The Tailor of Panama by John Le'Carre
this post was submitted on 27 Oct 2023
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Great book! Really want to do a re-read of his books now I've seen the Pigeon Tunnel.
Ah, thanks for mention, going to watch the documentary.
Looked up John Le'Carre, "English author and spy", that's an interesting introduction.
I have heard of his "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", but never read any of his work. How are you liking the book?
It's a slow start but engaging. I have never read spy thrillers before.
Just about finished Inversions by Iain Banks, really enjoyed it despite it being dated with its over abundant male gaze for the women.
Next up is Look to Windward, it's flawed but enjoyable.
Another three or four weeks and I will have finished my culture reread, will probably fancy something completely different and thinking of rereading LeCarres books.
How is the Culture series? I tried to read the first book a long time ago, but couldn't get into it.
Also, someone else mentioned Le'Carre above, how do you like his work?
The first Culture book Iain is still finding his feet with the series so it's skippable if you didn't like it.
Also the series doesn't have to be read in order as they are mostly self contained stories although there are references to events from previous books they are very high level, in passing and pretty much spoiler free.
I personally love the universe Iain created for culture, so the books are as much about luxuriating in that than anything else. It's Hobbiton in space IMO. Some of the stories are a little obvious and some are a little overcomplicated but they are fun.
LeCarre is a wonderful writer, he excels in writing engaging and believable but average people who perform mediocre selfish acts rather than the exceptional performing miracles against all odds yet are somehow still boring people. There's no Jason Bourne or James Bond here. I would think of it very much like Slow Horses if you have read any of those?
Hmm... thanks for the info, I'll give Culture another try.
Just looked up Slow Horses, the series looks interesting. Will check that out, as well as some of LeCarre's work.
I finished Wool by Hugh Howey a couple of days ago. I’m now reading the second book, Shift.
I also started watching the show.
How are you liking the books?
I am enjoying them. They’re an easy read which is a big plus for me since I’m working at being a daily reader again. I started reading in lieu of Reddit and it’s been great.
Here’s what I’ve read since Reddit shat the bed:
Sleeping Giants
Waking Gods
Only Human
Flowers for Algernon
Shogun
Circe
The Secret History
The Player of Games
I, Robot
The Color of Magic
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles
Annihilation
Wool
That's a nice list of books! Would hope to see you around these threads, sharing what you are reading and how you are liking them.
Finished in October
- Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
- Men at Arms
- The Midnight Library
- Feet of Clay
In Progress
- Dracula
- Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Doing a full read through of Discworld, or just City Watch novels?
How did you like Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel? It has been on my to-read pile for ages, but for some reason haven't gotten to it yet.
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is by Gabrielle Zevin? The plot seems interesting, let me know how you find the book.
My plan is to read the Watch, Death, and Witch series. And Interesting Times as a stand alone.
I really liked Strange and Norrell. It def isn't for everyone though. It's pretty slow moving. I like strong character driven books without front to back action sometimes and this one is very well written.
So far I like Tomorrow. Yeah it's by Gabriel Zevin. I'm not very far into it though. Haven't had time to read much these last couple of weeks.. but yeah it's been a good read so far! I'll try to remember to update here when I'm done. (Apologies in advance if I forget).
Thanks for the input. And don't worry, if you forget, you forget, not much we can do about it 😀
"The things you can see only when you slow down" by Haemin Sunim.
Just looked it up, the title sounds intriguing. I often think about it, and have talked about the need for slowing down in today's world with friends. How are you liking the book? Sounds like something worth reading.
So far I have only been about a quarter into the book, and I would say I am liking it.
I have read another book earlier on this same topic - "In Praise of Slowness" by Carl Honore, which is a more formal, evidence based treatment of the subject ( as almost all popular science books are) - while this book by Haemin Sunim is a more informal approach, and I'd say based more on the writer's experience.
Ah, interesting. Thanks for the mention, will check it out too.
- Finished Craig Hinton's GodEngine - this book was evidently written in a hurry and it shows. After an interesting seeming start, it becomes pretty tedious, has a few lapses in basic proofreading, is moved along by implausible plot-serving decisions by the characters with even less plausible outcomes and generally has very little to recommend it. This is the 51st (I think) in this series of Doctor Who novels. I will push on to the end - another 10 - but I hope that remainder are better.
- Finished Robert Brightwell's Flashman's Waterloo - I had already got as far as Quatre Bras in this one so this week just read the final section which was very effective, taking the protagonist to many of the most notable areas of the battlefield, putting the author's research to extremely good use. This novel is one of the best in the series so far, but I am going to take a break at this natural pause before returning to the remainder of these prequels.
