I love reading LeCarre'. You do have to take your time, focus, follow every word and sometimes go back and read some things again to make sure you have it. But the stream of consciousness of the character is riveting and sometimes shocking as various events sneak up on you an catch you off guard like you are personally experiencing something totally unexpected that grabs you out of nowhere by the throat. You become the main character. Here are some additional thoughts:
1. There is a lot of thoughtful information about Africa, its beauty, natural resources, and how it is being manipulated by big business and little is being done to help protect the people and the ridiculous bloodshed and horrible raping of the country. Could it be true that USA and GB actually allow some of this to take place?
2. There is a lot of irony in this book. Some of the worst characters turn out to be some of the best and vice versa. It paints a picture of the world that you might not like and yet it also, in the end, leaves some hope.
3. LeCarre' is such a pro at describing the subtleties of spying. This book is full of instructions on how rookies and pros react and handle things. It's obvious that he knows his stuff.
4. As much as I enjoyed it, I still found that there were too many cliches such as the wife Penelope, the magazine she works for, the bad guys in government and Africa, the almost virgin Mary like girlfriend, etc. And yet certain of the characters are unforgettable and hopefully alive and doing well in Africa.
Another great book. |
The Mission Song: A Novel Books In Print, Audio Books.