Title: Good-time Charlie
Review: Charlie Wilson is a subject close to my heart. I took him as the prototype for the president in my second novel, "The Sixth Battle," but still learned far more in Mr. Crile's book than I knew before. Moreover, it's a highly entertaining as well as informative volume: the extent of Crile's work is evident in the scope and detail of the text, to say nothing of the huge cast of characters he interviewed. I would happily rate this book at five stars except for the author's obsessive reliance on definite articles. "This" and "these" are vastly over-used on nearly every page (6 times on pg 301 alone), referring to subjects that usually are obvious but sometimes are not. Frankly, Crile's otherwise excellent manuscript deserved better editing. Otherwise, "Good-Time Charlie" is a subject worthy of a movie, complete with a colorful, flawed hero; back-channel contacts; politics; sex; guns; and an ending that defines "unintended consequences."
Is this product review negative?