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The Pigeon Tunnel
The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life | John le Carre
Recounted with the storytelling lan of a master raconteur by turns dramatic and funny, charming, tart and melancholy. -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times The New York Times bestselling memoir from John le Carr, the legendary author of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The Spy Who Came in from the Cold; and The Night Manager, now an Emmy-nominated television series starring Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie. From his years serving in British Intelligence during the Cold War, to a career as a writer that took him from war-torn Cambodia to Beirut on the cusp of the 1982 Israeli invasion to Russia before and after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, le Carr has always written from the heart of modern times. In this, his first memoir, le Carr is as funny as he is incisive, reading into the events he witnesses the same moral ambiguity with which he imbues his novels. Whether he's writing about the parrot at a Beirut hotel that could perfectly mimic machine gun fire or the opening bars of Beethovens Fifth; visiting Rwandas museums of the unburied dead in the aftermath of the genocide; celebrating New Years Eve 1982 with Yasser Arafat and his high command; interviewing a German woman terrorist in her desert prison in the Negev; listening to the wisdoms of the great physicist, dissident, and Nobel Prize winner Andrei Sakharov; meeting with two former heads of the KGB; watching Alec Guinness prepare for his role as George Smiley in the legendary BBC TV adaptations of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smileys People; or describing the female aid worker who inspired the main character in The Constant Gardener, le Carr endows each happening with vividness and humor, now making us laugh out loud, now inviting us to think anew about events and people we believed we understood. Best of all, le Carr gives us a glimpse of a writers journey over more than six decades, and his own hunt for the human spark that has given so much life and heart to his fictional characters. From the Hardcover edition.
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DGRachel
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I‘m heartbroken 💔

Andrew65 😢 Rest in peace and thank you. 3y
vivastory I was always enormously disappointed that the well crafted & intricate spy story didn't take off as a favored genre for adaptations released around the holidays considering the success of Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy 3y
DGRachel @vivastory Yes. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy adaptation, although I do prefer Alec Guinness as Smiley. 💖 3y
43 likes3 comments
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Pedrocamacho
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Mehso-so

I didn‘t like the first half of the book. The anecdotes held little interest individually and were largely unrelated to each other. The second half, on the other hand, was great as the anecdotes lengthened and become more personal. The stories of Cornwell‘s (Le Carre is a pen name) father and of the notorious Kim Philby were fantastic.

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quirkyreader
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Pickpick

Another Year of Le Carre book done and five more to go. This book is full of spoilers. But I am glad I read it after getting through all of the books from the 1960‘s to the Aughts. So I have “cheated” for the next three novels, but not the last one. And now I am looking forward to seeing what is in the Le Carre biography.

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quirkyreader
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Taking a break from his novels and reading his memoir. And I am treating myself to the large print edition.

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DGRachel
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Pickpick

Finally finished a book this month. October has not been good for me. I started this in September, but have been reading via a combination of print and audio. The audiobook is narrated by the author and his narration is fantastic. I most especially enjoyed the details of people and events that inspired his novels. A must read for fans.

AlaMich Has he read any of his other books? I heard him on NPR (I think) and I can imagine he would be good. 7y
DGRachel @AlaMich According to Audible, he did narrate a handful of his novels. I haven't listened to them, though, and I think they are abridged versions, but the details on the Audible app are unclear. 7y
64 likes2 comments
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DGRachel
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#firstpersonnarrator I'm at work, so trying to do a few posts from electronic resources. I've almost finished this memoir, read by the author. #uncannyoctober

rabbitprincess So good! I loved this book. Need to get a copy for my dad. 7y
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DGRachel
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I am sticky-tabbing the heck out of this book. 😍

Suelizbeth Book darts. 7y
kspenmoll Sounds wonderful! Stacked! 7y
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DGRachel
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WTH?!?

RaimeyGallant WTH indeed. 7y
Avanders But... what? 😑 7y
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DGRachel
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I'm giving up on The Cuckoo's Calling for now. At 200 pages in, I'm still not feeling it. This, however, has great promise.

