Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - worth finishing?

[FMLWTF]

I’ll admit this book is hurting my brain somewhat. Probably shouldn’t have started it on a sun lounger but now I’m home I’m wondering if it’s worth persevering with. I keep re-reading passages but I’m not entirely sure I’m following. I mean, I get there’s a mole (not a spoiler) and I know how they found out but a lot of the conversations are going right over my head. Should I cut my losses or will it all make sense in the end??

No idea, but I’m currently in exactly the same position so hoping someone else can come along and tell us whether or not to keep going!

I love this book but if you haven't read the earlier Smillie books I don't think it makes sense.

Don't get me started on the movie.i had to watch that twice and I'd just listened to the audiobook the week before.

Ha...I read it after seeing the film and I still didn't finish it. I think it's one of the rare ones where the film is better.

Cut your losses
It is really not worth the effort
God that book was painful to read- constantly having to stop, go back and read again

Whereas I LOVE the book and the film and the tv series and the radio series!

I'd say persevere. But you don't have to, if you're not feeling it!

I loved this book. I love Le Carre; the way he doesn't spell stuff out for us & treats us like sophisticated, literate adults. The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is my favourite of his and is one of my favourite novels.

I think it's quite normal to have to read TTSS three or four times before you pick up on all the subtleties of the plot. I definitely didn't get it the first time - like you I could have given a two-sentence summary of 'what happened' but I had that irritating sense that I really hadn't understood what happened, if you know what I mean.

I re-read, watched the film and watched the BBC series from yonks ago because I'm slightly unhealthily interested in the Cold War, and I could reel it off to you now, I think it's a wonderful book. But if it's not grabbing you at all, just let it go by you! As pp says The Spy Who Came In From the Cold is a bit less headache-inducing.

I love books by Le Carre and particularly enjoyed the George Smiley books, but boy did I struggle with TTSS. I don't often give up on books but I only managed to get about half way through before I ditched it.

But I did enjoy the film version whereas I normally don't like films based on books.

Oh I love le Carre and the Smiley novels, and also remember with great affection the original BBC Tinker Tailor with Alec Guinness. It covered in 6 hours what the Gary Oldman film did in less than 2, but it was pretty good too.

Don't give up! It's a brilliant book, partly because in classic Le Carrè style, you don't understand how all the strands fit together until the end. I will admit his style cal be elliptical, but I think it is worth it for the payoff of the revelation of the identity of the mole, and for the wonderful writing.

My favourites are Smiley's People and The Little Drummer Girl and I can't choose between them.

Right, I’ll carry on a bit. Watched the first few mins of the Gary Oldman film to whet my appetite and it was very dramatic!

I must admit I did read it , but with the help of Google to check the finer details of the plot. I've read quite a few of his and would say that Tinker Tailor and Little Drummer Girl are the hardest reads.
A Perfect Spy, Smileys People and The Night Manager are more straightforward.