July 2025 Reads

I've just finished re-reading John Le Carre's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. He's written a lot of excellent spy novels and I've read most of them, and this is one of my favourites, along with The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, which I will re-read next.

I was spurred to take up the book by watching the 2011 film of the same name, which I think did a good job of making a very complex plot understandable. However for screen versions I think I still prefer the seven-part TV series from 1979, starring Alec Guinness. I have it saved on my hard drive, but my laptop currently refuses to play that particular file format so I can't re-watch it until I've sorted out that issue.

>1 John5918: I was surprised to learn last year that John LaCarre's son, Nick Harkaway is carrying on with his father's character from those novels, George Smiley. His newish book, Karla's Choice takes place in time between the two novels that you mentioned above. I haven't read it, but I was drawn to press accounts of this because I had read some of Nick Harkaway's speculative fiction, and had no idea that he was John LeCarre's son. Interestingly, both names are pseudonyms.

I've now re-read two paperbacks by Frederick Forsyth. Generally I like his writing, but The Fox is disappointing. Although the basic story line is OK I found it be rather poorly written, shallow even. It concerns secret agents and perhaps I've been spoiled by my recent reading of Le Carre, who I think sets a very high standard for that genre.

However Forsyth's book of short stories, The Veteran, takes me back to classic Forsyth. I particularly like the short story that the book is named after, "The Veteran".

Incidentally Forsyth has also written a very good non-fiction book, The Biafra Story. He was there as a young reporter during the Biafra war, and he presents an interesting firsthand account which challenges the official narratives of the British and Nigerian governments.

I've found two more of Forsyth's books on my shelf and I've just finished The Fourth Protocol. It's rather good. I enjoyed it, particularly the unexpected ending. I must have read it many years ago, but couldn't remember it. I've now started on The Dogs of War, which I know I have read more recently and indeed more than once.

Joan exceeded my expectations.

My favorite so far this month -
THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ILL-MANNERED LADIES 🌺

Just finished re-reading Harry's Game by Gerald Seymour, a thriller set in Belfast during The Troubles. As good now as when I first read it many years ago.

Moving to something less bloody now to re-read a Jeeves and Wooster omnibus by P G Wodehouse.