A Thousand Suns by Dominique Lapierre

A Thousand Suns

Another great book by Dominique Lapierre. This book is something like a travelogue ,he explains his experiences with different work assignment and different people associated with it.Its like a mini autobiography.

The book starts with the story of 'Santa Maria' a cruise ship hijacked by Hendrique Galvao,a former administrator in the Portuguese African Colonies.The story of Hendrique Galvao was so inspiring, the way he handled the situation and how struggled to make the Portugal a free country was amazing.He fought again the rule of Antonio Salazar and he was banned to enter in several countries,he lived a life of refuge in different places.He wrote many books also.

The next chapter is about the authors new land(he named it as 'Great Pine') in St.Tropez,as usual the way Dominique explains the details of even the minute things are amazing , only he can do that and make it interesting.His love for the horse and their great gallops and rounds were just breathtaking when i closed my eyes and imagined that.

Then the author shares his meeting with Caryl Chessman,an accused of armed robbery,kidnapping and sexual assault at San Quentin Penitentiary.The life of Caryl Chessman was remarkable , i was moved to tears when i finished reading this chapter.I decided to buy the book written by Caryl Chessman himself about his life in prison ' Cell 2455-Death Row'.Even though he didn't do those accused things he suffered for 12 years and died in the gas chamber,it shows the loopholes in law.Again Dominique's detailed description of the prison,the gas chamber and the press was something unique to himself.I liked this quote by Chessman when he replied to the chief warden of the penitentiary "My journey in the company of hatred is over.I have had my life saved from justice too often to react emotionally.Death has lost all significance for me. I am as ready to die as to go on living,that's all." Chessman avoided the gas chambers many times so he knew what it would feel like.Read about him.

Then there is a story of Nazi officer who disobeyed Hitler's order.I like the next chapter about the bullfighter El Cordobes.Hw was in life what he was in the ring:an unpredictable,instinctive being as much an animal as the wild bulls he fought.
The remaining chapters are about Jews survival,the death of Preferido,the horse ,the meeting with Kozo Okamoto ,a Japanese who was one among the terrorist who killed many at the Israeli airport - this particular chapter deals with how the Japanese carried out their attack on Israel.All the remaining chapters are all interesting .

Totally a great book to read and cherish for a long time!! Hats off to Dominique Lapierrie.