tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post2000411792267355218..comments2024-03-28T22:42:54.810-07:00Comments on Bitter Tea and Mystery: Enigma: Robert HarrisTracyKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-9878094381141108132014-11-16T18:16:33.210-08:002014-11-16T18:16:33.210-08:00Bill, I had not realized that less was known about...Bill, I had not realized that less was known about Bletchley at the time this book was written, although it makes sense. I have a bias against reading alternative histories myself, although the ones I have read I have enjoyed. And I have heard that Fatherland is very good. I look forward to reading it.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-91403265331199467572014-11-16T18:09:27.035-08:002014-11-16T18:09:27.035-08:00TracyK: I enjoyed the book. It has been a long tim...TracyK: I enjoyed the book. It has been a long time since I read it. At the time there was less public information about Bletchley. Much of what was in the book was not well known. I thought it a good book. I think Harris does extremely well in turning historic events into fiction.<br /><br />The book of Harris I most strongly recommend is Fatherland. I am not much for books on imagined future history, here that Germany won WW II, but Fatherland is a striking exception. It made me think as much as any work of fiction I have read.Bill Selneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17268006369157307593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-45458573678844175242014-11-16T12:12:48.642-08:002014-11-16T12:12:48.642-08:00We just rewatched the movie, Moira. I think I watc...We just rewatched the movie, Moira. I think I watched the movie too close to reading the book, because that causes me to nitpick at differences. I thought there were a lot of differences, so I can just like both for their own good qualities. Easier that way, anyway. I think both Glen and I liked it better this time (it had been years). And I enjoyed seeing Tom Hollander and Matthew Macfayden in it.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-78382605863250994082014-11-16T11:49:43.580-08:002014-11-16T11:49:43.580-08:00I really like this book, it's my favourite of ...I really like this book, it's my favourite of his. And I also very much enjoyed the film - I saw it in a small indie cinema in Seattle when it first came out, and I was the only person in there! I will certainly read/watch both again.Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-73996339203767278222014-11-16T07:41:07.016-08:002014-11-16T07:41:07.016-08:00Sarah, saw the movie last night (2nd time but it h...Sarah, saw the movie last night (2nd time but it had been so long I had forgotten everything). Prefer the book to the movie (as usual), but still was fun to watch it.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-9599310226852917622014-11-16T07:38:33.256-08:002014-11-16T07:38:33.256-08:00Given the topic and that Cumberbatch is starring, ...Given the topic and that Cumberbatch is starring, we will definitely see THE IMITATION GAME eventually. I have not read that much about it yet, but saw that Mark Strong is also in the movie, which is a plus.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-62720194510167712632014-11-16T05:57:40.504-08:002014-11-16T05:57:40.504-08:00Like you, I love espionage stories and, although i...Like you, I love espionage stories and, although it's been a while, I remember loving this book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-73019515322909794942014-11-16T05:02:44.369-08:002014-11-16T05:02:44.369-08:00By the way, just watched THE IMITATION GAME with B...By the way, just watched THE IMITATION GAME with Benedict Cumberbatch very impressive as Alan Turing, which obviously inspired Harris, though ti seems the filmmakers did also jazz up the film with a spy subplot that belongs more to Harris than history!Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)http://bloodymurder.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-89202842654591116212014-11-14T19:36:48.904-08:002014-11-14T19:36:48.904-08:00I am not sure why it took me so long to read one o...I am not sure why it took me so long to read one of his books, Yvette. I had this for 5 years along with GHOST and FATHERLAND; bought all three at the same book sale. Guess the time was just right, and I enjoyed it very much.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-1994131100126162222014-11-14T16:05:33.511-08:002014-11-14T16:05:33.511-08:00Haven't read this, Tracy. In fact I haven'...Haven't read this, Tracy. In fact I haven't read any Robert Harris. But this one sure sounds good. I love stories set in WWII. And if it involves spying, even better. Thanks.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-81124012661351585602014-11-14T12:59:45.364-08:002014-11-14T12:59:45.364-08:00I don't travel much, Col, and I only fly under...I don't travel much, Col, and I only fly under duress... but you can be sure, if I get anywhere close to your area, I will let you know.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-75549770996269733532014-11-14T12:57:51.099-08:002014-11-14T12:57:51.099-08:00I am sure you will enjoy anything you read by Robe...I am sure you will enjoy anything you read by Robert Harris, Prashant. