Alexi

Ha I'm doing the same thing! I resent spending £6 on a book I already own though, especially when I'm not enjoying it much (even if the new purchase might aid that!) when it could be spent on new books. Dilemmas. I will be interesting to compare translations in the reading circle thread though and see if they affected opinions - assuming more than us three read it after this brilliant encouragement!

Thank you!

Is it available for kindle? I'm wondering whether to be extravagant and pay for the penguin one.

Good point. Mine is translated by Ernest Dowson it seems, which I picked because it was free on kindle! Maybe I should have done more research

I'm really struggling with Dangerous Liaisons. I've been reading it since Monday and managed 60 pages! Like you bobblybear I'm really struggling with the writing style, having to read sentences several times and finding myself unable to get through more than 2-3 letters at a time. Bah.

Ah. Well. I may have popped into HMV today and got lost in the book section whilst I was waiting for my BF to finish in the games section. Dangerous... I got: Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel The New York Trilogy - Paul Auster I'm Not Really Here - Paul Lake Cat and Mouse - James Patterson The Maltese Falcon - Dashiell Hammett At least they were all on large sale I also very much enjoyed my previous book - Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz. I really must explore the YA genre further, got quite a few on my TBR but always seem to shy away from them.

Really well it was a bit slow to start, because it feels quite complicated a plot and I ended up feeling a bit bewildered at the beginning, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've just started Dangerous Liaisons from the list. I'm currently on 29/1294. (I am working from the combined app, pre 2012 adjustments).

I've just started Dangerous Liaisons in preparation for the reading circle - a little earlier than planned thanks to warnings from chesilbeach it might take some time to get through. I can already see what you mean!

Hi June. The book you read for Togo sounds absolutely fascinating! I said I would try and stick to fiction for this challenge (there will be countries where there just isn't enough translated material I'm sure) but I might try and pick this up anyway whether I end up counting it or not. Sounds an incredible read.

I'd really like to read Les Miserables - I downloaded a version off the kindle, I'm not sure who translated it. I hope it's not too modern, though, I'd really like a go with a version as close to the original as I can.

Oh I do hope you like it if you get round to it I've changed pace and am reading a YA spy novel now, and the jump in style but not subject matter is rather odd! Enjoying it for very different reasons though. It's Scorpia Rising, the last in the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz.

Excellent news Chesil Not long til I start it hopefully.

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - John Le Carré Synopsis: Alec Leamas is tired. It's the 1960s, he's been out in the cold for years, spying in the shadow of the Berlin Wall for his British masters. He has seen too many good agents murdered for their troubles. Now Control wants to bring him in at last - but only after one final assignment. He must travel deep into the heart of Communist Germany and betray his country, a job that he will do with his usual cynical professionalism. But when George Smiley tries to help a young woman Leamas has befriended, Leamas's mission may prove to be the worst thing he could ever have done. In le Carré's breakthrough work of 1963, the spy story is reborn as a gritty and terrible tale of men who are caught up in politics beyond their imagining. (from Amazon, although I have taken the liberty to correct the name of the lead character from Alex to Alec ) Thoughts: This isn't the first of Le Carré's novels, but it is the one that signalled the start of a successful career for the author, and the first book of his that I have read personally. Spy games in the Cold War sounds like a premise for a rip roaring read, and while there is an excellently constructed plot, which slowly unravels, the book also deals with the human element of espionage - how our lead character feels and how he suffers. It's a brilliant mix, expertly crafted together in 250 pages. It's quite complicated in places, and I spent the first quarter of the book with my head in a whirl, but it slowly becomes clear as the story progresses. However, Le Carré doesn't hold your hand on a way to a solution, some things are left for the reader to work out for themselves. It's a dark story, and most of the writing conveys a grey, cold, depressing world which really sets the story in early 1960s London and East Berlin. The sacrifice of individuals for the collective (for the East Germans) and individuals for a certain gain (in Western parlance), really does show that perhaps they were more alike than they cared to imagine. It's on the 1001 list, but it's extremely readable and an excellent example of a bloody good spy yarn. 4/5 I'm currently skint, so wondering if I should attempt to give up buying books for lent!

Aw thanks Frankie! I suspect it might get harder once I've completed 100 or so books, then the countries left are smaller/had fewer authors translated into English and readily available. I might make myself some pom poms!

That's good news! I'm also going to attempt it before the end of the month hopefully for the march reading circle.

Where is this magical place?! Completely admire you for coming home with only 10, I suspect I should have tried to come home with 50... Alone in Berlin is extremely high on my wish list after someone (Brian?) reviewed it here, so I shall be curious to see what you think of it when you get to it.

I think I shall make this my new motto I'm now off to buy five little books

It is incredibly sad it happened at a time when I was a football fan, but I was a kid, so I lived in a blissful world where I knew what happened on the pitch and not off, so it passed me by. It was pre-widespread internet use of course, no twitter, facebook or Daily mail online. a simpler time. That's the main reason I'm reading this really, I see it referred to a lot and I don't know much about it. It's quite scary some of the things people apparently said about him and to him - the football world of the 1980s was a scary, scary place.

Glad you enjoyed it so much Brian. I also loved it, in the end I preferred to The Kite Runner, which I had previously thought it couldn't live up to! I cried, but then I often cry at books...

I've just gone and had a look at the reviews on Amazon, and while they are mixed, there are PLENTY of 5 star reviews! So it might do something for you yet Frankie! I agree with you all, the synopsis sounds cracking! I'm currently reading a biography of Justin Fashanu, a gay footballer who committed suicide, alongside The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, by John Le Carre. Enjoying both so far.

I keep meaning to pick up a Murakami - possibly 1Q84 as that seems to be recommended everywhere. But given it comes in three parts (with one and two published together), I'm not sure if I need to read them at once or separately. I'm increasingly tempted though due to how much you like Murakami's work Brian.

Wasn't a great start from us either (Welshie!) but we can take positives from the second half - it was a great fight back. Ireland will need to watch their discipline - you don't win the six nations with two people in the bin per game!

My thoughts too Brian. I'll definitely be watching (and yawning the next day!). The Ravens aren't my team, but I do like them, so as soon as my team didn't make the playoffs they were my desired pick for the Superbowl. I really didn't think they'd get this far, and getting beaten by the 49ers wouldn't hold any shame, but I do hope they go all the way.

I loved ATSS! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did I've started The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carre.

I haven't read any yet, but was intrigued by the good film reviews Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy received, so I'm looking forward to it.