Yeah, the film version was weird. I'll have to watch it again to compare it to the book, but it was definitely lacking. Everything in the book made sense, whereas the film--from the vague stuff I remember, the identity of El Mirador was 100% obvious, and it didn't make any sense how Sharpe managed to get shot without Harper saving him, and wasn't there some inexplicable mute girl?

I might pick up some more of the novels. I was thinking of reading them in the order they were written, but do you think I should read them chronologically (according to the plot) instead? Are there any I should avoid?

Thanks for the offer to lend them! I know you're away for a while, though, so let's see where I'm at next time we hang out (to watch "Sharpe's Eagle" and "Sharpe's Challenge," right? ;)