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The Daily Dose/April 30, 2011
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Notes from around the Human Experience...
CAPSULE BOOK REVIEW: Our Kind of Traitor By John le Carre: We're big fans of the spy novel here at the Writer's Shack, and while we haven't read every le Carre book over the past 40 years we've read enough to more or less agree with the general consensus that le Carre is a master at what he does, writing in general and writing spy novels in particular.
Not Resting On His Laurels: le Carre is not one to waste time wallowing in the past, mourning for the good old days of the Cold War when producing spy fiction was about as difficult as the leaves turning color in the autumn. le Carre is right in step with the 21st century. Our Kind of Traitor is set in the present day (part of the story takes place at the 2008 French Open), with upwardly mobile though not yet married British couple Perry and Gail enjoying a tennis holiday in Antigua. There they meet up with Dima, a Russian money launderer, and a pretty good one at that, who is looking to defect because he is being forced to give up his empire and will likely be killed after it is transferred over to other criminals.
Anyone Would Be: For some reason Dima is under the impression that Perry is either a spy or knows a lot of spies and is in a position to help him and his family defect. Dima has a package for the British that gives a taste of what he's about, and wants Perry to help him get it into the proper hands.
A Spot Of Luck: As it turns out, Perry does know a spy, a colleague at Oxford who does a bit of recruiting for Her Majesty's secret service The package ends up in appropriate hands and before Perry and Gail know what the hell is going on, they're knee-deep in helping Dima and family defect.
Fly In The Ointment: This will surprise you, but there appears to be a high level Brit - whether he's in the government, the private sector or even in Her Majesty's service, is never entirely clear, at least to us - who is in league with the Russian mafia. However, not only is the identity not clear, whether or not he is even involved isn't even made clear, again, at least to us halfwits. It might be plain to others, though.
Just The Facts: le Carre leaves some questions unanswered, though. Was Perry and Gail's running into Dima accidental? We're given nothing to indicate it wasn't anything other than coincidence, but neither is it plain and it's a spy novel for Pete's sake, so it's natural you'd wonder about these things.
Then, about halfway through or so, the inevitable bad guys start making discreet, cameo appearances. Is this due to the guiding hand of the unidentified mole, or some other faction, or is it merely a case of police officers doing their duty, which would be perfectly plausible under the circumstances?
The Bottom Line: We're not complaining about this. It's good we're left with these questions, which may be a tactic by the author to ensure his book remains on our minds after we've set it down.
Oh Yeah: There is usual cloak-and-dagger goings on you would expect in a spy novel, and, as usual, le Carre writing is so clear, but unassuming, that you feel like you're the main character and that you are the one watching the defector remove a condom with a memory stick in it from his bum in the locker room of an exclusive Paris tennis club.
Standard Internet Disclaimer: Though Gaylon is fairly well read he is not Einstein for Pete's sake and is not a professional book reviewer. Reviews are based on his own personal tastes, are completely subjective and not measured against established literary standards. He has a habit of re-reading selected favorites and books that were published as early as the 20th century.
We Interrupt This Program For A Word From The Ratings Department: Following Is The Official Writer's Shack Capsule Review Rating scale:
EX - Excellent; as good as the medium can produce in every respect.
VG - Very Good. Well worth your time.
GD - Good. More or less worth your time.
AR - All Right. Not completely without merit.
SP - Nothing of substance; a steaming pile, utterly without merit.
Final Rating: VG. This was not the best le Carre book we've read, but it was very good. Reading le Carre over the years is quite like watching a top athlete perform on a regular basis. This athlete's career is a tribute to sustained excellence, Once or twice he has achieved heights rare, even for him, just like from time to time his efforts might not have met his usual high standards. Our Kind of Traitor is routine day at the office for le Carre. More sustained excellence.
OH, WHAT THE HELL, THE WORLD'S FLAT ANYWAY: King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain commission Christopher Columbus to explore what will be known as the New World on this date in 1492.
Perseverance Must Finish Its Work: The commission was hard earned. Columbus had been trying to hustle up a patron for his trip since 1485, when he made the first of two pitches to Portugal, which turned him down both times. So did Genoa and Venice. The English, then led by Henry VII, were amenable, but they dawdled and made an offer to Columbus after he had committed to the Spaniards.
I Do Solemnly Swear: George Washington becomes the first President of the United States on this date in 1789, taking the oath at Federal Hall in New York City. John Adams, runner-up in the presidential election, is inaugurated vice-president. Congress would decide to pay Washington $25,000 a year, about $225,000 in today's dollars, a salary the wealthy Washington declined.
Can Somebody Get Me A Run, Please? Joe Oeschger of Philadelphia Phillies and Burleigh Grimes of Brooklyn Robins each pitch a 20-inning complete game that ends in a 9-9 tie on this date in 1919.
Oh, Jesus H:The game was tied 6-6 after nine, after Brooklyn tied it with one in the top of the ninth. Each team scored three in the 19th, a record for most runs scored by both teams in the 19th inning that stood until the Mets and Braves broke it by scoring seven runs in the 19th inning on 7/4/1985.
Thank You In Advance: Remember Joe Oeschger. A word to the wise.
Perfection: Charlie Robertson of the Chicago White Sox becomes the fifth major leaguer to throw a perfect game on this date in 1922, defeating the Detroit Tigers 2-0.
Mr. Robertson, History On Line Two: Robertson is as unlikely a candidate for immortality as History could muster. This was just his fourth major league start and Robertson would retire with a career record of just 49-80, the worst record of any retired perfect game pitcher, though Dallas Braden, currently 26-36, may well give him a run for that title.
FunFact: Robertson was the pitcher to throw a perfect game on the road.
Thought For The Day: I had found what I was looking for- a man like myself, but one who in his search for meaning had discovered a worthwhile object for his life; who had paid every price and not counted it a sacrifice; who was paying it still and would pay it till he died; who cared nothing for compromise, nothing for his pride, nothing for ourselves or the opinion of others; who had reduced his life to the one thing that mattered to him, and was free. - John le Carre, The Secret Pilgrim
Answer To The Last Trivia Question: The California Highway Patrol was the first law enforcement agency to come across Rodney King the night he was beaten, attempting to pull him over on a Los Angeles freeway. After making initial contact with King, the professionals from the LAPD took over.
Today's Stumper: What was John Adams' vice-presidential salary in 1789? - Answer next time!
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