Reading Spy Fiction, and About Those Who Wrote It

A friend asked me recently how I manage to read all the things I recommend in my Friday newsletter. Do I have a team of readers who send me their suggestions? Do I have assistants or a committee? The truth is, I have no assistants, no committee. I read everything myself before including it in the newsletter. The only secret is that I love to read and I do it quickly. Reading is my superpower. While I may not be particularly fast or skilled in other areas like writing, thinking, or running, reading comes naturally to me.

Sometimes reading feels like snacking – quick and forgettable. But every now and then, it feels like a switch has been flipped in my brain, leading to a deeper understanding of the world and its people. It’s an incredible feeling. So, what you get in this newsletter is really me – a list of things I’ve read that have been meaningful or literary delights. It’s a mix of useful, eclectic, and flawed recommendations, reflecting my own taste and preferences.

I’ve received some passionate responses about my taste in Kazuo Ishiguro, for example, but that’s what makes reading and sharing so interesting. Not everyone will connect with every author, and that’s okay. Ultimately, this column is about understanding the world, and I understand it through reading. Sharing my reading list is a way of inviting you to understand along with me.

Recently, I’ve been focused on reading spy fiction in my free time. I’m not quite sure what that says about me, but I have no regrets. Here are a few things I’ve been reading:

– I revisited the “Art of Editing” interview with Robert Gottlieb by Larisa MacFarquhar in The Paris Review. Gottlieb was a literary editor, and the interview includes insights from him and some of the authors he edited, including spy novelist John le Carré.

– I came across a piece in the L.A. Review of Books by John Phipps about John le Carré. It’s ostensibly a review of a memoir by one of le Carré’s former lovers and a volume of his own letters, but it delves into le Carré’s skills and limitations as a writer.

– I read an excellent essay by Rosa Lyster in Gawker about the female characters in le Carré’s novels, specifically Lady Ann, the wife of his most famous protagonist, George Smiley. It sheds light on the peculiar and fascinating relationship between George and Ann.

– Naturally, I went back to the source and reread le Carré’s “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” one of my favorites. I’ve been diagramming the chapters to understand how the shifting perspectives drive the plot.

– I also picked up “A Spy Among Friends” by Ben Macintyre, which tells the story of Kim Philby, a Soviet double agent who likely inspired the main villain in “Tinker, Tailor.” It’s a portrait of an era and how Philby exploited the classism of Britain and its intelligence service.

In addition to my own reading, I also received recommendations from readers. Kristie Miller suggested “Snobbery: The American Version” by Joseph Epstein, which explores hidden snobberies. Nicholas Munger recommended “All the Sinners Bleed” by S. A. Crosby, a powerful crime novel set in the South. I value the input of my readers, so if you have any recommendations or suggestions on the theme of snobbery, please fill out this form. I may feature your response in a future newsletter.

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