Welcome to Litsy!

Having live through and watching the fall of the Berlin Wall while also being scared 💩-less by my older brother of impending nuclear annihilation by the Soviet Union as a child, this book was a fascinating behind-the-(Iron)-Curtain look into just exactly how the West was able to curtail Russian paranoia and ultimately dismantle generations of mistrust. One man sacrificed everything in pursuit of freedom.

A little nonfiction to kick off the weekend.

It‘s hard to not compare The Spy and the Traitor to a typical John le Carre plot. And while le Carre‘s work does come from experience, his novels were total fiction (at least that‘s the consensus 😉). But Macintyre has clearly done his research and written a work of nonfiction just as compelling as anything from le Carre. I will definitely be purchasing a hard copy of this and re-reading it sometime in the near future. So good!

An incredible spy suspense novel filled with dead drops, double crosses, and car chases - and most incredibly, it‘s also a biography and Oleg Gordievsky was a real spy for MI6 inside the KGB during the Cold War. Highly recommended!

Excellent nonfiction for history nerds like me. This is the story of a KGB double agent working for Britain during the 70s and 80s Cold War Era. With big time leaders such as Andropov, Thatcher, Reagan and Gorbachev leading the free and not so free world, Oleg Gordievsky risked his life, sacrificed his personal peace and helped orchestrate the downfall of the Soviet Empire. This book reads much like a novel. I was entranced by the spy world.

Bk2 of July & Bk1 of #JubilantJuly #readathon is done! Yay!🙌 The audiobook read by the author was a fantastic listen, it‘s a story I‘d never heard before. I‘m highly tempted to use this months credit on his story of Kim Philby, the English double agent. Oleg Gordievsky was a rising star in the KGB but the raising of the Berlin Wall turned his loyalty to democracy. Risking his life, he provided more secrets to MI6 than any other spy before 👇👇

I‘m kicking off my #JubilantJuly #readathon (on time for once😋) with another few chapters of this audiobook. Probably do some #audiopuzzling along with it, my eyes are too tired for knitting & I‘ll end up dropping stitches and buggering up bubbas blanket! Wish me luck with my goals for this ‘thon🤞🤞🤞🤞

I did finish my bookish #audiostitching project, though not the tagged audiobook yet. I think it turned out nice for someone who‘s never done embroidery before. Will definitely be doing some more #audiocrafting to finish the book, prob #audioknitting this time. For a NF audiobook about a complicated part of history, it‘s very engaging & interesting. #litsycrafters

Got some bookish themed #audiostitching done to the above NF audiobook today. Haven‘t finished either yet but my eyes are killing me so I‘m calling it till tomorrow. The book is the brilliant story of the biggest Russian double agent during the Cold War & of the only escape managed by a KGB agent from inside Moscow. So far it‘s amazing. The long stitch is the Night Court emblem from A Court Of Thorns & Roses trilogy. #audiocrafting #litsycrafters

5 ⭐ If you want to understand Putin's obsession with bombing the UK and the West, this would be a good place to start.

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Excellent non fiction. Fascinating Cold War story. Well researched and written

A very interesting book about the amount of secret intelligence available to both sides in the latter part of the Cold War. I was amazed at the amount of detailed information each side possessed about the other.

Pretty interesting insights into the mind of spies and those that would turn against their country.

#TBRPile 📚 “For the KGB‘s counter-intelligence section, Directorate K, this was a routine bugging job.”

🎧 This is the best true spy story I‘ve read!

The son of 2 KGB agents, Oleg Gordievsky is the spy in this story. His secret work helped expedite the end of the cold war. How the Brits saved him in the drive to Finland was fascinating. The diaper change on the trunk was brilliant.

I felt terrible for Oleg losing his family & his subsequent depression/drinking.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Wow, that one word is good enough to describe the book. Nothing like the odd 007 character were the protagonist spy could never go wrong backed by what nots. there is a healthy doubtful nature with all the spies running around in realty and by healthy I mean at the border of paranoia well they are all spies.
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This was a thrilling NF spy story! A KGB officer turns informant for the UK during the height of the Cold War leading to a daring rescue inside the USSR. Well researched and written, my heart was racing. Looking forward to discussing with my bookclub next week. #FoodAndLit #Russia

A second book with Russian theme first being A Gentleman in Moscow. And so far it's kept me interested at page 38

I haven‘t read much in this genre for a long time. This true story is superior to the best spy fiction. This was a terrific book for anyone who has any interest in espionage.

I bought a scratch off glove for my Read Around the Globe Challenge. Russia is done has been scratched off.

This was a fantastic, well-written account of KGB agent Oleg Gordievsky‘s work for British Intelligence during the Cold War, including his unbelievable escape from the USSR. This nonfiction book checked all the boxes for a great Cold War espionage tale - secrets, classic tradecraft, betrayals, and heartstopping high stakes gambles - literally life or death moments. The audiobook narrator, John Lee, was perfect for this as well.

“... the only thing more dangerous than revealing your own ignorance is to draw attention to the stupidity of the boss.”

I LOVE Cold War era espionage, and I love that the truth is so bizarre that it would never be allowed in fiction. 😂

Bail biting to say the least!

I've only ever read about experiences similar to ones in this book in works of fiction. Not only are the details mindblowing, but they are also aided by Macintyre's masterful narrative style. I was hooked from the first page, and by the third section, I was on the edge of my seat. James Bond doesn't hold a candle to Oleg Gordievsky.

Now time to read a nonfictional spy story on this windy Saturday.

I found reading the first part something of a chore and only persevered because it was a book club choice. The second part, describing Gordievsky's time in London was mildly interesting and the actual escape in part three was quite exciting, but not enough to rescue the whole book. I suspect, however, this reflects my reaction to the genre rather than the actual quality of the book.

#coffeeandabook #mycover

Ben Macintyre is my go-to for all WWII or Cold War reading. Though his WWII books are among my favorite non-fiction reads, his Cold War books have taken his writing to the next level. He perfectly and succinctly explains the complexities of the Cold War without losing any of the excitement and humanity his books are known for. I saved this book all year hoping for an engrossing holiday read and it lived up to all the hype!

Another great book by Ben Macintyre. The suspense in this one was such that I couldn't put it down. I know it's based on true events, but it reads like a thriller. The book also contains two sets of photos, which I liked (I always like photos in non-fiction books). Agent Zigzag and Double Cross are probably my fave Macintyres, but this book rounds out the top three.

The team tasked with rooting out the mole in British intelligence nicknamed themselves the Nadgers, from a term coined on The Goon Show, meaning a non-specific illness, disease or ailment. Also it's slang for testicles 😂😂😂

Amused by this description of CIA employee Aldrich Ames, who is said to have had "a mustache that never seemed fully confident of itself" ?

Another stellar book from Macintyre. He is far and away my favorite non fiction author. I can‘t wait for his next book.

This week has sucked, so I indulged in a little retail therapy at B&N. Now to curl up with my library book that is due tomorrow and cry because the trainer said I‘m not allowed to let Bailey on my bed anymore because she is inappropriately possessive of me and exhibiting passive-aggressive guarding behaviors that need to stop. 😭😭