Books : Search

Average Rating:

.The Power And The Glory

by: Graham Greene

May 22, 2001
The other reviewers say it better than I can, so I won't bother with praising this classic. I will, however, simply say that I found myself very frustrated throughout the reading. This means that the book was gripping and pulled me in, touching my pride about right and wrong. How true it is that humble love is the most powerful force in the universe! How true it is that I so often want the will of God to be my own. The outlaw priest of this book taught me once again that only those who live the prayer "Thy will be done" have the right to speak to others about the will of God. Very much worth reading! Enjoy!
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Power And The Glory

Used Price: CDN$ 5.92

Average Rating:

.The End of the Affair

by: Graham Greene

July 20, 2004
A Catholic friend of mine recommended this book as a quick but wonderful weekend read. Although the book is clearly titled "The End of the Affair," I little anticipated what I was getting into. Indeed, this book explores the winding down of a passionate affair between Bendrix (your main narrator) and Mrs. Sarah Miles. As much as I favor modern British literature, reading a tormented, neurotic man's twisted thoughts was not exactly my idea of a great weekend read. For the first half of the book, I greatly doubted my friend's reading recommendations.

However, like in "Till We Have Faces," I found the second half of the book more than justified the first half's wanderings. Greene uses much of the first half of the book to set the ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on The End of the Affair

Used Price: CDN$ 10.00

Average Rating:

.Penguin Classics Heart Of The Matter

by: Graham Greene

2004-10
This was Greene's first book i read. SOme time ago, in NYT book review I had come across a review of part 3 of his biography by norman sherry. What caught my eye was his voracious sexual appetite and that he had a list of 41 favorite prostitutes. However, his novels are aimed at moral issues facing human beings. Several of his many protagonists commit suicide to save even God from deciding on their fate. One could say it's their pride, but that's what they are. Also, loved "Power and the glory" and "End of the affair" is a classic. He begins the novel with "This is a record of hate more than of love..." how doe sone beat that!
>>See More Reviews & Details on Penguin Classics Heart Of The Matter

Used Price: CDN$ 4.00

Average Rating:

.The Spy's Bedside Book

from: Hutchinson

February 05, 2008
This was Greene's first book i read. SOme time ago, in NYT book review I had come across a review of part 3 of his biography by norman sherry. What caught my eye was his voracious sexual appetite and that he had a list of 41 favorite prostitutes. However, his novels are aimed at moral issues facing human beings. Several of his many protagonists commit suicide to save even God from deciding on their fate. One could say it's their pride, but that's what they are. Also, loved "Power and the glory" and "End of the affair" is a classic. He begins the novel with "This is a record of hate more than of love..." how doe sone beat that!
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Spy's Bedside Book

Used Price: CDN$ 17.04

Average Rating:

.The Ministry of Fear

by: Graham Greene

September 25, 2001
British author Graham Greene divided his early novels into two distinct groups: 'serious' novels, like "The End of the Affair," "Brighton Rock," and "The Power and the Glory"; and 'entertainments,' his term for his espionage and suspense thrillers. This second group includes "A Gun for Sale" (U.S. title: "This Gun for Hire"), "Stamboul Train," "The Confidential Agent"...and "The Ministry of Fear." Looking back on Greene's long career, this distinction seems very artificial and almost silly; it perhaps made market sense back then, but Greene's entertainments are every bit as serious-minded as his non-genre work. These books are in no way lightweight time-wasters. They are as concerned with character, drama, and the human condition as any of his other books. In fact, ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Ministry of Fear

Used Price: CDN$ 22.21

Average Rating:

.Quiet American

by: Graham Greene

February 05, 2003
Set during the French War in Vietnam, "The Quiet American" is a multifaceted story told in the words of Thomas Fowler, a cynical British correspondent and one of the novel's two main characters. The story involves a struggle between Fowler and Pyle, an American undercover operative and Fowler's romantic rival. Pyle and Fowler hold opposing views of the war, love, God, democracy, whatever matters to man, they disagree about. Fowler, whose vision of reality stifles his belief in ideals, emerges as a romantic and ideological rival of Pyle, whose ideals blind him to reality. America's Cold War policy in Southeast Asia is critically presented in the person of Pyle. Masterfully written, Graham Greene confronts us with two flawed, stereotypical characters and leaves us ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Quiet American

Used Price: CDN$ 6.06

Average Rating:

.Our Man In Havana

by: Graham Greene

May 22, 2001
I first read this book several years ago when it was titled "The Tailor Of Panama" and written by John le Carré. I finally realize why I enjoyed that earlier book so, in that le Carré modeled the work so directly (and with proper acknowledgement) on this 1958 masterpiece.

Le Carré's effort isn't bad, but its often-maudlin tone detracts from the humor of the situation. Not so Greene, who subtitled his book "An Entertainment" and meant it. He doesn't waive all suspense and tragic overtones in search of punchlines; one of the chief joys of this book is how well it works as a spy novel. But unlike heavier Greene works like "The Power And The Glory," "Our Man" plays in a kind of high-adventure, almost Ian Fleming kind of way.

Greene's novel concerns a struggling ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Our Man In Havana

Used Price: CDN$ 6.29

Average Rating:

.Getting to Know the General

by: Graham Greene

2004-10
I first read this book several years ago when it was titled "The Tailor Of Panama" and written by John le Carré. I finally realize why I enjoyed that earlier book so, in that le Carré modeled the work so directly (and with proper acknowledgement) on this 1958 masterpiece.

Le Carré's effort isn't bad, but its often-maudlin tone detracts from the humor of the situation. Not so Greene, who subtitled his book "An Entertainment" and meant it. He doesn't waive all suspense and tragic overtones in search of punchlines; one of the chief joys of this book is how well it works as a spy novel. But unlike heavier Greene works like "The Power And The Glory," "Our Man" plays in a kind of high-adventure, almost Ian Fleming kind of way.

Greene's novel concerns a struggling ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Getting to Know the General

Used Price: CDN$ 15.50

Average Rating:

.Viking Critical Library Quiet American

by: Graham Greene

January 25, 1996
In what is really the grandfather to all noir, foreign intrigue novels, Graham Greene produces not only one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, but also provides a scathing look at American and French policy in Vietnam. It is strange to read The Quiet American now, so long after the disastrous wars that killed millions of people and tore American apart. I would call it an almost tragic read, for in the pages of this provocative novel, Greene provides the roadmap for future disasters. The story is so scathing, so insightful, that one cannot help but to be forever affected. Greene?s tale is made even more effective in this wonderful volume, which provides the reader with numerous criticisms, defenses, and background documents.

Greene?s main character in the epic tale is Fowler, ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Viking Critical Library Quiet American

Used Price: CDN$ 10.27

Average Rating:

.Penguin Classics Travels With My Aunt

by: Graham Greene

2004-10
Finally, a Graham Greene book I sort of liked (following disappointing experiences with Stamboul Train and This Gun For Hire)! That said, it's not great stuff, but it's at least fairly entertaining, diverting, and sad. The tale is of Henry, a middle-aged bachelor (and presumably virgin) who has been forced to retire from his bank job after 30 years. He's a total zero, dull and timid, with nothing to look forward to but 30 years of watering his dahlias. At his mother's funeral he meets his Aunt Augusta for the first time since his baptism, and she immediately rocks his world by announcing that his mother was in fact not this biological mother. She then proceeds to disrupt his empty life by insisting on his accompaniment for a various trips, notably a ride on the Orient Express to Istanbul, and a furtive trip to ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Penguin Classics Travels With My Aunt

Used Price: CDN$ 9.84