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theaurochs 's review for:
The Night Manager
by John le Carré
Entirely unconvinced by this one. A lot of the action and scenes are presented in what can best be described as sketches, with the actual action in some cases even being omitted, and we are left dealing with the constant aftermath. The characters are certainly vivid, but also seem cartoonish; at least the most of the secret service operatives are more grounded characters.
The main character, Johnathan Pine, is not a person whose head I enjoyed being in; with his calculated coldness and detachment, and his predatory sexuality, I would have been honestly quite alright with him meeting an unpleasant end at the hands of some equally unpleasant people. Is that what we are to take away from this; that the 'good guys' often are no better than the 'bad'?
Will admit to being thrown off balance by the opening sequence in the hotel; it distinctly seems to lack focus, and stretches itself to establish the characters.
And for all the globe-trotting and set-up, very little payoff. The journey for me was not enjoyable enough to warrant the book's ramblings. Although him setting up his first alias on the coast was an interesting section.
It may well be that this style of thriller is just not for me, although would be happy to take more suggestions that may prove this idea wrong.
The main character, Johnathan Pine, is not a person whose head I enjoyed being in; with his calculated coldness and detachment, and his predatory sexuality, I would have been honestly quite alright with him meeting an unpleasant end at the hands of some equally unpleasant people. Is that what we are to take away from this; that the 'good guys' often are no better than the 'bad'?
Will admit to being thrown off balance by the opening sequence in the hotel; it distinctly seems to lack focus, and stretches itself to establish the characters.
And for all the globe-trotting and set-up, very little payoff. The journey for me was not enjoyable enough to warrant the book's ramblings. Although him setting up his first alias on the coast was an interesting section.
It may well be that this style of thriller is just not for me, although would be happy to take more suggestions that may prove this idea wrong.