Reading the 20th Century discussion

Welcome to our buddy read for....


Berlin Game by Len Deighton

This discussion will open in mid-October 2019

Here's more information about Berlin Game and the Bernard Samson ennealogy....

An ennealogy is the name for a series of nine novels. In fact, in the series built around agent Bernard Samson - arguably, Deighton's magnum opus and most complete set of novels - there are ten novels; Winter provides a prequel to introduce many of the characters in the nine main books.

The series starting with Berlin Game is a spy fiction classic which updated the genre at the height of the Cold War and perfectly replicated the tensions and uncertainties of the 'eighties in the relationship between top field agent Bernard Samson and his wife, Fiona. What follows is a story on an epic scale with numerous story arcs and hidden character flaws revealed over the ten books. These books deserve the description 'unputdownable.'

Let the discourse commence


Here's to another wonderful buddy read

I was a little under-whelmed by Ipcress File, but I thought this was a great spy story. Much more linear, and less disjointed in style, with interesting characters. Glad that I read it and intend to read on.

I started this last night - only the first 10 pages or so but I am getting a good feeling from it.

It's good to be back with Len D. Already a firm favourite. And even better to be reading along with you lovely people.

I will be interested to hear how you think it compares to the other Deighton books you have read, Nigeyb. Did you also start with Ipcress File?

Yes Susan.


So far I've read....

The Ipcress File

and

Horse Under Water

The first two Harry Palmer / Secret Agent books

I have number three....

Funeral in Berlin

...ready and waiting


And of course, now I've started this one....

Berlin Game

...the first book in the Bernard Samson ennealogy


It's interesting how this one is set in the 1980s and so not that long until the Berlin wall comes down and yet none of the characters in the book has an inkling about that momentous development.

I'm also enjoying the Bernard Samson character as he's someone who thought his field days were behind him and his life is becoming more settled and domestic. Another great premise for a character.

Two reminders that life is not always what we predict or expect.

https://spybrary.com/berlin-game/

There is a spybrary bookclub podcast about the book, but it says there are spoilers, so don't listen until you have finished.

From the site:

"Spybrary Host Shane Whaley claims that this is one of the top 3 spy books ever written, if not the best! ‘Not just a multi-layered spy novel but also a love letter from Len Deighton to Berlin’ he says.

Rob Mallows says Berlin Game is the book that got him hooked on Len Deighton.

Peter Newman delivers a fresh approach as this was his first time reading Berlin Game.

What did our panel think of the plot, the characters, the writing, the conclusion? Tune in to find out!"

High praise indeed.

I do agree that the book is a love letter to Berlin. Bernie grew up there and loves the place, whereas, it is obvious, that others in the British secret service are keen to return home and tend to look down on Bernie's old, Berliner friends.

I didn't realise that Len Deighton was 90 this year either!

https://www.theoldie.co.uk/blog/happy...

Quite a milestone.

Susan wrote: "


There is a spybrary bookclub podcast about the book, but it says there are spoilers, so don't listen until you have finished."

Great news - I'll certainly give that a listen once I've finished this book

And happy 90th Len

I’m hoping to finish this today. This is my first book by Len Deighton and I’ve really been enjoying it so far. I didn’t realize it was the first in a series. May just have to continue on with it.

That's great news Lynaia


I haven't made any progress since I last posted. It's been a busy day so no reading opportunities

There's no rush. It is the only group book, this month, I've managed to finish.

60 pages in, so still in the early sections, however I am really enjoying it so far

I've read the whole series at least 4 times. It is - as a full series - my favorite spy series, even more favorite than Smiley. But I was feeling jealous, so I'm about to jump into that car by the border with Bernard & Werner and start reading this again.

A lot of people say it is their favourite. I have to say that, so far, Mick Herron is my absolute favourite series, but I really enjoyed this and I am keen to read on. I think it more than the Le Carre books I have read, which, I keep starting and stalling on.

That's incredibly high praise Ella which makes me even more excited to be reading this book and, doubtless, the ones which follow

I've not any book four times. Some maybe three - though don't ask me what.

