One more by Placido Domingo before the season's completely over: Silent Night.
Stamboul Train by Graham Greene
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story takes place mostly on a train. They are traveling ultimately to Istanbul. Some are getting off at Vienna, some to Budapest, others all the way to Istanbul. We have a variety of characters. When we first meet them we don't know who any of them are, but as their lives intertwine, sometimes colliding, we discover that someone is traveling on business, another is a chorus girl, another a famous writer, one is a crook, one is a rapid reporter who by accident discovers yet another passenger whose purpose is more important than all of the others'.
Graham's narration passes from person to person showing us their inward thoughts. Some are confused, others desperate, a couple are intensely selfish and one is sincerely noble, although in my opinion, the most misguided of all.
The story line moves at a healthy clip and there is also suspense as the readers wonders how each individual's fate is going to conclude, but for me the most fascinating was Graham's insight into human character and how people think.
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Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you all!
Stamboul Train by Graham GreeneMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story takes place mostly on a train. They are traveling ultimately to Istanbul. Some are getting off at Vienna, some to Budapest, others all the way to Istanbul. We have a variety of characters. When we first meet them we don't know who any of them are, but as their lives intertwine, sometimes colliding, we discover that someone is traveling on business, another is a chorus girl, another a famous writer, one is a crook, one is a rapid reporter who by accident discovers yet another passenger whose purpose is more important than all of the others'.
Graham's narration passes from person to person showing us their inward thoughts. Some are confused, others desperate, a couple are intensely selfish and one is sincerely noble, although in my opinion, the most misguided of all.
The story line moves at a healthy clip and there is also suspense as the readers wonders how each individual's fate is going to conclude, but for me the most fascinating was Graham's insight into human character and how people think.
View all my reviews
7 comments:
Great review of this book. The way that you describe the way that the narrative moves from one charioteer's mind to the nest makes the book sound so good. I want to get to reading some Green in 2019.
Happy New Years Sharon!
travel on the Orient Express w/o the Murder... GG has interesting things to say about the Mediterranean area; Travels with My Aunt was pretty funny i thought... i think they made a movie out of it also... i associate him with Lawrence Durrell in some way: his travelogues about Crete and some other Med islands which are excellent too...
HI Mudpuddle. I was thinking how many stories have been written that take place on a train and especially the Orient express.
I read Travels with my Aunt. It was pretty funny, especially the crematorium scene in the beginning.
Thanks, Brian. I only began reading Greene recently myself. I like his writing style and subject matter. I hope you have a very good new year!
I'm only read one work by Greene, The Heart of the Matter. Liked it, didn't love it. This sounds quite interesting.
Hi Joseph. I don't know that I love Greene's work either, but I seem to be going through a phase where I am reading a lot of works by author's from the first half of the twentieth century, especially British.
Hey there, R.T. I was hoping you'd comment because I couldn't find your blog.
I have the Power and the Glory and I hope to read it soon. One of my posts is going to be about my reading goals this year.
My best wishes to you and your family for a happy new year and a blessed life!
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