A Thousand Suns Paperback – June 25, 2003

Dominique Lapierre was one of the twentieth century's most prolific international journalists and a highly prolific author of both novels and historical works, many together with his lifelong coleague Larry Collins.In this digest he takes us through some of his greatest journeys and encounters with people who shaped the course of events. He includes some of the encounters behind his joint works with Dominique Lapierre, such as his interview with Ehud Avriel, who helped Jews to escape Hitler's infernos to get to the Holy Land, and gathered together arms to help the fledgling State of Israel survive the overwhelming military force of six Arab armies who attacked the tiny state, as soon as the United Nations agreed to partition of Palestine.He also describes the starvation and misery of Jerusalem's Jewish inhabitants during the siege of that city by Arab armies intent on massacring all of Jerusalem's Jews.Some of the events described in his article about Avriel, who Lapierre was a good friend of are recorded in O Jerusalem!He also recounts his interviews with Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was instrumental in negotiating the independence of India and it's aprtition into the two states of India and Pakistan.Lapierre was with Mountbatten a few days Mountbatten's assassination by IRA terrorists in 1979.He also recounts his meetings and interviews with the men behind the assasination of Mahatma Ghandi, as result of Gandhi's favorable policies towards India's Moslems.These events form part of the bakground to Freedom at Midnight.Lapierre details his relationship with the man who was executed for somebody else's crimes, Caryl Chessman, and Chessman's campaign from prison against the death penalty.He describes the refusal by General Dieter Von Choltitz refusal to obey Hitler's orders to completley destroy Paris but ignores the evidence that Von Choltitz had been involved in the massacre of Jews in Russia.He also writes of his interview with the evil terrorist murderer Kozo Okamoto from the Japanese Red Army Faction, who together with two other psychopathic Communist terrorists murdered 26 Puerto Rican pilgrims in 1972.Interesting that even then those hellbent on murder and destruction chose Israel as their first target for butchery.But the world made a lot more sense then, as most the world reviled these horrible terrorists acts, unlike the macabre Orwellian nightmare we are living through today, were so much of the world supports terror against the tiny nation of Israel.Interesting even that the first tHe also writes of his encounters with the great conservationist Rafael Matta in the Ivory Coast, and the authoir's first car and how he acquired the foal of a prize horse in San Tropez France, by the name of Preferido.Most touching is Lapierre's recounting of work in Calcutta, which the author was involved in with Indian leper and other orphan childrenLapierre donates half of his royalties to the foundation set up to save these childrenIt is heartbreaking to read of their plight and uplifting to read of their joy in life despite their suffering and death all around them. You can read more about these poignant and heartrending accounts in The City of Joy"behind every cloud" as the author recounts "there are a thousand clouds."Overall a fascinating and exciting read.

1. 'A Thousand Suns', a fascinating book by Dominique Lapierre, famous author of books like `Is Paris Burning' and `City of Joy' takes its title from and Indian proverb that the author chanced upon during his stay in South India. It comes from (as indicated by the author) "Behind every cloud, there are a thousand suns". A perfect message for life in present day's gloomy outlook of life.2. It goes without saying that the book, which has such a beautiful and motivating title ought to be full of life energy and epitomize everything that is the very essence of meaningful life. This book actually is a byproduct, but a beautiful and useful one. It consists of 15 independent well researched real life stories, which the author encountered in the run up to doing a specific assignment mainly related to the prime characters or places related to these stories, initially as a news correspondent and later as a writer.3. At the end thus, he filed his reports / wrote his books, but the enduring beauty of life enshrined in the background of these reports / books remained. The author has really done a wonderful service to mankind by writing this book; else such beautiful pearls of human endeavor, wisdom, perseverance and enterprise would have been lost forever.4. Written in a simple style with stress on delivering the message right, the author might have not achieved perfection of narrative, but what needed to be achieved i.e. delivery of the essentials of beauty of life has been achieved with perfection.5. It is rightly said that `make your hobby your profession and you would not have to work for a day'. It is evident from reading this book that Mr Lapierre seems to have not worked for a day but have thoroughly enjoyed this life following his passion for writing.6. All those who have faith in life and mankind and all those whose faith on these is wavering for some reasons must read this book to derive the requisite benefit.

True life adventure of incredible tales of true life and his own. So wonderful to get to know all the people that Dominique came in contact with and his sharing it with his readers.I came away with so much love for India and all his compassion for lives Lapierre came in contact with.

Gripping. Lapierre shares in this book his most important events and adventures of his life, all extraordinary and all moving. An incredible life in an incredible book. In telling his story, he more than changes lives, he gives.

Got "A Thousand Suns" as a gift and it was wonderful experience reading Dominique Lapierre. He is a genius story teller.. book is full of emotions, inspiration and admiration.In addition to his account of experiences, interactions, interviews and research, this book is collection of excerpt from all other work from Dominique Lappierre - O Jerusalem!, Freedom at Midnight, Is Paris burning? - Adolf Hitler, August 25, 1944., City of Joy: The Illustrated Story of the Film (Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook)....It is great book, worth having in your library. But keep in mind that it is his point of view, you and many others may not agree. I don't agree with few and hence not 5 star for me.After reading "A Thousand Suns", I couldn't resist reading his other books. I read "O Jerusalem!". Then it was "Is Paris Burning?" and "Freedom at Midnight" and "It Was Five Past Midnight in Bhopal".... read all these back to back.-- ashutosh jhureley