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-22193987017040763392014-11-14T11:20:43.171-08:002014-11-14T11:20:43.171-08:00Oh, thanks for posting this info, Graham. I read a...Oh, thanks for posting this info, Graham. I read a review of An Officer and a Spy in Publishers Weekly and the review was good, but for some reason I never bought the book. I'll remedy this immediately.Barbara Gregorichhttp://barbaragregorich.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-76295174775606823562014-11-14T09:01:13.066-08:002014-11-14T09:01:13.066-08:00Tracy, I'm familiar with the author though I h...Tracy, I'm familiar with the author though I have never read anything by him. I'll be remedying that as soon as I can.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-25040384050979832962014-11-14T08:50:06.017-08:002014-11-14T08:50:06.017-08:00I agree with you, Graham. I fear I did not enthuse...I agree with you, Graham. I fear I did not enthuse enough in my review, but I had a great experience reading this book. Thanks for pointing out my goof with the title of the latest book, I do that all the time (and was in a hurry last night). I will fix it now. I am looking forward to reading that soon, so glad you have praise for it.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-85165362004296918662014-11-14T08:47:03.125-08:002014-11-14T08:47:03.125-08:00Right, Margot. I am usually very forgiving of espi...Right, Margot. I am usually very forgiving of espionage fiction and can take all types, but this one was especially good.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-74443508230356791542014-11-14T08:38:00.356-08:002014-11-14T08:38:00.356-08:00Bletchley is the next stop on the line north from ...Bletchley is the next stop on the line north from L/B. My workplace is actually closer to Bletchley Park than my home. <br />I will see about dragging my wife along to the Museum, at some point - hopefully after I have read the book (I will see if I can get her interested in reading it also!) <br />Let me know if you are in town and we'll visit together!col2910https://www.blogger.com/profile/06422138069939709043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-32201094467941231352014-11-14T08:36:35.682-08:002014-11-14T08:36:35.682-08:00Barbara, I don't know why it took me so long t...Barbara, I don't know why it took me so long to get to this. I guess I did not know much about the author's books. I did have a hiatus from reading much fiction at all in the 90's so maybe that is it. Leaves me lots of books to discover now though.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-20433359993057784572014-11-14T08:34:37.923-08:002014-11-14T08:34:37.923-08:00I am glad to hear that, George. I have high hopes ...I am glad to hear that, George. I have high hopes for all the ones I have on the TBR piles.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-30921845463932953862014-11-14T08:33:17.665-08:002014-11-14T08:33:17.665-08:00Oh, now I remember, Col, Leighton Buzzard was ment...Oh, now I remember, Col, Leighton Buzzard was mentioned in the towns he went by on the train on the way to Bletchley... and I thought of you. How cool, I am very envious. I would love to visit there.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-58733990466093660062014-11-14T08:30:45.897-08:002014-11-14T08:30:45.897-08:00I did see the movie, Sergio, but it has been a whi...I did see the movie, Sergio, but it has been a while. We plan to watch it again soon, and I plan to do a book to movie post on it before the end of the year. My time and energy don't seem to be cooperating with my plans lately.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-19420478442329287662014-11-14T07:58:22.841-08:002014-11-14T07:58:22.841-08:00I read this years ago and it's really, really,...I read this years ago and it's really, really, great, as are many of Harris' novels. His latest, actually titled AN OFFICER AND A SPY, is a lightly fictionalized account of the Dreyfus case, and it's completely absorbing.Graham Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01775285782385634486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-4339351676712975742014-11-14T07:53:13.565-08:002014-11-14T07:53:13.565-08:00Tracy - This does look like a great WWII espionage...Tracy - This does look like a great WWII espionage novel. I like the fact that the characters are believable (that doesn't always happen in espionage fiction). Thanks for sharing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-81826343625988233002014-11-14T07:43:34.005-08:002014-11-14T07:43:34.005-08:00I read this book when it was first published, due ...I read this book when it was first published, due to the good review it received in Publishers Weekly. I enjoyed learning from the novel, but I don't remember that much of the plot. Perhaps I should borrow a copy from the library (to which I donated my copy!) and read it again.Barbara Gregorichhttp://barbaragregorich.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-83560923319563755972014-11-14T05:59:43.537-08:002014-11-14T05:59:43.537-08:00I've enjoyed all the Robert Harris novels I...I've enjoyed all the Robert Harris novels I've read.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04546161337366365635noreply@blogger.com