 Anthony Minghella (qv) read the novel in one sitting after  completing a previous shoot in New York; when he finished, he was  completely disoriented and at first couldnt remember where he was,  but he phoned Saul Zaentz (qv) the next morning to try and  interest him in the project. Saul Zaentz (qv) not only read the  book but discovered that author Michael Ondaatje (qv) was giving a  reading near Saul Zaentz (qv)s home that weekend.