- Finished Adam Biles' Beasts of England - a sequel to Orwell's Animal Farm in the light of current political trends including Brexit. Biles definitely captures the tone of Orwell's book and introduces some new metaphors that work initially, but - in one major case particularly - he then strains beyond credibility. The book is not really about the actual logistics and mechanics of the farm, of course, but you really do need to keep that in mind, keep your disbelief well and truly suspended and focus on the characters and satire to enjoy the book towards the end. That said, the conclusion is effective and is definitely not restricted to Brexit or UK politics at all, and I am glad that I stayed with it.
- Started Sandra Newman's Julia - another Orwell inspired novel, this time a telling of 1984 from Julia's perspective. Five chapters in, I am very impressed. It seamlessly adds a great deal of depth and texture to this world as seen through Julia's eyes whilst telling its own, compelling, tale. It has been a very long while since I read 1984 but recall it pretty well and planned to read this alone. However I have given in and am now re-reading the original alongside too.
I have read good things about Julia, going to add it to my wishlist. Might as well give Beasts of England a try too.
I'm currently in the middle of a few books, and I've got more queued up to read next.
here's what I'm currently reading:
William Gibson - Neruomancer [The Sprawl, book 1]
Just started the last chapter, can't wait to read the rest of the sprawl.
the writing is amazing and i can see why it's so recommended.
Douglas Adams - The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy [Compilation of the entire series in one book]
I'm about half way through book 1, loved the movie and figured i would read the books.
no regrets so far, quite a fun read.
Martha Wells - Rogue Protocol [The Murderbot Diaries, Book 3]
Saw this series recommended years ago on reddit, only semi-recently got around to reading it
it's an interesting story, and i would recommend it myself.
Oscar Wilde - The Picture of Dorian Gray
I don't really even know what to say about this one, other than I'm enjoying it thus far
and the fact that i can't read more than a few pages at a time without getting a headache from deciphering some of the wording haha
and here's what's all on my to-be-read list (minus continuations of the aforementioned series) in no particular order:
Liu Cixin - Remembrance of Earth's Past [Series]
Neal Stephenson - Cryptonomicon [Series]
Neal Stephenson - Snow Crash
Frank Herbert - Dune [Series]
Harper Lee - To Kill A Mockingbird
Philip K. Dick - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep
Homer - The Iliad
Dante - The Divine Comedy
I would love some recommendations from you lovely people to add to my backlog :)
That's a great list of books.
If you like Douglas Adams, try Sir Terry Paratchet's Discworld series, if you haven't already read them.
I also have The Murderbot Diaries on my wishlist, from some reddit thread years ago. Haven't gotten around to them yet though, but seeing you recommend them again, going to prioritise them. Though, I still have many books in my backlog that I have to finish before getting more.
I just realised the series is called "Rememberane of Earth's Past" and not "The Three-Body Problem"
Well, these are all great books, you can't really go wrong with any of them, so just have fun!
Dracula Daily
Oooh, that sounds really interesting. I am going to subscribe after November 7, so that I start getting it next year.
I have read Dracula before, but won't mind reading it bit sized like this again.
I recommend it especially to first time readers. So much of the vampire story mythos was crystallized right then and there, it feels kind of progressive for the time and the English doesn't read outright ancient, it's kind of an easy read.
Yeah, thinking about sharing it with some of my friends, so that we read along. They aren't big readers, but it isn't a big book, and reading it over so many months will make easier.
Still the same - working through The Dark Forest (second in the Three Body Problem series) and also reading Everybody Knows Your Mother Is A Witch, the story of Johannes Keplers mother.
I recently finished Bad Cree, which was a great spooky story, and a good Halloween read.
How are you liking Thee Body Problem series? I have heard there is a bit of a slog in the start.
Just looked up Everybody Knows Your Mother Is a Witch, books looks interesting, going to check it out.
The first is a slog, but gets better in the last ~third or so. The second has been really interesting, but doesn’t have that hook yet; I’ve had the opportunity to read it faster, but haven’t. It’s interesting enough though that I want to finish the series, so I feel like that says something, especially since it really wasn’t until the very end of the first book that I decided to continue on with book two.
Yeah, that's pretty much what everyone say about them. They consider most of the first book to be a slog, but still end up reading the whole series. Guess I must read it too. 😀
Just wrapped "The Mystery of the Blue Train" and next up is "Black Coffee, the 7th Poirot novel.