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Y Lee

@wilyylee

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a Canadian expat in Taiwan
📚 books, Books, BOOKS!!! 📕 📖 📜 📱
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Espionage, Mystery, Fantasy, History
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1941. Jean Casson, the hero of The World at Night, has returned to his beloved Paris under Nazi occupation. No longer the upper-middle-class filmmaker he once was, he must now aid the resistance by liaising between the British, the underground forces in Vichy, and French communists.

This is certainly a book for the ages. Cheap, shady hotels; a river barge; back alleys: these are the haunts of an Alan Furst spy novel. Nay, an Alan Furst novel about spies. The atmosphere permeates the pages of his writing. Loneliness, desperation, and danger are the only things that can be counted on as they go about their clandestine operations. It's an engaging story told in beautiful, spare prose that will have the reader pondering their own mettle.

While he does have a number of recurring minor characters in his novels, this is the only time Alan Furst has reused one of his main protagonists. As such, you'd be best served by reading The World at Night first. Highly recommended!

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21

a year ago

***BOOK REVIEW***NO SPOILERS*** The World at Night by Alan Furst

1940. An upper-middle-class French filmmaker is getting used to life in Europe at war--previously at a distance in neighboring countries, then with the invasion of France, and finally under Nazi occupation. But, as the occupying forces slowly put the pressure on him, he must make the decision to either collaborate or resist.

If there is one word to sum up an Alan Furst novel, it would be "atmospheric". "Poetic" might be another. This book was written by a master at his peak, and it has all the hallmarks of what make his novels so highly regarded. While they do deal with espionage, they are neither plot intensive nor action packed. They present the situation and characters in realistic and meticulously researched detail. The two main take-aways are "Why did these people help out at such great personal risk?" and "What would I do in similar circumstances?" The first question is dealt with in the story set forth. The second is up to each reader to decide for themselves.

It's amazing how a nearly 30-year-old book about an event over 80 years in our past can still be so resounding and relevant in our modern times. Such is the timeless and universal nature of Furst's writings. This one is not to be missed.

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5

2 years ago

*** BOOK REVIEW *** The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Berry *** NO SPOILERS!

In the midst of the Arab Spring, a CIA analyst in Bahrain is trying to coax his source within the local movement to reveal more information about the group's plans against the government. What results is a shocking story that will test the analyst's whole world view--and his loyalty.

First off, the writing is exquisite. Let me just get that out there front and center. Berry herself was in the CIA, so there's some plausibility to how certain aspects of the story develop, but the narrative style is the real star of the show here. Full stop. And then factor in that this is a debut novel, and I expect big things to come.

The plot and characters are serviceable, and will be quite familiar to readers of espionage thrillers. The setting, too, is quite well informed (obviously, as Berry was stationed in Bahrain for a time) and gives us insights into a seldom-mentioned country and culture. It's not an action-packed kind of story, but there's decent intrigue and forward momentum to keep readers going, something along the lines of a Joseph Kanon novel. While certain parts of the story may be predictable, and not exactly subtle, the ending offsets a number of these items. And what an ending it is!

Even if you're not completely tempted by this novel, that's okay. Keep your eyes peeled for I.S. Berry in future book reviews. She's soon going to be a name mentioned alongside John le Carré, Graham Greene, Alan Furst, and Martin Cruz Smith.

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2 years ago

***BOOK REVIEW***NO SPOILERS*** Karla's Choice by Nick Harkaway

1963. A Soviet assassin shows up at the offices of a Hungarian book publisher in London and confesses to the secretary he can't go through with his orders to kill her boss. Unfortunately, the publisher has disappeared, and George Smiley is called in to find out why the publisher has been targeted and where he has gone.

First, this is a prequel to John le Carré's Karla trilogy, and it has been written by his son, Nick, a novelist in his own right.

Second, you must read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold before reading this one because of spoilers.

The highest praise I can offer this novel is the narrative manages to capture le Carré's style around the time of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, albeit in a little less depth. As for criticism, it is not as long, detailed, intricate, or intriguing as what le Carré used to write. Everything is explained throughout, and there is very little to wonder at. Also, it seems to me Smiley is a little less cerebral in this one and even gets in on a bit of action.

