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tintinintibet's review against another edition
3.0
A quick read. Not much happens in this book -- probably intended to be more of a character development piece. I've read a couple le Carre books and now that I think about it most of them are character driven -- but this one particularly so. He was pretty heavy handed with his political commentary in 'Absolute Friends' which I found distracting since it appeared throughout the book; here it is a bit more constrained. I'm between 2 and 3 stars, but giving le Carre the benefit of the doubt.
slichto3's review against another edition
3.0
A mysterious Muslim man arrives at a doorstep in Hamburg, desperate for a place to stay. He evades questions about his past, but there is something not quite right about him. The people taking him in suspect it, but aid him all the same, until German anti-terrorism groups become interested in him. What follows is a gradual investigation and attempted ensnarement that culminates in a fascinating way.
The story itself is quite interesting. The characters are easy to empathize with, although their layers make them difficult to understand in an engaging way. The book does take quite a bit of time to get where it's going, though. I felt hooked early on, but later my attention began to drift. Even the ending, which was excellently and fascinatingly plotted, feels like it could have been more taut. Overall, I liked A Most Wanted Man, but I was far from loving it.
The story itself is quite interesting. The characters are easy to empathize with, although their layers make them difficult to understand in an engaging way. The book does take quite a bit of time to get where it's going, though. I felt hooked early on, but later my attention began to drift. Even the ending, which was excellently and fascinatingly plotted, feels like it could have been more taut. Overall, I liked A Most Wanted Man, but I was far from loving it.
stephanie1b's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't finish it. The story didn't draw me in. I tried - gave it 150 pages or so.
wintermute9's review against another edition
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
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars. So always le Carre produced an enjoyable and complex spy novel. I enjoyed the pace, a slow burn until the end, then in 5 pages more action then the proceeding 400.
lauraxbakker's review against another edition
2.0
The book itself, is very good. But spionage, mystery stuff like this, just is not for me. The pace was so slow, and at one point I just didn't want to pick it up anymore. I loved the movie so I hoped that would motivate me to read it but it didn't. I don't think I will be reading more books like this any time soon.
bluestarfish's review against another edition
4.0
le Carré books inhabit bleak worlds where there is no clarity in morality, professional duty, relationships, patriotism, personal loyalty and the characters are trying to make choices in a post-9/11 environment. Bleak and sad and very well written.
pierceinverarity's review against another edition
4.0
Typical Le Carre -- great prose and plot, but dolorous end-game apparent from a great distance, w/zero consolation to be had.
gbliss's review against another edition
3.0
A Cold War master navigating in the War on Terror era. Good, not great. Motivation of the characters who cooperate with the undercover operation is not well established and the end is abrupt to say the least.