This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
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Journal Entry 1 by RDOwens from Millville, New Jersey USA on Friday, December 31, 2010
 Overall it was a good book. In some regards it is dated. The counter to that is the details seem more plausible than a normal espionage book. Le Carre is a former member of Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Leamas is a 50-year old English spy. He headed up the Berlin network. The story begins with his chief turncoat being gunned down at the Berlin Wall. Ready for retirement after this disaster and the effective end of the network, Leamus retreats back home. There he is presented with one last job. The balance of the book is that job.
We learn about a spy’s commitment to the job. It’s not about the money as we find Leamus living a horrifically sparse life that finds him jailed. It’s all part of the con. He falls for a Communist. Liz seems to be his downfall, but again, it has all been thought out.
The plot marches along fairly predictably until the end. It is then that some twists are offered. It is also there that the book falters some for me. The double-twist at the Communist trial is not explained well enough for me. Did Leamus know Mundt was in it all along? If not, then how did it come that Mundt helped with the escape? It would seem rather forced at that point.
Liz was shot dead climbing the Berlin Wall. I think a better ending for her would have been to have refused to climb. Staying behind the wall to show her allegiance to the Party seems far more fitting. And did Leamus make it? It is unclear. I suppose that is done purposely. I don’t care for it.
Le Carre’s writing agrees with me. Perhaps it is because the book is 47 years old and is how books I grew up with were written. Perhaps it is just Le Carre’s style. I noted he used lain perfectly. Given my struggles conjugating that verb, it is always nice to see the work used.
I enjoyed this book, but I think it pales compared to Clancy’s Jack Ryan books. The twists were perfunctory, lacking the suspense of Turow, for instance.
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Journal Entry 2 by RDOwens at Longhorn Steakhouse in Millville, New Jersey USA on Sunday, January 02, 2011
Released 1 yr ago (1/2/2011 UTC) at Longhorn Steakhouse in Millville, New Jersey USA WILD RELEASE NOTES:
The family prepared for Saturday evening mass only to find out there wasn't one. Hmmm . . . our parish recently combined with the other one. With all the hoopla at the holidays, I think we missed out that this mass was being held at the other parish, which is actually closer to us but also 30 minutes earlier.
So, all dressed up and no place to go, we headed out for dinner. A mistake, assuredly. We know a waiter at Longhorn and requested him. Well, that produced a 40 minute wait for us as they didn't seem to be able to make it happen earlier. With two little ones, well, that caused for an interesting evening.
Nevertheless, I had this book with me. The smartphone didn't like taking photographs in this restaurant as I couldn't focus well, so a shot from outside on another day will have to suffice.
I left this in the booth. Enjoy!
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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
