THE HONOURABLE SCHOOLBOY - John le Carre

The second book in the "Karla" trilogy and this must be the 5th or 6th time I've read it and even though I know the story back to front there's still something new every time.

The "Circus" is in turmoil after Bill Haydon was discovered to be a Soviet agent in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", Smiley is the temporary head and sets out to uncover a sleeper agent in Hong Kong.

To assist he activates part time agent ,The Honourable Gerald 'Jerry' Westerby.

From here we have a story set in South East Asia  during the last days of the Vietnam War and the back rooms of London.

This story is often over looked as a real Smiley novel with many jumping to Smileys People, but I think its one of the best, certainly the saddest.  You don't have to have had read the previous book  as this stands alone but you should.

In fact if you are over 12 years of age you should have read the series. Brilliant 11/10.

DON'T TELL ALFRED - Nancy Mitford

This is the third book in the Fanny Logan "series" following "Love in a Cold Climate" and "The Pursuit of Love" and its one book too far.

Where the first two were full of quirky characters and poked fun at the UK upper classes this one has none of this.

Fanny is still married and her husband out of the blue is posted to Paris as the British Ambassador. The book revolves around events during this ambassadorship.  There's smiles but no belly laughs, characters appear from the previous books but it is all a bit lame.

This was very hard work and not recommended especially if you loved the first two novels like I did.

MR CALDER & MR BEHRENS - Michael Gilbert

Another re-read featuring the two retired MI 6 spies who now work for a shadowy intelligence section which involves them disposing of enemies of the state.

This collection of short stories is brilliant. Gilbert only wrote the two collections which is a shame. They are much better than the Ashenden stories and have lots of humour.

I've never seen them in book form in New Zealand, I got the books on Kindle but they are available on Amazon.

Money well spent.  They deserve the re-read every few years

GAME WITHOUT RULES - Michael Gilbert

A re-read featuring the retired spies Calder & Behrens.

The kill and solve problems with much humour.  These will get read again and again.

NOTRE-DAME de Paris - Victor Hugo

Or The Hunch Back of Notre Dame as its known in English.

Firstly, this novel is nothing like the many film and television versions that have been made over the years.  It is set in medieval Paris, a very tough time to be alive, and although Quasimodo plays a central role he is by no means the central figure.

The central figure is Notre Dame itself ,all the human characters are involved with it and the story revolves about it.

I found that there are very few remotely likable characters in this story, Quasimodo is probably the closest but he gets much sympathy because of his deformity which has made him totally rejected by society.

Esmeralda is a rather silly little girl, which she is of course she is being in her mid teens and then there is Archdeacon Frollo, who even though he saved Quasimodo as a baby and raised him is evil.

In the middle of the novel, Hugo digresses into an essay arguing that prior to the invention of the printing press architecture was how man expressed his learned knowledge from other cultures to the masses  i.e incorporating  designs noted on travels and brought back from military campaigns. ( This explanation is mine and is wildly simplifying what is argued)

He then states that the invention of the printing press is the greatest of all inventions. (An argument that still stands today).  With the printing press knowledge became available to more than the religious orders, observations from afar were able to be described simply,ideas were argued,messages spread and therefore the demise of architecture across Europe began to decline.

After this essay the story returns to the characters we have have been introduced to, as stated the majority are unlikable and their fates didn't elicit any sympathy from myself with the exception of Esmeralda who was treated rather harshly which is probably a wild under statement

My fun fact from the novel was learning the true meaning of "Truant" -i.e. someone who chooses to be a beggar rather than someone who begs out of necessity.

This is a great novel, uplifting its not probably because the characters are so obviously human with all their faults and vanities its like looking in a mirror.

LOVE IN A COLD CLIMATE - Nancy Mitford

This is an hilarious satire on the British upper class set in the period between the wars.  The attitudes and snobbishness of the upper class taken to the nth degree.

Polly Montdore, daughter of one of England's wealthiest families, shows no inclination to marry despite many attempts to match make by her mother, that is until she announces to friends and family she is going to marry her recently widowed uncle.  This is where the trouble starts.

The story is told through the eyes of Polly's distant cousin, Fanny,who comes from a titled family but without the immense wealth. Our narrator fills us in on the daily lives of the upper classes in great detail and keeps it amusing throughout.

Polly's mother is a wonderful snob and a highlight of the book.

Back in the Long Gallery some of the women went upstairs to 'powder their' noses.  Lady Montdore was scornful. ' I go in the morning,' she said,' and that is that. I don't have to be let out like a dog at intervals, thank goodness- there;s nothing so common, to my mind".

or this gem:

And if I might offer you a little advice Fanny, it would be to read fewer books,dear, and make your house slightly more comfortable.  that is what a man appreciates in the long run.'

I laughed all the way through this and it got even better when the delightfully camp Cedric appears. This is a delight, even the introduction  by Alan Cumming is great.

I also recommend Mitford's collection of letters between her and Evelyn Waugh, laugh out loud funny and very pointed.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Alexander Dumas

Young Edmond Dantes is looking forward to a big week.  He is about to be promoted to ships captain and he is to  be married shortly to the love of his life.  Things couldn't be going better until three people conspire to have him imprisoned.  He is locked up in solitary confinement and forgotten for 14 years.

During this time he manages to make contact with an old priest in the next door dungeon.  The priest tells him of a fantastical treasure that he is aware of which awaits them if they can escape. Edmond eventually does escape and locates the treasure.

This treasure along with the education the priest has given him enable him to set out on the path of revenge against those who betrayed him.

This is a very complicated and brutal revenge involving many European locations and people which makes for a wonderful novel.

I've seen this described as a children's book but it contains adult themes which are not bed time reading for the kids, suicide, murder etc. There are many abridged versions of this book in the market but this full unabridged version needs to be read which runs 1200 -1400 pages depending on the edition.

Of course there are contrivances to keep the story and plot on target but this is a novel and novels do that.

There are religious themes and a moral lesson that is brought home at the end but the main point this makes apart from being very entertaining is never ever give up hope.