UK Book Club discussion

So the genre for June will be Spy/Espionage. This can be fiction or non-fiction, whatever you fancy.

I have a soft spot for spy novels. I love John Le Carre's Smiley books and Graeme Greene is another favourite. He's also very good for 'Round the World', so I might read The Comedians and get Haiti...

Last time round I read Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal which was very good, and if I'm going to read another non-fiction title then perhaps I'll try A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal (both by Ben Macintyre).

I've just spotted another contender on my to-read list: A Dead Man in Deptford by Anthony Burgess, which is about the Elizabehan Playwright/Spy Christopher Marlow. If I try that one, I'll get 16thC for the time traveller challenge too...

I know I have a load more possibilities... descisions, decisions. What are you going to read?

I like a good spy story as well. I've got a few possibilities -

- The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva
- Ashenden by W. Somerset Maugham
- The Looking Glass War: A George Smiley Novel by John le Carré
- Mission to Paris by Alan Furst
- Silesian Station by David Downing

Just one on my book shelf I've been saving for Spy month and that is The Winter Spy My copy looks a bit dated but we'll see.

I keep checking the second hand shops for the Jason Bourne books. I want to read them, but I'm not quite willing to buy them. :P

I have a book on my kindle that I got in a giveaway earlier this year:



That looks like it could fit the bill! Finally an opportunity to read it. (I am such a slave to my challenges...)

I feel I have read a few too many John le Carre books so I should probably give someone else a go for this month. I think I'll try either The Spy or Kim, although I'm not certain how much of the latter is actually about spying.

Been working my way (slowly) through hubby's collection of James Bond books, so will probably go for the next in the series - Moonraker, I think.

I also have The Comedians and Our Man in Havana, although I better keep the latter for comedy. I have quite some George Smiley books I could read and I have Casino Royale as well.

And a while ago I downloaded a fragment of a newish book on spies as well, but I can't remember the name nor do I know if it would be something I like.

Just bought by Shamim Sarif which will do nicely I think.

And by Viet Thanh Nguyen which won a Pulitzer and sounds great.

Hi peaple i back again .I wish you have much fun in your challenge for this year.

Think I am going to read by Charles Cumming

Ian wrote: "And by Viet Thanh Nguyen which won a Pulitzer and sounds great."

That does sound good. Let us know how you get on...

I didn't think I'd have anything for this challenge, despite my childhood love of Bond and all things spyish. Then I realised that Iain Banks' Transition is a super-national spy thing with its shadowy Concern. Could be just the push to push it off my bookshelves and into the read it now take it the charity shop pile.

Think it will be The Colonel's Mistake as it will also give me Turkmanistan! Not my favourite genre.

Ian wrote: "Just bought by Shamim Sarif which will do nicely I think."

Brilliant film!

Starting my first book in this challenge -
Silesian Station, the second book in the John Russell series, set during WWII by David Downing.

If you're looking for some ideas on possible books to read, you could check out this... http://bill-booksbooksbooks.blogspot....... he offers humbly.. :)

I've picked up two in the library and 3

I've given up on The Spy because I just couldn't get into it at all. Instead I've just finished The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare which was far more pleasant to read but often didn't make very much sense.

Laura wrote: "I've given up on The Spy because I just couldn't get into it at all. Instead I've just finished The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare which was far more pleasant to read..."

I thought the same about The Man Who Was Thursday...

Not my strongest genre to be honest but when I venture into it, I usually enjoy what I read, especially Restless by William Boyd, Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks and even Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz!!

For this month, I'm going to read Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre since Liz says it was good.

Finished Moonraker - Ian Fleming, the third James Bond book. It was a fairly good quick read but nothing like the film of the same name - as far as I could tell, having only seen bits of it. Is it terrible that I've never seen an entire Bond film?

Finished Arctic Wargame by Ethan Jones, was quit a quick read. Russians against the Canadians through the Danish, fights, guns stolen helicopters and spys. Did enjoy it though.

Leni this would give you Nunavut state for Canada.

