tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post3405406504198724218..comments2024-03-28T22:42:54.810-07:00Comments on Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: John le CarréTracyKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-82654604148742858722016-04-07T12:17:30.710-07:002016-04-07T12:17:30.710-07:00You are correct, Mathew,about the plotting. I neve...You are correct, Mathew,about the plotting. I never suspected where it was going. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-978292173718446952016-04-06T13:20:32.083-07:002016-04-06T13:20:32.083-07:00The plotting is especially clever and intricate. F...The plotting is especially clever and intricate. For me the grace shown by Leamus's courageous sacrifice at the end reminded me of the narrator's sacrificial stand in <i>For Whom the Bell Tolls</i>. I believe <i>Spy</i> is a true classic of the form.Mathew Pausthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06157135006791553019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-13176289020112746672016-04-06T12:51:47.340-07:002016-04-06T12:51:47.340-07:00It was dark, darker than I had imagined, Moira. I ...It was dark, darker than I had imagined, Moira. I did not mind the melodrama, but the betrayal bothered me.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-37587630537607991642016-04-06T01:42:41.769-07:002016-04-06T01:42:41.769-07:00Such a dark book. I watched the film and re-read t...Such a dark book. I watched the film and re-read the book in the past few years, and found it very well-written but almost too sad, and melodramatic (in a quiet way - if that's possible!)Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-67976644254722833132016-04-03T12:42:55.741-07:002016-04-03T12:42:55.741-07:00Mathew, That is an interesting and very scary stor...Mathew, That is an interesting and very scary story about your mishap in 1970. Thanks very much for the link. <br /><br />I agree with you about the quality of le Carre's writing. Bleak or not, I like to read his books. I am not sure I will want to reread this one, but will hold on to a copy regardless, just in case.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-67866239741386807502016-04-03T12:20:06.039-07:002016-04-03T12:20:06.039-07:00Ordinarily I don't like noir, Tracy, but I bel...Ordinarily I don't like noir, Tracy, but I believe part of my enjoyment of <i>The Spy Who Came in from The Cold</i>, aside from Le Carre's marvelous writing--characterization, mood, voice and plotting--was the larger scope, the Cold War tableau as opposed to the sordid little wiles of selfish people. It also has a personal significance for me, reminding me of my arrest in East Berlin on an excursion there in 1970. Here's little write-up I did for Fictionaut.com: <b><i><a href="http://fictionaut.com/stories/mathew-paust/berlin-terror" rel="nofollow">Berlin Terror</a></i></b> Mathew Pausthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06157135006791553019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-18246415744392052392016-04-03T11:28:54.574-07:002016-04-03T11:28:54.574-07:00Good, Judith, I will be looking for your post. I a...Good, Judith, I will be looking for your post. I am way behind on posts also. I often struggle to have something to say about the books I read. I know I like them but articulating why is hard for me... without being repetitive. I also think that someone who doesn't read a particular type of fiction may bring different ideas out. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-5857823917858712382016-04-03T10:22:13.617-07:002016-04-03T10:22:13.617-07:00Yes, I will be posting about it. I read so many bo...Yes, I will be posting about it. I read so many books in March, that I'm trying to finish my thoughts on each one. <br />I'm having a bit of a problem trying to say something intelligent about The Spy Who Came in from the Cold because I've never read many books in the spy/espionage genre. So it will be interesting!<br />Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435116453270981662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-53035430712139883282016-04-01T22:32:38.076-07:002016-04-01T22:32:38.076-07:00Judith, I am thinking of coming up with a Classics...Judith, I am thinking of coming up with a Classics list, although you know I always prefer crime fiction and espionage. Will you be writing up your comments on the book?TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-29928800638880894032016-04-01T14:37:33.870-07:002016-04-01T14:37:33.870-07:00Tracy,
I recently read this one for my Classics Cl...Tracy,<br />I recently read this one for my Classics Club. I read the 50th anniversary edition (paperback), which had an interesting introduction written by Le Carre in 2013. I really appreciated your comments.<br />Judith (Reader in the Wilderness)Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435116453270981662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-22924493057791418382016-04-01T12:19:59.523-07:002016-04-01T12:19:59.523-07:00Prashant, I have been talking about reading this b...Prashant, I have been talking about reading this book and others by le Carre for years. Finally got around to it.<br /><br />My father was in the Air National Guard for a long time and was even called up for a year during the Korean "war" but he was sent to San Antonio, Texas for that one. I think when you are called up to active duty, you become part of the Air Force and thus they can send you anywhere. But I don't claim to be an expert.