Written in a secret code?
😦
Normally at the beginning of a review I write a little blurb to give an idea of the plot. Unfortunately I have zero idea what this book is about. I only know it bored me to sleep several times, so I eventually gave up before I ended up in permanent hibernation. So let’s see what Goodreads thinks it’s about…
A mole, implanted by Moscow Centre, has infiltrated the highest ranks of the British Intelligence Service, almost destroying it in the process. And so former spymaster George Smiley has been brought out of retirement in order to hunt down the traitor at the very heart of the Circus – even though it may be one of those closest to him.
Oh, is that what it’s about? That sounds moderately interesting. And there’s no doubt that many people think it’s brilliant, heaping praise on it as the best espionage fiction ever written in this world or any other, full of suspense and tension. Amazing. I missed all that, I’m afraid. Maybe I was too busy trying to work out what all the unexplained jargon means – lamplighters, scalphunters, et al. Or perhaps I was distracted by the frankly offensive portrayal of the various beddable, sex-hungry, needy women who put in an appearance in the first third of the book. Or maybe it was the ludicrous dialogue – no one speaks like this. Or the jumping back into flashback after flashback. Or the twenty thousand names without attached characters (I may have exaggerated the number slightly). Or the dreary misery of it all. Woe, woe, and thrice woe.
Odd, because I loved The Spy Who Came In from the Cold. But I couldn’t bear this one. I stuck it out to 33% and then gave up, read the plot on wikipedia who kindly also explained the jargon, and decided I was glad I didn’t stick it out since even the plot summary nearly put me to sleep again. Clearly a mismatch between book and reader and if this kind of thing is your kind of thing I’m sure you won’t allow my reaction to put you off.
Book 2 of 12
This was the People’s Choice for February and despite my reaction I still think it was a great choice – I should have loved it and it would have been the one I voted for too. So thank you, People! And at least it’s off my TBR now…
FictionFan's Book Reviews 
What a shame! I’ve not read it but I think I just assumed it was brilliant. At least you didn’t persevere and torture yourself!
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Sadly the first third was torture enough! I assumed it would be brilliant too, especially since I had enjoyed The Spy Who Came In from the Cold so much, but I fear it was not to be!
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Oh, no! I hated this book, couldn’t figure out what was going on and was also bored by it, but voted for it in the People’s Choice as I thought a spy novel (or THE spy novel as it seems to be known as) would be the perfect choice for you.
At least I feel validated in my own reaction to the book.
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Haha, and now I feel validated too! I really couldn’t get my head round the plot either, and it was all so convoluted and miserable that I just couldn’t be bothered making the effort. But I really did expect to enjoy it – it still sounds as if it’s the perfect book for me! But sadly not…;)
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I imagine he’s really an author of his time. I did read one – I can’t remember which – years ago, and – sort of – enjoyed it, but I think 21st century women are probably not le Carré’s target audience.
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Hahaha, I think you’re right! I definitely don’t think 21st century women are his audience! I found the plot incomprehensible and the tone miserable, but it was really the women that made the book unbearable for me. I think I’ll leave him for other readers in future… 😉
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😉
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Definitely not a book you enjoyed then? Not one to tempt you to read more of the Smiley books? I think it helped me that I had loved the TV adaptation years ago and read the book soon after, because I did enjoy it.
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Haha, how could you tell? I thought I’d been so balanced in my review too! it is odd because I love The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, but I really think I’ll leave him for other readers who appreciate him more in future… 😉
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Oh no! I loved The Spy Who Came In from the Cold as well, and I liked (though didn’t love) Call for the Dead. I will still give this a try – but maybe with a bit less anticipation than before.
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The Spy Who Came In from the Cold is the only other one of his that I’ve read, and my reaction to the two books couldn’t have been more different. I don’t know if it’s that the books are very different, or maybe it was me – maybe for some reason I just couldn’t get my head around the plot of this one or something. But so many people love it that I would hate for my reaction to put you off giving it a try sometime… 😀
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Oh, no! I haven’t read le Carré but I know of this book and thought it would be a good fit. Glad you didn’t attempt to plough through it. Better luck next time!
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I thought it would be a great fit especially since I loved The Spy Who Came In from the Cold so much! Not sure why this one seemed so different, but there comes a point in time when you just have to throw a book onto the abandoned pile and move on… 😉
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My husband LOVES Le Carré and I have tried to read this several times and have just given up because I find it completely impenetrable. So I feel your pain…
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Haha, it makes me feel so much better to hear that a few of you have had the same struggles as I had with this one! Misery loves company… 😉
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So what did you think of the book, FictionFan? Your review is just a bit subtle for me to pick that up… 😉 Seriously, though, I am sorry you didn’t like this one more – I really am. Interesting how a reader can love one book, but hate another by the same author. Well, if it didn’t do it for you, you’re wise to have put it aside. Life’s too short and all that.
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Haha, I know, I really must be clearer about my opinions – sometimes I’m just too balanced! 😉 Not sure why my reaction to this one was so different to my reaction to The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, but it was quite clear from early on that this one just wasn’t working for me, and sometimes you just have to throw a book onto the abandoned pile and move on…;)
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Oh dear. 😟😟😟 So sorry. I can’t blame you for bailing out. Sorry we failed you with this one.
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This time it definitely wasn’t the Peoples fault! I’d have voted for this one too, and fully expected to love it. Sometimes things just aren’t meant to be… 😉
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I watched the film before I read this book and I think that helped when I read the book.
