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The English Patient
305 pages, 1993
With ravishing beauty and unsettling intelligence, Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize-winning novel traces the intersection of four damaged lives in an Italian villa during World War II. The English patient, an injured spy, is tended by Hana, a nurse with a heart for adventure; Caravaggio, a thief with a heart for love; and Kip, a sapper with a heart for discovery.
In The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje explores the power of memory and its impact on our lives. He shows how our past experiences shape our present and future. This book encourages us to look into our own memories and see how they have influenced our decisions and actions.
Ondaatje digs into the complexity of identity in this book. He shows that identity is not just about nationality or ethnicity, but also about personal experiences and relationships. This book will make you rethink your own identity and what it means to you.
The English Patient is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of war on individuals and societies. It's not just about the physical destruction, but also the emotional and psychological trauma. This book will make you see the consequences of war in a new light.
Ondaatje beautifully portrays the healing power of love in this book. Despite the pain and suffering, love has the power to heal and bring people together. This book will inspire you to embrace love in your life, even in the face of adversity.
The English Patient is a testament to Ondaatje's mastery of language. His poetic and evocative prose will captivate you and transport you to a different time and place. This book will make you appreciate the beauty and power of language.
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Ondaatje's language runs as clear and as dazzling as the desert light in his tale of the intersection of four damaged lives in an Italian villa at the end of World War II.
John Updike - American novelistThe English Patient is a novel of extraordinary beauty, a marvel of evocative description and narrative magnetism.
Margaret Atwood - Canadian poetOndaatje's novel is a rare and spellbinding mix of history and romance, of the personal and the political, a tale of passion and betrayal.
Joyce Carol Oates - American writerThe English Patient is a masterpiece of storytelling, a novel that is both gripping and lyrical.
Harold Bloom - Literary criticOndaatje's novel is a work of art, a beautifully written, deeply moving story of love and loss.
Toni Morrison - American novelist