Aug 24, 2007 04:46 AM
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(Updated Aug 24, 2007 04:54 AM)
This catching and captive book written by Jeffrey Archer and published for the first time in 1994 in the United Kingdom is a number one bestseller. It is divided in twelve short stories.You will not take your eyes off of these captious stories which will take also you breath out.
There are some true stories and some that are product of Jeffrey’s imagination.Obviously, some stories are more interesting than others but as a general mark I will give this book an eight. Why an eight? Well, I personally think that the author has a big obsession with “sex” or with “horny people” as in every story he could not omit that, even the fact that in some cases it was not that necessary to mention it.
There is a case in one story, which is very disgusting and awful to read, where homosexuality is mentioned. I am going to describe them briefly for you to know about them.
1- Trial and error: this story for me was the best without doubts. From the very beginning, it catches your attention in such a way that you will read it in a rush, just to know how it finishes.
This is the largest but the best story at the same time. Richard cooper has everything a guy can expect from life; such as money, wife, a company… until a surprising meeting with a person that will change that into nothing and will give him the “unpleasure” to know jail for the first time. But wait, there is hope for him still, could he find a solution to all his problems and take back what he is taken from him?...
2- Cheep at half the Price: Consuela is married to a millionaire, and as you imagine not because for love. Her husband had to make a business trip to London so they decided to do it together and as Consuela’s birthday was up to arrive, she decided to get herself a present.
A beautiful necklace appeared in the scene and it was not only beautiful but very expensive also. Even though her husband was a millionaire he didn’t want to expend such a huge amount of money just for a necklace.
That is the moment when Consuela had to think of a plan: How will she get her present with all the money she needs for it?
3-Dougie Moritimer’s Right Arm: Bob determines to give an unforgettable present to the University Boat Club which he is part. He learns about the bronze cast of right arm of Dougie Moritimer, who had some years ago been part of the university too.
He had committed suicide with no apparent reason and Bob is trying to discover the reason why and he also wants to give his Dougie´s arm as a present to his university at his graduation. That night, after the graduation, he notices that two old guys were throwing the arm to the river, and then he wants to find out why they did so.
4-Do not pass go: this is a story in which Hamid, an ex minister in the Iraqi Cabinet of Hussein, who is living now in the States, is trying to return to his mother land in order to buy some carpet which he sells in the USA. While he is on the airplane some technical problems take place then a surprising landing at Baghdad airport has to be done but now is in troubles if he is found by Hussein… Could he return to the USA without being discovered or just alive?
5- Chunnel Vision: two old friends in an unexpected situation. Both writers. They decided to go to eat to a French restaurant and there, one of them told the other one his new project…
6-Shoshine boy: Sir Ted accepted to be the governor of St. George’s, a small island which he had found. In spite of shoe-string budget and the fact that they had nothing, the couple manages quietly. This was until the strange and surprising visit of the Lord Mountbatten. The couple had to borrow everything from Mercedes and they hoped not to be discovered. At the end of the day, when it was over, all guests took out all their shoes from the room for shining… how does it finish?...
7- You will never live to regret it: A estrange couple, David and Pat. Davis decided to submit for a life insurance policy of one million dollar and he declares Pat the only beneficiary. He decided to do so because he knew he was ill and he was going to die due to AIDS. He will never live to regret it… Could Pat inherit the life insurance? What’s strange of that couple, Pat and David?...
8- Never stop on the Motorway: Diana is a lonely mother with two children. She is resentful of love and men. One Friday she was invited to David’s farmhouse (her old and beloved best friend). While she was inside her car on the motorway she killed a little cat, so she decided to see how it was. When she returned to her car and continued her trip to her friend’s farmhouse she noticed that she was being fallen; suddenly she remembered that the other week a guy had killed a woman in that motorway… Could she escape from the killer or not?
9- Not for sale: coming soon…
10-Timeo Danaos: coming soon …
11-An eye for an eye: Coming soon…
12- One man’s meat: Personally, it is the best short story of the whole book together with Trial and Error. It’s a romantic and captious story with four different endings. Anna, a beautiful and catching girl, appeared in Michael’s life in an unexpected way, in a movie theatre. He invited her for dinner and now it is up to you to choose your best ending… the phrase of this story is “could anyone be that beautiful?”…by Laura Delahanty (Course: Advanced Literature - BACS)