Silesian Station was a good read, lots of action and well-paced. I may try another spy novel before the month ends.

Tania wrote: "Finished Arctic Wargame by Ethan Jones, was quit a quick read. Russians against the Canadians through the Danish, fights, guns stolen helicopters and spys. Did enjo..."

Thanks! Nunavut is a tricky territory. I'm pretty sure Dan Simmon's The Terror is set there, but it might be too scary for me! Putting down Arctic Wargame as an alternate.

Em, how's it going? I'm always nervous that others won't enjoy my recommendations....

Caroline? Really? Never?

Liz wrote: "Caroline? Really? Never?"

I've never sat and watched one from start to finish. My husband has them all on DVD and has watched them many times so I've seen bits of them in passing. I suppose technically I might have seen a whole one just not in the right order and all at once!

Istanbul Passage by Joseph Kanon is my next book in this challenge. My local book store operator said she'd heard many good things about the book. Of course, I guess she would, to encourage me to buy it, eh? Kanon is a new author for me. He also wrote The Good German which was turned into a movie.

I think I'll read At Risk – it's one I've had for a while; Stella Remington was head of MI5 so she should know what she's talking about!

Tinker tailor soldier spyTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

I'm halfway through The Oligarch, and struggling a bit to stay motivated. The story is somewhat interesting, and the author clearly knows Russia both geographically and politically, but the characters leave me cold and the overall writing is just... not that great. It's a shame it didn't attract a proper publisher, because it could have really used a good editor. But at least it was free! And it would apparently only be 237 pages in paper format so I should be able to get through it.

Liz wrote: "Em, how's it going? I'm always nervous that others won't enjoy my recommendations...."

Only just starting, what can I say.... it's be a busy week or so!! Selling our house, sorting out a move, it takes so much time - a lesser reader would have given up altogether but not me, I'm just about managing to keep reading but it's slowed me down a bit!

Best of luck with the move Em. Not surprised your reading's taking a hit.

Sounds as if you've probably seen the best bits Caroline!

I have finished A Dead Man in Deptford, which was quite good, but rather too dialogue heavy (and 16th century style dialogue at that).

I've also read The Comedians. Although none of the three main characters are spies, there's plenty of intrigue and the threatening presence of Haiti's secret police, must push it into the genre. It's good, but not one of Graham Greene's best.

Finished it. :P And while there are probably far better spy thrillers out there, I am washing my hands of this genre and loitering the rest of the month away in my other challenges.

*Pat on the back*, Leni :)

Finished At Risk - four stars for the ending. Reviewed it here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finally dragged my reluctant mind through to the end of Iain Banks' Transition, which I first tried to read in 2012. It is a book that suffers from being too clearly a parallel of the world of espionage in a speculative novel about parallel worlds. The pace is ponderous and the message is onerous. The ending has more excitement, but feels rushed. Overall a very oddly paced novel.

Am reading A Colder War. I keep reading it but the page numbers don't seem to be moving. Hoping to get Turkey out of it.

I'm going to put the feline among the avians, I think.

I just read Goldfinger Goldfinger. And as it kind of fits this challenge,,,

Ignoring the rampant prejudice it's actually quite fun and at least it's a page turner.

With reference to Grahsm Greene and espionage novels I'd heartily recommend Our Man in Havana Our Man in Havana

Jane wrote: "With reference to Graham Greene and espionage novels I'd heartily recommend Our Man in Havana..."

I loved Our Man in Havana too.

I was right about The Winter Spy being a bit dated. I've just finished it and with double crossing galore and a touch of 007 about it I should have enjoyed it more than I did. 2 stars.

Running Blind also dated but enjoyable. Had to look up some words describing the Icelandic landscape. At the end I hoped there was a sequel!

I finished Istanbul Passage by Joseph Kanon this morning. Excellent spy novel. Now on to war!!!

I enjoyed Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal - very interesting and entertaining - more amazing than fiction!!

I read Casino Royale which was okay

Finished at lastA Colder War. This book didnt do it for me. Spies in Turkey dropping each other in it.