I would recommend this to le Carré completists, as well as people who have finished The Spy Who Came in from the Cold but have had difficulty getting into Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy because of the denser writing.

#DiplomatExcellenceA2
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2 years ago

***BOOK REVIEW***NO SPOILERS*** Havana Bay by Martin Cruz Smith

Dogged, tenacious Arkady Renko, investigator for the Moscow prosecutor's office, is back, but this time his sense of duty has sent him to Cuba to help identify the body of his former boss because no one else would go. But the events surrounding his former boss's disappearance, as well as events shortly after Renko arrives, give him a renewed impetus to keep on doing what he does best: dig himself in too deep.

I've said it before, but if there is a better Mystery writer out there than Martin Cruz Smith circa 1981-2004, I don't know who that would be. Intricate plotting, engaging characters, immersive atmosphere, pristine dialogue, stellar narrative, immaculate subtlety: it's the perfect recipe for an intelligent, well-written mystery, with a hint of international intrigue.

This is book four in the series, and I suggest reading the others first. While not strictly necessary, it does help frame the irony of Renko's relationship with his former boss (one of them tried to kill the other in Gorky Park), as well as Renko's state of mind regarding his family situation. It also helps ease you in to how Martin Cruz Smith handles his denouements.

Highly, highly recommended. by @wilyylee

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5

2 years ago

***BOOK REVIEW***NO SPOILERS*** Autumn Leaves, 1922 by Tessa Lunney

Free-spirited Kiki Button is back in another dual espionage-mystery mashup. Recently returned from her home in Australia, she's eager to get back into the swing of things in Paris, writing her gossip column and trying to make sense of political rumblings, this time from Italy. However, she's also plagued by thoughts of her recently passed mother and trying to discover the woman she really was.

First off, I received this book free of charge from the author.

This is the second book in the series, and you pretty much need to start with the first one. Not only to understand the arrangement of Kiki's employment and relationship to certain characters, but also the plot is a fairly direct follow up to that of book one.

The highlights for me are threefold. I love the narrative style. Lunney has an amazing way with words, and the language flows well and is absolutely beautiful. Full stop. The character of Kiki is also quite interesting. She's promiscuous, in keeping with the bohemian nature of the setting, but she's also extremely vulnerable. And, finally, the atmosphere is well done. It's a great look at the place, the times, and social upheaval, as well as an interesting depiction of quite a number of real-life characters.

This, however, is not a novel for people who like detailed, intricate, or subtle plotting. It's pretty light and breezy in that regard and a little convenient in places. I can also think of two integral characters I wouldn't mind not seeing again. Still, it has its moments, and Kiki really is a fascinating creation.

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5

2 years ago

***BOOK REVIEW***NO SPOILERS*** Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

Puget Sound, 1954. In a close-knit island community, one fisherman stands trial for murdering another fisherman. Over the course of four days and a raging snowstorm, the past gets slowly revealed, and a whole town must come to terms with its actions during World War II, which continue to affect it to the present day.

If I were to sum up this novel in just one word, it would be "perfect". If anyone is offended by that word, I offer "flawless" as an alternative. Seldom am I moved by a novel the way that this one stirred me. Not emotions of anger or fear or suspense, but of beauty. At its heart, the book is about prejudice, honor, love, and human decency. Beautifully written, from the atmosphere to the language to the characters, this is a rich, engaging, and powerful novel that makes excellent winter-time reading when you have a quiet moment for reflection.

This book also has three literary distinctions for me: 1. One of only a handful I dare to describe as perfect, 2. The best-titled novel I've ever read, and 3. One of the best closing lines in all of literature. It was also made into an excellent movie with beautiful cinematography and a stellar cast, including Ethan Hawke in the lead role. Both the novel and the movie are highly recommended!

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3 years ago

***BOOK REVIEW***NO SPOILERS*** The Accomplice

1962. An aging Nazi hunter sees an Auschwitz camp doctor walking the streets of Hamburg two years after he supposedly died in a car accident. Passing the case to his nephew, who works for the CIA, the war criminal is traced to Argentina, and the mission to bring him to justice begins.

