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andyshute 's review for:
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
by John le Carré
Brilliant, just brilliant. I enjoyed [b:The Spy Who Came In from the Cold|19494|The Spy Who Came In from the Cold|John le Carré|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327719782l/19494._SY75_.jpg|1177001] and have wanted to start his Karla trilogy. I'm familiar with the recent (excellent) Alfredson film and have the John Irvin/Alec Guinness BBC version waiting in the wings. Knowing in advance the Mole's identity didn't spoil it at all.
The book is captivating. John le Carré flings us straight into a complex, fully formed world with little to go on except spellbinding and intelligent writing. We get to know our characters simply by spending time with them. There's no hand holding, everything just is and we're left to form our own opinions and figure it all out.
The central premise is a classic and it's wonderfully orchestrated. Even better we get to spend it with George Smiley. Quiet, introspective, taciturn, powerful, or as Mendel puts it, "You thought, to look at him, that he couldn't cross the road alone, but you might as well have offered protection to a hedgehog". Brilliant, perfectly summing up his character. A man tempered, distracted and seemingly not paying any attention, yet constantly thinking and playing the game. Any time spent with him is a joy. Plus, it's all so terribly British!
Truly a great book and one that is likely to improve with re-reading. [b:The Honourable Schoolboy|18990|The Honourable Schoolboy|John le Carré|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348762526l/18990._SY75_.jpg|79986] has now been added to my list.
7.12.2020
Re-read (well, listened) as part of my Smiley read through and it's just as enjoyable the second time. Compact, dense and full of energy. Michael Jayston does another excellent job of narration, particularly of Smiley.
The book is captivating. John le Carré flings us straight into a complex, fully formed world with little to go on except spellbinding and intelligent writing. We get to know our characters simply by spending time with them. There's no hand holding, everything just is and we're left to form our own opinions and figure it all out.
The central premise is a classic and it's wonderfully orchestrated. Even better we get to spend it with George Smiley. Quiet, introspective, taciturn, powerful, or as Mendel puts it, "You thought, to look at him, that he couldn't cross the road alone, but you might as well have offered protection to a hedgehog". Brilliant, perfectly summing up his character. A man tempered, distracted and seemingly not paying any attention, yet constantly thinking and playing the game. Any time spent with him is a joy. Plus, it's all so terribly British!
Truly a great book and one that is likely to improve with re-reading. [b:The Honourable Schoolboy|18990|The Honourable Schoolboy|John le Carré|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348762526l/18990._SY75_.jpg|79986] has now been added to my list.
7.12.2020
Re-read (well, listened) as part of my Smiley read through and it's just as enjoyable the second time. Compact, dense and full of energy. Michael Jayston does another excellent job of narration, particularly of Smiley.