General Chat

THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini.

1970's Afghanistan. Twelve year old Amir is desperate to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Hassan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter their lives.
After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return to an Afghanistan under Taliban rule to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him: redemption.

"A devastating, masterful and painfully honest story"...Daily Telegraph.

"Hosseini is a truly gifted teller of tales...he's not afraid to pull every string in your heart to make it sing"....The Times.

"Shattering.devastating and inspiring"...Observer.

A story of friendship and love, and more importantly, a lesson in respect and appreciation of friendships. An unforgettable book.....Karen

Just enjoyed reading this thread. Reading about Stieg Larrson (Swedish) and Jo Nesbo (Norwegian) reminded me that, last year, we met an American author in a hotel in Oslo. He said he was married to a Danish woman and lived in Denmark and had come to Oslo to a book festival to do a reading. Like a idiot I didn't ask his name!! It has been driving us mad since trying to find out if he is well known!!

Does anyone have any ideas??

Helen,

I looked at the Oslo website re book festival held Sept last year .... it was all in Norwegian so that was no help to me. Asked OH and he was as much help as it being written in a foreign language.

Persie

This book has been mentioned on other threads - I ordered it from library and OH got teased by librarian when he picked it up yesterday. I could not put it down.

The Floating Brothel by Sian Rees - an account of London especially and its gaols during 1780s, the characters and details of transportees, their journey to Australia which took 12 months and what awaited them there.
The book is based on an account of the memories of John Nicol a ships cooper who sailed on Lady Julian.

Just finished The Sands of time by Barbara Erskine. It is a selection of short stories many with time slips that she does so well. Two of the stories are a follow up to Whispers in The Sand if you have read that one. Very spooky.

For those who have read The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo. I have seen the video and I preferred the book. The video is very good but also very graphic and where she gets her revenge with her guardian leaves not a lot to the imagination. It also lasts 3 hours almost so is quite gruelling..

I generally prefer the book to the movie. They mess around and no one is who they seem to be. I remember reading Irwin Shaw's, Rich Man, Poor Man and then they made it into a television short series and what a load of nonsense it was.

Having said that after the Movie - Shawshank Redemption, Morgan Freeman was up for an oscar and I walked into the lounge where my family were watching the oscars and I just happened to hear a couple of the lines from it - I had not seen the movie but had read the story of Stephen King's and I recognised it straight away. (of course I read it when I was in the shop - it was in a book of four stories of his).

Persie

I agree that generally the book is better than the film. I find I have been disappointed all too often with the film version if I have already read the book. The Da Vinci Code comes to mind, what a terrible film that was!!
Have managed to avoid the films Memoirs of a Geisha and the Kite Runner for this very reason.
I notice that The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud is now out as a film - I'll have to avoid watching that, I enjoyed the book so much!


K

Not read that one Karen who is it by?

Perse, thanks for your input. I know, you drew the same results as us. We were there at the end of May, to go to the........Eurovision song contest. (It was such fun we are going this year, too, to Dusseldorf. Hotel and flights booked and paid for.) Maybe he wasn't very famous - although he was very charming.

The girl with the Dragon Tattoo: I have the original Swedish film on DVD that has English sub-titles, is the US version out yet? Or did I miss it?

The version I watched was the Swedish one Helen. Not sure about the American version. I have here waiting to be watched the Girl who Played with Fire. This one is apparently not so graphic and it is for age 15.

Hi Ann in GLos,
The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud is by Ben Sherwood, I got the paperback about 4 years ago, I'm not sure when it was first published. It's such an unusual story, not at all what I expected, and once into it, I just couldn't put it down...have the tissues handy! It gets very sad in places.

'This is a story of life and death, beautifully written with a gentle simplicity which lends it great emotional power...' ...Daily Mail book review.

K

For any Jane Austen fans, or addicts rather, if you want a very light-hearted, bit of fun, slightly silly read, then why not try 'CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT' by Laurie Viera Rigler.

It's the story of a modern LA girl, so immersed in all things Austen, that she wakes up one morning to find she is transported back in time to Regency England. Apart from trying to come to terms with the new style social etiquette, she meets dishy, dashing Charles Edgeworth and tries hard to suss out if he's a Darcy or a Wickham. She faces a daily battle with her wicked new 'mama', and one day out on a shopping trip she actually comes face to face with Jane Austen herself!!

'Great fun'....Observer.

'Highly diverting'....Guardian.



K

Thanks Karen

Has anyone read "Left of the East Gate" by Peter Robins???

jude

I reckon I could handle that Austen one of Karen's, Glossy Ann.... in fact I can just about handle anything after the Zombies in an Austen novel LOL.

I don't know Peter Robins will have to look him up.

Persie

Lol P{erse. This months Greaders threads are up.

Hi All
Have finished Full Circle by Danielle Steel
and The Last Honest Woman by Nora Roberts

They both were OK but almost Barbara Cartland in their style

I read a book that Ann of Glos forwarded about life in The Forest of Dean and it was so interesting I couldn't put it down
Full Hearts and Full Bellies. Thank you Ann.

Going to start The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse
The Great War took much more than lives. It robbed a generation of friends, lovers and futures. In Freddie Watson's case, it took his beloved brother and, at times, his peace of mind. Unable to cope with his grief, Freddie has spent much of the time since in a sanatorium. In the winter of 1928, still seeking resolution, Freddie is travelling through the French Pyrenees - another region that has seen too much bloodshed over the years. During a snowstorm, his car spins off the mountain road. Shaken, he stumbles into the woods, emerging by a tiny village. There he meets Fabrissa, a beautiful local woman, also mourning a lost generation. Over the course of one night, Fabrissa and Freddie share their stories of remembrance and loss. By the time dawn breaks, he will have stumbled across a tragic mystery that goes back through the centuries. By turns thrilling, poignant and haunting, this is a story of two lives touched by war and transformed by courage.

Will let you know how I get on with this

Linda :o) XxX