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kanejim57's review against another edition
4.0
I am finding the series fascinating and interesting. I have listened to three more and am currently listening to a fourth in the series since I listened to this one back in April so I am, honestly, a bit fuzzy on the basic story line (apologies to you all).
A challenging 'read' to be sure with all of the twists and turns, sub-plots, etc.
But I liked it and I have liked the series so far. One of the things that I have liked about Furst's writing is how the story gets tied together almost to the very end with an ever quickening pace.
A challenging 'read' to be sure with all of the twists and turns, sub-plots, etc.
But I liked it and I have liked the series so far. One of the things that I have liked about Furst's writing is how the story gets tied together almost to the very end with an ever quickening pace.
kanejim57's review against another edition
4.0
I am finding the series fascinating and interesting. I have listened to three more and am currently listening to a fourth in the series since I listened to this one back in April so I am, honestly, a bit fuzzy on the basic story line (apologies to you all).
A challenging 'read' to be sure with all of the twists and turns, sub-plots, etc.
But I liked it and I have liked the series so far. One of the things that I have liked about Furst's writing is how the story gets tied together almost to the very end with an ever quickening pace.
A challenging 'read' to be sure with all of the twists and turns, sub-plots, etc.
But I liked it and I have liked the series so far. One of the things that I have liked about Furst's writing is how the story gets tied together almost to the very end with an ever quickening pace.
mcastello13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Alan Furst writes some of the best WWII fiction I’ve come across - certainly the best WWII spy fiction. These books are more absorbing and more atmospheric than most historical fiction I’ve read in general. And I especially like how Furst focuses on pockets of Europe during this time that aren’t so widely and generally depicted.
This book in particular really took me back to one of my favorite college classes, WWII in Europe - and made me quite glad I took that class, because otherwise a lot more of this would’ve gone over my head that what surely did.
My only real qualm with this is its length - I think it could’ve been even stronger if it had been edited down a bit. But all in all, I’m taking a lot away from this and looking forward to continuing with the series.
This book in particular really took me back to one of my favorite college classes, WWII in Europe - and made me quite glad I took that class, because otherwise a lot more of this would’ve gone over my head that what surely did.
My only real qualm with this is its length - I think it could’ve been even stronger if it had been edited down a bit. But all in all, I’m taking a lot away from this and looking forward to continuing with the series.
collierkeithj's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lekakis's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
This is better than the first book of the series. But longer than necessary much like the first. In this case the major hero is a bad spy as in bad at his job and just because of that he is used as a mean to the ends of more powerful people. The incompetence of the protagonist but also the lack of awareness (for the majority of book) serves well to demonstrate how the common man was pushed around in an era of powerful players in the world of espionage.
That said the book is more coherent than the first and because it follows a linear chronology is easier to stay with it. At times boring but gives good information (on a superficial level) on the Russian purge of 1935s, the Polish invasion, the life of Jewish people in the Germany of the 30s and the German-Russian alliance of 1939. And Paris of course, the author’s favorite city.
The author makes good job communicating an atmosphere (of the era) as he understands it.
I wish Andre Szara was not so incompetent but oh well :)
This is better than the first book of the series. But longer than necessary much like the first. In this case the major hero is a bad spy as in bad at his job and just because of that he is used as a mean to the ends of more powerful people. The incompetence of the protagonist but also the lack of awareness (for the majority of book) serves well to demonstrate how the common man was pushed around in an era of powerful players in the world of espionage.
That said the book is more coherent than the first and because it follows a linear chronology is easier to stay with it. At times boring but gives good information (on a superficial level) on the Russian purge of 1935s, the Polish invasion, the life of Jewish people in the Germany of the 30s and the German-Russian alliance of 1939. And Paris of course, the author’s favorite city.
The author makes good job communicating an atmosphere (of the era) as he understands it.
I wish Andre Szara was not so incompetent but oh well :)
jacki_f's review against another edition
3.0
Alan Furst has written fourteen books set in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s. They form the "Night Soldiers" series and they are loosely inter-connected but all are also standalone novels in their own right. With only a couple of exceptions, they can be read in any order. This is the second book in the series and it centres on Andre Szara, a Polish/Russian Jew who as the book opens in 1937 is a foreign correspondent for Pravda. He is used to doing small favours for the Soviet Secret Intelligence Service nut eventually this will become a full time role for him as he is assigned to manage a small team in Paris. The story takes us across Europe: from Paris to Poland, from Budapest to Berlin, from Belgium to Estonia.
I love how rich these books are. Even the smallest walk on characters who only appear for a page or two are vividly brought to life. It's a very cinematic way of writing: you zoom in, pan out, change scene. The disadvantage however is that the narrative thread can get a bit lost and in this book I found that happening more than some of the others that I've read. The politics of Russia at that time are complicated and I frequently found myself having to reread sections to make sense of them. I did admire however the way the story is brought together and the disparate threads are integrated. While ultimately this isn't my favourite in the series, I still enjoyed it. There is a particularly powerful section set in Poland as the Nazis invade which in itself is worth the price of admission.
I love how rich these books are. Even the smallest walk on characters who only appear for a page or two are vividly brought to life. It's a very cinematic way of writing: you zoom in, pan out, change scene. The disadvantage however is that the narrative thread can get a bit lost and in this book I found that happening more than some of the others that I've read. The politics of Russia at that time are complicated and I frequently found myself having to reread sections to make sense of them. I did admire however the way the story is brought together and the disparate threads are integrated. While ultimately this isn't my favourite in the series, I still enjoyed it. There is a particularly powerful section set in Poland as the Nazis invade which in itself is worth the price of admission.
juliebcooper's review against another edition
4.0
This is a long and atmospheric novel packed with history and covering the period leading up to and including the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the immediate aftermath. Told mostly from the perspective of the protagonist, a Russian Jewish journalist and Soviet spy. All four identities will be important in the novel. If you're a fan of Le Carre, or thoughtful, well-written and historically rich (I learned a LOT!) espionage novels, give Furst a try. This is the second in a series. From what I understand, each one will have a different protagonist.
chammerdata's review
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
cadi1976's review against another edition
5.0
This is the best one out of the Night Soldiers series. Absolutely fantastic!
newishpuritan's review against another edition
5.0
Probably my favourite novel of all time. I re-read it every eighteen months or so and it never disappoints.