The Quiet American - Graham Greene BOOK REVIEW 

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It’s great to see someone reviewing Graham Greene as he is an author who is in danger of disappearing. A run of novels from power and the Glory to a Burnt out case are superb. And I also love his late novel Monsieur Quixote.

I read a month or so and was genuinely surprised and impressed at the brutally honest and sincere portrayal of Fowler's (and any lonely old dude or dudette) sadness, and bitterness brought by the fear of dying alone. I really enjoyed it but thought there was a horrifying honesty and sadness underlying the whole novel.

Need to read this. Have it on the shelf and loved his The Power and the Glory.

I read it every year. Its one of the best books to read at a hotel in a new, strange place. So glad you enjoyed it, Cliff.

1 min 30 seconds in. Your ability to make me commit to reading something I’ve never heard of before never fails to amaze me. Thanks again Cliff!

I love literature more than food, for real, and I've searched far and wide for great lit podcasts and channels. Not gonna lie, I've found a bunch of Millennial reviewers who review Millennial writers and every single one makes me so depressed for the state of art in general. I'm gonna be brutal here: Around 80 percent of the literary industry, from writers to editors, is currently 1)suburban or urban 2)liberal/feminist 3)college educated, and 4)female. To top it off, the vast majority of those suburban liberal women are white. I think the industry, consequently, has MAJOR white and class guilt issues. One can spend a few months studying the content of both indie and well established publications and their submission guidelines and see very clearly the result of this ideological conformity--3 out of every 4 short stories, especially in literary fiction, are identical plots with identical characters in which a gay/bisexual 20-something woman fresh out of university is struck with the complexity of urban adult life. The other one of the four stories is the same thing but from a gay man or transgender character. That's it. That's all Millennial fiction. And then theres FUCKING CLIFF. Best in the business BY FAR. No interest in his own "lived experience", but just a lover of great art. I can't express enough my gratitude for this channel purely for keeping me sane while trying to slog through an industry I don't relate to at all. I don't mind that 20 something liberal women love writing about 20 something liberal women, but I grew up in the rural swamps of northern MN, so I write about those landscapes I have loved all my life, but filtered through the horror genre--because I don't want to write about me, I want to write stories that transport my readers to a specific place I know well, and then fuck their whole world up with some bonkers gothic horror. Cliff, you keep me optimistic for the future of storytelling, and so many of your reviews had me going to the bookstore that day to pick up a new gem I'd never heard of. Hurricane Season especially has fundamentally changed how I approach fiction and is maybe my favorite contemporary novel. So anyway, just wanted to say thanks man for putting so much love into the art, and for the wit and humor too. You're the GOAT

Love your stuff. I didn’t make my own book-focused channel until recently, but your reviews stick out as the best I watched when I was in college. Been a pleasure to see your audience grow!

I've only read one Graham Greene novel The End of the Affair and I loved it. I've been wondering for awhile what other Graham Greene novel to read next. So thank you for this.

Going to get my hands on a copy right now. Thanks, Cliff!

I'm so excited you're going to see Casablanca on the big screen! I've seen it on the big screen three times, and it never gets old. I'm looking forward to reading The Quiet American. I saw the movie years ago and loved it.

The only Graham Greene's I've read was Brighton Rock. Excellent novel as well.

A great review of a great book. Glad you enjoyed the book and I hope you get to review from some more Graham Greene books in the future.

An absolutely stunning review. Enjoyed immensely, thanks for sharing.

That's the exact same edition of The Quiet American that I've got, I've had it sitting on the shelf for ages but haven't got round to it yet. This gives me more than enough reason to quit putting it off though, thank you Cliff!

Thanks for the authentic, enthusiastic review. I will track this one down asap.

So glad to see the love for one of my favorite authors. Started off by reading "The honorary consul" before moving over to "Travels with my aunt" and then on to many more before I stopped reading him a couple decades ago. Thanks to your enthusiasm I am tempted to go back to Greene and pick up where I left off. Very fine review. Thanks!

It's an excellent book. I read it about 20 years ago. The Pyle character is loosely based on Edward Lansdale who was a military officer and CIA officer who was involved in lots of skullduggery in Southeast Asia from the time the French were trying to reestablish dominance again over their former colony. However, Lansdale was not a youthful and naive idealist like Pyle. Rather, he was a hard-nosed committed anti-Communist who was well aware of the geopolitical complexities of the region. The historian Max Boot has written an excellent biography of Lansdale. Also, the historian Fredrick Logevall has written probably the definitive history of this period in Vietnam, the end of the French experience and the beginning of the US carrying the torch: "Embers Of War".

Read this one way back in 2009 and have never forgotten it. "The only quiet American is a dead American."

I am obsessed with the authors “A Burnt-Out Case.”

I’m so excited to dip into this one, I’ve been looking for my next read! Glad I stumbled across your channel today ❤

Magnificent book. A gem. This was one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite books. I read this while in Hanoi, actually I read it at the Metropole hotel where Greene wrote the novel. A complete reading experience. Thoroughly enjoyed this review Cliff! Thanks a bunch.

