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.