Monuments Men 01 - Part One and Two

[Zeljka]

This reading section is only for the following parts of the book, your findings and your sentiments about them:

PART I. The Mission
PART II. Northern Europe

[Kressel]

I'm really liking this book. It's fast-paced and people-centered. I'm a little disappointed that the movie used fictional names, though.

George Clooney = George Stout
Hugh Bonneville = Ronald Balfour
John Goodman = Walker Hancock
Matt Damon = James Rorimer
Cate Blanchett = Rose Valland
Bill Murray = Robert Posey

[Kressel]

I've just listened to a few interviews, and apparently, the reasons for the name changes were so they could add fictional flaws to some of the characters. In other words, they're honoring the real people more this way.

[Alana]

I'm just getting started on this one and I'm really enjoying it so far. I hadn't realized they changed some of the names. So the people weren't flawed enough for Hollywood? Or more likely, with the thickness of the book, there simply wasn't time in the length of it to go further into character "development" on the flaws of the real people?

[Chris]

I loved the book and movie -- the movie had me returning to the official website so could compare who was playing what character from the book....I read his other book on Italy-- really enjoying learning about the people and the facts with the art...hate learning that so much art was destroyed though.

[Alana]

I did find it interesting that the author mentions he has to cut out a lot of the work that was done in Italy due to the length of the book. What's the other book called?

[Josh]

It's called Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation's Treasures from the Nazis. I've been looking for it.

[Alana]

Thanks! Yet another to add to the list :)