The Looking Glass War

By: John le Carré

Narrated by: Michael Jayston

Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of A Legacy of Spies. John le Carré’s new novel, Agent Running in the Field, is coming October 2019. "You are either good or bad, and both are dangerous". It would have been an easy job for the Circus: A can of film couriered from Helsinki to London. In the past the Circus handled all things political, while the Department dealt with matters military. But the Department has been moribund since the War, its resources siphoned away. Now, one of their agents is dead, and vital evidence verifying the presence of Soviet missiles near the West German border is gone. John Avery is the Department's younger member and its last hope. Charged with handling Fred Leiser, a German-speaking Pole left over from the War, Avery must infiltrate the East and restore his masters' former glory.

John le Carre's The Looking Glass War is a scorching portrayal of misplaced loyalties and innocence lost. With an introduction by the author.

©2013 John le Carre (P)2013 Penguin

Abrupt Ending.

I typically enjoy John Le Carre’s writing, but the rhythm in this novel was disappointing and ended like a thud. Two conclusions-
1- The author couldn’t fashion a better way out and still meet his publishing deadline OR
2-The quixotic quagmire was an intentional device to employ at the end of a laborious plot to leave the reader with the experience and confusion of an agent’s allegiance.
Both seem true to me.
Narration was excellent.

A little slow

This book is a little slow and plodding in places, unlike other Le Carré books.

With nuance le Carré dissects a dying animal.

A minor le Carré on par with 'A Murder of Quality' and 'Call for the Dead', 'the Looking Glass War' explores the pathetic ineptitude, personal and professional betrayals, and the amoral universe of a former military espionage department that has seen better days. With nuance le Carré dissects a dying animal.

At times it felt like a strange combination of Philip Roth (see 'The Dying Animal') meets Robert Littell (see 'The Sisters'). By the end the reader feels betrayed, humanity feels soiled, and nothing at all has really changed.

Good Le Carre novel.

Moving study of the adverse effects of the need for status and human connections on uncritical institutions.

As author intended, LOOKING GLASS WAR critiqued incompetence , less tragic than the ruthless pragmatism of THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD and related flaws depicted in later Le Carre novels. Although later books included portrayals of incompetence, LOOKING GLASS WAR is only one I can remember in which the layered causes and effects of incompetence are central.

Compelling due to rich descriptive language of places, characters, and technologies, the latter including many that are out of date. Important contribution to Le Carre's thematic examination of individuals, institutions, and societies seeking meaning and gratification in Cold War and post-Cold War world

Was left wanting

This book left you in want, but not in a good way. Instead the story could’ve had more development and felt disjointed and without a connective plot. Reading was superb as always.

Great dialogue

The dialogue is what makes le Carré novels so unique and believable. The plot for this one I found a little uninteresting, lacking suspense and direction. Nonetheless, I connected with the characters and am looking forward to the next Smiley novel…

Audiobook > Physical Book?

Read a physical copy of this a few years ago, and I think I actually prefer this version. The acting is superb, and somehow helps establish the mood, the interpersonal tension and politics, as well as looming, brutal futility that my brain just wasn’t capable of last time. Highly recommended.

Character writing

It's sort of like Le Carré looked at Bond novels and said to himself, "I'll do the opposite of that." I approve of the results.

Another great LeCarre

I am really enjoying the smiley series which I first read 30 years ago. They do not date - though for people born since the berlin wall came down they would be an interesting artifact I think. worth the listen

Good but Smiley very small bit player

this is very good and again a stand alone type story though it does peripherally tie in with Smiley. I like the fact that not everything is spelled out for you, you have to think and pay attention. and the ending is a little ambiguous. there isn't a lot of shooting and blowing things up, it's more of a realistic chess game approach. hard to top In From the Cold. on to Tinker...