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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy | John le Carre
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StolenBookmobile
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Trying to read…..and sleep….but my brain keeps asking these important questions 😂😜

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StolenBookmobile
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I love it when my son picks me flowers 💕

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Trace
Mehso-so

First time reading the author.

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Readerann
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Pickpick

It was time to mix it up, and jump into Smiley‘s world for a while. I think I‘ll try to finish up this series. I‘d forgotten how good Le Carré is.

BarbaraBB I‘ve had this one on my shelves for ages. Glad to hear it is good. (edited) 2y
Readerann @BarbaraBB It took me a few Smiley books to get into the “flow”, but I think they have a style all their own. 2y
BarbaraBB Ah, you‘re on a Smiley roll! 2y
17 likes3 comments
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TheSpineView
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#Movie2BookRecs @klou
Prompt: The Quiet American

Klou Perfect! 2y
44 likes2 comments
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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

This is part of the #bigjubileereadingchallenge as well as #bookspin. Despite the fact this is part of a series and I hadn‘t read the first few books, I still found this to be a solid story that got my attention right from the start. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
37 likes1 comment
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Therewillbebooks
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Pickpick

Just released our Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy episode. It's a very complex and subtle book and le Carre kind of just pushes the reader into the deep end, and you do have to do your share of the work, figuring out what's going. Still, it's very enjoyable for all that. Tune in to hear us discuss both the book and movie versions!

https://anchor.fm/peter-murphy8

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DGRachel
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Pickpick

Control is sure there‘s a Russian mole in the Circus, and he runs a secret op to find his identity. It goes horribly wrong and years later, the mole hunt falls to Smiley. TTSS is the 5th Smiley novel and the 1st of the Karla Trilogy. I‘ve read this one more times than I can count because I love it. It‘s a slow burn with complex characters. While it takes a long time to set up the chessboard, the way le Carré moves the pieces is brilliant.

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MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm
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Pickpick

3.5 ⭐️s … I think?
I don‘t think I can properly judge this novel. Le Carre‘s writing was an absolute treat to read, he was fantastically talented. I think espionage just isn‘t my cup of tea…
I had mixed feelings about the ending. (FUCK YOU ANN! 🤬) But I enjoyed it enough and especially found Smiley interesting enough to possibly delve into more of the series…someday…maybe… 😅 Either way, I now know why the late author has such a devout following.

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Oh! Also this was my July #bookspin read @TheAromaofBooks 😅 Finally got to it a month later! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
The_Penniless_Author I only recently got around to reading Le Carre and really love his writing. If you give him another try, I'd suggest The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. That's been my favorite so far. 3y
See All 6 Comments
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @The_Penniless_Author Thanks for the recommendation! I‘ll definitely check it out. 👍 3y
DGRachel I second @The_Penniless_Author recommendation, but I‘ll also say that I think all of the Smiley novels are brilliant. Cold War Spy novels are my catnip, though. Le Carre is the absolute master and Smiley is my favorite spy. 🖤 3y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @DGRachel This was my first foray into these kinds of novels, so I wasn‘t quite sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised though and will definitely read more of his works in the future. ❤️ 3y
38 likes6 comments
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susurran
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Pickpick

Time to cheer myself up with an annual reading of one of my favorite books of all time. The single best work of espionage fiction ever written.

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Nicos
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Pickpick

Flipbook format

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The_Penniless_Author
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#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

The truth is, if old Major Dover hadn't dropped dead at Taunton races Jim would never have come to Thursgood's at all.

Vansa So absolutely memorable. 4y
28 likes1 comment
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DGRachel
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https://crimereads.com/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy-and-the-greatest-office-christm...

@vivastory I thought you might enjoy this, if you haven‘t already seen the article.

vivastory I haven't seen it. Will definitely read it later today. Thanks for tagging me! 4y
rabbitprincess Excellent article. I love this movie as well. Saw it three times in theatres when it was first released! 4y
DGRachel @rabbitprincess I watched it again tonight. 4y
39 likes3 comments
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Leftcoastzen
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RIP 😢 https://apple.news/A0NT8yX1CRt2UaghsqYz7Ag or other places for news,this from Washington Post.

Howard_L RIP. Master of the genre. 4y
36 likes1 comment
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andrew61
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#20series20days @Andrew65 day13
One of my favourite characters, writers, and series of books about George smiley, which began with call for the dead in 1961 and ended with the very good final legacy of spies. The central trilogy is so good and evokes memories of watching alec Guinness although i enjoyed gary Oldman's different portrayal as well. George even had a bit part in spy who came in from the cold. Yes i am a fan.