Orson Welles starred in the Third Man, but he did not write the screenplay. The script was Greene's. The director was Carol Reed.

The Power and the Glory is also a good novel of his. About a Mexican priest on the run from the Reds

You turned me onto Harry Crews and I learned from reading more about him that he was a huge Graham Greene fan. I was just wondering which Graham Greene book to start with and then you release this video! Thanks as always for the great recommendations.

Graham Greene is an author to read extensively. The End of The Affair (God, did it resonated with me!), The Third Man, Traveling With my Aunt, and the hilarious Our Man in Havana.

One of my favourites. Looking forward to this! Loving the content, as always Cliff. I think it can be compared with Camus" The Stranger too.

Only read this baby a few weeks ago. I had read a couple Graham Greene novels before but The Quiet American was the first (at least on first reading) to convince me that I had encountered a genius. Really uncanny how good this novel is, it's so close to perfect it hurts.

My favorites by Graham Greene (so far) have been "The Comedians" and "Our Man in Havana".

Fabulous choice, one of my all-time favorite writers, Graham Greene, and an amazing novel. One of the very, very best.

This sounds super awesome, thanks for telling us about it!

I recently moved from FL to Portland, and none of the locals here seem to believe me when I describe the anoles and skinks scurrying everywhere. Not long before they crawl into your car via the AC, or you spend evenings watching them crawl across windows and glass doors.

I’ve had this on my radar for a while. Thank you for reminding me I need to read it!

I just grabbed this book out of a Little Free Library the other day! This timing is serendipitious enough that I might take it as a sign to dive into this book right away...

please read the Heart of the Matter by Greene - that is also a standout book. it was one of my A level English literature texts way back in the 1980s. Similar theme of the Catholic guilt of an older married man falling in love with a younger woman.

Just finished this absolute master piece, it's as you say, perfect. It has everything you want of a novel of its type and more. No wonder it was one of Anthony Bourdain's favorites. Now I NEED to get to Nam'.

Great video as always! Can you review Beloved later down the road?

The Vietnam War in the fifties was a French affair. We didn't really take over that mess until the sixties.

I think of Magazine's "Shot by Both Sides" in response to "One has to take a side to remain human"

One of Anthony Bourdain's fav books, I read it when I travelled around Vietnam in 2020 (just before covid shut the world down)

I read this novel for High School, it was exquisite. I've only read a couple of Greene's novels, and considering I have The Power and the Glory sitting on my shelf unread, I think I'll get back into him soon.

This book is one of my favs, for sure.

I adore this book. Discovered it since it was Anthony Bourdain's favourite. Bought it as soon as we bought our first tickets to Vietnam. Which was one year ago. We are heading back next month :)

Greene converted to Catholicism. I read once that he grouped his books into two categories entertainments and his major works. All his major works dealt with a religious/spiritual question. I won't give away the ending, but it demonstrates but the statement shows the character's religious dilemma. Philby was the basis of Greene's book, The Human Factor. Greene even wrote to Philby after he fled to the Soviet Union.

Would definitely recommend The End if the Affair. Greene’s prose is magnificent and so subtly violent.

This and The Power and the Glory are Graham Greenes best novels.

So glad you loved this book, is still one of the best things I ever read.

Thanks for reviewing this one. I am almost finished. The book itself also has a quiet quality, ironic since there is war going on in the backdrop. I thought it a very thought provoking book as well as your review.

One of my favourite Graham Greene novels, and he's one of my favourite authors :D

Excellent novel, as an American who was 23 when Vietnam ended I learned a lot!

Ah yes, I can't wait for the Encino Man Criterion. Might hold out for Criterion's Pauly Shore boxset instead though.

I am pleased to boast that, from 2018-2020, I read every novel Graham Greene ever published. Look for the word “mauve.” He uses it about three times in almost every novel he wrote.

The audiobook of The End Of The Affair is a masterpiece IMHO - narrated brilliantly by Colin Firth. I also enjoyed The Power And The Glory.

Clifford, seems like every review you do, I buy another book. 🙄so many books to read. Good job!☮️

I went on a Graham Greene kick decades ago after reading him for a college class. This one was great.

Picked up this book in Vietnam in 2002. Kids were hawking copies everwhere. Turns out these were all bootleg copies; tons of printing and grammatical errors. Nevertheless, still a great book & discovering it & reading it in Vietnam probably made it even better.

Bought it, can't wait. I've never read anything by greene curious how this goes

I discovered this story through the adaptation with Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser. It's one of the best films I've ever seen and thanks to that I was able to discover the book and Graham's other works. It's definitely something that changed me inside

Small factual correction - Carol Reed directed The Third Man, nor Orson Wells. Great review, adding the book to my list, cheers!

Thank you as always.

When are we getting a roasting tutorial? Just started, personally. Super calming way to spend an afternoon.