About 90 pages in and I am quickly becoming immersed despite all the action so far (except in first few pages) taking place in London and being more focussed on Bernie's domestic life, and working life. He's a great character.

Bernie has quite a lot in common with the nameless agent in Len's first series which starts with The Ipcress File. Like the unnamed agent, he is working class and operating in a hierarchical and class conscious world. It could almost be the same character, just an older and wiser version.

The way Giles Trent treats Bernie when he first rings on his doorbell could have come straight out of The Ipcress File or Horse Under Water. Bernie has his measure from the word go though.

I liked the fact that Bernie has a 'life.' I think he is fleshed out by his marital insecurities, his background, his understanding of how he is viewed by others. I agree that he does have common ground with the agent in Ipcress File too.

In a sense, he is the utter opposite of James Bond, who is utterly unrealistic. It is impossible to go through life without accumulating ties and relationships and they undoubtedly affect your life.

Not very far into this yet, but liking it. I'm pretty sure this is the first Len Deighton I have read.

Great that you're joining in too Jill. I look forward to your thoughts and feelings about this book.

The only reason I've read it so many times is that I spent my youth pretty much reading ANY spy novel I could get my hands on. I seriously waited for the books to come out in hardback & saved my pennies for them as a young(ish) woman. I'm just old - that's why I've read this so much, and also I only read a very small sliver of the world of books until more recently.

I read a lot of the same authors when I was younger too, Ella.I have found that reading groups, and Goodreads, has extended my reading out of my comfort zone.

I also like spy books a lot - but they are often seen as a male genre, aren't they? In the same way, I like a lot of non-fiction war books, which also seem to be largely marketed at the male audience. Not a criticism, just a comment.

Susan wrote: "I liked the fact that Bernie has a 'life.' I think he is fleshed out by his marital insecurities, his background, his understanding of how he is viewed by others. I agree that he does have common ground with the agent in Ipcress File too."

Absolutely spot on Susan. This aspect gives the novel a richness and crediblity that elevates it.

Susan wrote: "In a sense, he is the utter opposite of James Bond, who is utterly unrealistic. It is impossible to go through life without accumulating ties and relationships and they undoubtedly affect your life. "

I couldn't agree more. James Bond is more of a superhero than a credible spy. The backstory is very limited and, as you say, his relative lack of baggage is ridiculous.

I'm still working through Berlin Game, and Bernie has just arrived back in Berlin. I have to say it really cranks up a couple of gears once he's back. The vague sense of paranoia and disinformation noticeably intensifies, and it's not as if Bernie's life in London may be all that it appears.

A great blend of office politics, domestic insecurity, and cold war paranoia.

Loving it.

A quarter of the way in and very much liking it. I like that we get the background of Bernie, with his family and attitude, making him seem like an ordinary person, not some daring-do, like so many spy books portray men in that line of work.

I liked the office politics and the domestic details. To me, that is much more entertaining than glory and gadgets.

Susan wrote: "I liked the office politics and the domestic details. To me, that is much more entertaining than glory and gadgets."

Yes. Very much more entertaining for me

I am currently listening to the Spybrary episode about, "Berlin Game," while writing boring reports at work :) It is a book group episode, so they warn about spoilers. Not one to listen to until you have finished the book though.

Digressing slightly, Charlie Muffin is mentioned a lot in Spybrary podcasts. Charlie M is the first in the series. Has anyone read them/it?

I'll definitely be listening to that episode of Spybrary


Nope, Charlie Muffin is not a name I've come across before. Or indeed read any of the books.

The blurb to Charlie M suggests some parallels with Berlin Game....

Charlie Muffin is an anachronism. He came into the intelligence service in the early 1950s, when the government, desperate for foot soldiers in the impending Cold War, dipped into the middle class for the first time. Despite a lack of upper-class bearing, Charlie survived twenty-five years on the espionage battle’s front line: Berlin. But times have changed: The boys from Oxford and Cambridge are running the shop again, and they want to get rid of the middle-class spy who’s a thorn in their side. They have decided that it’s time for Charlie to be sacrificed. But Charlie Muffin didn’t survive two decades in Berlin by being a pushover. He intends to go on protecting the realm, and won’t let anyone from his own organization get in his way.

