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caperi's review against another edition
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
3.0
Generally, I liked this one. It definitely felt like a more realistic spy novel, even if not a very flattering depiction. It’s a big departure from his previous books in that it focuses more on departmental politics and logistics behind an operation rather than the excitement of the operation itself. But I feel like his writing style made this book a bit bland and soulless. Perhaps just a side effect of taking his novels in a new direction, so I’ll keep trucking through the series.
bexlrose's review against another edition
4.0
Really good. Feeling silly for reading the Smiley series so out of order, but the books are excellent in themselves. 4 stars.
dellaposta's review against another edition
3.0
A bleak and bitter story of wartime nostalgia and bureaucratic incompetence. Le Carre (according to his reflective Introduction) meant this as a stark reversal of the “romanticized” image of brilliant spymasters and byzantine plots we saw in his previous book, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. So, don’t expect a similar experience if that is your previous exposure to Le Carre, and I would not recommend this book as an introduction to this author. For Le Carre fans, however, the book has value especially in further fleshing out his political and moral view toward his fictional subjects.
stefan_wenc's review against another edition
2.0
There are interesting ideas at play here, but ultimately this installment in the Smiley 'series' finds itself too bogged down in the mundane bureaucracy to really capture me. While I recognize this is the author's intention with the novel - to comment on the reality of intelligence work and the dangers posed by an entire class of professionals stuck in the past and grasping to make it a current reality, it results in a novel I just didn't have a great time reading.
pluginsteadman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
talina's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
2.0
8797999's review against another edition
3.0
I have been thinking this one over, I did enjoy the book and thought it was very good but when I was reading it it felt a bit samey and that I have read it before.
Seems reviewers are hot and cold to it, I think that may be because this one is bookended by The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (Smiley 3) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Smiley 5) so when you are between two of most revered spy books you get a little lost in the shuffle.
I liked it very much but I prefer the others, more of a 3.5 than a 3 but rounded down. Perhaps on a re-read I may be tempted to buff it to a 4.
I am excited to be onto the main event of the Smiley series and starting the Karla Trilogy. I have big expectations for this triogy and as luck would have it I have not seen the film or tv series, so I can enter with no preconceptions. I did start Tinker last month before I decided to start at the beginning of the Smiley, I look forward to resuming it very shortly.
One of the highlights of my reading this month has been finally getting into John Le Carré and his superb books.
Seems reviewers are hot and cold to it, I think that may be because this one is bookended by The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (Smiley 3) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Smiley 5) so when you are between two of most revered spy books you get a little lost in the shuffle.
I liked it very much but I prefer the others, more of a 3.5 than a 3 but rounded down. Perhaps on a re-read I may be tempted to buff it to a 4.
I am excited to be onto the main event of the Smiley series and starting the Karla Trilogy. I have big expectations for this triogy and as luck would have it I have not seen the film or tv series, so I can enter with no preconceptions. I did start Tinker last month before I decided to start at the beginning of the Smiley, I look forward to resuming it very shortly.
One of the highlights of my reading this month has been finally getting into John Le Carré and his superb books.
rossini2020's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
galaheadh's review against another edition
disappointing after the other Le Carré i have read. i don't mind a slow build up and i see what it was aiming at, but i wasn't emotionally invested and the ending fell completely flat. there's nothing in this book that The Spy Who Came In From The Cold didn't do much, much better