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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Дуже суперечлива, але доволі цікава жанрова книга. Я була захоплена прекрасним текстом і харизматичними героями, в тому числі і головним негідником з його "дельфінячою усмішкою", але тяжко читалися розділи про підкилимні ігри між розвідками, бо там до біса відомств, агенств, персонажів, котрих важко запам'ятати і легко переплутати. Загалом задоволена, що прочитала.
If I had to pick a favorite among the many excellent novels John Le Carre has written, it would probably be this one. I do not feel he betrayed his readership by abandoning Cold War plots; indeed, as the biggest threats facing society has shifted, Le Carre has bravely shifted in parallel, recognizing that money laundering, drug- and weapons dealing and unchecked erosion of individual rights have supplanted nuclear annihilation as our biggest worries.
Having picked a worthwhile theme (weapons dealing, in this case), Le Carre then generates one of his most interesting heroes yet, a Swiss-British ex-soldier who has become a hotelier. Although ostensibly the struggle here is between Pine and a billionaire dealer, a more interesting struggle is taking place within Pine himself, who must choose between safety and duty; between chivalry and lust; and between the hotelier's tradition of hospitality and bringing a lucrative client to justice.
At one point, as a woman fresh from the bath walks past him, Pine is "nearly ill with desire." How is it that LeCarre is the first author ever to describe it this way? Nailed it.
This book displays the usual brilliance of Le Carre's plotting and writing, and rewards us with his best protagonist.
Having picked a worthwhile theme (weapons dealing, in this case), Le Carre then generates one of his most interesting heroes yet, a Swiss-British ex-soldier who has become a hotelier. Although ostensibly the struggle here is between Pine and a billionaire dealer, a more interesting struggle is taking place within Pine himself, who must choose between safety and duty; between chivalry and lust; and between the hotelier's tradition of hospitality and bringing a lucrative client to justice.
At one point, as a woman fresh from the bath walks past him, Pine is "nearly ill with desire." How is it that LeCarre is the first author ever to describe it this way? Nailed it.
This book displays the usual brilliance of Le Carre's plotting and writing, and rewards us with his best protagonist.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
An interesting read over all but contained long chapters filled with characters I'd forgotten about in previous chapters.
I read this book after discovering the TV adaptation. Whilst I preferred the pace of the adaptation I would still recommend this book to people who enjoyed the BBC version and the programme to people who enjoyed the book.
I read this book after discovering the TV adaptation. Whilst I preferred the pace of the adaptation I would still recommend this book to people who enjoyed the BBC version and the programme to people who enjoyed the book.
More of a 3.5. Found chunks of it slow but got really absorbed in the majority of it. Was slightly hard to keep all the various British government officials straight.
2.5 (this review contains light spoilers)
So. My first exploratory dive into le Carré's work. Sadly, I was not swept up into the arms of an exciting, deeply compelling spy drama along the lines of the BBC TV series. Rather, what I got was the novel equivalent of an adaptation of 007 filmed with slugs. Distractingly sexist slugs.
The Night Manager, the book, has a problem with its female characters. I can't put my finger on the precise details of why, but there are significant portions of this text where I felt deeply uncomfortable in the description of the female characters and their actions. In some parts, it is understandable; Pine (the main character) has a particular view on women, one bordering on quasi-obsession, however in the times when le Carré writers as an objective narrator the way that female characters are described can be best defined as 'lustful wish fulfilment'. Just to compound this, two of the main love interests (Sophie being only partially excluded) fall into the same category of 'damaged girl who falls straight into Pine's arms'. Lazy writing, lazy characters.
Aside from that issue, the novel is also quite dull to read. There are portions, the Canadian side-quest being a good example, where the sense of tension is relatively well built. But, the main Pine v Roper plot is dull, the inter-departmental drama in London is one dimensional and dull (oh no! The spy agency are using the levers of state to screw over the goodies trying to stop the weapons cartel!). On the flip side, the minor characters are the most interesting - Tabby and Frisk feel like real characters, as does the Matron of the Canadian hotel, Burr, or Mama Low. Yet, Roper, Pine, Jed, and Corky all feel as though they fit nicely into molds. Roper is the worst offender, in my mind; an aristocratic, sociopathic arms deal who speaks as though he is entertaining the charity gala but who is busy selling arms to the Colombians. You've probably got a mental picture of the exact character who exists in the book.
Ultimately, this book was a drag to read. Not as bad as [b:Don Quixote|3836|Don Quixote|Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546112331l/3836._SX50_.jpg|121842] mind you, and I was invested enough to make it to the end. Really, the most interesting part of this novel is the way that it diverges from the TV show (or vice versa if you are being technical).
Give it a read if you like the genre I suppose, and I will try and give one of le Carré's better known books a try in due course to see how it stacks up.
So. My first exploratory dive into le Carré's work. Sadly, I was not swept up into the arms of an exciting, deeply compelling spy drama along the lines of the BBC TV series. Rather, what I got was the novel equivalent of an adaptation of 007 filmed with slugs. Distractingly sexist slugs.
The Night Manager, the book, has a problem with its female characters. I can't put my finger on the precise details of why, but there are significant portions of this text where I felt deeply uncomfortable in the description of the female characters and their actions. In some parts, it is understandable; Pine (the main character) has a particular view on women, one bordering on quasi-obsession, however in the times when le Carré writers as an objective narrator the way that female characters are described can be best defined as 'lustful wish fulfilment'. Just to compound this, two of the main love interests (Sophie being only partially excluded) fall into the same category of 'damaged girl who falls straight into Pine's arms'. Lazy writing, lazy characters.
Aside from that issue, the novel is also quite dull to read. There are portions, the Canadian side-quest being a good example, where the sense of tension is relatively well built. But, the main Pine v Roper plot is dull, the inter-departmental drama in London is one dimensional and dull (oh no! The spy agency are using the levers of state to screw over the goodies trying to stop the weapons cartel!). On the flip side, the minor characters are the most interesting - Tabby and Frisk feel like real characters, as does the Matron of the Canadian hotel, Burr, or Mama Low. Yet, Roper, Pine, Jed, and Corky all feel as though they fit nicely into molds. Roper is the worst offender, in my mind; an aristocratic, sociopathic arms deal who speaks as though he is entertaining the charity gala but who is busy selling arms to the Colombians. You've probably got a mental picture of the exact character who exists in the book.
Ultimately, this book was a drag to read. Not as bad as [b:Don Quixote|3836|Don Quixote|Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546112331l/3836._SX50_.jpg|121842] mind you, and I was invested enough to make it to the end. Really, the most interesting part of this novel is the way that it diverges from the TV show (or vice versa if you are being technical).
Give it a read if you like the genre I suppose, and I will try and give one of le Carré's better known books a try in due course to see how it stacks up.
It's utterly gripping, well-paced, interesting characters (especially the women, though there are not many). I found it really entertaining although the ending it's a bit unsatisfying.
Excellent complex novel
So much better than the trite television adaptation, this novel explores the complex relationship between the hunted criminal and the spy. Both are English gentleman of a certain character with ambiguous morals. Me Carre cleverly demonstrates that the morals of the global arms trade are corrupting and comple.
So much better than the trite television adaptation, this novel explores the complex relationship between the hunted criminal and the spy. Both are English gentleman of a certain character with ambiguous morals. Me Carre cleverly demonstrates that the morals of the global arms trade are corrupting and comple.