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davidcschafer's review
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
lyonsmw's review
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jordan_garno's review
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
I loved The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. It is a masterpiece: figured I would give his second most famous novel a shot.
This book did not make sense. I felt as if I was an outsider constantly reading another group's inside jokes. I thought everything would come together similarly to TSWCIFTC, but I got nothing from this book. I'm sure it will make sense if you read the books chronologically, but this turtle's-slog of a book may have ruined Le Carre for me.
This book did not make sense. I felt as if I was an outsider constantly reading another group's inside jokes. I thought everything would come together similarly to TSWCIFTC, but I got nothing from this book. I'm sure it will make sense if you read the books chronologically, but this turtle's-slog of a book may have ruined Le Carre for me.
theobobeo's review
mysterious
tense
3.25
I need to reread it when I have time to really read it instead of just in bits and pieces, I think it lost a lot because of that.
solem_lectorem's review
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
8797999's review against another edition
5.0
Superb, I would agree with most that between this and The spy Who Came In From The Cold, they are equal top for the two best epsionage novels.
This one is the fifth in the Smiley series and first in the Karla Trilogy. A superb plot and all the charcaters we have come across already in the series. I am very much interested to see where the series goes, next up The Honourable Schoolboy.
I would say that whilst this book could be read standalone I would start from the beginning of the Smiley series to fully appreciate it. Although it could be read on its own or the trilogy as a separate thing.
This one is the fifth in the Smiley series and first in the Karla Trilogy. A superb plot and all the charcaters we have come across already in the series. I am very much interested to see where the series goes, next up The Honourable Schoolboy.
I would say that whilst this book could be read standalone I would start from the beginning of the Smiley series to fully appreciate it. Although it could be read on its own or the trilogy as a separate thing.
mfromm's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
noonjinx's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very good, but I preferred the Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Le Carré’s characters are great and you feel each one has a full life outside the novel. There is some action but it’s described by characters telling stories about what happened in the past. Most of the book is about Smiley slowly teasing information out of the people involved and zeroing in on the mole. It’s a lot more compelling than it should be which shows what a great writer Le Carré is.
Le Carré’s characters are great and you feel each one has a full life outside the novel. There is some action but it’s described by characters telling stories about what happened in the past. Most of the book is about Smiley slowly teasing information out of the people involved and zeroing in on the mole. It’s a lot more compelling than it should be which shows what a great writer Le Carré is.
laurenreed's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5