MsMelissa I love spy novels, so I can‘t believe I‘ve only read one Le Carre book in my life! It wasn‘t even a spy novel 4y
29 likes1 comment
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Martta
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Bailedbailed

I listened this half way as an audio book but couldn't really get into it so I decided to give up. It might be a good book but it's not for me at the moment. I've noticed that lately the books I read have to fit my life in some way and this just didn't work for me now.

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NEgardener
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An absolutely perfect afternoon with the family at Walden Pond. #johnlecarre

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Freespirit
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One of my favourite things to do after a night shift sleep is to take a walk around our farm, especially now that the weather is milder. Today I took John Le Carre and Smiley with me on an #audiowalk along our driveway and through the Macadamia and Pecan orchard. Autumn is just such a great time of year.

Velvetfur I love those beautiful photos! All that gorgeous green 💚, and I love the really tall trees pic 💜 6y
Freespirit Thanks Vikki @Velvetfur it's much greener than its been for months because we have had some recent rain 🙏🏼. The tall trees along our drive are gums...native to Australia🌿 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Beautiful! Love those tall gums trees 🌳 6y
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Crazeedi What a beautiful farm! I love the peacefulness these pictures evoke! ❣💞 6y
Freespirit Thank you @erzascarletbookgasm they are one my favourite trees😊 6y
Freespirit Thanks @Crazeedi we love our farm. It's lovely to wonder around at this time of year. 6y
LapReader Lucky lady. 6y
Freespirit Thanks @LapReader Alissa😊 6y
DGRachel Beautiful!! That's one of my favorite books, too. :) 6y
Freespirit It's a complex book @DGRachel and helps that I saw the movie I think. He is a great story teller! 6y
41 likes10 comments
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Lulu6

“...in the hands of politicians grand designs achieve nothing but new forms of the old misery...”

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DGRachel
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I can‘t figure out what it is about my current read that I‘m not feeling, but I‘m apparently doing everything to avoid it. I haven‘t read a single page since Friday. Tonight, I‘m watching a film version of one of my all-time favorite spy novels. Le Carre is an absolute master of the genre. 😎💖 (Personally, I think Alec Guinness is a better Smiley, but I don‘t have enough time tonight to watch his version)

Scurvygirl I adore this movie... did not even think that this was even a novel. Tom Hardy is my 💚💚💚. Stacked!!! 6y
DGRachel @Scurvygirl It‘s such a great novel. It‘s the fifth of the George Smiley novels (the first four are much shorter) and the first of the Karla trilogy. 6y
CampbellTaraL Look at that actor lineup... 😍 But yeah, the book! Totally gonna check out the book. 6y
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Scurvygirl @DGRachel thanks chickie! Will check it out! 6y
rabbitprincess I always picture Alec Guinness as Smiley but prefer the movie to the miniseries. I saw it three times in theatres 😂 6y
DGRachel @rabbitprincess I feel the need for a Le Carre film marathon. I think I‘m going to watch The Spy Who Came in from the Cold with Richard Burton tomorrow and then TTSS and Smiley‘s People with Alec Guinness next weekend. That will give me something to look forward to during the long work week. 😊 6y
rabbitprincess @DGRachel That sounds like an excellent plan! 😊 6y
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larah17
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Pickpick

I completely forgot that I listened to this audiobook a few weeks ago, as I wanted to watch the movie. George Smiley, recently retired from British intelligence, is brought back to search for a suspected Russian spy within the top ranks of the agency. The book is really interesting, although I found myself getting lost in parts, but I think that wouldn‘t be an issue if I had read it!

DGRachel I love the Smiley books (and the film adaptations). You really need to read the books before watching the film, though, otherwise you‘d be completely lost! 6y
larah17 @DGRachel oh absolutely! I saw the film years ago and was so confused 😂 then watched it after reading the book and it was great! 6y
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bunneeboy
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Pickpick

George Smiley is one cool cat!

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LibrarianToujours
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Pickpick

I watched the movie last weekend when I was sick and it made me want to know more. I‘ve never read a spy novel before and I think this was pretty decent. A little confusing in parts: the jargon used and some timelines/situations, plus this book is right in the middle of the Smiley series. But I liked it enough that I might read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold next.