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When I started reading it, I realised that I’d once tried to watch the film and abandoned it too! I don’t know what it is about it but I just found the plot so complicated, and not interesting enough to make the effort! Haha, sometimes a book is just destined to end up on the abandoned pile… 😉
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It definitely had a complicated plot line 🤪😁
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You win the prize for Understatement of the Month! 😉
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Haha yep 👍 xx
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oh hooray, I’ve often thought I should read this but I shall stop wondering now, thank you!
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Hahaha, but so many people love it! You really shouldn’t rely on my opinion… I’m clearly out of step with the vast majority of humanity on this one… 😉
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I thought it was great. I have been rediscovering Le Carre in the last years, although I haven’t read anything by him recently.
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I still don’t really understand why I didn’t think it was great – it sounds as if it should have been just my sort of thing! Especially after I had loved The Spy Who Came In from the Cold so much. Maybe once the trauma of this one wears off I’ll be willing to try another one of his sometime… 😉
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Have you ever seen the movie with Gary Oldman and Colin Firth? You should watch it. It’s great. I think what was going on might be clearer, although I don’t remember being confused, but then I had seen the movie first.
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I think I may have seen the beginning of it at some point, but I don’t know if I deliberately gave up on it or got distracted in some way! I’ll look out for it, I’d imagine that it might be less confusing to watch than to read…
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It’s not my kind of book, so I’m one of the few who didn’t vote for it. I’m sorry you didn’t like it.
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The odd thing is that it should have been my kind of book, but it wasn’t! Never mind, onwards and upwards! The next one is about nuns, and they can’t possibly be nearly as miserable as spies. Can they? 😉
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I so love your one-star reviews, FF, especially when you have to abandon a book before reaching the half-way mark! I haven’t tried this one, but your review assures me I haven’t missed much either.
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Haha, I do get very grumpy when I feel a book has let me down! And boy, did this one let me down… 😂 However it’s clearly just a subjective reaction, because loads of people love it. Very odd! 😉
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Maybe watching the movie first for once would be helpful for you?
I know someone who’s been watching and rewatching this movie over and over, and he also loves the book
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It might be, but to be honest I don’t know if I’m interested enough to really make the attempt! I don’t watch an awful lot of movies and I have to really be inspired to, and I’m afraid the book didn’t inspire me!
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I understand
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How interesting that it caught you like this. I too, would have assumed it was a great read and I know various others who love it. It’s always been one I’ve quietly felt that I ought to try but with no real desire to do so. And now I can toss off that feeling without a qualm! Hope the next People’s Choice suits you better though 😊
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Ha, but I could be wrong! Maybe you would love it – so many people do. I was really surprised by the effect it had on me. especially after having loved The Spy Who Came In from the Cold so much. But this one really was purgatory… 😉
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Ha I do enjoy your pastings! Despite being a le Carre fan myself I sympathise somewhat with this view on TTSS… It was the first thing I ever read by him and I also found it quite turgid and impenetrable. But then I read The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and a few more of his earlier short novels, and watched a couple of screen adaptations of Tinker Tailor, and I think now I ‘get’ it. His longer novels, like TTSS, are much more of an acquired taste and are very slow burns with great pay-offs once you adjust to their rhythm! The slang is definitely an extra barrier as well…
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Haha, I do get very grumpy and bitter when a book lets me down, don’t I! 😂 That’s interesting, though, that you struggled the first time with this one to, even although you like his work. The only other thing that I’ve read is The Spy Who Came In from the Cold and I loved it, so I was really surprised at my negative reaction to this one. Once the trauma wears off a little I may try one of his earlier short novels, then… but I will hold you responsible if it all goes horribly wrong! 😉
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Oh darn, sorry this was such a dud. I was very excited to hear your thoughts on it because it’s so famous, but I find myself a bit bored by spy novels too. Everything that’s happening is so subtle, it often does verge on boring.
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I usually enjoy spy thrillers so long as they’re action thrillers too, but these ones where nothing really seems to happen except people wandering around suspecting each other just don’t really hold my interest. Especially when the plot is so incomprehensible that I don’t have much idea what they’re all suspecting each other of! 😉
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Oh, dear. It doesn’t sound like something I would want to read. I’m sure I didn’t vote for it, so I’m not responsible. Phew!
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Haha, I always feel bad when I hate a People’s Choice, because I know some of the People will end up feeling guilty! But the responsibility is always mine, since it was me who put these books on my TBR in the first place… 😉
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Bummer! Now I know I can safely avoid it, though, so you’ve done a service for us, ha ha!
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Haha, but so many people love this one I don’t really think that you can go on the basis of my reaction!; )
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Well, to be honest it wasn’t on my list anyway, ha ha!
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Well, that can only be a good thing! 😉
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Too bad – this is such a famous book and from the outside it does seem like one you would enjoy. Oh well, at least now you know!
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Yes, a major disappointment since I was so sure I’d love it. But I just couldn’t get into it, and when I get bored I get critical! 😉
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I liked this book a lot, but then I am a huge fan of spy fiction subgenre. I read all of the George Smiley books, up through Smiley’s People, and found some better than others. I was kind of lost reading Smiley’s People.
I read The Night Manager and had to give up on it because it included torture. My favorite book by le Carre is A Perfect Spy but it is very long and unless you love spy fiction I don’t think it would appeal. Although it is very much about a man’s relationship with his father and is semi-autobiographical.
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I really expected to enjoy this one having loved The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, but I’m afraid it just didn’t work for me this time. I haven’t necessarily given up on him completely, but I’m going to leave a good gap before I try another, I think.
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