Reviews

The Secret Pilgrim by John le Carré

kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition

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5.0

Great Another good audio adaption from the Smiley players.  The story is more of a interlinked series of stories about the spy business and the question of morality.  The Vietnam section while very powerful, is also somewhat predictable, and considering the treatment of women in certain professionals, also somewhat anger inducing.

ajbutler12's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

chairmanbernanke's review against another edition

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2.0

Spy novel of recalling life’s events and retiring.

therobrussell's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

pa_8213's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

ethan_js's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars ⭐️ one of the best of the rest as far as the le carre I’ve read, it’s not quite as brilliant imo as some (looking glass war, tinker tailor, etc) but I think it’s really effective at capturing a lot of his themes, and I just really like le carre

chrisam's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

leasttorque's review against another edition

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4.0

I’d give this three stars in spite of the great writing and incisive commentary on the spy business due to it being short stories with tenuous linkage. Most of the stories would have been better served by individual novels. And yet the cumulative effect of moving through time as one spy slowly evolves his views is worthy. Still, three stars but for the tear-inducing laughter of lines like this:

“One wit in the Pool mailroom said he came from nowhere at all: that he had been born as found, smelling of aftershave and power”

In any case, what a scuzzy business is spying.

pluginsteadman's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

tbennekillers's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0