Reviews

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré

shefali's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

kcrouth's review

5.0

WOW! This is an excellent tale of cold war intrigue, action packed and full of twists and turns in plot. At the same time, it explores some of the deep philosophical and human paradoxes of contrasting ideologies clashing and simultaneously being much the same. This is a really great story, and i'm anxious to read more from this author.

courtgoz's review against another edition

challenging fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

dubtronius15's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

jeremy_c's review against another edition

reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

mwevelan's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

candydang's review against another edition

5.0

A helluva ride.

mayoresquire's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"It's not pretty, I know, choosing who it'll be, turning the plan into people."

Genuine masterpiece of espionage fiction - no hot take here - that deploys its twisty plot towards an *actual* thematic aim, namely, the ugliness of the work it depicts and how it interacts with ideology. Le Carré suggests that it simply does not, it is unideological, and despite the fact that he is clearly not a Communist, indicates it's at least a cleaner, less hypocritical fit in the Eastern bloc. Leamas is a man without an ethos - not Christian, not Communist, a man of pure negation - and for people like him, the work is fitting. 

The most affecting moments though are ones with Liz, especially her trip to East Germany. While there she's tasked with planning a Party meeting that she expects to go well, given the Communist government, but is instead as dispiriting as those in her native England. Most people, it seems, could be Leamas, most of these horrible actions happen the world over and before any animating purpose. Do you fight the means, or the end?

dousty95's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

tabbrower's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense

4.5

So damn- good, a dreary thrill to read. Looking forward to rereading it and everything settling a bit more for me in regards both to the plot (I'm not a spy! Let me cook!) and the Philosophy (which is a little bit about the absence thereof right..."to despise God and Marx in the same sentence" goddd...means and ends having the same weight or lack of it...). Thank u Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy the film...I'll be back.