Barely Tinkered

Tinker Tailor took over 2 weeks to finish - the story that started out as a drag (I had to almost skip the first chapter) sort of ended the same way. By the time I had over a 100 pages left, I started to skim through the words. The in-between was not bad but really not anything out of this world either. 

An honest assessment of the book would be that it was disappointing. For reasons unknown, I wanted to like the book; I really did. However, I have to confess that I didn't. I loved the Constant Gardener movie and am very much looking forward to watching Tinker Tailor with Gary Oldman. But the book did not live up to any of the movie's hype. Seldom does it happen that a movie is better than a book but I guess John Le Carre's stories make better movies than books. No matter how hard I tried, it remained a very difficult book to read.

Moving on, a few days before Sophie arrived I started reading Triple by my favorite Welsh author - Ken Follett. Amidst all the excitement and nervousness, I could barely go past the first 3 pages but now I am ready to try it again. Follett wrote this story pre his Pillars of the Earth days. On his website, he says, "It is based on a true story about the Israelis stealing uranium to make their own nuclear bomb. I was intrigued by how the Israeli's had gone about this and I saw the potential for a very good action climax where a bunch of commandos take over a ship. The style was known as "faction", meaning fiction very closely based on fact, and it was fashionable in the 1970's."

A good spy thriller is just what I need after the failed action of Tinker Tailor. So lets see how Triple tickles my imagination. 

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Reading Thich Naht Hanh’s powerful message made me want to practice being mindful so I decided to take a break from the heavy reading and venture into something a little more light hearted. During one of my trips up north, I had borrowed several books from my in-laws (they generously hold on to all new books until I have plundered through them and taken my pick) so I looked onto that pile for inspiration and found Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre staring back at me. 

Gary Oldman starred in the movie of the same name and when Netflix diligently dropped off the movie as our next pick, I boycotted it (leaving the husband to watch it alone) in lieu of reading the book first. The movie, according to the husband is extremely good so I will move in that direction once the book is done. So far, I haven’t reached far – you know how British authors are – they go on and on for no explained reason. While at the first chapter, serious consideration was given to abandonment – I couldn’t even understand what he was talking about, but the second chapter changed my whole attitude! I am totally immersed in the book. After thoroughly disliking his latest novel, Our Kind of Traitor, I am pleasantly surprised at how well Tinker, Tailor is holding me. 

The story, part of a trilogy, is about Smiley a retired agent from the British intelligence called back to hunt down a Russian mole in the MI-6. I’m about 60 pages in and it is highly conversational so the story will take its sweet time to develop.  So far a scene is depicted where a young agent is describing an affair, he was engaged in, with a Russian agent in attempts to have her defect but instead she ends up presumably dead or at least very hurt. The story is set during the Cold War; however, this hasn’t yet been established in the book. 

While I get my spy game on, hum on a nursery rhyme from where the name was borrowed. 

Tinker, Tailor,

Soldier, Sailor,

Rich Man, Poor Man,

Beggarman, Thief.