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godonnygo
08-06-2005, 08:41 AM
Has anyone read the Quiet American? What does everyone think of it? The movie probably isn't as faithful to the book as it could have been.

I'm a big fan of it, and one opinion I want from everyone here is: did Pyle deserve to die? I think he did, he was quite a sneaky character who abused his 'power'.
PeterL
08-06-2005, 10:46 AM
I read it a few months and was not impressed. Unless Pyle did much more than was stated, then he didn't deserve to die.
faith
08-13-2005, 11:14 AM
The title sounds interesting, but I haven't read it...
novellover
09-16-2005, 11:42 AM
I've read a couple of books by the book's author this summer and I absolutely loved them. The Man Within and The End of the Affair were absolute treasures and I'd suggest you read them as well. As far as The Quiet American is concerned, I still have to get my hands on it.
vazupha
09-19-2005, 04:18 PM
I read Stamboul Train,Doctor Fischer of Geneva or Bomb Party and Brighton Rock.I haven't read The Quiet American.I liked his books(especially Doctor Fischer) and his style.He uses simple words but meanings are great.He draws pictures in ur mind very well.enjoy his books:)
samercury
09-24-2005, 03:30 PM
I haven't read it- what is it about?
Saint Jack
09-25-2005, 02:37 AM
"Does Pyle deserve to die?" Why do people continually ask this question about TQA? Do you all live in one of those US states in which captial punishment is practised? No one deserves to die! Pyle may have caused the deaths of many people, but since when do we live in such a retributive society?

I think Pyle's death was pointless. He was just a pawn, a poor misguided pawn in America's foreign policy. He was 'a soldier of democracy', but he wasn't the only one. There would have been another American operative in Vietnam with the same objective before long.

The tragedy of the novel lies in Pyle's good intentions. For all the damage he causes, Pyle is acting from, what are to him at any rate, morally good notions of freedom and justice.

The question should be not whether Pyle deserves to die, but whether Fowler has the right to make the decision to end his life. How painful it is for Fowler when he realises that in killing Pyle, he has acted just like him - he has killed for a cause, he killed Pyle for the greater good.