Scan barcode
gsatori's review against another edition
5.0
This isn't a typical spy novel, and nor should it be, especially from LeCarre. It is heavily character driven and asks questions about the morality of governments in dealing with terrorist organizations. It is bleak from beginning to end, one reason I suspect for the lack of reader approval, and the ending is tense and stunning, but gives no answers other than to reaffirm the moral stances taken throughout the novel.
ianl1963's review against another edition
4.0
As Mr Le Carré, ending rather inevitable but believable.
Not sure where conscience ends and woke starts, apparently 'do gooders' an even more pejorative term these days amongst the jack booted powers and banana republics; UK included!
Mr Jayston always a good listen, knows how to pronounce calvados!
As an opinonated pedant, my one big issue with audio books; sometimes, the readers "take" on words.
Even if they are conforming to their country of origin's perceived usage.
Not sure where conscience ends and woke starts, apparently 'do gooders' an even more pejorative term these days amongst the jack booted powers and banana republics; UK included!
Mr Jayston always a good listen, knows how to pronounce calvados!
As an opinonated pedant, my one big issue with audio books; sometimes, the readers "take" on words.
Even if they are conforming to their country of origin's perceived usage.
rocketiza's review
4.0
A good book to send to your racist Uncle during the era of Trump to subtle maybe gt him to realize James Bond isn't real, there's a lot of nuances to intelligence community, and justice isn't as important as headlines to some people.
krosebee's review
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14539632
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14539632
amandatamsin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Not quite my usual genre, but I found this novel in a book exchange and decided to give it a go and am glad I did. This is a really thought-provoking read. The characters are complex, and in some cases mysterious. Some of them really grew on me and I could empathise with them. I also love the subtle, 'show but not tell' writing style, leaving a lot to the reader's imagination and deduction.
The book seems very well researched on the themes covered, and I feel better educated as a result of reading it. Overall, it is quite a dark read (though there are some light moments and aspects), so I think you have to be in the right state of mind for it, but I found it to be worth it even when it challenged me emotionally. I will be reading more by this author.
The book seems very well researched on the themes covered, and I feel better educated as a result of reading it. Overall, it is quite a dark read (though there are some light moments and aspects), so I think you have to be in the right state of mind for it, but I found it to be worth it even when it challenged me emotionally. I will be reading more by this author.
cham3rion's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
red0nyou's review against another edition
4.0
Tenía la duda de si le Carré escribía chido o no, si realmente eran buenas las novelas en las que están basadas las películas o sólo tenía interesantes ideas que sirven de base para una buena película.
La respuesta es que sí sabe escribir. Tiene talento para construir una situación de espías modernos con dilemas morales, fiel a la tradición de Graham Green.
Es imposible hacer comparativas con la adaptación cinematográfica, en especial, si la viste antes de leer el libro. Esto se debe a que es una excelente adaptación, aunque tenga sus variaciones, pero que no alteran en nada la trama del libro.
Y sí, el final es igual de tenso o más que en la película.
La respuesta es que sí sabe escribir. Tiene talento para construir una situación de espías modernos con dilemas morales, fiel a la tradición de Graham Green.
Es imposible hacer comparativas con la adaptación cinematográfica, en especial, si la viste antes de leer el libro. Esto se debe a que es una excelente adaptación, aunque tenga sus variaciones, pero que no alteran en nada la trama del libro.
Y sí, el final es igual de tenso o más que en la película.
asterix77's review against another edition
4.0
Ik ben een groot Le Carré fan. Er staan meerdere boeken van hem op mijn 5 sterren lijst
Dit is helaas geen 5 sterren. Ik vond het boek onevenwichtig, zeker het begin kabbelde wat voort zonder dat het richting had. Nu hoef je bij Le Carré nooit echte actie te verwachten, maar dit was wel erg passief. Op ongeveer tweederde van het boek begon de intrige zich echt te ontvouwen en werd het een echt Le Carré boek.
Spionage en internationale politiek op zijn best, met een onbevredigend einde, waardoor het een cynisch boek wordt. Zo cynisch dat het zomaar realiteit zou kunnen zijn.
2,5 ster voor de start, 4,5 voor het eind.
Dit is helaas geen 5 sterren. Ik vond het boek onevenwichtig, zeker het begin kabbelde wat voort zonder dat het richting had. Nu hoef je bij Le Carré nooit echte actie te verwachten, maar dit was wel erg passief. Op ongeveer tweederde van het boek begon de intrige zich echt te ontvouwen en werd het een echt Le Carré boek.
Spionage en internationale politiek op zijn best, met een onbevredigend einde, waardoor het een cynisch boek wordt. Zo cynisch dat het zomaar realiteit zou kunnen zijn.
2,5 ster voor de start, 4,5 voor het eind.
obscuredbyclouds's review against another edition
1.0
I thought this was going to be a spy story with a war-on-terror-setting, and while there's no spies it is, albeit only tangibly, about how governments deal with muslim refugees. Mostly it's extremely tedious and boring. The first 30 pages or so were entertaining, then there's way too many (flat) characters and little plot. Thanks to the strange structure, you never really start to care about anyone or anything that's going on.