Sorry ladies.) ...She's my all-time favorite! (Sorry ladies.) I've read all her books a number of times.<br /><br />The movies were truly dreadful!<br /><br />I learned a lot of geography from her books. Many involved out-of-the way cabins in the Alps with the hero waiting for the evil nazis to arrive. MacInnes was great at letting the reader wonder who was good and who would turn out to be the bad guy. She's a writing icon, in my opinion.<br /><br />She was married to Gilbert Highet (One of the trivial things I remember.)<br /><br />I was so excited to see that the e-books are now available.Marianne in Mainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-5429491110754186802014-05-24T13:52:03.048-04:002014-05-24T13:52:03.048-04:00I started reading Helen MacInnes when I was in jun...I started reading Helen MacInnes when I was in junior high. I probably picked up one of Mom's books. Anyway I loved her books and read them all. I even had them all in paperback for awhile. It would be interesting to read some of them again with the adult perspective I have now. Ha.Pat Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29704566904561482982014-05-24T13:13:03.629-04:002014-05-24T13:13:03.629-04:00Speaking of forgotten authors, I really loved Engl...Speaking of forgotten authors, I really loved English mystery writer Joyce Porter and Dover mysteries. Dover was a truly idiosyncratic detective and his adventures were always quite funny.L.A. Confidentialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15389745776260888022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52022634056323625032014-05-24T13:02:32.221-04:002014-05-24T13:02:32.221-04:00Helen MacInnes wrote the first espionage story I e...Helen MacInnes wrote the first espionage story I ever read, Message from Málaga. It took place in Spain, and when I finally visited Granada, I tried to find the sites of some of the more harrowing events. I read it several times - the first when I was about twelve, and most recently about five years ago, when I was weeding out my library to make donations. Subsequently, I read almost every other one of her books, which I found as thrilling as Ludlum, as cerebral as Le Carré and as romantic as any of her female peers specializing in that genre. MacInnes, however, was far more subtle a writer - knowing that suggestions of violence and sex are all that is needed to convey the story. A certain morality and integrity, devoid of sanctimony, echoes in her best characters - influenced IMO, by the philosophy evident in the speeches and writings of Churchill and the more romantic ideals of freedom and the responsibility each individual has to his own liberty. Her Scots/American heritage probably played a huge role in forming that viewpoint. Her work was vivid and detailed, allowing the reader's imagination to smell, taste and touch and picture the locations of the stories. I am happy to learn that her books are being reissued - it will be wonderful to visit old friends. I am also going to check out the Kennedy stories - more than one of the intrepid women in MacInnes' novels bore a physical resemblance to the former First Lady...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18227386032680419389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-13727438503461330362014-05-24T12:59:19.593-04:002014-05-24T12:59:19.593-04:00Who knew that so many people also have fond memori...Who knew that so many people also have fond memories of reading Helen MacInnes. It's very heartening to see.L.A. Confidentialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15389745776260888022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-64524960166331305012014-05-24T12:58:35.998-04:002014-05-24T12:58:35.998-04:00I've never even heard of Helen MacInnes, but I...I've never even heard of Helen MacInnes, but I think I'd like her books. It sounds like they are stand alones, is that correct? Do I need to read them in any order, or can I just pick up which ever one I find first?<br /><br />As to other overlooked authors, anyone remember Dorothy Gilman? I loved her Mrs. Pollifax series, as you might guess from my blog title and user name most places.Mark Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567392254011373198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-67934477281517947212014-05-24T12:37:16.085-04:002014-05-24T12:37:16.085-04:00I've loved Helen MacInnes for forever. Right ...I've loved Helen MacInnes for forever. Right now I am rereading Horizon and Assignment in Brittany and just finished Above Suspicion.Gramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027824918114690029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25517997963058178982014-05-24T12:17:50.859-04:002014-05-24T12:17:50.859-04:0013I've read every Helen MacInnes book. In fac...13I've read every Helen MacInnes book. In fact about six months back I reread some of the early ones. This article inspired me to reread a few more. I own most of them as part of my rather large library that I'm always trying to weed out a bit. However I have a hard time letting books go.Kathy Colclasurenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90321692749051097922014-05-24T12:17:04.890-04:002014-05-24T12:17:04.890-04:00I've read every Helen MacInnes book. In fact ...I've read every Helen MacInnes book. In fact about six months back I reread some of the early ones. This article inspired me to reread a few more. I own most of them as part of my rather large library that I'm always trying to weed out a bit. However I have a hard time letting books go.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89367325453785443582014-05-24T11:53:48.293-04:002014-05-24T11:53:48.293-04:00Hi, Deborah. The thing about Jackie is, we starte...Hi, Deborah. The thing about Jackie is, we started out with a wonderful real-life character, and she gave us so much to build on. It became very easy to project her into our fictional situations.L.A. Confidentialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15389745776260888022noreply@blogger.com