Author: John Roberts

Another John Le Carré, Call for the Dead blends espionage with procedural. Less than 150 pages in paperback, but a fine read. George Smiley’s introduction is pedestrian: even the opening chapter’s title is dry, “A brief history of George Smiley.”

Wonder if Le Carré had any premonition he would be writing novels with Smiley involved one way or another for decades?

Call for the Dead takes place all in England. The interaction between the spy service and the police is delicate, and successful only because of personal connections overcoming institutional edginess (not quite outright rivalry). The Spy Who Came In from the Cold harkens back to these events, expanding on an event (turning an East German agent) that isn’t quite there, but could have been.

Whatever. This mystery turns the pages.

Thanks to Neal Stephenson (1, 2, 3), Isaac Newton interests me.

Ghostwalk, by Rebecca Stott, was a Books Inc. recommendation when I was in the store early last month. It’s a murder mystery in the 20th century infused with Newton’s early alchemical explorations at Cambridge in the 17th century. The tactic of addressing the story to the in-novel author’s lover annoyed me occasionally, and the mystery itself is rather mundane after so much effort to mash science and mysticism.

There is a short “Further Reading” section, which includes a link to the Newton Project…something for future exploration.

Never heard about You Kill Me before it showed up in the house, but mildly entertaining movie. The 64 on Metacritic is accurate, but if you’re in the mood for near-mindless, almost-dark comedy, you could do worse.

Téa Leone and Sir Ben Kingsley are the stars, but Bill Pullman is funny. It’s hard to watch Ben Kingsley in anything and not think of Gandhi. When the role is an alcoholic hit man trying to dry out, in part while working in a funeral home, you’re able to forget Mahatma for a bit. 😉

Congratulations to Isabel and Cort on the new arrival. I hope the older sister learns to appreciate her new sister quickly.

A 53 might be the lowest Metacritic score of any movie I’ve watched. Goal “earned” its way to the bottom. The movie was on my Netflix queue because it was a pitched as a Rocky on the soccer field. In its outline, yes, that’s true. Other than making Newcastle seem scenic, Goal is simply trying to sell soccer (football). An illegal immigrant from Mexico playing in a local league in Los Angeles is noticed by a visiting ex-Newcastle United player and one-time scout. Run through Rocky script, and guess who scores the winning goal over arch-rival Manchester United to earn a trip to the Champion’s League? I’m skipping several other cliches, but there you go. Propaganda for FIFA, plain and simple.

For the first movie of a supposed trilogy, wouldn’t you keep the original website working? Maybe Buena Vista Pictures (read: Disney) realized this wasn’t that good, either. I did find the actual website, and it’s touting the second part of the trilogy, coming this year. Oh goody!

My chess is limited, but until tonight, it’s been enough to hold off the boy. I got sloppy. The boy, playing black, got his first ever win (one stalemate previously). He didn’t realize he’d won until I pointed it out, but he sauntered off to bed with a buoyancy that’s rare. Click on the thumbnail to see the final board.

First bicycle race under my belt yesterday, and I’m happy enough with the results. Official time, 20:03, which put me 115th out of 228 overall. I was 21st out of 37 in the Master 35+…which seems less competitive (slightly) than the Elite Men 5 results. I don’t really understand these groupings yet, but it was a great way to start the New Year: crisp, clear, tired. Fun ride back down to the starting line, too.

I’m a bit early for everyone here in America, but Happy New Year!

I’m more familiar with UTC (aka GMT) thanks to OpenDNS; that threshold was crossed hours ago.

Besides, I won’t make it to midnight tonight, especially with a hill to climb in the morning. As long as my back doesn’t flare up, I’m looking forward to my first bicycle race.

Peter noted my introduction to John Le Carré last month, and Santa’s wheels turned. Thank you!

I now have a box of Le Carré awaiting time to turn the pages. One is already completed: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. Cold indeed. The spy in question, Leamas, is a hard man, an operator. But it’s only as the story unfolds that you realize the truly callous ones are the ones pulling the strings, like Control, who does indeed control events. Where the old school tie and club exterior might lead you to dismiss the bureaucrats, their actions undercut any softness or uncertainty. Who’s the traitor? Who’s the bait?

After all the back and forth whipsaws you around, the conclusion made sense. Coming full circle, you recognize what’s coming a few pages from the end, at the approach to the Berlin Wall, from the East.

When we reach the place you must get out and run to the wall. The searchlight will be shining at the point where you must climb. Stand in the beam of the searchlight. When the beam moves away begin to climb. You will have 90 seconds to get over.

You have to believe that Leamas recognized the cold justice about to be delivered, too, but he had to try all the same.

I haven’t read Ian McEwan’s novel yet, but the wife has, so Atonement was always going to be on the must-see list. Very compelling. The trailers had given away a bit much, but the main twist jarred me still. I wonder how the book will read knowing the basic story. There’s no doubt I will have that typewriter score jumping through my head when I do. And Keira Knightley wasn’t a drawback.

Metacritic score of 85 may seem a bit high after the not-so-subtle push for an Oscar wears out, but it’s hard to judge only a few days later.

Dunkirk means little more to me than the British retreat from the fury of the German blitzkreig. From the re-creation here, I know it’s time to learn more. Any specific suggestions out there for well-told histories of that “strategic retreat”?