Another classic from John Le Carre.

Beautifully written and it keeps you going right to the end. The subject while being set in Germany with the MI6 and CIA being involved with the native intelligence agencies, the ending will ring true with many people concerned about oversight and rendition

4 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Slow to get in to

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I struggled a little to maintain interest, which is unusual as I generally enjoy Le Carre's books. I found my attention drifting and had to keep rewinding to follow the story.

Would you be willing to try another book from John le Carré? Why or why not?

Absolutely. He's one of the top thriller writers of a generation and I've been reading his books since the 1960s. His writing remains relevant and compelling.

What about Michael Jayston’s performance did you like?

He has a laconic, laid back delivery. Great timbre to his voice.

Did A Most Wanted Man inspire you to do anything?

No.

Any additional comments?

Stick with it, it does get better as the convoluted tale of treachery and double dealing develops.

4 persone l'hanno trovata utile

What happend? they made this into a film

Would you try another book written by John le Carré or narrated by Michael Jayston?

I have either read or listened to almost every Le Carrier book and this is by far the worst.

What could John le Carré have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Write about what he knows and not get on the anti-terrorist band wagon

4 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Not his best work.

As a fan of the Author ot pains me to say this was a bit of a struggle to get through. The characters were unpleasant and implausible. The plot was almost non-existent and the story just dragged. Compared to other Le Carre novels this is a weak effort. Very disappointing.

3 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Great Listen

Great Listen with amazing twists and turns. I wonder if there is scope for a sequel.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

Big Disappointment

What disappointed you about A Most Wanted Man?

I enjoy listening to John LeCarre reading his own books, this is a very poor version, M Jayston can't even pronounce the authors name correctly!

What didn’t you like about Michael Jayston’s performance?

His incompetence with the English language

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I felt ripped off by this cheap copy

Any additional comments?

I will be cancelling my subscription to Audible

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

Plods along and goes nowhere, But well read.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A Storyline, Nothing happens.

What will your next listen be?

Boris Johnson,

What about Michael Jayston’s performance did you like?

Defined each character well.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from A Most Wanted Man?

Not enough storyline to cut anything.

Any additional comments?

11 hours of nothing.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

Disappointing

Would you try another book written by John le Carré or narrated by Michael Jayston?

I have listed to other le Carre stories before and enjoyed the sense of action, of things happening, a sense of danger. I would be tempted to listed to others relating the cold war.

What was most disappointing about John le Carré’s story?

This story just lacked any sense of immediacy. It just plodded and some of the things that happened felt like they were just put in to make sure that something had happened. Generally disappointing as a story. At the end I felt glad it was over and that's something that you shouldn't be thinking if the story is good.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Michael Jayston?

Michael Jayston is an excellent narrator. His characterizations are very good and add to the overall enjoyment of any story he reads.

Any additional comments?

Just very disappointed. This one might be going back.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

Recommend read

Le Carré at his best dark but thought provoking. Speaking as a humanitarian I found this book an amazing reflection on conflict, propaganda and that we need to be mindful in making assumptions on right and wrong - justice and injustice.

Probably his best since ‘The Little Drummer Girl’

Le Carré is back to his imperious best with this one, probably his best novel since ‘The Little Drummer Girl’ twenty-five years earlier.

It begins, rather similarly to ‘Absolute Friends,’ with a mysterious character arriving on the scene in Germany — Hamburg in this case — who is named Issa, a Chechen Muslim who has escaped from torture in Russia and in Turkey, and is looking for a place to hide from the authorities.

What follows is a terrific story of intrigue and subterfuge, as numerous well-wishers find themselves inextricably involved in Issa’s life. But the German authorities are also onto him…

The story is interesting throughout, and right up until the end — an end to which the tension gradually but perceptibly builds and builds — you genuinely don’t know which way it’s going to go. And the name of the mysterious refugee, Issa — i.e., Arabic for Jesus — is not without its significance, as becomes clear by the end.

There was one very curious reference in the story, which is worth a mention. It occurs in chapter 2, at 10º49’ from the end of the audiobook. As narrator, le Carré refers to the ancient philosopher Socrates, as if Socrates were one of the great writers of human history: whereas, in fact, Socrates wrote not a thing. It’s hard to believe le Carré was unaware of this. (There is a later writer, Socrates, a Church historian, but clearly he isn’t intended.) A rare le Carré factual error?

Michael Jayston’s narration is, as ever, superb. He seems to have been made for this rôle.

All in all, excellent.