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-62838924894334479522016-04-01T12:04:40.631-07:002016-04-01T12:04:40.631-07:00OK, I will take your advice. I was hoping you woul...OK, I will take your advice. I was hoping you would say that.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-68423121477379552572016-04-01T05:07:02.315-07:002016-04-01T05:07:02.315-07:00Tracy, this has been on my wish-list for I don'...Tracy, this has been on my wish-list for I don't know how many years. I like le Carre's novels a lot. It was interesting to read about your father's service in the National Guard. I didn't know they could be stationed outside of the US.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-44663147978796753842016-04-01T00:09:59.141-07:002016-04-01T00:09:59.141-07:00Well, personally, I'd re-read it sooner rather...Well, personally, I'd re-read it sooner rather than later - there are a lot of connections between the two but some are fleeting references so you may not remember them if you wait too long :) Also, Smiley is barely in SCHOOLBOY so it can wait ...Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)https://bloodymurder.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-10459940653788000192016-03-31T21:55:35.053-07:002016-03-31T21:55:35.053-07:00Le Carre gave us a very different picture of spies...Le Carre gave us a very different picture of spies and spying than Bond, Keishon. I like Len Deighton's take on this time also. Bond is fun, too, but more fantasy, I think. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-20506647686107189992016-03-31T21:53:34.539-07:002016-03-31T21:53:34.539-07:00I wish I could remember more about the 60's, D...I wish I could remember more about the 60's, Debbie. Fascinating to read about that period now.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-575947060569739932016-03-31T21:52:24.216-07:002016-03-31T21:52:24.216-07:00A wonderful book, Margot, but dark and depressing ...A wonderful book, Margot, but dark and depressing in the end. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-10489354475789884512016-03-31T19:17:50.446-07:002016-03-31T19:17:50.446-07:00Sergio, I do wish I had reread Call for the Dead b...Sergio, I do wish I had reread Call for the Dead before A Murder of Quality, after reading some comments in other reviews. Now I am wondering whether to reread it now before I move on to The Honorable Schoolboy and Smiley's People, or read it sometime after I finish the others.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-77867035733315548972016-03-31T10:12:27.873-07:002016-03-31T10:12:27.873-07:00I read this book and enjoyed it, too, Tracy. So gl...I read this book and enjoyed it, too, Tracy. So glad to see it reviewed here. That ending made me sad. Interesting how this book brought back memories of your father's service in the National Guard. I bet it was a terrifying ordeal. There were parts of this story that were suspenseful and like I said above, very sad. I didn't think that the author romanticized it ala James Bond. He did a great job in showing the fear and stress in doing these kind of jobs. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-20178057690362718372016-03-31T08:33:24.525-07:002016-03-31T08:33:24.525-07:00I read this in the late '60s when I was about ...I read this in the late '60s when I was about 16. I remember that it made a <i>tremendous</i> impact on me but I can't remember anything about it now except for the ending. I probably should reread it. Thank you for the review and the reminder. :-)Debbie Rodgershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15630059470408161434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-68777041980271544832016-03-31T07:32:10.405-07:002016-03-31T07:32:10.405-07:00Thank you, Tracy, for sharing your story. It was a...Thank you, Tracy, for sharing your story. It was a scary time for a lot of people, and your personal connection to it all is fascinating. And <i>The Spy...</i> is a classic, in my opinion. The writing is excellent, and the characters are memorable. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-37602346549552898712016-03-31T00:10:59.737-07:002016-03-31T00:10:59.737-07:00Thanks Tracy, really enjoyed reading about your pe...Thanks Tracy, really enjoyed reading about your personal connection to the period - I enjoy reading books set in the 1970s for the same reason! There is I think a difference in the depiction of Smiley in the books from the 60s compared with the later ones, but then he's not really in this one that much anyway. I do think that this book makes a lot more sense if you've read CALL FOR THE DEAD though as it is a kind of sequel. Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)https://bloodymurder.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-42560809448211513092016-03-30T23:16:31.659-07:002016-03-30T23:16:31.659-07:00Thanks, Bill. It was difficult to have my father g...Thanks, Bill. It was difficult to have my father gone, especially at that stage of my life. This book is definitely worth a reread. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-58219244181864273072016-03-30T22:14:17.851-07:002016-03-30T22:14:17.851-07:00TracyK: Thanks for a fine review. I am going to ha...TracyK: Thanks for a fine review. I am going to have to find time to read the book again. It has been a long time I cannot remember any details.<br /><br />I am always interested in hearing about how distant events affect lives far away and then to have the actual events brought alive in Le Carre's work. I am sure it was hard to have your father gone. I appreciate you sharing the story.Bill Selneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17268006369157307593noreply@blogger.com