BethFishReads The jargon takes a bit but le Carre is good 7y
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LibrarianToujours
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Reading in front of the fire... you know, like you do in the middle of April 🙄❄️💧😖

Melissa_J That looks so lovely and cozy 😊 7y
Aims42 Ughhh, I‘m tired of winter coats and snow!! 😩 7y
LibrarianToujours @Melissa_J It is... but I‘m ready for it to be lovely and cozy outside instead ☀️🌸😀 7y
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LibrarianToujours @Aims42 Me too!!! I‘m tired of getting excited when I see bare ground then: nope, never mind. 7y
Suet624 Grrr.. snowed a bit this morning. 7y
LibrarianToujours @Suet624 Here, too 🙄 7y
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DRNeb18
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"I know that Moscow has planted a mole, and I know it is one of five men"

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Vansa
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What a stunning line.

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Augustdana
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#riotgrams day 17: an unreturned book. I told a friend of mine how much I enjoyed the night manager series, and all of a sudden I get more Le Carré than I can handle. I read the night manager last year, maybe I‘ll get to these sometime.

PictureandBook An all time favorite. 7y
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MayJasper
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Finally the eve of the #fallbookexchange has arrived. I can't wait to open my box. In the meantime I busy myself with a photo challenge #spooky
There's plenty of spooks in these books.
I watched the TV series 'The Night Manager' last year. Kept me in an agony of suspense till the last moment. So intense and down right scary. Brilliant.
#uncannyoctober @RealLifeReading

JazzFeathers 😍😍😍😍 Oh my goodness, l love all these covers 😍😍😍😍 7y
MayJasper @JazzFeathers I love them too. They are all Penguin Modern Classics 7y
JazzFeathers @MayJasper The Penguin Modrrn Classics always have such goid covers 😊 7y
71 likes3 comments
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LauraBeth
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The husband last night: "What still fascinates you in life?"
Me: "Spies. Double agents. People leading double lives. That sort of thing."
The husband: "Really?? I've never seen you read a spy novel."
Me: "OMG - I haven't! Ever!"
The husband: "Not even that Tinker Tinker book? Just watch the movie - your Mr. Darcy is in it."

Our conversations are progressively getting dumber the longer we're married.

vivastory 😂😂 7y
MicheleinPhilly ?I always get a dirty look when I laugh just a little too hard at that bit that Chris Rock does about being with someone for a long time and you've heard everything they could possibly have to say. "Go out and have some new shit happen to you!" 7y
readinginthedark 😂Yeah, when I tell people my husband and I sit in the same room for hours without talking, they think I'm crazy. We'll talk when we have something to say! I'm reading, he's watching videos or playing a game, we'll find something. 7y
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Balibee146 Lol My Sherlock is in it too with dodgy barnet :-D 7y
AlaMich 🤣🤣🤣 7y
TheWordJar ? I love "Tinker Tinker" ? 7y
aeeklund It's not dumber, it's just shorthand (at least that's what I tell myself). 😉🤣 7y
alanacristin This conversation is glorious 😍 so many things in one moment there that my husband would never reference 😂 7y
LeahBergen I've been with my husband so long that we pretty much grunt and babble like toddlers. 😆 7y
CotziasReads Favorite movie. Hubs & I quotes lines from movie constantly and sang "Mr woo what will I do" I wish they would make Le Carrè's Smiley's People into a movie with Gary Oldman (I love the BBC series) 7y
rabbitprincess I love this movie! My favourite line is Control yelling at Esterhase, "I should have left you where I found you!" Sadly not a line that can be worked easily into conversation ? 7y
LauraBeth @vivastory at least he kept it in bookish territory 😂 7y
LauraBeth @MicheleinPhilly ??"Married and bored or single and lonely." The husband laughs just a little too hard at Rock's bit about practicing your alibi in front of the mirror 7y
LauraBeth @readinginthedark I don't understand people who have to talk ALL the time 😂 7y
LauraBeth @AlaMich and yet now I want to read this 😀 7y
LauraBeth @aeeklund that's a good way of looking at it 😀 7y
LauraBeth @alanacristin it comes from years of him having to listen to me yammer about books 😀 7y
LauraBeth @LeahBergen 😂😂this makes like easier 7y
LauraBeth @TamCotzias my aunt regularly references this exact BBC series - I still need to see it! 7y
LauraBeth @rabbitprincess oh you can work that line in somehow! 😂 7y
CotziasReads @rabbitprincess my favorite line is Toby "but I am Loyal" Also Connie has great lines "I don't know about you George but I am feeling seriously under fucked" and Connie: "It was a good time back then" .
Smiley: "It was a war, Connie."
Connie: "A war we could be proud of"
7y
thebeercolonel Splendid book and the TV series remains one of the best things ever broadcast. "Everyone's love to Anne." 7y
AlaMich @LeahBergen 🤣🤣🤣 7y
117 likes7 stack adds25 comments
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mom2bugnbee
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1. @DeweysReadathon facebook page
2. Goodreads. I keep a written journal for books completed/currently reading.
3. Either
4. Yes. Especially if I've read it.
5. Never, which surprises most. B/c I love to talk books, to anyone.
6. Columbine
7. The Princess Diarist
8. The Story of Old Jack
9. Depends on person/genre. HP, Little Women, Dark Matter are some recents.
10. Mother, Teacher, Reader, Wife. (get it?)

