Reviews - The Honourable Schoolboy

The Honourable Schoolboy by John le Carré

337 reviews for:

I read this on audiobook narrated brilliantly by Michael Jayston who - amongst other vocal talents - has a very good George Smiley voice.

I found myself enjoying all the bits with the Circus and the Cousins but not so much the adventures of Jerry Westerby, which seemed too long for the book (the seediness and unpleasantness of these is, I’m sure, completely necessary!). I agree with other reviewers that the book is perhaps two books in one and that while the middle section seemed over-long the ending was telescoped and too rapid. So rapid that I think I missed some of the references and clues that I should have got.

wallenseses's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 23%

Switched to audio book

valeatsbooks's review

4.25

adventurous emotional funny reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

leland_burns's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

arf88's review against another edition

2.0

I really, really wanted to like this book more than I did. I really enjoyed the first half, even when it was slow, the characters, destinations, spycraft, it was all wonderfully written and a joy to sink into. But by the second half I was done with the meandering and this was a full on slog to get through, with some truly bizarre character choices. Definitely a book that could loose 200+ pages and be the better for it.