Egypt4u

Sorry - I'm being a bit lazy and doing a cut and paste job from a post I've just made on Luxor4u.

These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach
Also being marketed now as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel along side the film of the same title.


This is a delightful read. It is a gentle and amusing look at a group of individuals who are all of mature years - if not attitude to life - who find themselves at a 'Hotel for Retired Gentlepersons' in India. You can't help but care for most of the characters. It does contain sexual references but it is so well done you can't be offended. It's been months since I read it but even now I can chuckle at some of the scenarios!
An ideal holiday/coffee break read.


FILM:
I've been seeing lots of promo's for the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel recently and kept thinking that it sounded like the same scenario as the book I'd read, but typically I couldn't remember the title. Now I know it's one and the same and I am really looking forward to seeing the film. It's got a fantstic cast so I'm sure they'll do it justice. (Oh please, I hope they do!)

Synopsis
For a disparate group of English pensioners (Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie and Ronald Pickup), retirement takes an unconventional turn when they abandon their homeland, enticed by advertisements for THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, a seemingly luxurious sanctuary for “the elderly and beautiful” in Jaipur, India. On arrival, they discover that the hotel falls somewhat short of the romantic idyll promised in the brochure, but they are gradually won over by the ever-optimistic young manager Sonny (Dev Patel), and tentatively embark on a new adventure, finding that life can begin again when you let go of the past.
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You've enticed me into putting this book onto my list to read Hepzi! Sounds like a lovely read.

LLL - I suppose the characters and humour for this are quintessentially English so I hope it crosses 'the big divide' OK.

Hepzi, it will give her a better insight as to what a strange lot we are

You speak for yourself, Horus! I'm not strange - well, not much, anyway! That book is going on my list too, Hepzi - and, with that illustrious cast, ditto with the film! Thanks for the heads up! I've suddenly developed a stinking cold at the moment so I'm reading a lot, because I can't concentrate on much else.

Oooh, keep your horrible cold to yourself, touch wood, but so far this last year I have done well in not getting any at all. Probably all the fresh fruit I eat, or more likely the Shiraz, its full of vitamins

Ruby Slippers wrote: That book is going on my list too, Hepzi - and, with that illustrious cast, ditto with the film! Thanks for the heads up! I've suddenly developed a stinking cold at the moment so I'm reading a lot, because I can't concentrate on much else.

Sorry to hear you are not feeling so good...but then any reason for extra reading time has to be good. Hope you feel better soon.

Yes, I'm looking forward to the film. I don't got the cinema very often - way too expensive - but I may make an exception for this as I think the sights and sounds of India on the big screen will be worth it.

I've just re-read your synopsis, Hepzi, and it sounds even better second time around! Thanks for the good wishes and I keep telling myself that it's only a cold but I had pneumonia last October which left me completely drained for a while so................! I'm just dosing myself up with everything in sight at the moment! Fingers crossed that it goes as quick as it came .

Ah thanks for that, looking forward to seeing the film

I've just read a write-up of Deborah Moggach and I found it really distressing to read that her elderly mother was sent to prison in the 1980's for 'assisting' an old friend to commit suicide! The friend was crippled with arthritis; riddled with cancer and almost blind! Dear God! It doesn't bear thinking about, does it? I somewhat see the reason for the book now! Makes me more determined to read 'These Foolish Things'!

I've just started reading this book and now am just waiting for some enterprising soul in Egypt to copy the idea! What a great place to retire! I'll be first on the list for a room. Any takers?

Last weekend I took my mother to dinner and to see the movie to celebrate the removal of her sling after 8 weeks with a broken arm. It is years since she has been to the cinema, so I was thrilled this particular movie was showing just now, as it seemed to be the perfect one for her. With many of her favourite actors, and a topic close to her life (she's 82 in June, looking after my 85 y-o bedridden father who has depression and anxiety issues, and never had the chance to travel overseas to anywhere but NZ), I was hoping it wouldn't disappoint. Well, it certainly didn't! We loved it! You could almost smell, feel and taste India. The acting was first class, as you would expect, particularly Tom Wilkinson, and Bill Nighy's meltdown was fabulous. The actors are all masters of their craft, and authentic polite-English-abroad types, in all their un made-up wrinkles and creased-linen glory. Don't expect much more comedy than what is seen in the trailer, but instead a lovely story and great cinematography.

Thanks for that, WI! It's showing at my local cinema at the moment so maybe........................? I haven't been to the cinema for ages either. It put me off when I went to a multi-screen one years ago - and I could hear what was playing next door!

Please Please Please!
I have've seen the film and thought that the book would have the same plot, so i told my proff in the university that i will do a summary of the book. Can somebody help me and say how the book ends?
Thank you in advance!

Welcome mcmaya, I am sure that someone will be able to help you with this question, just drop by again and see if anyone has posted the answer for you. Failing that you could always use the PM system to contact the original poster (Hepzibah) and she will certainly help you.

Welcoma McMaya - I haven't read the book myself but am sure other members on here would be thrilled to help you.

Can I ask what you are studying?

I'm studying as an interpretor from french to russian, but my second language is english!

Hi again mcmaya, I have asked Hepzibah if she will drop by and help you with your question, so keep looking in as I am sure once she sees your request she will try to help you.

mcmaya wrote:Please Please Please!
I have've seen the film and thought that the book would have the same plot, so i told my proff in the university that i will do a summary of the book. Can somebody help me and say how the book ends?
Thank you in advance!

Horus wrote:Hi again mcmaya, I have asked Hepzibah if she will drop by and help you with your question, so keep looking in as I am sure once she sees your request she will try to help you.

Hi mcmaya and welcome to Egypt4U. Sorry, I've not been around much on this site recently (although I can regularly be found on the sister site Luxor4U) so did not notice your question. Horus, as good as his word, sent me a message to alert me and to see if I can help.

Sadly, I'm not sure I can be of any real help to you. It is now some considerable while since I read the book and although I remember parts I don't remember the endings specifically. I say endings because of the number of relevant characters. Also, I have not seen the film so I can not use that as an aide memoir to compare.

I don't know if there is any information on Deborah Moggach's website that may help - you may have already searched it - but this is the link just in case: http://www.deborahmoggach.com/about.htm#top

It may also be useful to look the book up on booksellers webpages e.g Amazon, Awesomebooks http://www.awesomebooks.com/ etc and read some of the reviews. That way you may get a wider and better insight into the book, its characters and the endings.

Sorry I can't be of more help to you.
Hepzi.

WOW - that sounds quite interesting - to be an interpreter How did you arrive at studying French/Russian? That will definitely take you to interesting parts of this world. Wishing you well in your studies!