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Thanks Wanda - the opening shots of the river are breathtakingly beautiful.

Bettie wrote: "If anyone should ask me what is the best ever book it would have to be this."

You are abandoning Crime and Punishment? (Or was it the Bros. K?) High praise indeed.

Wow! 5* and Hayes says "Best Book Ever"? Double take! I'm going to have to read this fo' sho'!

No, no... that was Bettie that said "Best Book Ever"; I was just quoting from the review. (I edited my tags there... sorry)

Hayes wrote: "Bettie wrote: "If anyone should ask me what is the best ever book it would have to be this."

You are abandoning Crime and Punishment? (Or was it the Bros. K?) High praise indeed."

Abandoning? No, not at all: both Bro Kay and C&P are top notch, as is another high love: 'Sweetness' by Torgny Lindgren.

Damn it, but they are all so very very good and not a contemporary in sight, and if there was maybe David Mitchell would be there too.

I'm going to get myself a favourites shelf right now.

Esther wrote: "Wow! 5* and Hayes says "Best Book Ever"? Double take! I'm going to have to read this fo' sho'!"

Please do Esther
:O)

Ah, I get it now. Sorry Hayes!

I had found a certain distaste for Rupert Everett so I had little faith that the film would feel sincere.

Not at all. Just because a geezer is 'orrible in RL doesn't mean he is bad at his vocation; hand on heart, he was terrific in this.

Agreed. Loved him in "An Ideal Husband" and "The Importance of Being Earnest".

Bonjour Bettie

I always had a copy of this book on my shelves but I never got round to reading it. Unfortunately it disappeared over the years so I will have to look for another copy especially if you tell me it is the best book ever. I always did fancy reading it but its size put me off at the time (I was busy!!!).

Isn't there a follow-up entitled 'And the Don Flows on to the Sea' or something similar? I wonder if that is as good - providing my memory serves me correctly.

A bientot.

Gerry
xxx

Gerry wrote: "Bonjour Bettie

I always had a copy of this book on my shelves but I never got round to reading it. Unfortunately it disappeared over the years so I will have to look for another copy especially if..."

I have just ordered myself a new copy (3rd or 4th time - borrowers who never return: pfft @£$@!!)

Was leery of the film because the book is so intense, however even though I hold a certain distain for Rupert, he was magnificent in the rôle of a Cossack.

Bettie

I NEVER lend books because many years ago I did so and it was never returned. I have not done it since and even refuse if any of my friends ask me - of course I do it tactfully!!!

As for RE, I agree I do not particularly care for him but am I right in thinking that he was in a modern version of Rebecca? If so, he was very, very good. And I did like him in IBE too.

Gerry
xxx

What exactly is this 'tactful' thing of which you speak? Not overly subtle am I when it comes to book theft in the making.

Apart from the Downton Abbey ilk, I only search out films of books.

Thanks Alexei
:O)

This movie got tons of hatred in Russia. Delphine Forest as Aksinya -- oh, my! She couldn't even carry her baskets with water -- they were empty in the movie. Or the episode when she appears with her hair undone -- for a married woman it was like going naked...