I've read three novels by Kanon now, and this is by far his weakest. His previous books had an extremely engaging and well-crafted narrative style, but this one is just the basics. Unfortunately (for me, anyway), his novels tend to have quite a bit of dialogue, so the story feels very heavy-handed as everything gets explained in an overt manner. The thinness serves only to reduce the credibility, and it feels like a skeletal novel where people just do and say things. It's such a missed opportunity, as the escape of Nazis to South America and the hunt for them there, coupled with all the complicity along the way of government and church officials, is a fascinating subject to explore.

I'd say give this one a miss unless you know you like light, straight-forward thrillers.

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#JosephKanon by @wilyylee

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5

3 years ago

***BOOK REVIEW***NO SPOILERS*** The Constant Gardener by John le Carré

Tessa Quale has been murdered. The activist wife of a British diplomat in Kenya was killed along with her suspected lover in a remote section of the country while ostensibly attending a seminar. Now, her husband, Justin, must investigate what no one wants to talk about and fight a corporate and political coverup to find out the truth. And, along the way, be amazed by the resourcefulness of the woman he never really knew.

To my mind, this is le Carré's most emotionally powerful novel. All the hallmarks of his style are here: intriguing plot, stellar prose, excellent characters, and meaningful discussion. This time round, though, it isn't an all-out espionage novel, yet the thriller elements are still there. And it has his strongest female character since Charlie in The Little Drummer Girl.

But what makes this novel interesting is that Tessa is dead from page one, yet she comes alive through all the discussion about her. She's a full-fledged presence even though her character doesn't really appear in any scenes. It's a good meditation on looking but not really seeing and about not taking people for granted. Truly touching, and highly recommended. An engaging thriller from the grandmaster of espionage.

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11

3 years ago

***BOOK REVIEW***NO SPOILERS*** The Foreign Correspondent by Alan Furst

In Paris, 1938, a dissident Italian reporter is put in charge of a clandestine newspaper which is smuggled into Italy, warning of Fascism and of an impending war. As history unfolds, though, the reporter finds he must take a stand and do more than merely report on events.

Hands down, the two greatest strengths of Alan Furst's writing are his atmosphere and his poetic language. It's truly a pleasure to be in the hands of a novelist of his caliber. We get caught up in the shadowy world of spies and immersed in this well-researched pre-World War II story. Intriguing but neither violent nor incredulous, it presents the life and times as they really were, leaving us to wonder what we would've done back then--and, by extension, what we would do if we were faced with it today.

This is a brilliant novelist writing at the height of his powers. Highly, HIGHLY recommended!

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#TacciaUkiyoEHokusaiFukakiHanada by @wilyylee

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3 years ago

***BOOK REVIEW***NO SPOILERS*** Red Square by Martin Cruz Smith

In August, 1991, two weeks before the coup that attempted to topple Gorbachev, a black-market financier is assassinated while conducting business. Traversing Moscow, Munich, Berlin, and back to Moscow during the coup, Investigator Arkady Renko must unravel a mystery with international ramifications far bigger than a murder.

This is a re-read for me. Martin Cruz Smith has long been my favorite mystery writer. No other writer has ever been able to keep me turning the pages so late into the morning, and I've yet to find his equal. For, you see, he isn't simply a great mystery writer; he's a great writer who just happens to write intrigue very, very well.

Red Square was written during Smith's peak period. It continues Arkady Renko's focus on corruption. Good ol' dogged, tenacious, cynical Arkaky Renko from the novels Gorky Park and Polar Star. The book delivers such an insightful, well-researched look into the dying days of communism through his eyes that we as readers just sit back, take it in, and marvel--not only in what we learn, but how much fun we have while learning it.

Intricate plotting? Check. Great characters? Check. Atmospheric setting? Check. Great narrative style? Check. Not action-packed in the least, but oh so satisfying. Highly recommended, but maybe start with Gorky Park and read the series sequentially. by @wilyylee

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3 years ago

To your very good health! Enjoy your Sunday, everyone!

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3 years ago