Graham Greene

[Desert Lady]

I'm a new member and I'm currently reading The Quiet American by Graham Greene. I was surprised to find there was no thread for him in the Author Discussions. I may have overlooked something.

This book and his book Travels With My Aunt are recommended for young adults to read in the schools in California. I was wondering if that is the case in other areas.

This book is amazing and I know I will have to reread it to catch all the nuances. I certainly think it will give kids a very good introduction to the Vietnam era. I think the film and Michael Caine were superb.

Any thoughts?
MattieRae

 

[Promethean]

I read Greene's The End of the Affair a few years ago and I did not like it at all. I did not like his style and found the plot to be insipid. It is difficult for me to give an author another chance after having a poor or apathetic feeling after reading one of his/her books, so I doubt I'll read anymore of his books.

 

[silverseason]

You can find wonderful variety in Greene. Certainly he wrote something for everybody.

The Power and the Glory - troubles in Mexico
The Human Factor - a spy
The Ministry of Fear - the London Blitz

and more. I like to try a new Greene every once in a while but no two are alike.

 

[saliotthomas]

hello

I read "our man in havana" and liked it ,i found "brighton rock" a bit hard though-Green is very atypical in his writing,very hard to deffine.
Maybe that's his very quality,an a wonderfull ,discrete ,an humourous style.

 

[PabloParks]

As a longtime fan, Greene's work is often partitioned between his "religious" works and his "political" works. End of the Affair would be an example of the former while Quiet American is a good example of the later. Probably unfair to categorize. I tend to prefer the international themed "political" novels over the strident moralizing of his Catholic "religious" novels.

Quiet American(Vietnam) is a fave, although I liked The Comedians(Haiti) the best. His ability to use broad humor works well in his overseas work. Some would argue to his detriment in books like Our Man in Havana, which has been co-opted by so many other authors, most recently John LeCarre's Tailor in Panama.

 

[Roger53]

I quite like Graham Greene. I have only read a few of his books, and have long periods between each. Not the sort of author whose books I can read one after the other.

Our Man in Havana was marvellous. Very entertaining. And the Quiet American was very good, as was the movie. Great acting and told the story very well. I found in the book the part where the car breaks down in the paddy fields absolutely spine tingling.
The Honorary Consul I also thought was a good read. The main character's opinion that he was English, even though he had not been there was interesting. A different type of book again.

I agree with Silverseason. A lot of variety.

 

[a lost weekend]

I'd strongly recommend The End of the Affair-- the only book of his i've truly (i.e. complaint-free) enjoyed.

 

[753C]

The Heart of The Matter

"The Heart of the Matter" Is one of the best stories I have read to date.