adelawad

It's a long while since I read 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' and so approached this book with something resembling trepidtaion, in case I was required to remember huge amounts of knowledge from the earlier book. Fortunately Le Carre is a strong enough writer to allow even the neophyte reader admittance. However, and I don't think my memory is playing tricks on me here, this volume is nowhere near as strong as its predecessor. The plot concerns Smiley setting up plans to catch an Asian spy from London, while occasional spy Jerry Westerby - the honourable schoolboy of the title - is his man on the ground in Hong Kong and the surround. As usual, the Smiley parts are excellent. His sections crackle with excitement even when they are confined to meeting rooms. The book's problem is that it's far more focused on Westerby, and Westerby is a character who never really becomes clear to the reader - with the result that you don't understand why he does the things he does. This is a shame as some of the descriptions of South East Asia would match anything in Graham Greene, so there is some excellent writing in those parts. But when you can't understand the motivations of one of the major characters in a thriller, then the thriller is obviously in trouble. The book is worth taking the time to read - no horrible disappointment lies withing - but it cannot be said that it stands shoulder to shoulder with Tinker Tailor...

2022-09-10 16:05