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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
John LeCarre's son does John LeCarre. I'm irresistably reminded of the extended family of crooks that surrounded the larger-than-life father in A Perfect Spy, for some reason. Jarkaway is an accomplished writer in his own right, and this ends up being a kindof improvised variatio on a theme. All the recognisable elements are here, and hadled deftly and confidently, but there are subtle differences in emphasis and focus. Smiley gets to do a bit more hands-on espionage adventuring than he's normally associated with. It's really good, but it's a Nick Harkaway novel, however much it homages his father and his creations. Which is as it should be.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A very enjoyable read. A touch less subtle than his father, but the clarity and concise wordplay is also a benefit. The tone is far closer to Smiley in the sixties novels where the density and layering of plot in Le Carré’s novels was lighter so feels of a piece with those works. Comparison is inevitable but Harkaway’s done a brilliant job in his own right. I think his dad would be proud of his son and happy that Smiley is operating quietly and deliberately once again.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved it. Such a pleasure to see Smiley et al come back to life again and so superbly written. I do hope Nick writes more. To take on such a novel takes courage and it has paid off.
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
To say I was concerned about another author taking on my favorite fictional Cold War spy is an understatement. My first thought was “heck no! How dare they?” Then, I discovered “they” was none other than Le Carré’s own son, and an author whose work I enjoy. This is so much more than an entertaining homage. Harkaway doesn’t try to copy his father’s linguistic style. Karla’s Choice is very much his own work. His version, though, does a brilliant job of capturing the heart of the source material. Smiley here is recognizably the Smiley of Le Carré’s novels, as are the other beloved characters. The story is complex and the final play is heart-pounding and stressful. I miss the Circus already.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Nick Harkaway has had the audacity to bring back John Le Carre's iconic creation but as Le Carre's son he appears to not only have inherited the writing ability but George Smiley and The Circus are also in his DNA.
Karla's Choice can be enjoyed as an amazing 1960s set espionage novel without any previous knowledge of Le Carre's books but for Smiley fans it absolutely stays true to the legacy of the characters and is a welcome addition.
I've only read two of the original novels but they are the two that this book fits between.
I loved THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD and appreciated but was often confused with TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY. Thankfully KARLA'S CHOICE is more like the former and there are story threads referenced to it.
The plot is suitably complex while still being understandable. It encourages a slow read & also has scenes with heightened tension and thrills that sees Smiley come out of retirement on a mission that subtly introduces the origin of Karla, his Soviet counterpart in the dark & brutal spy game.
The novel evokes the time period while adding a modern sensibility. There are more female characters & they have as big a part to play as the men, just as they should.
I'm thoroughly impressed & predict more from Smiley in the future as this is a triumph.
Thank you very much to the publisher for the proof copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Karla's Choice can be enjoyed as an amazing 1960s set espionage novel without any previous knowledge of Le Carre's books but for Smiley fans it absolutely stays true to the legacy of the characters and is a welcome addition.
I've only read two of the original novels but they are the two that this book fits between.
I loved THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD and appreciated but was often confused with TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY. Thankfully KARLA'S CHOICE is more like the former and there are story threads referenced to it.
The plot is suitably complex while still being understandable. It encourages a slow read & also has scenes with heightened tension and thrills that sees Smiley come out of retirement on a mission that subtly introduces the origin of Karla, his Soviet counterpart in the dark & brutal spy game.
The novel evokes the time period while adding a modern sensibility. There are more female characters & they have as big a part to play as the men, just as they should.
I'm thoroughly impressed & predict more from Smiley in the future as this is a triumph.
Thank you very much to the publisher for the proof copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Oh dear - this really was not for me. I love a spy thriller but I could not get into it. There were too many characters who made disjointed appearances, I could not find a thread to grasp hold off and hence felt that every time I picked up the book I was starting afresh. Perhaps if I had a better understanding of Le Carre ouerve I would have been in a better position to enjoy this book.