Prepare Yourself For a Little Heartache

I've read this twice before and seen the TV series. It gets better with repetition, but there's always a bit of heartache with LeCarre. I enjoy the way this particular novel switches about between time periods, points of view and between first and third person, but I suppose this could be annoying to some listeners.

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2 people found this helpful

Well written and satisfyingly told

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It is a good story that centres on filling out its one central character. The complex narrative is handled well and I remember its details a year after finishing it.

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Excellent

As ever a superb tale from John Le Carre. I've listened to most of the Le Carre books on Audible and the combination of his writing with Michael Jaystons narration is a winner.

Crackerjack!

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Concentration required!

Not a light read. Chopping back & forward through tine - a lot of concentration required.

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A Perfect Espionage Novel

As always with Le Carré an excellent story, dark and believable. Thoroughly gripping.

Can't say much more without spoiling it.

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Spy thriller for grown-ups

Le Carré is a skilled writer. Of this there is no doubt. This story unpeels with a sort of inevitable fascination. I loved the clever non linear nature of the storytelling filling in gaps as you go and delivering on the questions you have about Magnus and his world. I have been listening to Mick Herron's Slough House, which are great, but sorry Mick, JLC is the master. JLC shows again that he has a depth of understanding of human nature, and the mastery of the craft of the novel format that allows him to perform such wonderful magic with it. I had not expected to be drawn in so quickly to a story-line that requires you to have patience and figure things out for yourself. You get fascinated by details and points of view. The narration is top shelf - absolutely perfectly matched to the writing. I have never before got such a sense from a narrator that they are so thoroughly enjoying the material.

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The Perfect Novel

If a true novel is a vehicle for self-discovery via the author’s own journey of awareness then A Perfect Spy is surely that.

There’s little point outlining the plot and the comparisons between Rick and Ronnie Cornwell. You know all of that. Magnus Pym’s development as a boy, man, son, father and spy are superbly covered with many tricks and linguistic flourishes that launch this book so high above many other works of fiction. Le Carré was simply a genius. He also captures the post-war years where respect for the ‘establishment’ was a sine qua non.

Yes I learned much about Europe whilst Yugoslavia still existed and Czechoslovakia was part of the ‘enemy’ but I learned far more about myself as the book progressed.

Michael Jayson has the perfect voice and pitch for Le Carré. He gets 5 stars too. But why does he never finish the words “box” and “watch”?? Is it some kind of private joke? It reminded me of his voice-over for the Revels TV adverts way back when.

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Confusing narrative

The switches between narrator and first person, time and place and the identities of the characters made this hard going at times. I love Le Carre and narration by Michael Jayston or the great man himself but for the first time, in these wonderful spy novels, I found it hard to resist skipping to the inevitable denouement.

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What a lot of words for not much action

I wasted hours of my life on this book. Lovely descriptions but what a waste of paper! It was hard to follow who was who and what was happening. I didn’t enjoy it much at all.

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Another good one.

Really enjoyed it. Good characters and story as usual. I'd recommend it if you like the authors other work's.

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