Teaser Tuesdays – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré

This is one quote that I liked from this book. I love how this book and this quote shows the human face of spies. Here is super-spy George Smiley going through his wife’s bills and pondering about her love affair with another man…

Putting on the hall light, he stooped and peered through his post. One “account rendered” from his tailor for a suit he had not ordered but that he suspected was one of those presently adorning Ann’s lover; one bill from a garage in Henley for her petrol (what, pray, were they doing in Henley); one letter from the bank regarding a local cashing facility in favour of the Lady Ann Smiley at a branch of the Midland Bank of Immingham.

And what the devil, he demanded of this document are they doing in Immingham? Who ever had a love affair in Immingham, for goodness’ sake? Where was Immingham?

~ Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré

About as far away from James Bond as you can get…

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

11 comments

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    • Nish

      @ahellofawoman: hehe, I don’t blame you. The book is pretty dense, and hard to follow…this seems like a difficult movie to film. The book is worth it though for the insights into the MI5 and MI6, and the issues of the time. Plus, it has a very gritty, authentic feel to it. John le Carré used to be a spy with MI5 and he brings a lot of his experiences into the book very well.

      It’s hard going, but so far I still like the book 🙂

  1. Book Blather

    Lol, yep, pretty far! The movie version of this was too confusing to follow and I hear the television show was the same – is the book better? Love this cover.

    • Nish

      @Book Blather: It will come in my review, but the book is pretty confusing too. It’s definitely not a quick spy read. I end up reading 20-30 pages and then have to put it down.

      It reads a little odd for a spy thriller, but I love this genre, and so I still like this book, but I don’t think it’s for everyone.

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