Karla's Choice

tags: espionage, George Smiley, mystery, thriller

⭐⭐out of five

From Goodreads

It is spring in 1963 and George Smiley has left the Circus. With the wreckage of the West’s spy war with the Soviets strewn across Europe, he has eyes only for a more peaceful life. And indeed, with his marriage more secure than ever, there is a rumor in Whitehall—unconfirmed and a little scandalous—that George Smiley might almost be happy. But Control has other plans. A Russian agent has defected, and the man he was sent to kill in London is nowhere to be found. Smiley reluctantly agrees to one last simple interview Szusanna, a Hungarian émigré and employee of the missing man, and sniff out a lead. But, as Smiley well knows, even the softest step in the shadows resounds with terrible danger. Soon, he is back there, in East Berlin, and on the trail of his most devious enemy’s hidden past.

Set in the missing decade between two iconic instalments in the George Smiley saga, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Nick Harkaway’s Karla’s Choice is an extraordinary, thrilling return to the world of spy fiction’s greatest writer, John le Carré.

The book was written by John le Carré's son Nicholas Cornwell under the name Nick Harkaway. I read this with very low expectations and I was correct in my presumption that it will be disappointing. 

The novel is set in 1963 but it reads like it happens in the present.. The author writes really well but it just doesn't feel that it is in the 60s with a sea of super women doing spy stuff. The young secretary of the character whom Karla wants to assassinate went to Control asking to be included in the mission, and just like that, she was made to accompany Smiley in his pursuit of the same man to save him. No training on how to work as a spy and with spies. Unbelievably stupid and so 2024. Almost all of le Carré's novels are inhabited by men except for one of my favorites, Connie Sachs, and of course George's wife, Ann. 

Some of the characters in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy are here. Connie Sachs, Peter Guillam, Toby Esterhase, and Jim Prideaux have long-ish presence. Bill Haydon has a few appearances with annoying smart alecky lines. They have no similarities to the original characters. Nick Harkaway did a disservice to his father, IMHO.

I didn't like that the author made George Smiley a roly-poly James Bond with all the running and evading the bad guys. He is usually taciturn but very clever and cunning. Here he is soooo chatty. Hello Nick. Your father wrote George as the antithesis of James Bond! Sheesh.

Not recommended specially if you have read both The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Little Siberia

 

tags: comedy, drama, Finland, Netflix

⭐⭐out of 5

 From IMDB

The everyday life of the small village of Hurmevaara is shaken when a meteorite falls through the roof of a car one night. According to the town's mayor, the meteorite is very valuable for the future of the slowly dying village. Joel, the village priest, and a veteran peacekeeper, ends up guarding the meteorite in an old museum before it is sent to London for a more detailed evaluation. But a precious meteorite gets a lot of attention. It is understandable that he wants to get rid .. While Joel protects the meteorite from both amateur and professional criminals, he tries to unravel an even greater mystery surrounding his own life. Joel's wife has recently revealed that she, finally, is pregnant. Great news, but unfortunately, Joel is unable to have children due to his war injury. He just hasn't told his wife.

This is the first movie on Netflix from Finland. I can't decide if I like it or if I understood the point. There are a few LOL as well as suspenseful moments. 

A meteorite fell inside the car of a somewhat batty individual. He has been asking for a memorial or something for his dead friend and now the meteorite is more important. It is understandable that he wants to get rid of the meteorite. The stone is being kept in the town's tiny "museum" inside a glass case and protected because some people from the U.K might buy it for a million €s. A couple of strange foreigners together with a local are planning to steal the rock. The fate of the rock is hilarious and appropriate IMO. 

The story of the pastor and his wife is vague. He did some lame "investigation" and finally told her his condition. The wife didn't comment after the revelation but got upset and decided to go to Helsinki and asked her husband if he still wants her, he can come for her. Huh?! But I like that they didn't shout nor quarrel, no drama at all. They talked like they were discussing what's for dinner. 😄

My Cousin Rachel

tags: classics, Daphne du Maurier, gothic, mystery

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐out of 5

From Goodreads

Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grand home as much as he does himself. But the cosy world the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries - and there he dies suddenly. In almost no time at all, the new widow - Philip's cousin Rachel - turns up in England. Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious woman like a moth to the flame. And yet ...might she have had a hand in Ambrose's death?

Philip Ashley at 18 months old was brought up by his cousin Ambrose when his parents died. The trouble started when Ambrose went to Italy for plant specimens and got married to a half Italian half English woman. The English parent of the Countess, as she prefers to be called, is a cousin of Ambrose and Philip. 

Ambrose hadn't come home to England for almost 1 year because he started getting sick and became paranoid that his wife is trying to kill him. He was able to send a few short letters to Philip when cousin Rachel is out. Philip went to Italy to try to rescue Ambrose but he was already late. Ambrose has died and the Countess left immediately after his death so they never met. 

Philip was angry at the gold digger cousin Rachel and imagined her as a huge fat ugly woman who didn't deserve his beloved Ambrose. Cousin Rachel as part of her scheme, came to England and the gullible easy to manipulate Philip instantly fell in love. Cousin Rachel is the opposite of a warty ugly witch. She is pretty, small and with dainty small hands with lovely fingers. Poor Philip. He had no idea and never seen a "real" woman. He doesn't think his childhood girl friend is a woman. She's just there as a girl He is so enamored with Rachel that he couldn't accept that she has a purpose in coming to England. Philip gave in only to discover the truth. He is frustratingly childlike that I wanted to shake him up or slap him upside the head for his naivete. However, all the feelings of aggravations while reading became moot with the great ending. 

Daphne du Maurier is a master of atmospheric superb stories. I loved this book. 

Highly recommended.

JD Vance Meme

Mr. JD pic.twitter.com/M2TCug4Uop

— It's in the documents, Joe (@GorknMork) March 10, 2025

Some people on the left started doing memes superimposing the face of Vice President JD Vance on other photos to show him as fat and weird. However, smart people on the right thought they were funny and made their own memes and nobody now knows which ones are supposed to ridicule him. JD Vance even made his own memes. Mr. Blue Sky indeed.

Now it has gone viral and suddenly millions of people know him and approve of the memes and the memes are multiplying every day. There is a series of presidents including JD Lincoln, JD Coolidge, JD Reagan, JD Trump, and my favorite JD Roosevelt. I can't remember where I saw it a few days ago and will add them here if I find them.

The City And Its Uncertain Walls

Tags: Japanese, magical realism 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐out of 5

From Goodreads

We begin with a nameless young couple: a boy and a girl, teenagers in love. One day, she disappears . . . and her absence haunts him for the rest of his life.

Thus begins a search for this lost love that takes the man into middle age and on a journey between the real world and an other world—a mysterious, perhaps imaginary, walled town where unicorns roam, where a Gatekeeper determines who can enter and who must remain behind, and where shadows become untethered from their selves.

Listening to his own dreams and premonitions, the man leaves his life in Tokyo behind and ventures to a small mountain town, where he becomes the head librarian, only to learn the mysterious circumstances surrounding the gentleman who had the job before him. As the seasons pass and the man grows more uncertain about the porous boundaries between these two worlds, he meets a strange young boy who helps him to see what he’s been missing all along.

Murakami is at his best in this long-ish novel. All his trademark elements are present: unfulfilled romance, unicorns, alternate worlds, ghosts, jazz music, weird interesting people. Also, shout out to two animated movies - Hayao Miyasaki's Spirited Away and the Beatles' Yellow Submarine. 

The book is divided into 3 parts which came full circle. Very enjoyable read and ending but only for die hard Haruki Murakami fans like myself.