@christyco125 #tbrboost

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mdbstar12
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Pickpick

I feel like I didn't quite give this book the attention it deserved --I listened to it but not really attentively enough so there were some connections I missed and some plot points I couldn't quite understand. With that being said though, it was a solid classic spy novel which kept me entertained through the end!

Yanes This is on my TBR for ages.... like so many other books... maybe this one needs an upgrade 😉 7y
28 likes1 stack add1 comment
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SpecsyBeast
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@bookriot #Riotgrams Day 3: #HowYouRead

I crack spines. Some people say it's a terrible thing to do to books, but to me it just means they're well loved. A few of my favorite paperbacks are only kept together with scotch tape. I'd much rather they be covered with cracks and wrinkles than collect dust.

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Kimberlone
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First day of the #Riotgrams photo challenge for June. Here's a #shelfie of my "fancy books."

16 likes1 stack add
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DGRachel
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While these novels have action in many cities, The Circus is in London, and when The Circus calls, Smiley comes running. 😉

#londoncalling #rockinmay

Making this post work for multiple challenges because I'm at work. I'm also #obsessed with LeCarre's Smiley novels. I own them all in print, but just have these three on my Kindle. Smiley also works for #illbeyourman

#maybookflowers #melodicmay

JazzFeathers Really, really love those covers. What are these novels about. I've never read Le Carrè 8y
DGRachel @JazzFeathers The Smiley novels are Cold War spy thrillers. They are dense, complex, and so good. 8y
Cinfhen Like your challenge mashup ❣️ 8y
See All 6 Comments
andrew61 A great choice. 8y
EvieBee I was listening to Nancy Pearl talk about how she rereads these every year. I need to read them!! 7y
DGRachel @EvieBee84 Yes! I love them. I haven't reread all of them, but I have reread several of the Smiley novels and there's a new one coming out this year, which is super exciting! 7y
69 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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andrew61
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#dropeverythingandread #aprilbookshowers
I believe there is a new George smiley book cominh out in the autumn. That will definitely be an excuse to drop everything.

IReadThereforeIBlog I am so excited for the new Smiley. Sounds amazing. 8y
12 likes1 comment
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ValerieAndBooks
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Over the last few days, I've been trying to get into this , and you can see by the bookmark that I haven't gotten very far (page 16, to be exact). But I just keep being confused even when reading the pages over and over. Maybe it's that spy novels aren't a genre I normally read. I picked it up for year 1974 for my #birthdaychallenge -- should I bail?

Hooked_on_books I would say bail for now and try it again later. If you get the same result, time to look for another 1974 book! 8y
Cinfhen I'm saying #AllHailtheBail 😉 8y
Sace I love that bookmark! I say bail. Life is too short. 8y
See All 9 Comments
kspenmoll Read this & others when they were published- wonder what it would be like for me now? I remember enjoying his books but my dad read them too & we talked about them; I am guessing that helped. 8y
Sue Bail! And great bookmark (edited) 8y
mhillis I had the same problem with this book! Watch the movie instead? 8y
ValerieAndBooks @Hooked_on_books @Cinfhen @Sace @Sue I think I'll go ahead and bail. I won't rule out returning to it in the near future. @mhillis good idea...maybe one of those rare instances where the movie should be seen first? @kspenmoll Yes I am sure it made a big difference getting to talk them with your dad 😊! BTW you all the bookmark is one that I colored from a set @KarenUK gave me as Secret Santa, I ❤ it too! 8y
LauraJ I'm going to have to let you stay a year ahead of me so I can continue to avoid the clunkers! 8y
ValerieAndBooks @LauraJ haha! It seems to have been (still is?) pretty popular so I think it was just not my type. Still stumped for this year...may resort to this non-fiction one I've had in my TBR forever! 8y
65 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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rabbitprincess
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Pickpick

Appreciating this book more with every reread. It is quiet and meticulous and occasionally shocking.
(Image source: somewhere on Pinterest)

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Eyelit
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This one was fun and I had more than I thought! #alliterativetitles #marchintoreading

