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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
I liked this book. Took a few pages to figure out what was going on. It seemed to commence midway through a story so It felt like I had skipped chapter one (although as I am reading a scanned copy on my e-book reader there is some chance that I may have).
I initially noticed a lot of similarities with Ian Fleming's writing style which i guess is to be expected (British, contemporaries, same genre) but as the novel developed i found it was quite dark and brooding in places. Interesting book. Worth the read for sure.
I initially noticed a lot of similarities with Ian Fleming's writing style which i guess is to be expected (British, contemporaries, same genre) but as the novel developed i found it was quite dark and brooding in places. Interesting book. Worth the read for sure.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
part of me is surprised this is the spy novel of all spy novels. not because it’s not a good book, but because it’s so reflective. despite being fast paced, much of the action is recalled through conversation as opposed to experienced with the characters.
moral ambiguity is expectedly a big theme. the glamor of espionage is stripped and we’re left with the ethically bankrupt and dirty mechanism that Leamas has been seeing the whole time. everyone is betrayed always, can’t trust anyone, no one matters but the state. and yet! we get excellent disillusionment with the state and system.
my favorite part is that east & west berlin serve as mirror images. both claim moral superiority, both sacrifice innocents for advantage over the other. i love showing both sides of a conflict for what they are.
i’ve had to sit with my feelings a bit on this one. i went in somehow expecting more twists and drama, and was met with a grim, more passive (but highly gripping) story than expected.
moral ambiguity is expectedly a big theme. the glamor of espionage is stripped and we’re left with the ethically bankrupt and dirty mechanism that Leamas has been seeing the whole time. everyone is betrayed always, can’t trust anyone, no one matters but the state. and yet! we get excellent disillusionment with the state and system.
my favorite part is that east & west berlin serve as mirror images. both claim moral superiority, both sacrifice innocents for advantage over the other. i love showing both sides of a conflict for what they are.
i’ve had to sit with my feelings a bit on this one. i went in somehow expecting more twists and drama, and was met with a grim, more passive (but highly gripping) story than expected.
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-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
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Damn. I already liked Call for the Dead a lot, but this one really blew it out of the water. The brutality of the bureacratic apparatus and the real human characters that get slowly corrupted and destroyed by it - that was so great. I absolutely LOVED the ending. Leamas epiphany about the last betrayal he endures and the true meaning of Smileys words at the end (both are only implied in hints to the reader) and his decision on the last page was just an amazing moment.
This is not a light read though, you need to put your phone away and read slow and concentrated. The details and hints about the "true" events can easily be overread if not reading careful. The prose is great though, brief and precise but stimulating and evocative at the same time. The characterization is subtle and masterful.
George Smiley is only a background character in this novel, but on the other hand this novel made him SO INTRIGUING as a character. Really excited in how his character will develop further in the next novels.
Only reason for not 5 stars is that there is a really slight overlength section IMO when Leamas starts his travels.
This is not a light read though, you need to put your phone away and read slow and concentrated. The details and hints about the "true" events can easily be overread if not reading careful. The prose is great though, brief and precise but stimulating and evocative at the same time. The characterization is subtle and masterful.
George Smiley is only a background character in this novel, but on the other hand this novel made him SO INTRIGUING as a character. Really excited in how his character will develop further in the next novels.
Only reason for not 5 stars is that there is a really slight overlength section IMO when Leamas starts his travels.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Great read that explores the tenuous position of anyone who spies for a living.
Le Carre writes about the spy game with realism and intelligence. He explores all the shadowy gray areas of undercover work.
Le Carre writes about the spy game with realism and intelligence. He explores all the shadowy gray areas of undercover work.
Fascinating as in experiment in withholding information from the reader. The first half is compelling and stark. The final third felt less interesting - the long trial scenes, the occasionally laboured dialogue. Occasionally this felt like a writer still learning the ropes. The strangeness of those final moments more than redeemed things. Heft and heart.
challenging
tense
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:
Yes