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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
A tender tale full of moral ambiguities written in the 1970's against the background of the Cold War and the defection of spies Burgess, Philby and McLean as well as apartheid in South Africa. The lives of bureaucrat Castle, his wife Sarah and young son are threatened when it emerges that there is a leak of information within the secret service.
Nobody comes out of this well, but my sympathies are totally with Castle and his young family.
Nobody comes out of this well, but my sympathies are totally with Castle and his young family.
THAT ENDING!! Graham Greene pulls no punches.
felt very connected to the story through some random coincidences:
for example:
finished Forester's Maurice and started directly on this book, where the main character's also named Maurice. On the day I finished this book I discovered composer Mauricio Kagel... What a coincidence, right?
Also, while I was reading it, on daylight savings time, it happened to be daylight savings time in the book too. Then the season changed to November and rainy, with me.
felt very connected to the story through some random coincidences:
for example:
finished Forester's Maurice and started directly on this book, where the main character's also named Maurice. On the day I finished this book I discovered composer Mauricio Kagel... What a coincidence, right?
Also, while I was reading it, on daylight savings time, it happened to be daylight savings time in the book too. Then the season changed to November and rainy, with me.
This writing is absolute perfection. I know that Greene specialises in the “boring” and i’ve never been able to pinpoint what was so great about this kind of writing but this is exactly the type of prose that makes you look up from the book and think “i’ve felt exactly like that”.
This book is a page turner due entirely to Greene’s engaging writing style rather than any fast paced action scenes. In contrast to the romance & thrill of Fleming’s James Bond, Greene’s spies are a much more prosaic lot, pencil pushers rather than field agents - no one is dashing about with poison darts concealed in their fountain pens. His characters speak to the loneliness and conformity required for so many in the service, and of course their families. Greenes boss was Kim Philby, so as with many of his books, there are elements of truth in the setting and processes he describes.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Despite extraordinary circumstances, the novel's plot retains a sense of authenticity, and is to my mind the best example of Greene's ability to write internal conflict. The pessimistic, almost unresolved ending caps it off beautifully.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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:
No
mysterious
slow-paced
Graham Greene expanded my view of the world beyond America. The reader is invited in through the very british/ambivelent catholic soul of the main character and then taken to exotic South Africa where his love crosses racial and political boundaries. My introduction to apartheid which is only one of the political dead ends faced by this secret service bureaucrat as he faces the usual Graham Greene conflicts of faith, loyalty and conscience. Gripping all the way through with the spy intrigue deepened by trying to live with your own soul.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death