Ms.Story I'm intrigued by this topic of truth in memoir & fiction writing! (edited) 7y
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LauraBeth
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Listened to John Le Carré on Fresh Air yesterday - I must be the last person on Earth who had zero clue how fascinating he is. FASCINATING!

tricours I'm a bit clueless too... 🙄 7y
saresmoore Ooh! I'll be listening to that! I have no idea how fascinating he is, either, but I want to know now! 7y
Cinfhen Add me to the list!!! 7y
See All 20 Comments
minkyb You are in excellent company. Count me in. I feel a group read in the air. 🤣 7y
DGRachel This book is on my TBR. I've read about a dozen of his earliest novels plus his latest one. I knew he was a spy before he became a spy-thriller writer, but that's about all I know. 😊 7y
rabbitprincess The Pigeon Tunnel is really good! 7y
LauraBeth @tricours, @saresmoore, @Cinfhen, @minkyb I have never given much thought to Le Carré - now I regret that. Give yesterday's episode of Fresh Air a listen (although truthfully, I thought he'd say something fascinating and would want him to expound on it but then Gross would lead him in a completely new direction - it was the first time I questioned her interview skills ?). 7y
LauraBeth @DGRachel I noticed while at Costco yesterday that they are carrying all of his novels plus this one in the paperback section. I'm going to go back today and pick it up 😀 7y
LauraBeth @rabbitprincess I'm buying it today! 7y
AlaMich My dad loved his books. I've always been intimidated because they seem like might be hard to follow. 7y
LauraBrook Don't know much about him either! Looks like Fresh Air is in my future... 7y
SaraFair But... have you heard the interview on Terry Gross? It's on The Turnaround podcast. Very interesting also. And I will be checking out Mr Le Carre today- 7y
LauraBeth @SaraFair I haven't! I'll listen to that. I really love her - she just seemed like she phoned this one in - like she had her list of questions and wasn't willing to deviate. She really just seemed to want his take on Trump. But - her LAST question allowed him to be so candid and honest. She asked him if it was ever hard for him to figure out who his authentic self was. 🤔 7y
LauraBeth @LauraBrook the last five minutes was some of the best stuff I've heard on writing in a long time! 😀 7y
LauraBeth @AlaMich right? I have too! I've always seen him as just a book you'd give your dad on Father's Day - I had no idea of his depth. He really seems to think a lot about the human condition in which we live. 7y
Kammbia1 A Spy Who Came In From The Cold is the one best books I have ever read in my reading life. (edited) 7y
CarolynM It must be 30 years since I read Little Drummer Girl and I still think about it 7y
LauraBeth Wow @Kammbia1 - now I'm intrigued! I have to read this! 7y
LauraBeth @CarolynM I now want to read all of his books! 7y
Kammbia1 @LauraBeth Yeah, I studied the book in a writer's guide, Structuring Your Novel by Meredith and Fitzgerald, that gave me a great appreciation for the novel. I still remember that ending and how surprising it was. Definitely worth reading! (edited) 7y
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TopazMagpie
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The last few pages... honestly, only a negroni on the terrace looking at the ocean in Cornwall felt right... I am totally in love with le Carre's writing... it's all I can do not to head west & see if he's home!! #lecarre #johnlecarre #spynovel #memoir

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TopazMagpie
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Absolutely loving this - the stories are wonderfully remembered and retold, and the reality behind it all astonishing...

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rachel_mbc
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I've never read John LeCarre before, but I'm six pages into his memoir for book club and I'm already in love with his writing.

TopazMagpie It just makes me want to read everything he's written! 7y
14 likes1 comment
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DGRachel
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A few #life stories from my #TBR. #junebookbugs

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Ksvz
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Pickpick

2017 #15 Memoir Audio I had never read any of his works and learned of him through a post note in the credits of The Night Manager with Tom Hiddleston. This man is amazing, like he should be the poster child in the Dos Equis commercials, and freaking brilliant. I think he is part gandalf or Dumbledore and part James Bond or Jason Bourne. And he sounds like Jeremy Irons... audio drool. OK, can you feel how squee I am? +

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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

An interesting look into John le Carré's life, including how his various experiences and the people he meets become situations and characters in his books. Well written, as you might expect, and lashings of dry humour.

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Heather_Reads
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I read this last year when it was first released and I loved it so much I thought it give the audio a try and oh my gosh it was so perfect.
It's narrated by le Carré himself and he does it so brilliantly and naturally that it's like he's there with you - you can hear him turning the pages as he reads and it's just so wonderful.
If you enjoyed the book I'd definitely recommend listening to the audio as well.

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rabbitprincess
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I'm weird and use my Litsy TBR stack to indicate which books I have "on deck" -- library books in the house and books I own that I've pulled out for reading soon. The latest addition to the stack was John le Carré's memoir, which just came in for me as an Overdrive ebook.
#seasonsreadings2016

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schwaetzchen
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"... ich ziehe es vor,
der jahrhundertealten
Tradition des Schreibens
mit Stift und Papier
treu zu bleiben."

