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The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay, #1)

John Buchan

Start date: June 1, 2022

Finish date: July 1, 2022

Discussion: Classics Corner

Discussion leader: Lynn

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What Members Thought

Aug 03, 2007 David rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2007

Thanks to the extremely cheap "Penguin Classics" series, this summer I've had a chance to catch up on a heap of books I might not otherwise have read. In the spy-thriller genre, there was Erskine Childers' "Riddle of the Sands", and this book by John Buchan.

Of course, I'd seen the Hitchcock film, but didn't really remember much of it. Someone posted a question, wondering if the book matches the excellence of the movie. In a word: "absolutely". I read the first chapter several weeks ago, then put ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

May 05, 2015 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it liked it

Shelves: read2015, sff-audio, audiobook, secret-agents-and-detectives

I first learned of this book when it was brought up on an episode of the Reading Envy podcast, and I could not resist reading this early spy novel.

The novel is in the public domain, and has been made available in audio by Librivox. Jesse at SFF Audio took those files and edited them into one track to make it easier to download. Then he invited some friends to discuss the book - I learned a few things from that discussion that helped place the book in context.

The book is short, and that probably ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Sep 15, 2013 Kai Coates rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: group-bookish, w14-bookish-challenge

Despite being my first reading, The 39 Steps felt very familiar. John Buchan's action-packed adventure tale is considered the first modern spy thriller, and it set the tone for everything about the genre. Richard Hannay is the Everyman who is thrown into the middle of a game with international consequences - a game only he can solve. He crisscrosses the varied landscape of Great Britain in an attempt to escape both the people who think he committed murder and the people who want to kill him. Tra ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 19, 2009 Peze rated it it was amazing

Excellent spy novel; much better than either of the two movies of the book.

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Jun 07, 2013 Nanci Svensson rated it it was ok

I just didn't get it. ...more

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Apr 12, 2014 Dree rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-read, england-uk-ireland, 2014-reads, horror-thriller

I'm not really sure why this is on the 1001 books list. I would consider it to be a good version of a hard-boiled detective story. But 4 stars because I did not want to stop reading. I could have read it straight through if not for things like school dropoffs, pickups, work, life in general.

I do need to ask my dad if he has read this, because he would love it--this is his favorite genre. ...more

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May 24, 2008 Jessica rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller, spy, classic, 1001

The prototype for the espionage thriller, and a great example of plot-driven fiction. It's got all the ludicrous elements fans of the genre know and love (explosions! car chases! disguises!), as well as a break-neck pace to keep you turning the pages. A fun, fast read. ...more

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Feb 03, 2008 John rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-crime-and-thriller, childrens-or-read-as-a-kid, classics

Smashing little classic.

A short book that is very easy to read. Great thriller.

A few bloopers spoil it only slightly, but it still deserves 4 stars.

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