World Mysteries and Thrillers discussion

I saw TTSS last weekend and it was terrific. I'm a big John Le Carre fan, can't remember if I read this book, tho I've read most of his more recent ones. The acting in the movie, especially by Gary Oldman, was phenomenal. It's a twisty plot and you really have to pay attention to every detail. Hope you'll see it soon and leave a comment!

Glad to hear it was so good! It's on my radar and I plan to see it soon. Just started the book, but I'm not going to let that stop me from enjoying the movie.

Funny ... I'm now wanting to re-read the book, read it a long time ago. I've read most of LeCarre's books, especially the recent ones and I really love his writing.

Susan wrote: "Funny ... I'm now wanting to re-read the book, read it a long time ago. I've read most of LeCarre's books, especially the recent ones and I really love his writing."

Went to the new film TTSS and found it excellent. The lovely old tv TTSS and The Spy Who Came in From the Cold in the 60s with Alec Guinness were excellent too but this is a modern version and I think really worked.
Just read Absolute Friends and enjoyed it and have Our Kind of Traitor waiting on iBook.

Sharon, haven't read Our Kind of Traitor, but will get to it soon. Didn't see the first TTSS, but saw The Spy Who Came in From the Cold ... was it not Richard Burton in that film?

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a 1965 film adaptation of the novel of the same name by John le Carré. It was adapted by Paul Dehn and Guy Trosper. The film stars Richard Burton as Alec Leamas, along with Claire Bloom, Oskar Werner, Peter van Eyck, Sam Wanamaker, Rupert Davies and Cyril Cusack. It was directed by Martin Ritt.

If you get a chance go see the brand new film out now of TTSS....absolutely excellent.

Susan wrote: "Sharon, haven't read Our Kind of Traitor, but will get to it soon. Didn't see the first TTSS, but saw The Spy Who Came in From the Cold ... was it not Richard Burton in that film?"

Did you read Absolute Friends? If so, what did you think? I was quite of two minds but find myself thinking back to it...

Saw the new movie over the weekend and really enjoyed it. Very well done.

Sharon, I did read Absolute Friends, but it was a while ago and I would be hard pressed to tell you what I thought, though I always enjoy Le Carre's books. The most recent one I read that stands out in my mind is The Tailor of Panama, which I liked very much!

What did you think of Absolute Friends?

Susan wrote: "Sharon, I did read Absolute Friends, but it was a while ago and I would be hard pressed to tell you what I thought, though I always enjoy Le Carre's books. The most recent one I read that stands ou..."

I found AF to be very much a journey through the lives of the two main male characters. Because their lives followed the time spand ...to a degree...of my own, I found the politics and changing freedoms that affected them very interesting. Nice journey of two friends caught up in the cold war. Also made me wonder what the average geek might truly be up to!

The Tailor of Panama I have not read but the film with Pierce Branson et al was a very very good film IMO.

I have his last so far, Our Kind of Traitor on iBooks and will get to it ......so behind!

Strange, AF still rings no bells for me. Maybe I didn't read it! I saw the movie of The Tailor, also thought it was very good. You will enjoy the book.

Our Kind of Traitor I don't have yet. Like you, SO behind!

Susan wrote: "I saw TTSS last weekend and it was terrific. I'm a big John Le Carre fan, can't remember if I read this book, tho I've read most of his more recent ones. The acting in the movie, especially by Gary..."

I am hoping to re-read this. The Spy who came in from the Cold was just as good the second time around, but I could not get through A Small Town in Germany or The Looking Glass War. I liked Tailor of Panama but was not so thrilled with The Honorable Schoolboy.

Sharon wrote: "Susan wrote: "Funny ... I'm now wanting to re-read the book, read it a long time ago. I've read most of LeCarre's books, especially the recent ones and I really love his writing."

Went to the new ..."

His recent books don't hold a candle to his earlier ones.

Les wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Susan wrote: "Funny ... I'm now wanting to re-read the book, read it a long time ago. I've read most of LeCarre's books, especially the recent ones and I really love his writing."

W..."

Well, to a degree I disagree. Single and Single was light but I found it returned to me often as it hit subtly on deeper meaning than was first apparent. I love the Tailor of Panama film and both the book and the film which were a bit different from each other but very very excellent and timely with the politics of the time ...The Constant Gardener. Excellent! Absolute Friends was slow in the middle but at the end I realized that I needed that passage of time in both the lives written of to join the dots. Again a book one thinks about after quite often! Our Kind of Traitor sits waiting for me to ge to it n my kindle. Many of the big books from the 70s and 80s I remember enjoying but finding them dry. Perhaps maturity played a part? But the various screen adaptions have been popping up over the years to remind one of the good stories thank goodness. Quite a list of achievement.
Novels
Call for the Dead (1961)
A Murder of Quality (1962)
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963) (Edgar Award 1965, Best Novel)
The Looking Glass War (1965)
A Small Town in Germany (1968)
The Naïve and Sentimental Lover (1971)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1974)
The Honourable Schoolboy (1977)
Smiley's People (1979)
The Little Drummer Girl (1983)
A Perfect Spy (1986)
The Russia House (1989)
The Secret Pilgrim (1990)
The Night Manager (1993)
Our Game (1995)
The Tailor of Panama (1996)
Single & Single (1999)
The Constant Gardener (2001)
Absolute Friends (2003)
The Mission Song (2006)
A Most Wanted Man (2008)
Our Kind of Traitor (2010)

Thanks for the list! I remember reading The Night Manager and loving it. Also loved The Constant Gardener. Haven't read The Mission Song, A Most WAnted Man or his most recent Our Kind of Traitor.

Just to toss out another name, have you read any novels by Olen Steinhauer? I read The Confession. Olen Steinhauer Have been meaning to read more.

Susan wrote: "Thanks for the list! I remember reading The Night Manager and loving it. Also loved The Constant Gardener. Haven't read The Mission Song, A Most WAnted Man or his most recent Our Kind of Traitor.
..."

What a list of books under the link to OS...will look into the writer. Thanks for the tip.

Although I'm not a book collector in the strict sense, I've been collecting John Le Carre's books for years. Although I found some of them better than others my main reason for collecting was because I enjoyed his writing style so much. I love the edginess of sarcasm and the way he draws characters through their dialogue (internal and external) as much as their actions. I find this very engaging and look forward to rereading his books.

Just got my copy of LeCarre's A Most Wanted Man. Soon as I finish the two other novels I'm reading, I'll did in. Agree with you, Pat. I always feel like I learn how to write better when I read one of his books.