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Original poster

Has anyone here read Spies by Michael Frayn?

30 replies

joelalie · 18/04/2006 13:47

or Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell by Susannah Clarke (I think)?

Read them both this year and I think they are two of the best new novels I've read for ages.

Anyone else know them?

OP posts:
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mimbleandlittlemy · 28/01/2025 17:34

Loved Spies and JN&MrS. If you loved JN, then you should definitely read Pirenesi, which is also by Susanna Clarke.

I really enjoyed Headlong - read it on holiday which was perfect as it races a long at a lick.

Copenhagen is terrific, and Noises Off is still the funniest play written about theatre.

Gremlinsateit · 28/01/2025 13:45

I loved A Landing on the Sun too. A Very Private Life was a bit of a wild ride. I didn’t much like Skios, though.

SirJohnOz · 26/01/2025 05:07

Frayn always has lots of gentle but telling observations on human behaviour. Any of his books, all quite different in obvious contents, are enjoyably nourishing. A Landing on the Sun is my favourite

CarolinaMooncup · 23/04/2006 19:09

have finished Spies now. It was fab, really moving (esp Keith's mum).

ItalianJob · 19/04/2006 09:56

I've read Spies. I really enjoyed it.

Original poster
joelalie · 18/04/2006 15:36

Yes! That sounds more like it. I'm sure the Swimming Poo is by him too....

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acnebride · 18/04/2006 15:00

loving the swimming poo!

i had to look it up - it seems to be [god forgotten it again] A Landing In the Sun or somethign close to that. Not a very memorable title to me.

Original poster
joelalie · 18/04/2006 14:18

Err....sorry that should have read "The Swimming Pool"...Blush

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Original poster
joelalie · 18/04/2006 14:18

Wasn't that called "Swimming" or "The Swimming Poo" or something like that Acnebride?

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Cristina7 · 18/04/2006 14:17

Pruni - we went to see Copenhagen many years back and we got seats in the jury on the stage. It got v hot and we were in full light (no nose picking etc.)

acnebride · 18/04/2006 14:15

liked spies a lot, though thought there wasn't a huge amount to it, also [oh bohter can't ermember title] a book of MF's about 2 civil servants who end up creating a [spoiler deleted] in an unused whitehall office. Also left you thinking 'was that it' a little bit at the end, but enjoyed it.

noises off the first time was close to torture it was so funny. couldn't breathe, see etc.

cod · 18/04/2006 14:11

in fact FIL and i ( for whom i bought it) thought one of the best thigns we had read for ages
but i like his plays too

cod · 18/04/2006 14:11

mememememememm

I loved spies

Pruni · 18/04/2006 14:10

Hmm yes HC it is coming back to me now
Did like the desperation of not knowing if it was an original or not - just the sort of thing that would drive me mad
Also cannot remember if it was or not so will reread

Pruni · 18/04/2006 14:09

Just in case...
THere have been a few other moments in listening to it (blimey it's long, about 32 hours!) where I have been on my own and felt really uncomfortable, hairs pricking up kind of thing.

harpsichordcarrier · 18/04/2006 14:04

yes about a painting
all a bit too farcical for me

Original poster
joelalie · 18/04/2006 14:04

"I owrry for the author of Jonathan Strange actually - can't help thinking she may have invested a bit too much in the first novel... "

I know what you mean. For a start it's such a BIG book...you can somehow imagine it's been brewing for years. And where do you go after that....

Pruni - that dress was very freaky. But everyone and everything in Faerie was....and so callous! Somehow I always saw fairies as little sparkly mischevious things or wholesome rustic types like Tom Bombadil Grin not cruel and capricious.

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Pruni · 18/04/2006 14:03

Oooh yes please HC.
Are you thinking of the same Headlong?
I fairly liked it.

Hazellnut · 18/04/2006 14:02

read spies a while ago and remember loving it...

harpsichordcarrier · 18/04/2006 14:01

oh yes, that's right
really didn't like Headlong. Thought it was like a Tom Sharpe and NOT in a good way
will lend you Spies if you remind me Pruni.

CarolinaMooncup · 18/04/2006 14:00

am about to start Spies (having got bored to tears with Catch 22 by ch.3).

I thought Headlong was great, I really loved it.

The one about the journo is Towards the End of the Morning, which is good but not that good imho. Maybe funnier if you are a journo yourself and know the world he describes.

Pruni · 18/04/2006 13:59

Nono Headlong is the Brueghel.
I did a search: it's "Towards the End of the Morning" (didn't rate it much).
Did anyone see Copenhagen? Fabulous.

Pruni · 18/04/2006 13:57

Ah ok, sounds good though.

In JS&MN, the dress in faerie-land which was made up of thousands of tiny singing mouths really freaked me out.

harpsichordcarrier · 18/04/2006 13:57

at the beginning they are sitting in a privet hedge Pruni
the one you are thinking of is called ?Headlong I think. Didn't like that one so much actually
I owrry for the author of Jonathan Strange actually - can't help thinking she may have invested a bit too much in the first novel...

Cristina7 · 18/04/2006 13:57

I read Spies and liked it. I think I was expecting slightly "more" (given his Copenhagen play) but this was just a straightforward good read.