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3.75 AVERAGE


Finished at last. Bloody hell this was a bit of a grind in places. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed this but it was just a bit too rambling at times. Not the best of the Smiley series I'm affraid not by a long way.
adventurous slow-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: No

The story was fine, and the writing was good but I just didn't care and I don't think I'll continue with this series.

After the sublime "Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy" my expectations were high. "The Honourable Schoolboy" is Jerry Westerby, who is not a schoolboy at all but a semi-retired spy. Nor is he particularly honourable, but then the spy business doesn't really encourage that I suppose, what with the sneakiness. I didn't find Jerry an engaging character. This is not le Carrés fault. Jerry just wasn't my type, but then I'm sure I'm not his either. As already established in TTSS, bitches be crazy, and Jerry doesn't care for that. While Jerry was banging girls who reminded him of his daughter, I was pining for Smiley and Connie and Guillam. They appear way too briefly, although they make it count (I could a read a whole book with Guillam vexedly trying to stop Fawn from breaking the bones of street urchins). It's so well written and atmospheric that I'll round it up from 3,5 stars, but the final Karla-book better contain more London fog and post-divorce Smiley .

Very long book with a very confusing ending.
mysterious tense
challenging mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging mysterious tense slow-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

A masterpiece, set in east Asia. Rewarding read.
adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes