What books are you into?

[Silktie]

(04-10-2010 09:25 AM)Obsession Wrote:  I've heard that its good to read John Le Carre's novels in a particular order. Anyone have an idea of which book I should read first?

They don't necessarily follow on each other, apart from the three books that make up the Karla trilogy. These three should be read in the order published:
1. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
2. The Honourable Schoolboy
3. Smiley's People

I prefer his older books that play out during the Cold War. Le Carre is a writer that moves with the times so his later books look at latter-day developments in the world. They are still very good books, but for me he is at his best when examining how the spying game was played during the Cold War.

The Spy Who Came In From the Cold is his first spy novel, so that is perhaps a good place to start, followed by the Karla trilogy.

Other books of his that I greatly enjoyed was The Little Drummer Girl, (although it's quite a complicated book and you have to pay attention), A Perfect Spy, The Tailor of Panama and The Constant Gardener.