The Forgiven: A NovelNOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING JESSICA CHASTAIN AND RALPH FIENNES • A haunting novel exploring the reverberations of a random accident on the lives of Moroccan Muslims and Western visitors who converge on a luxurious desert villa for a decadent weekend-long party. “Surprising and dark and excellent . . . a sinister and streamlined entertainment.”—The New York Times NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Economist • The Guardian • Library Journal David and Jo Henniger, a doctor and a children's book author, in search of an escape from their less than happy lives in London, accept an invitation to attend a bacchanal at their old friends' home, deep in the Moroccan desert. But as a groggy David navigates the dark desert roads, two young men spring from the roadside, the car swerves . . . and one boy is left dead. When David and Jo arrive at the party, the Moroccan staff, already disgusted�by the rich, hedonistic foreigners in their midst, soon learn of David's unforgivable act. Then the boy's irate Berber father appears, and events begin to spin beyond anyone's control. With spare, evocative prose, searing sensuality, and a gift for the unexpected, Lawrence Osborne memorably portrays the privileged guests wrestling with their secrets amid the remoteness and beauty of the desert landscape. He gradually reveals the jolting backstory of the young man who was killed and leaves David’s fate in the balance as the novel builds to a shattering conclusion. |
Contents
Section 14 | 162 |
Section 15 | 169 |
Section 16 | 172 |
Section 17 | 179 |
Section 18 | 193 |
Section 19 | 206 |
Section 20 | 217 |
Section 21 | 230 |
Section 9 | 93 |
Section 10 | 100 |
Section 11 | 122 |
Section 12 | 132 |
Section 13 | 149 |
Section 22 | 241 |
Section 23 | 252 |
Section 24 | 257 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abdellah already Anouar anyway arms asked began believe better body called closed coming Dally dark David didn't door drink Driss drive edge everything eyes face father feel felt fossil French gate girls give glass going guests half Hamid hand happened head heard idea inside Ismael It's kind knew laughed light live looked mind Monsieur Moroccan move never night noticed once party passed past Perhaps pool remember Richard road rolled running sand seemed seen sense side sleep smell sometimes soon sound staff stay stone stood stop suddenly sure talk tell things thought took trees turned village voice waiting walked wall wanted watched wind window women wondered