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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Certainly not a bad book by any means but not as good as the previous books by the author that I've read.
My main problem is that I didn't particularly care for Westerby, the journalist spy who is tasked with going to 1970s Hong Kong. I suspect he was supposed to be sympathetic, but I thought he was an idiot. I vastly preferred the parts of the book that bounce back to the enigmatic Smiley and his plot to flush out his KGB archnemesis, which was quite good, as was the departmental warfare within and between the various intelligence agencies. Le Carre always does office politics so well.
Westerby's adventures take him all around Southeast Asia as the collapse of South Vietnam is imminent--Thailand, Laos, and South Vietnam, as well as Hong Kong--and though the place setting is quite vivid and it can be action-packed, it's never as compelling to me as Smiley sitting quietly at a desk.
The book is a product of its time, and a lot of the discussion of Asia seems dated and at times un-PC, though Le Carre doesn't shy away from depicting the nastier legacies of British colonialism.
I am much more looking forward to the next book, which I've already started.
My main problem is that I didn't particularly care for Westerby, the journalist spy who is tasked with going to 1970s Hong Kong. I suspect he was supposed to be sympathetic, but I thought he was an idiot. I vastly preferred the parts of the book that bounce back to the enigmatic Smiley and his plot to flush out his KGB archnemesis, which was quite good, as was the departmental warfare within and between the various intelligence agencies. Le Carre always does office politics so well.
Westerby's adventures take him all around Southeast Asia as the collapse of South Vietnam is imminent--Thailand, Laos, and South Vietnam, as well as Hong Kong--and though the place setting is quite vivid and it can be action-packed, it's never as compelling to me as Smiley sitting quietly at a desk.
The book is a product of its time, and a lot of the discussion of Asia seems dated and at times un-PC, though Le Carre doesn't shy away from depicting the nastier legacies of British colonialism.
I am much more looking forward to the next book, which I've already started.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
The setting is the early 1970s. The Vietnam War is in its closing phases, and there are insurgent rebellions raging in neighbouring Cambodia and Laos. Hong Kong is still a British colony.
Back in London, the Russian mole within Britain’s spy agency has been exposed (as described in the previous volume Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), but the damage to “The Circus” has been immense. George Smiley now heads the organisation, but his resources have been crippled by the betrayal—agent networks rolled up; relations with the Americans imperilled; Whitehall supervision redoubled; his budget cut. It’s against this desperate background that Smiley and his close compatriots tease out a promising lead in the Far East, in Hong Kong and China. It’s their one hope of regaining some advantage in Smiley’s long battle with the Russian spymaster Karla.
Gerry Westerby, a sometime journalist, ladies’ man, and occasional spy, is pulled back into action by The Circus from his retreat in Tuscany and sent to Hong Kong to pursue the investigation.
Westerby’s investigations involve often-hazardous travel around the war zones of Indochina under his cover as a newspaperman, enabling Le Carré to paint a vivid picture of the desperation of the time and the false gaiety of the Western embassies amidst encroaching destruction.
Westerby’s human failings eventually bring him to a point where he rebels against his masters, throwing their plans into confusion and himself into the gravest of danger.
Gripping stuff. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Smiley’s People.
I listened to this as an audiobook read by Michael Jayston, who does a great job and keeps all of the character voices distinct. His version of George Smiley seems heavily influenced by the performance of Alec Guiness in the role in the British TV series – almost an impersonation of Guiness’ voice and pacing. But that’s not a bad thing in the least.
Back in London, the Russian mole within Britain’s spy agency has been exposed (as described in the previous volume Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), but the damage to “The Circus” has been immense. George Smiley now heads the organisation, but his resources have been crippled by the betrayal—agent networks rolled up; relations with the Americans imperilled; Whitehall supervision redoubled; his budget cut. It’s against this desperate background that Smiley and his close compatriots tease out a promising lead in the Far East, in Hong Kong and China. It’s their one hope of regaining some advantage in Smiley’s long battle with the Russian spymaster Karla.
Gerry Westerby, a sometime journalist, ladies’ man, and occasional spy, is pulled back into action by The Circus from his retreat in Tuscany and sent to Hong Kong to pursue the investigation.
Westerby’s investigations involve often-hazardous travel around the war zones of Indochina under his cover as a newspaperman, enabling Le Carré to paint a vivid picture of the desperation of the time and the false gaiety of the Western embassies amidst encroaching destruction.
Westerby’s human failings eventually bring him to a point where he rebels against his masters, throwing their plans into confusion and himself into the gravest of danger.
Gripping stuff. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Smiley’s People.
I listened to this as an audiobook read by Michael Jayston, who does a great job and keeps all of the character voices distinct. His version of George Smiley seems heavily influenced by the performance of Alec Guiness in the role in the British TV series – almost an impersonation of Guiness’ voice and pacing. But that’s not a bad thing in the least.
Great plot line and I like a story of bureaucracy and inter-organisation politics but this is just too long and needed a good edit! Also hard not to think Guinness and others have made Smiley more likeable than Le Carre intended.
yawn narrator and book makes a good sleeping pill *sigh*
adventurous
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Would try to read it instead of listening it ever going through the George Smiley books. Lost interest so it dragged on a bit.
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a great book although I can't say it was "amazing" and give it 5 stars. The chief reason is it's a very dense book full of characters, settings, spy jargon, and British vernacular and colloquialisms that are a challenge for non-Brits to understand. So, while I enjoyed the book for many reasons, it was a challenge to maintain my attention and wade through it until the end.
That said, Jerry Westerby (The Honourable Schoolboy) is a thoroughly likable and believable character well developed, full of flaws and weaknesses (booze and women), street smarts, and determination to do his job. To me, he also carried a little guilt for being part of Britain's upper class. I felt it when he was operating in Hong Kong, at the time a British colony and a manifestation of what the British upper class had done to suppress and exploit millions (billions?) of people around the world in pursuit of empire.
Far from a lighthearted, easy read, but if you want an example of an author with a complete mastery of his craft, read John LeCarre.
That said, Jerry Westerby (The Honourable Schoolboy) is a thoroughly likable and believable character well developed, full of flaws and weaknesses (booze and women), street smarts, and determination to do his job. To me, he also carried a little guilt for being part of Britain's upper class. I felt it when he was operating in Hong Kong, at the time a British colony and a manifestation of what the British upper class had done to suppress and exploit millions (billions?) of people around the world in pursuit of empire.
Far from a lighthearted, easy read, but if you want an example of an author with a complete mastery of his craft, read John LeCarre.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
This was the first of the smiley series that I actually enjoyed. There was actually action among with the strong prose and that made all the difference.