RealLifeReading Oh nice one with the 8y
CrowCAH Woot a P&P! ☺️ 8y
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rabbitprincess
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rabbitprincess
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@writerlibrarian Is this the scene you were talking about with Benedict in front of the elevator? There's a freight elevator in my office complex that is very similar to this one, and I think of the movie every time I walk by.

readinginthedark 😱😱😱 7y
rabbitprincess @readinginthedark I WISH that Benedict would pop out of the freight elevator at work 😂 7y
readinginthedark But not with that crazy killer look on his face! 🙈😂 (edited) 7y
rabbitprincess @readinginthedark Yes and with his natural auburn hair 😍 7y
18 likes4 comments
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writerlibrarian
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Pickpick

Riveting and smart. Le Carré is a master of the spy genre. Smiley and his crew on the hunt for a mole inside the Circus could have been boring. Paper trails, reading through old files... Smiley is not Jason Bourne and that's a good thing. A really good thing. It's a fantastic chess game by proxy. The hunt for Karla's spy inside the organization takes the form of a long journey backwards, from the outside.

ValerieAndBooks I'm looking forward to starting this soon! 8y
Lidia I loved the movie and would like to read the book. I actually prefer this than Jason Bourne 8y
rabbitprincess Rereading this now! I loved the movie too. Saw it three times in theatres! 😄 (edited) 8y
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writerlibrarian @rabbitprincess Love both the movie book. I tried to find a pic of Benedict in front of the elevator but couldn't iconic pose from the movie. I love the slow pace of the book. 8y
writerlibrarian @Lidia The book is really good. You don't really need to read previous books in the Smiley universe to enjoy it. 8y
writerlibrarian @ValerieAndBooks I hope it lives up to your expectations. 8y
33 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Cydster61
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RealLifeReading That's a nice edition! 8y
EricQiao Yes! Love le Carre. ❤️ 8y
10 likes2 comments
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rabbitprincess
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I first read this book at the age of 13 or 14. Liked it well enough but it felt a bit vague to me. Watched the miniseries. Read the book again. Then I watched the movie, and wow! Something about the movie clicked for me and made me read the book in a whole new light.
#feistyfeb day 4: book you changed your mind about

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hlgreenfield
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#riotgrams #day3 #favoritevillain So I must admit I thought long and hard about who to choose for my favourite villain, but when I remembered Karla I knew I had my pick. It's just so brilliantly set up because he pretty much never shows up during the whole trilogy ( or for like one flashback scene or so) and yet he is always there in the background, menacing and the perfect foil for George Smiley! Absolutely riveting spy novels!

DGRachel Great choice! 8y
20 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Anton
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The Spy Who Came In From The Cold + the return of Sherlock & a new Tom Hardy show ("Taboo", which debuted last week) have all conspired to get me to re-watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Such a great movie, I like it more with each viewing. PS, The Circus is a super cool name for a spy agency.

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Slynn71
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I havent posted in a while. I had to give up on Grace of Kings. Then I jumped into TTSS. I gotta say its not one of my favorites in the George Smiley series. There's so much going on my notes have notes. Im determined to get through it. I liked the RL Kim Philby drama a lot. I feel like Le Carre bit off more than he could chew w this one.

mickeysirena Interesting. I saw the movie and really liked it but I felt like there were so many layers to the storyline that I'm sure I missed something. I put the book on my TBR because I thought it would help me parse some of that stuff out. Looks like the book is as complicated as the movie. 8y
Slynn71 I read it after reading A Spy Among Friends about Kim Philby. Le Carre wrote the afterward and based TTSS on him. Philby is a more colorful man than Bill Hayden, the "Philby" character. I've been reading the Smiley books and this is my least favorite. People love this book. The Spy Who Came In From the Cold was much better. 8y
10 likes2 comments
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rach_simone
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I've read the book and seen the movie (the Gary Oldman one) a couple of times and I don't think I fully understand it! #PhotoADayNov16 #SpyNovels

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UnabridgedTomes
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Bailedbailed

Filed under: This Book Should Have Been Right Up My Alley, But It Just Wasn't And So I Gave Up. I thought it'd be gripping and unputtdownable and it was very, very easy to put it down in favor of literally anything else. Apologies to Mr. Le Carre.

BookHermit I felt the same way about the movie. Fell asleep 10 minutes in 😳 8y
10 likes1 comment
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AllisonChaseWilliams
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Happy #nationalreadabookday! I just started reading #tinkertailorsoldierspy by #johnlecarre. What are you #reading?

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AllisonChaseWilliams

Happy #nationalreadabookday! I just started reading #tinkertailorsoldierspy by #johnlecarré. What are you #reading?