Books Journalists Should Read, Not Really

Never Let Them See You Cry: More from Miami, America's Hottest Beat by Edna Buchanan


This book is a continuation of Buchanan's life as a police beat reporter with the Miami Herald and all of the strange tales she experienced in America's Hottest Beat. A reminder: I am an Edna Buchanan fan.

Buchanan wrote this book after the publication of her first novel, so this book is likely designed to play on the popularity of The Corpse Had a Familiar Face, her first nonfiction book about life as a police beat reporter in Miami.

And Buchanan doesn't disappoint, providing some of the trademark razor-sharp writing and observations that keep her the reigning queen of the police beat despite more than two decades of absence from her domain.

In describing a victim of crime:
"Ethel Lottman, a no-nonsense Miami Beach widow, seventy-two, handled her heart condition, her arthritis and a homicidal maniac with the same aplomb."

A description of the new South Beach:
"Sleepy South Beach, once famous for its senior citizens, now throbs through the soft nights with a healthy and and youthful energy, more lusty and alive than it has ever been."

While this book covers familiar ground in stories of murder and mayhem in Miami, it does break new ground. The last chapter also goes into Buchanan's struggle to embrace her new life as a novelist and drop her old journalistic habits.

This book marks the end of Buchanan's nonfiction, journalistic writing as she becomes what she had always dreamed of--a writer. A great loss for journalism.

The Corpse Had a Familiar Face was vintage Edna Buchanan at her journalistic best. Never Let Them See You Cry doesn't reach that level of journalistic technique in writing, analysis and reporting. It does foreshadow the crime novel career of Buchanan, one that is still going.

Never Let Them See You Cry is a must read if you are an Edna Buchanan fan. Otherwise, stick with The Corpse Had a Familiar Face. It provides more journalistic juice from the world's best police beat reporter, which is a crying shame.

Books Journalists Should Read, Yes Indeed

The Corpse Had a Familiar Face by Edna Buchanan

Another one of the books recommended by the CMA listserv members as it falls under the category any book by Edna Buchanan.

Again, a reminder, I’m an Edna Buchanan fan. I've used parts of her stories in my classes as examples of thorough reporting. I've used her philosophy as what makes a great journalist, and I’ve read this book before.

With all of that said, I was again floored by Buchanan’s thorough review of her crime reporting. This book is a page-turner with lots of great examples and pithy one-liners. That’s what I really enjoy about Buchanan’s journalism—the thoroughly distilled yet crisp writing that makes you think: “Where did she ever come up with that line?”

Some examples:
When referring to the an editor's insistence that Buchanan report only 'major murders':
"Every murder is major to the victim."
Why she gets the urge to empty out her purse, glove box and dresser periodically:
"It is not because I am basically neat--I am not--but I am reminded from time to time that if I am hit by a bus or gunned down by some irate reader, the cops will routinely inventory the contents of my handbag. I don't want them to find the aging granola bar at the bottom..."

Of course there are others, but I don't want to ruin the entire book for you.

I must say, however, I was a bit distressed by a few comments regarding gays and lesbians. While Buchanan’s sympathetic mantra for families seems to be genuine, her view of gays and lesbians seems to be a bit dated and stereotypical. While Buchanan was a practicing journalist during less enlightened times, she was a practicing journalist in Miami, a veritable haven of homosexuality. I expected more.

While this book is clever and readable, I would never recommend it as a textbook. I know some universities have used it as a text; however, it doesn’t really give you the practical tips needed to use as a text.

It is a great read and a great example of how one reporter, probably the best at what she did, actually did her job. For that, I’d say The Corpse Had a Familiar Face is a must-read journalism book. So go out and read it my journalism friends. You won’t be disappointed.

See also Never Let Them See You Cry, the second installment of Edna Buchanan’s reporting books, and see my previous review on Legally Dead, also by Edna Buchanan.

Books Journalists Should Read, Maybe Not

Legally Dead by Edna Buchanan

This book is another one of the books recommended by the College Media Advisers listserv members as it falls under the category any book by Edna Buchanan.


I must admit that I was a huge fan of Edna Buchanan the crime reporter. I've used parts of her stories in my classes as examples of thorough reporting. I've used her philosophy as what makes a great journalist, but I don't think I'd use her crime novels as an example of either one of those things or as an example of a great crime novel.

In particular, Legally Dead has an interesting premise and some good writing, but it seems to have an ending that doesn't really fit with the intricate plot line. There's a great buildup of tension then a very unlikely bad guy with an even more fantastical reason as to why the bad guy is doing what he's doing. I just don't buy it.

None of that means that my opinion has changed about Edna Buchanan the journalist. She's one of the best and likely the best crime reporter. Some journalists are just better with the literal, and in the case, I would say Legally Dead could benefit from a dose of reality.

See also The Corpse Had a Familiar Face, Never Let Them See You Cry and Nobody Lives Forever also by Edna Buchanan.

Look for an upcoming review of The Corpse Had a Familiar Face.