Many thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes on Tuesday’s post. I had a quiet day, and the posh biscuits were delicious.
With the clocks changing at the weekend, and lots of non-plotting weather over the coming months I’m sure that I’ll be doing plenty of armchair gardening and sofa flying, so there may well be some off-plot posts for a few months.
The last sofa reading post was at the end of May and the break since has been longer than I intended, but hopefully they will resume properly from next month.
Both Liz and I have read spy novels recently. Her choice The English Spy by Daniel Silva is the 15th book in the popular series featuring Gabriel Allon. They’re not books that I’ve read apart from a couple of the early ones.
I’m looking forward to reading John LeCarre‘s recently published A Legacy of Spies, the 9th in the George Smiley series. I recently reread the first of these, Call for the Dead, which was LeCarre’s first book published in 1961. The edition I read is notable as it only shows his surname on the front cover.
Have a good weekend, and happy reading!
Flighty's plot 
Lovely update thank you for sharing and have a blessed weekend as always
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Linda thanks, you’re welcome and you too. xx
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Posh biscuits sounds like a wonderful treat for a birthday. Delighted to hear you bathed in quiet enjoyment.
I mentioned to you I had read a Le Carre book some months ago; I found it a great turn off. It struck me as more of an essay in the spectrum of gratuitous violence and expletives running all the way through it, with other communicating vocabulary getting a bit of a look in when when the other verbal garbage needed something to be attached to. I was not best impressed. With supreme effort, I read to the end of the Le Carre book, deciding not to go down that track again. There are other authors, who, incidentally, don’t avoid explosions of coarse discourse, who write supremely well on similar themes, and who clearly also craft their literary presentations.
xxx
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Menhir they were indeed. Thanks.
I don’t recollect gratuitous violence or expletives in any of his books that I’ve read, which are all earlier ones. I don’t like either in books I read which is perhaps why I much prefer cosy and golden age crime books. I certainly agree with your last sentence. xx
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The book I read was a later one Mr F, and I remember you making the same comparison about cleaner writing in the earlier works. On the plus side, I do like the Smiley film/TV productions, they have produced some stunning performances. xxx
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Glad you had a good birthday. I was wondering when the clocks were going back, thanks for letting me know. I won’t be an hour early for football now! I hope you enjoy the books, I do enjoy the cosy indoorsiness of winter these days, even though I still don’t seem to find enough time for reading. CJ xx
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CJ thanks. You’re welcome. I do too, and that doesn’t surprise me but I hope you do some reading time. xx
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Glad you enjoyed your birthday and the posh biscuits. I’ve never read anything by John Le Carre though I know that his books have been made into TV series, I haven’t watched any of them though.
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Jo thanks. I’ve only read his earlier books, and enjoyed the TV series when it was shown. xx
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There have been a slew of articles about John LeCarre recently, no doubt because of his latest book. I’ve read several of his novels, not all featuring George Smiley. Like you, I found the TV series with Alec Guinness most enjoyable.
(Posh biscuits sound yummy!)
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Liz same here. I’ve not read his more recent books. That was an excellent TV adaption. They sure were. xx
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Belated birthday greetings, sounds like a delicious day
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Uphilldowndale thanks, it was indeed. xx
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LeCarre is the best writer in English today. Everything he touches from Russian oligarchs to Chechen bank corruption is prescient. When he stops writing we will loose the clearest sighted pen of all.
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Cathy you may well be right. I agree. xx
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My brain must be addled from the heat wave — I’d completely forgotten about the time changes.
Thanks for the nudge in LeCarre’s direction. I might see if an audiobook version is available. Roomie’s dad loves spy stories.
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Nikki I’m not surprised in that heat. You’re welcome. His spy stories are highly regarded. xx
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I just read the new le carre, then immediately went back and re-read the main smiley trilogy of which I have first editions. They still hold up as very good books, enjoyed very much. You’ll enjoy the new one.
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Jonathan I’ve read that trilogy at least a couple of times over the years. I agree, and I did too. I’m sure I will. Cheers.
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So pleased that you enjoyed your birthday and the posh biscuits.
My husband enjoys reading John Le Carre.
Enjoy your weekend.
All the best Jan
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Jan thanks. Good for him. You too. xx
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Good to hear that you enjoyed your birthday biscuits! I must look out for LeCarre’s latest book, I do enjoy his books.xxx
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Snowbird thanks, I did indeed. I’m looking forward to reading it, me too. xx
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Sorry I missed your birthday, trying to catch up with myself this weekend! Happy belated birthday from me xxx
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Gill that’s okay, I know the feeling. Many thanks. xx
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