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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
I should stick with movies of this kind of book probably so I can just enjoy seeing handsome British dudes in expensive suits. The lack of character depth bugged me too much when reading
Similar plot structure to “Our Game” but with a more satisfying ending.
At the core of this story, which has less spy craft and more corporate malfeasance, is a man who idolizes his father, but discovers how corrupt he is and is forced to reckon with his desire to do the right thing. Set against the historical backdrop of the brief moment of hopeful optimism of the Soviet Union’s perestroika followed by the inevitable disappointment brought on by greed, corruption and social collapse, the book is a pretty engaging read. It’s major issues are that the plot is almost too simple for a Le Carre novel and the ending is so abrupt that it feels like it’s missing a chapter or two. Still a very enjoyable novel from the man despite the absence of his most famous character or the time period that made the author famous.
Not my favourite Le Carré; the first 100 pages or so had me hooked, but as it progressed it felt needlessly intricate in terms of plot - though that may be as much to do with my innate confusion when it comes to anything remotely connected to high finance anything else. The characters, however, remained as vividly and powerfully drawn as ever.
When a book starts off with the intriguing line This gun is not a gun, you know you're in for a rather interesting read.
Single & Single starts off with the cold-blooded murder of a British corporate lawyer in Turkey. His boss, Tiger Single, the brains behind the financial house Single and Single, goes missing. In the middle of the night, Oliver Hawthorne, a children's entertainer, is questioned about a sudden influx of cash to his daughter's trust fund.
John le Carre explores the shady world of money laundering (in epic proportions!), pitting the acts of the father against the conscience of his son. How much love do you need to have to continually gloss over the sins of your loved ones? And what would it take to bring you back again?
Nothing in life is ever clear-cut, and this is evident in the story that le Carre weaves. Who is right and who is wrong, how much of this is real and how much of it is embellishment? What is the magic behind these successful people who seem to get away with their crimes? What moral fiber holds up those strong enough to stand for what is right?
Strong food for thought in a fictional thriller.
Single & Single starts off with the cold-blooded murder of a British corporate lawyer in Turkey. His boss, Tiger Single, the brains behind the financial house Single and Single, goes missing. In the middle of the night, Oliver Hawthorne, a children's entertainer, is questioned about a sudden influx of cash to his daughter's trust fund.
John le Carre explores the shady world of money laundering (in epic proportions!), pitting the acts of the father against the conscience of his son. How much love do you need to have to continually gloss over the sins of your loved ones? And what would it take to bring you back again?
Nothing in life is ever clear-cut, and this is evident in the story that le Carre weaves. Who is right and who is wrong, how much of this is real and how much of it is embellishment? What is the magic behind these successful people who seem to get away with their crimes? What moral fiber holds up those strong enough to stand for what is right?
Strong food for thought in a fictional thriller.
This is lesser le Carré, entertaining enough, but if you're longing for the depth of a "Tinker, Tailor", you won't find it here. This is action movie le Carré, skipping around in time and space, constantly in motion, to keep you from noticing that there's no there there. Well, maybe a bit. If you know the author's history, then the father/son relationship in this novel takes on an extra dimension, but the insights about character that push le Carré above the typical genre writer don't appear in these pages. Approach it as an airport novel and you won't be disappointed.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
tense
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The weakest le carre I've read but it's still got moments and it's not a chore to finish or anything. Weird that I've kinda unintentionally read 2 post Soviet ones recently. He loves to have a 6'6 British guy naive to the spy game get in way over his head and also get laid a bunch.