superb reading of a thought-provoking novel

great narration of a tense novel. thought-provoking. sad ending. want to read more le carre

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Not his best…

I am a huge John Lecarre fan, but I’m afraid this book left me cold. He was obviously going through a phase

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absolute class

perfectly voiced, great story, enthralling throughout and this was so resonant for modern times. I wholeheartedly recommend giving this a listen

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Worth Revisiting

I have read this twice in the past, but always find I get something else from listening to a favourite book. John LeCarre, as always, brings political insights and a look into the world of espionage and diplomacy, but also analysis of relationships and characters. This makes for humour, tension and sadness by turns.

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Prescience

20 years ahead of its time, interesting plot leaving lots of geopolitical food for thought.

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Superb reading

A very good listen. The reading was superb. The plot was resolved with a little too much paranoia, though!

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6 people found this helpful

brilliant

Fantastic (and chilling) story, performance pitch perfect. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.

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3 people found this helpful

Not recommended

As a massive Le Carre fan I have to say this was a sore disappointment. Read any of his other books first.

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An attack of the Magnus Pyms!

For ‘Absolute Friends,’ le Carré does something similar to what he did in ‘A Perfect Spy,’ by taking the listener right back into its principal character’s past. True, it doesn’t go as far back as the late 1930’s as he did with Magnus Pym in that story; but it does transport the reader/listener back to the rebellious late 1960’s and the student uprisings (in this case, in Berlin), and right through the 1970’s and 80’s, before bringing the story right up to the present day. Here that means 2003, and the grubby aftermath of 9/11 and the invasions of Iraq and of Afghanistan, fuelled by the militaristic zeal of Bush and Blair. And the Sasha of this story reminded me very much of the character ‘Poppy’ from that story, to whom indeed Sasha plays a very similar rôle.

This is, however, in my view, a much better story than ‘A Perfect Spy,’ which I didn’t really get on with. The 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s back story is much more interesting, and frankly easier to follow; and it serves the important purpose of establishing the often difficult relationship between the two central characters, Mundy and Sasha, whose lives have a habit of intertwining over and over, between lapses of sometimes a decade or more. This sets us up nicely for the final act (from about chapter 11 onwards), in which their ‘absolute friendship’ will face its ultimate test.

Chapter 11 deserves an especial mention. The spiel of the mysterious ‘Dmitri’ is curiously prescient of much that’s happening in our Western universities today, in 2022: what he has to say is perhaps more relevant now even than it was at the time. Even so, the chapter, and Dmitri’s monologue in particular, were rather boring — maybe deliberately so — but it’s worth persevering because (contrary to my misgivings) the story picks up well again thereafter until its finale.

Michael Jayston’s narration is characteristically excellent. He tells the story very clearly, and works his way seemingly effortlessly through a wide range of accents. His narration really brings the story alive, as always.

Overall, a very decent addition to the le Carré corpus.

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1 person found this helpful

Brilliant, beautifully written and narrated.

As ever a masterpiece from John le Care. Stunning characterisation absolutely believeable. Would absolutely recommend this book.

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