Books2Movies Club discussion

I think I read this book three times, and I'll gladly read it again. As for the movies, experience might not be as evocative, but that's probably due to the fact the book is so difficult to capture and adapt.

The quick description from the back cover may suffice to intrigue you:

An ancient bridge collapses over a gorge in Peru, hurling five people into the abyss. It seems a meaningless human tragedy. But one witness, a Franciscan monk, believes the deaths might not be as random as they appear.

Convinced that the disaster is a punishment sent from Heaven, the monk sets out to discover all he can about the travellers. The five strangers were connected in some way, he thinks. There must be a purpose behind their deaths.

But are their lost lives the result of sin? Or of love?

There were five adaptations so far, I think, if there are no foreign ones too. One is definitely available for watching, a 2004 version with classy thespians such as Gabriel Byrne, Kathy Bates, Geraldine Chaplin, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel etc. The other that you might be able to find somewhere is a 1944 version, but reviews aren't quite favorable. To be honest, the former didn't receive accolades either.

I hope you'll like this book and that it'll inspire you to share some thoughts and impressions with us :)