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PorshaJo's Reviews > The Painted Veil
The Painted Veil
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by
Rating 4.5
Why did I wait so long to read this one? I've been wanting to read this for so long, but so many books. I had a copy of the movie version, but refused to watch it until I read the book. And so the book and movie sat for years. Recently I was sick in bed and wanted to watch a movie and finally gave in to to this one. At the end of the movie, I immediately went to my library online and grabbed the audio and started it the next day. Guess you always need some kind of motivation.
Kitty Fane is a spoiled brat who thinks nothing more than herself. One day she meets Walter Fane who is immediately taken with her and asks for her hand in marriage. Kitty agrees, not because she loves him, but for selfish reasons and saving face. They move from Britain to Hong Kong, where he's a bacteriologist. Kitty is more interested in parties and socializing, and it's here where she has an affair. The affair is with an absolute scoundrel who also thinks nothing more than himself. But Kitty is such a child and just wants to be loved by him. Walter discovers the affair and almost forces her to go with him to the heart of a cholera epidemic in China. Kitty has no love for her husband, but due to shame, and no where else to go, she follows Walter. Here is where Kitty really begins to grow up. Walter now loathes Kitty but he is starting to see her in another light. But he is so driven in helping the people affected with cholera and trying to save those who live there. I'll not say more to ruin the story.
The book and movie were pretty close, until the end. It's a tough one but the endings were quite different and I might have to go with the movie version ending. I picked this one up via audio and I so enjoyed the narration. I felt transported while listening to this one. I was so immersed in the story (even though I knew it from the movie) that at times I often forgot what I was doing. I still keep thinking of the beautiful writing, the story, and the characters. I do see myself revisiting this one again some day. And now, I'm off to try more from Maugham. A highly suggested read.
Why did I wait so long to read this one? I've been wanting to read this for so long, but so many books. I had a copy of the movie version, but refused to watch it until I read the book. And so the book and movie sat for years. Recently I was sick in bed and wanted to watch a movie and finally gave in to to this one. At the end of the movie, I immediately went to my library online and grabbed the audio and started it the next day. Guess you always need some kind of motivation.
Kitty Fane is a spoiled brat who thinks nothing more than herself. One day she meets Walter Fane who is immediately taken with her and asks for her hand in marriage. Kitty agrees, not because she loves him, but for selfish reasons and saving face. They move from Britain to Hong Kong, where he's a bacteriologist. Kitty is more interested in parties and socializing, and it's here where she has an affair. The affair is with an absolute scoundrel who also thinks nothing more than himself. But Kitty is such a child and just wants to be loved by him. Walter discovers the affair and almost forces her to go with him to the heart of a cholera epidemic in China. Kitty has no love for her husband, but due to shame, and no where else to go, she follows Walter. Here is where Kitty really begins to grow up. Walter now loathes Kitty but he is starting to see her in another light. But he is so driven in helping the people affected with cholera and trying to save those who live there. I'll not say more to ruin the story.
The book and movie were pretty close, until the end. It's a tough one but the endings were quite different and I might have to go with the movie version ending. I picked this one up via audio and I so enjoyed the narration. I felt transported while listening to this one. I was so immersed in the story (even though I knew it from the movie) that at times I often forgot what I was doing. I still keep thinking of the beautiful writing, the story, and the characters. I do see myself revisiting this one again some day. And now, I'm off to try more from Maugham. A highly suggested read.
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Reading Progress
January 18, 2020
–
Started Reading
February 1, 2020
– Shelved
February 1, 2020
– Shelved as:
audio
February 1, 2020
– Shelved as:
challengereads
February 1, 2020
– Shelved as:
challengereads-2020
February 1, 2020
–
Finished Reading
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Norma ~ The Sisters
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Feb 01, 2020 06:40PM
Great review, PorshaJo! :)
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Read this a while ago , and have it 4 stars , too. Thanks for bringing this back to , PorshaJo. Nice review,
Norma * Traveling Sister and proud Grandma!!! wrote: "Great review, PorshaJo! :)"Thank you Norma!
Angela M wrote: "Read this a while ago , and have it 4 stars , too. Thanks for bringing this back to , PorshaJo. Nice review,"Thanks Angela! Glad you enjoyed this one too. It's been a few days since I've finished but I still keep thinking of it.
I’ve neither seen the movie or read the book but now I want to. Excellent review PorshaJo and I hope you’re feeling better!
It's been a very long time since I read this one and clearly I need to go back and do a reread. Enjoyed your experience of this one, PorshaJo. I've eyed up the movie version as well and will have to give that shot as you liked the ending there better which is a rarity.
Susanne wrote: "Wonderful review PorshaJo!"Thank you Susanne!
Julie wrote: "Wonderful review, PorshaJo! 💖"Thank you Julie!
JanB wrote: "I’ve neither seen the movie or read the book but now I want to. Excellent review PorshaJo and I hope you’re feeling better!"Thank you Jan! This one really took me by surprise by how much I liked it. I hope that if you do check it out, you enjoy it just as much.
And thanks....lying in bed watching movies somehow does make you feel better. :-)
Mike wrote: "It's been a very long time since I read this one and clearly I need to go back and do a reread. Enjoyed your experience of this one, PorshaJo. I've eyed up the movie version as well and will have t..."Thanks Mike! Glad to hear you've read this one and considering a revisit. I think I can count one movie that I preferred to the book. This one was quite close, but the ending did it for me. A wonderful book for sure!
I haven’t seen this or read it, but will now! Hope you’re feeling better!
Just this week I was kicking myself for not reading more classics, this was just the review I needed. Marvelous review, PorshaJo.
Dana wrote: "I haven’t seen this or read it, but will now! Hope you’re feeling better!"Thanks Dana! Hope you check it out, audio is good, and you enjoy it. Sometimes it's good to go back to classics.
Deanna wrote: "Excellent review!!!"Thanks Deanna!
Victoria wrote: "Just this week I was kicking myself for not reading more classics, this was just the review I needed. Marvelous review, PorshaJo."Thanks Victoria! Ha - many years ago I only wanted to read classics. And now, it's rare but I so want to read more. Glad I could give you that kick to go back to the classics. I'll be interested in seeing what you read, inspiring me to pick up another.