Can you PLEASE read/review either Dostoevsky's the brothers Karamazov, crime and punishment, or the idiot??

Just finished this. There is a scene where Fowler is traveling as a journalist on a French fighter-bomber. After their main mission is completely they come across a boat on the river and strafe it completely destroying it and the occupants. Immediately afterwards they take a long detour back to base so they can take in the beautiful sunset. On landing Fowler asks the pilot if it was necessary to destroy the boat, if it was Vietminh. The pilot replies "It could have been".

I've read three of his. His wry sense of humour is definitely the standout feature of his writing to me. Not sure I'd put him as one of the best I've ever read, but he's certainly great

An excellent book- as all his are in my opinion. The character of Pyle is one on my list of “ fictional characters who need a damn good shake”. Surely as sign of good writing..

Remember in Donnie dark when drew Barrymore discusses a Graham greene short story with the kids?

Just ordered "The Quiet American" . So I looked for a review, came upon your site, still don't know what it's called. Listening while driving, I think your schtick is great. Have to stop soon and hook up with your info. So , oh happy day. Talk about books, got two in the car, locker full at work in two locations, too many at home on the kitchen table just one. Am a 73 year old janitor. "A refuge for a philosopher," Lee from Grapes of Wrath. Later, good for you.

Read it once. Will read again some day. The film adaptation with Michael Caine is pretty good.

i'm re-reading this book, and it is indeed a perfect novel.

You should read 'The Power and the Glory.' It's probably Greene's best book and it's one of the best novels written by anyone in the 20th century. It's about an alcoholic priest on the run from authorities in Mexico because Catholicism has been outlawed in the province where he lived. It's incredibly good.

Anastasia - Slash & Myles Kennedy

Man, we seem to really be cut from the same cloth, from Under the Volcano to Submission to this. Graham Greene is never anthologized anymore, which as a literature teacher is sad to see. I always tell people to start with The Quiet American, so good call. Speaking of bad Catholics, there are two books I’ve been thinking I’d really enjoy hearing your take on: Bread and Wine, by Ignacio Silone, and The Moviegoer, by Walker Percy.

You're making me think about giving this book another attempt.

Phoenix Mistress, by Frank Wadleigh. Going for this next. I don't expect much. Nor do I care. Just want to see. Had lunch at Brodard a few hours ago. Spring Rolls, Chicken, Rice, Soup....ABSOLUTELY uncanny how this man "happens" to have been in all these hot spots before the common herd people get whuffed of the absolute train crashes they become in the news later. Have NEVER disliked ANY of his writing. Even the troubling bio work.

Thanks!

I could have sworn this was uploaded around 12pm and that I already watched it. I must be loosing my mind. How are you liking FL Cliff? You should get into Scuba diving. Night diving is like visiting another planet.

Listening to you a lot now. Off to work today. Guy asked my boss why he hired me. He said, "Ah he's good with a broom." I'd say about you, "Ah he's good with a camera."

Try Stamboul Train, his first masterpiece, and the most underrated Graham Greene novel

Please review A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Funniest book I've ever read.

Were you joking about Criterion rereleasing Encino Man?

I like this guy. He read book

i appreciate this review and will hitting up my library shortly. i did read the power and the glory in high school but have very little memory except for the fact my then very pious and sensitive catholic leanings were offended. A priest that was not the height of saintliness??? how could that be LOL. I will revisit that little piece of enlightenment also.

Trying to think of an instance of US meddling that wasn’t self-serving and disastrous.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN'S FAVE BOOK

You should read invisible man by Ralph Ellison

Love the way you describe books. Hope you'll review horror soon. 😀💀

That's an awesome moustaches

Is Encino Man really going in the Criterion collection?... oh wait you mean the other movie with Brendan Fraser based on the book you're talking about. 😂😂😂

No way… we read the same book at the same time!

Orson Welles did not direct The Third Man. Carol reed did.

Try reading this without being incredibly bored 1/4 of the way through. I highlighted many passages that were written so well... but the pacing is so slow... the characters are so dull..... A book people are afraid to criticize due to fear of it being described as 'the perfect novel' - Well, Citizen Kane has been described as the perfect film.... but who can sit through it? The female character as written is so boring .. but you have to appreciate her because as an 'object' she represents the country of Vietnam.... a possession.... What things represent (interesting) and how they read (boring) are very different....

You look exactly like arthur shelby, excellent

Ditto your review of Graham greens quiet American A timely critique of our current Crusade for democracy in Ukraine. Spreading our love forever Wars through NATO. Also loved your review. So much so that I'd like to ask you if you would mail your copy of The Quiet American , with all the highlights, to my friend Joseph Robinette. He lives in the not- so- quiet white- man's- house

3:07 queue Evangelion Cicadas*

i assume...

Looks like he gave all his books away on Patreon

...because of me?!

great book that explores how the West seemingly can't help itself and wants to always "intervene" in geo-political issues

Should do Confederacy of Dunces

I do like your reviews a lot, but sometimes I sense your vblogs lack in criticism. Saludos.