What's the ebst way to tackle Le Carre?

[WetAugust]

Read Tinker Tailor when the latest film version came out and then Smiley's People.

Have just finished Our Sort of Traitor - very disappointing ending.

I want to read all his books but do you recommend reading chronologically or by picking some of his better books (to compensate for the disappoint of Our Sort of Traitor?)

Any I should avoid?

Thank you

[WetAugust]

Obviously my Title should say 'best'

[LadyPeterWimsey]

Well, I may be in a minority but I wouldn't read anything of his written after A Perfect Spy (1986). His earlier stuff is wonderful, but I haven't been able to finish any of his more recent novels.

The Honourable Schoolboy comes between Tinker Tailor and Smiley's People in terms of plot, but you don't need to read it, and I didn't really enjoy it.

My favourite apart from the TT and SP is The Little Drummer Girl (a female protagonist!) but I also enjoyed all the early stuff: The Spy who Came in from the Cold, A Small Town in Germany, Call for the Dead, A Murder of Quality.

[TheLightPassenger]

I agree with LPW. With the exception of The Constant Gardener

[LadyPeterWimsey]

DH agrees with you, TLP! I read The Constant Gardener when in hospital before a ELCS so probably wasn't concentrating enough. I must give it another go.

[WetAugust]

Oh dear I thought I had a nice long reading list in front of me.

Thank you

[LadyPeterWimsey]

Sorry!

If it's any consolation, mine is a fairly individual opinion, judging by his book sales, so you could start chronologically and keep going until you stop enjoying them - which might be never...!

[CoteDAzur]

I agree with LPW, as well.

I made the mistake of reading Absolute Friends which was bad enough, but A Most Wanted Man convinced me that I should never ever pick up another book by Le Carré.

I would recommend Charles Cummings, who writes really good modern spy books.

[WetAugust]

Thanks for the recommendations.

[WetAugust]

Have just finished The Spy Who Came In From the Cold.

Wow!