A few years ago, I decided there was something missing from my reading. Crime after crime after crime can be a bit numbing, so in a bid to keep things fresh I decided to venture into the world of Chick-Lit. Actually not, I thought a bit of intrigue, a bit of politics, a bit of dark art scheming in the shadows, lone wolf agents, the Cold War.......a whole world of fiction that I had ignored for too long..........Espionage!What followed was the typical scenario, I read a couple of Olen Steinhauer books set in 60's Eastern Europe, loved them. Went out and bought a load of books by Adam Hall, John Le Carre, Charles McCarry, Len Deighton, Stella Rimington, Alex Berenson, Anthony Price - to name a few and then carried on reading my usual fare. Of the above, I have read one Le Carre and one Deighton book of short stories to date.
In 2014, I will set myself a target of reading 12 books that are pigeon-holed in this genre.
If I can read a few that fill some spots on my other reading challenges, probably Vintage reads with maybe a USA state of two, all the better.
2014 then I will hopefully spend some time in the company of Bourne, Smiley and Palmer as well as some other agents, Liz Carlyle, John Wells, Paul Christopher!
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| Jason Bourne |
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| George Smiley |
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| Harry Palmer |
Col, I'm glad you plan to read my kind of books and I look forward to both your choice of novels and reviews. I could spend all my life reading only espionage books. Len Deighton is a terrific writer. I also recommend the very conservative spy novels of Craig Thomas.
ReplyDeleteI think I have missed out by avoiding these books for so long.
DeleteI believe I have Firefox on the shelves somewhere, but steered clear of others by him - because they seemed more techno-orientated than based around a character. You're about to tell me I have got him all wrong!
Col, I think "Firefox" was one of Thomas' best novels. You're right about the techno aspect of his stories although I like them more for the rather ageing character of Sir Kenneth Aubrey, deputy head of British intelligence, and the realistic portrayal of espionage—far removed from the Ian Flemings, James Bonds, and Tom Clancys. Le Carre comes close.
DeleteFood for thought then, maybe? I only acquired one Clancy, maybe two in fact for the same reason. Red October and something else (scratches head,)
DeleteFleming/Bond is on the TBR pile as well. (Not read one yet.) I never really was a Bond film fan growing up, so I will see how I get on there with the character.
Great - I look forward to some recommendations. I like a good old-fashioned cold war spy book, and have enjoyed John le Carre and some Eric Ambler, and am about to do a Len Deighton on the blog (though I came to that via food and the Guardian!). What about Charles Cummings? I read 2 by him and enjoyed with reservations.
ReplyDeleteAmbler will hopefully figure, Moira. And possibly something by Helen MacInnes.
DeleteI read Typhoon by Cummings and didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped to. There are of course others of his laying around on the shelves!
Jeremy Duns is another modern exponent - I have read one so far and enjoyed it. Daniel Silva ditto.........spoiled for choice really!
Col - Oh, this does sound like an interesting challenge, and I respect your plan to broaden your reading that way. I'll look forward to your reviews. I think you'll really like le Carre and Deighton.
ReplyDeleteMargot thanks - I'm quite looking forward to more in this genre or sub-genre, however it gets classified!
DeleteOh this is great! I own some of the books but just haven't read as many as I would have liked either. Hope to rectify that next year. How many book challenges so far? I've counted 3 I think. How many are you doing?
ReplyDeleteKeishon - this one's number 4!
DeleteUSA - State challenge, Scottish challenge, Vintage mysteries all organised by others. This one's for my own amusement.
I think I may do another one of my own making - Australian authors - 12 books in the year ahead - plenty to choose from at home. I think I've only read 3 from Aus this year.
The commitment was going to be about 100 books for these 5 above, but I was intending a bit of double counting where books hit two of the criteria.
Tracy posted on her blog another one the other day - TBR Pile Challenge that I have accepted in my head anyway - that's number 6 and I'll call it a day at that! Otherwise I'll spend more time challenging everyone and everything and none reading!
Six total, ok. That should keep you busy and I don't see why you wouldn't have some crossover. Good to have a strategy in place.
Delete6 - if I say it really quickly it doesn't sound a lot......haha
ReplyDeleteI didn't even notice your title said 4. duh, went straight to the article. No excuse and I don't drink coffee.
DeleteYou know I was half-tempted to say, but I was surprisingly restrained (for me).....season of peace and goodwill to fellowmen (women) and all that.
DeleteI let you off lightly!
I appreciate your restraint :)))
DeleteMr Nice Guy :)
DeleteI will echo other comments. This is great. I love espionage fiction and I plan to indulge in more this year too. I have read all the McCarry books except his most recent, and loved all of them and would like to reread them but no time for that. I don't know if I like McCarry or Deighton best, now that I think about it.
ReplyDeleteI have not tried Adam Hall, Stella Rimington, Alex Berenson, or Anthony Price, so really looking forward to reviews of books by those authors.
Tracy, I really don't know why I stepped away from these books after trying a few.
ReplyDeleteMcCarry interests me, I'm a bit of a completist, so I don't know if I need to read the books with Christopher's cousins in or not. I do like extended families in fiction. Any thoughts?
I read both of the Christopher's cousins books. I read them between Second Sight and Old Boys. I was glad I did. I think they all tie together.
DeleteThanks, 2 more to add to the list then as I don't have the cousin books! I probably don't need them straight away though, I should get some reading under my belt first.
DeleteIt won't hurt to hold off. You might not even like his style. Miernik Dossier is good but not like the rest of the books. I loved them all.
DeleteOoooh, I better like them !! I have 7 x Paul Christopher and Lucky Bastard as well. Firesale coming if I don't!
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