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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I think it was a pretty good introduction to reading spy novels. It was fairly information-heavy at times that made me feel like I was reading through old dossiers, but it might be part of the genre. I liked the characters and they had a good sense of realness to them. The plot had good pacing. Overall, I think I'd read another one of Steinhauer's novels. :)
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
It's been quite a while since I've curled up with a spy novel, so maybe I'm out of the loop on the genre, but The Tourist left me somewhere in the fair to midland range. There's a lot of dialogue and the story is repetitive at times, plus there are several things that seem to rely on everyone, including Milo, being either oblivious or not very bright, both of which seem out of sorts with a spy novel. In the end, The Tourist left me wanting more - more action, more intrigue, more tension, just more. It isn't a bad story, but it isn't a particularly great one either.
Very solid and quite well done. It does all the right things well: the basic mechanics of being a spy, the sort of institutional elements, the suitably twisted and thrilling narrative. Sure the story has one or two details that will take out of the book, and occasionally some of the writing feels inelegant, but on the whole this book is readable, exciting and interesting.
It didn't live up to the John le Carre / Len Deighton hype. Although even they can be somewhat disappointing.
An espionage novel about a somewhat disaffected CIA blacks ops operative -- named a "Tourist" -- who goes from the field, to a desk job, and then returns to the field. The characters are reasonably cliched, the plot is not overly inventive, and the action is mediocre. It straddles between the world of intricate and realistic tradecraft and Jason Bourne.
That said, it was a decent read and I look forward to what will evidently be a movie with George Clooney. But I don't think I'll be reading the sequel anytime soon.
An espionage novel about a somewhat disaffected CIA blacks ops operative -- named a "Tourist" -- who goes from the field, to a desk job, and then returns to the field. The characters are reasonably cliched, the plot is not overly inventive, and the action is mediocre. It straddles between the world of intricate and realistic tradecraft and Jason Bourne.
That said, it was a decent read and I look forward to what will evidently be a movie with George Clooney. But I don't think I'll be reading the sequel anytime soon.
I picked this one thinking that it was a book that the movie, The Tourist was made from. This is not the case. It was an interesting read, none the less. It reminded me a little of the Bourne Identity story. Scattered Profanity, so beware.
2017 Popsugar Reading Challenge: #9 An espionage thriller
2017 Popsugar Reading Challenge: #9 An espionage thriller