I’m sure you’ve figured out by know that I read–a lot! But I’ll also confess that I’ve only stayed up all night reading twice–one of the two books was the novel Seven Days in May by Fletcher Knebel, and I’ve read it a number of times since then. It was also made into a movie, and while I’m not a film connoisseur I’ve seen it several times. Last night, through the wonders of the internet, I went on-line and watched Seven Days in May again, probably for the fifth time since it came out in 1964. This morning I got the book out and will start rereading it after dinner. I’m not certain which is better–the book or the movie.

Either way, as we come toward the end of a grueling election campaign, the novel/movie, in many ways, may give us pause and serious thought about what’s gone on over the past three years–and how it might end. For those who haven’t read the novel or seen the movie, here’s a quick synopsis. After a very close call between the US and USSR, in something similar to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the American President (played by Frederic March) concluded that the two nations must begin nuclear disarmament. The Soviets agree and both sides sign a significant treaty. However, a few men in the Pentagon (led by Burt Lancaster) and other parts of the government violently disagree, and set about staging a coup d’etat against the President. One man, a Colonel working in the Pentagon (Kirk Douglas), finds out about the coming coup, and alerts the President. It’s a stark, compelling book/film of true political intrigue. (Spoiler alert–the good guys win in the end 😇)

It is such a good read that even I, who very rarely reads novels, was totally engrossed. It’s not a standerd action movie, but you can still end up on the edge of your seat. Ultimately, either the book or the movie is wonderful in its own right, and both give us a lot to think about.