Susan wrote: "Glad that I read Berlin Game and intend to read on."


Yes, me too Susan. Mexico Set is next up in the series.

I'm over halfway through this one now. I'm still very absorbed and increasingly thrilled.

Over half way now and really engrossed!

I think I might take a break from Antarctica and read this one next. The Ipcress File was not bad, but it did not make me a Deighton fan and I haven't read any of his others. That may be because (unusually) I saw the film adaptation first and liked it more than the book, so it would be good to come to a series with no expectations.

It’s certainly more straightforward than Ipcress, and more conventionally written, and yet it loses nothing in terms of depth and cleverness.

I bought the next two books in the series earlier today.

I was given all the Len Deighton books, but didn't add them as I wasn't sure I would ever get to them. Thanks to this group I have now added the Samson books to my list and will definitely try to get to them all. Not sure about the Harry Palmers or the novels though

I was definitely not impressed by The Ipcress File, but enjoyed this much, much more. I am pleased that I gave Deighton another try and it just goes to show that, not really enjoying one book, doesn't mean you may not like an author's work. I think, had I read Berlin Game first, I would have been more kindly disposed to Ipcress, so may re-read it at some point.

I'm going to continue with both the Samson books and the Harry Palmer books - both have drawn me in

Back to Berlin Game, in the introduction to a later edition Len Deighton states that Bernard's testimony in the books is unreliable. This is because Samson is biased, especially towards his superiors, and is prone to regard himself and his skills too highly. However it is only when readers reach the sixth novel, Spy Sinker which recounts the events of the previous five novels with a third-person narrator, that doubt is cast upon Bernard's reliability as a narrator. Interesting eh? And something to bear in mind whilst reading this first trilogy.

You definitely get the impression, from this first book, that Bernie is the smart one and that he doesn't think much of his superiors. However, there is also the suggestion that Bernie's father asked others to look after him - implying that he perhaps needed guidance?

All good points Susan. Perhaps they're his superiors for a reason beyond their class? He seems particularly dismissive of Dicky Cruyer, and he obviously has other issues with Bret Rensellaer

I don't know if it is still able to be found, but I do remember the NY Times review questioning why on earth we should believe Bernard Samson (and that making me very upset for some reason, at the time, because I really did love this book when I first read it.) Now, having read the series, I understand that review, and I think it was mostly a good review. I'll see if I can find it in their archives and if I remember it correctly if/when I make the time to do it.

Well that was easier than expected: https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/12/bo...

I do think you get the impression ,the whole set up is an "old pals" game.

I finished this last night


I really enjoyed it.

I hope to pen a proper review today or tomorrow - more likely tomorrow

I'm looking forward to continuing with the Bernard Samson series

I've now downloaded the episode of Spybrary which discusses this book....


https://spybrary.com/berlin-game/

Looking forward to it - thanks Susan

I am also keen to continue the series. If anyone fancies a buddy read of the second one, I would manage to fit it into my reading schedule!

Susan wrote: "I am also keen to continue the series. If anyone fancies a buddy read of the second one, I would manage to fit it into my reading schedule!"

I'll let you know when I get my copy of the second book and work out when I might be able to read it

Here's my review....


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

4/5

Great review, Nigeyb!

I enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure I want to read a whole series. There is a lot of quite dry humour in the book, in that the actual spying is almost always peripheral to the office politics and personal friendships and allegiances.

Try the podcast Val


It’s certainly increased my resolve to read the series. The discussion strongly suggests the series gets better and better

I received the next two books in this trilogy in the post today. I hope to get started soon. I’ve a couple of books to read first.

Will be interested to hear your thoughts, Nigeyb. I also intend to read on, once I have caught up on my backlog.