rodhunt's review against another edition
3.0
Great plot line and I like a story of bureaucracy and inter-organisation politics but this is just too long and needed a good edit! Also hard not to think Guinness and others have made Smiley more likeable than Le Carre intended.
craftingrama's review against another edition
1.0
yawn narrator and book makes a good sleeping pill *sigh*
gerdash's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
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
3.25
Would try to read it instead of listening it ever going through the George Smiley books. Lost interest so it dragged on a bit.
max538's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
cnorbury's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great book although I can't say it was "amazing" and give it 5 stars. The chief reason is it's a very dense book full of characters, settings, spy jargon, and British vernacular and colloquialisms that are a challenge for non-Brits to understand. So, while I enjoyed the book for many reasons, it was a challenge to maintain my attention and wade through it until the end.
That said, Jerry Westerby (The Honourable Schoolboy) is a thoroughly likable and believable character well developed, full of flaws and weaknesses (booze and women), street smarts, and determination to do his job. To me, he also carried a little guilt for being part of Britain's upper class. I felt it when he was operating in Hong Kong, at the time a British colony and a manifestation of what the British upper class had done to suppress and exploit millions (billions?) of people around the world in pursuit of empire.
Far from a lighthearted, easy read, but if you want an example of an author with a complete mastery of his craft, read John LeCarre.
That said, Jerry Westerby (The Honourable Schoolboy) is a thoroughly likable and believable character well developed, full of flaws and weaknesses (booze and women), street smarts, and determination to do his job. To me, he also carried a little guilt for being part of Britain's upper class. I felt it when he was operating in Hong Kong, at the time a British colony and a manifestation of what the British upper class had done to suppress and exploit millions (billions?) of people around the world in pursuit of empire.
Far from a lighthearted, easy read, but if you want an example of an author with a complete mastery of his craft, read John LeCarre.
booccmaster's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
katrinalenhernandez's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
This was the first of the smiley series that I actually enjoyed. There was actually action among with the strong prose and that made all the difference.
andrew61's review
5.0
The 686 pages felt like 200, I didn't want to finish it but rushed to the end. A brilliant picture of spying and it's unglamorous side. Smiley enigmatic and knowing yet flawed, Westerby comic but efficient and similarly flawed. Planning to swiftly move to Smileys people.
payindigo's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25