The Painted Veil

I liked this one. Still remember it though i read it years ago. Was the first book I read without an absolutely moral, all-goody main character. Also was intrigued by the "The Dog It was That Died" reference. Neat.

beautiful sad love story

Beautiful and moving.

Just finished it amazingly beautiful book and for the first time I think the film actually improved the storyline.

Listening to this on audio from library download. First attempt at an audio novel.

Read the book before you see the movie.

(39/50)This was a really good book. I really enjoyed it~much more than I expected because I loved the movie so much (and I tend to NOT like the books then OR I love the books so much more than I liked the movie and then it ruins the movie for me. SIGH).The book (in parts) was different from the movie as well. Especially the ending (which is dramatically different!!). BUT, that said, I do not feel...more

(39/50)This was a really good book. I really enjoyed it~much more than I expected because I loved the movie so much (and I tend to NOT like the books then OR I love the books so much more than I liked the movie and then it ruins the movie for me. SIGH).The book (in parts) was different from the movie as well. Especially the ending (which is dramatically different!!). BUT, that said, I do not feel that the movie detracts from the book and vice versa. If anything , they enhance each other. Makes you look at the story from almost 2 points of view. The movie ends the way it does because (for the audiences' sake AND because the movie doesn't delve deeply into Kitty's bizarre relationship with her mother)it was the BEST way to end it. This is the story of Kitty, who being raised as a great beauty, at the age of 25 is the bane of her mother's existence (as she wanted her to marry young and to someone VERY wealthy)for being unmarried. When Kitty's younger (and plainer) sister gets engaged, Kitty rashly marries Walter Fane, a young Doctor (who specializes in Bacteriology), whom she knows little about, but knows adores her. They move to Hong Kong (where Dr. Fane is stationed)and Kitty soon realizes that she doesn't even like, much less love Walter. She then engages in a torrid affair with Charlie Townsend, a big wig in Hong Kong. Upon discovering the affair, Walter takes Kitty (after giving her an ultimatum that ends up breaking her heart) and himself to the backwoods hill country of China to work at a village that is being swamped by an outbreak of Cholera.Lush, as well as stark (the movie is the same way. It was amazing how they filmed almost exactly how he wrote), it is an amazing story of love (even love unrequited), heartbreak, betrayal and ultimate redemption.[Read 4/13-15/08]   hide