#JohnleCarré
#Lesezeit

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bookwormmichelle
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Pickpick

Not really a memoir but a fascinating collection of stories from his life. Not as much about Graham Greene as I hoped for but still very entertaining.!

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Twocougs
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Pickpick

I was listening to the @bookriot podcast recently and Jeff mentioned this book and that John Le Carrie was the most interesting man in the world. I concur! Such a fascinating life he has lead. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Books_Wine_Repeat Love his books! I need to read this. 👍 7y
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BookmarkTavern
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Now, I have no #spynovels of my own so I'm trusting y'all to keep a secret. This is going to be my father's Christmas present. He has been a John le Caré fan for as long as I can remember, and one of my goals in life (when I'm financially stable enough) is to buy him a first edition some day. Until that day comes, this will have to do. Don't worry. He doesn't have a Litsy account. #photoadaynov16 @RealLifeReading

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Twocougs
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What interesting and fantastic stories. He really is the most interesting man in the world.🌎

SusanInTiburon There was a recent biography, but I'm so glad I waited for this memoir. It's great! 7y
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Michelle_mck
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This arrived in my library reserves today - going to get right into it as it's got a queue already at the library! I love his novels lets see if his life as a spy is as fascinating

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Heather_Reads
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Pickpick

In this beautifully written collection of moments, we meet a man who has lived a life as varied and interesting as his characters, meeting the real life versions and inspiration for some of these characters on the way. He touches briefly on his own time working for British intelligence, but the focal point is his writing life, the places it's taken him, the people he's met. And always the spectre of his youth lurks - just as with all good spies.

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Heather_Reads
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Tuesday: only slightly better than Monday.

I'm on the home stretch with THE PIGEON TUNNEL, and I can't begin to tell you guys how sad I'll be when I'm done. I'm enjoying it so much. I think I'll get the audio version (narrated by Mr le Carré himself) later in the year and read along with it, just to enrich the experience ?

[DELETED] 3323341091 'tis a good read. 8y
Heather_Reads @fern I couldn't agree more. 8y
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Heather_Reads

"The street is blocked. A small car and a large car are intertwined."

Perhaps the most elegant car crash I've ever read.

kristenlcoates So calm. 8y
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Heather_Reads
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"I choose moose." This is probably my favourite sentence so far.

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Heather_Reads
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"Mysterious omniscience". So mysterious.

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Heather_Reads
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Heather_Reads
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Starting this has been a good start to the day.

SusanInTiburon I'm really enjoying this too! 8y
Heather_Reads @SusanInTiburon Isn't it wonderful? Reading it is like being at dinner with him while he tells you stories. 8y
SusanInTiburon Yes! I was intrigued when his bio came out, but I'm glad I waited to hear his stories in his own voice. 8y
12 likes3 comments
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Heather_Reads
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I HAVE LITERALLY BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SINCE I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT A YEAR AGO AND NOW I FINALLY HAVE IT. I PRETTY MUCH CAN'T CONTAIN MYSELF. If you know me, you know how much I love this author. I wanted the experience to be so special that I even waited extra time after the release date to get a hardcover ordered in. So this book is basically all of my dreams come true.

12 likes1 comment
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Heather_Reads
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I got some bookends during the week so I could get all my John le Carré novels out on their own and free up some space in my bookcase. There's a spot right down the end for his memoir, THE PIGEON TUNNEL, when my order of it comes in. I am beyond excited to read it.

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Ammar25
Pickpick

The pigeon Tunnel by John Le Carre is not a full autobiography or a memoir. This book is a collection of stories that range from his childhood to this age of terror.

There are no top secrets here, no scandals or spies. Just vignettes of a long lived life, anecdotes, stories and recollection: some are true and some are hazy.

An enjoyable read that any Le Caree fan would enjoy immensely.

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Ammar25

“Spying was forced on me from birth much in the way, I suppose, that the sea was forced on C. S. Forester, or India on Paul Scott. Out of the secret world I once knew I have tried to make a theatre for the larger worlds we inhabit. First comes the imagining, then the search for the reality. Then back to the imagining, and to the desk where I‘m sitting now.”

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Jessicav
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Well this is happening today. Muppet arms, etc.

SusanInTiburon That one has my name on it! 8y
Tav Just read the review in the daily NYT -- fascinating guy! 8y
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