First edition as new

Corey Grace un carismático senador republicano de Ohio se involucra en una feroz batalla presidencial contra el candidato favorito del partido y líder de la derecha cristiana. A pesar de sus cualidades, Grace es un miembro incómodo para sus superiores ya que no teme opinar en público, aunque ello suponga enfrentarse a las directrices del partido. Su relación con Lexie Hart, estrella de cine afroamericana, no sólo reafirma su reputación de inconformista, sino que además despierta nuevas antipatías. A medida que la presión de la campaña se intensifica, Grace se enfrentará a la traición, a secretos inconfesables y a terribles decisiones morales. Su integridad será puesta a prueba en una brutal contienda política en la que todo vale.

Enjoyable political fiction, especially during the midst of the 2008 election campaign. Written about fictional candidates for the Republican Presidential nomination, it doesn't present the G.O.P in the best light. I doubt if Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, etc. would recommentd it, and it probably won't interest those with a right wing, Christian fundamentalist leaning, nor graduates of Bob Jones University, etc. But if you don't take that personally, you should enjoy the story, and find yourself putting real names on the fictional characters presented in the story. If you're tired of negative political adds, or how dirty polictics can be, you'll enjoy the story of the hero, a moderate Republican war hero. Now if only (s)he existed in the real world.
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The Race centers around Ohio senator Corey Grace, who makes a bid to be a candidate for the Republican presidential primary. However, Grace is a fairly unconventional Republican. He's divorced, he is in a rather public relationship with a well-known African American actress, he supports stem cell research, and overall straddles the line of the traditional Republican conservative.

I had mixed feelings about this novel. I read the abridged audiobook and really wasn't too invested in the story for the first 1/3 of the book. But it picked up. Though published ten years ago, it hits many of the topics that are hot buttons currently: racial tension, gay rights, terrorism, religious fundamentalism, and the increasing role that the media plays in today's society. I liked Grace's character, although I think that's where the realistic (unrealistic) quality of the novel comes into play. While the story touches on a lot of today's contemporary issues, I find it difficult to swallow a story such as this. Besides an ending that was fairly unrealistic, it's hard to imagine a down-to-earth, pleasant, & likeable character such as Corey Grace in today's political world. It's a nice thought, but hard to picture.

I enjoyed this novel for its entertainment value. Less so for it's realism. ( )

5448. The Race, by Richard North Patterson (read 4 Mar 2017) This is the sixth novel by Patterson I have read. I was originally attracted to his work because he was a lawyer and I figured his books would be better in depicting legal matters than books by non-lawyers. But this book has no legal implications, but deals with a fictional race for the Republican nomination for President in 2008. It was written in 2007. The central figure is Corey Grace, a war hero and a Senator from Ohio who often in the course of the book fornicates with a black movie star. His opponents in the race are a Senator who will do anything to win and a very right-wing preacher. Grace, in addition to being divorced and being involved with a black movie star, will not say the things which in 2008 a Republican was expected to say. In other words, he is a moderate Republican such as no longer holds office in today's world. So the novel does accurately reflect the Repuvlican senator of today. There are exciting events in the story but it seemed to me to be pretty formulaic and about what one would expect from a novelist admiratory of a liberal Republican. I am not sure it was worth reading, even though I would like to see Republicans who had the courage of their liberal convictions. But this book is fiction and not true to today's political spectrum. ( )