THE COOL KID’S GUIDE TO READING: Once more around, being the second of the parts

One would be excused for believing that “The Godfather: Part II” is the best-ever second part of a work of art.

For now, at least. But that will soon change.

Because once one finishes this second part of The Cool Kid’s tale of re-reading all 25 novels in John Sandford’s “Prey” series, one will either agree that it’s the best-ever second parter or one will be derided.

And by derided, I mean driven to a byroad in Upson County at 2 a.m. and told to get out of The Cool Car.

So what’s it like to read 25 books one already has read? Here are a few observations:

It makes one want to refer to oneself and others as one.

One could probably have made better use of the time cleaning up the back yard -- or so says Mrs. Cool Kid. But the heat! By god, the heat this summer! I thought summers in Macon were supposed to be like autumns in San Diego.

The novels were fresher than I figured they’d be. Not only could I not remember how most of them ended, but in many of them I couldn’t remember the actual crimes Lucas Davenport, the lead character, was going to be investigating.

I’d always felt that “Sudden Prey” was the best novel in the series. I was happy -- though not surprised -- to discover the perspicacity and thesaurus that The Cool Kid brings to the sandlot. The second time through, “Sudden Prey” was still my favorite.

Did it seem really hot to you this summer? It seemed really hot to me.

The experience was comforting. Lucas is such a great character, it was like hanging out with a best buddy -- as you ducked gunfire and brought villains to justice. And scored, you know, with the chicks -- or so says Mrs. Cool Kid.

It made me somewhat mournful for the books I won’t be reading through the rest of the year now that I like to re-read. Terry Pratchett wrote more than 30 novels. He’s next.

To contact writer Randy Waters, call 744-4240 or email rwaters@macon.com

This story was originally published August 29, 2015 at 9:31 PM with the headline "THE COOL KID’S GUIDE TO READING: Once more around, being the second of the parts ."