Captivating

Slow to start...almost gave up but glad l didn't. Very enjoyable and interestingly thorough

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Communism and the McCarthy era

Written in 1950s, an ode to square jawed Americans fighting the communist scourge. Propaganda in the old school way.

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Communism is trying to.take over

1950 The war is over but the Communist Party is in America. A returning soldier who has decided to leave the army and return to his old job is asked to heip in an investigation and only gets involved when his old girlfriend is dragged into the mess

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Neither Five nor Three

Fascinating although a bit confusing in the beginning. The characters are vivid and believable.

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If it’s time

The writing seems rather two-dimensional now, but the book was interesting to look back on a 1950’s view of aspiring middle class life in New York City, the overall regard for the goodness of the American government, questions of the direction of the country and a distrust of communism that would have been widespread in the media and public psyche.

The main female character is intelligent but withering and doubtful of her own capabilities, attributes that must have been considered attractive at the time.

Other women in the novel, were either respected for their role of motherhood in a traditional family sense, or were described and then surmised based on their appearance or on their apparently circumspect character as a single mother, a secretary, a haughty neighbour.

The book also carried a sense that the academic characters in the novel were vulnerable to flattery by communist agents and easily duped with ideology. Whereas on the other hand, more rakish male characters, just back from the war, were portrayed as more confident, genuine, likeable.

You can see where stories about James Bond would have been snapped up in an era where these values of the traditional wife, intrigue and distrust of the dangerous promiscuous femme, and the strong masculine hero were epitomised. Indeed, there are lingering reverberations of these tired themes in writing and block buster movies today.

Having read the book, I wouldn’t recommend it as essential reading for future generations, as it is neither a stand out for its literary prowess or for strong humanistic elements, unlike classics of the post-war modern era, such as To Kill a Mockingbird or Catch 22, to allow it to stand the test of time.

The narration pleasantly harkened back to the tone of old radio shows at the time. At times it had an edge to it that was a little jarring but still manageable.

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most enjoyable

Took a couple of chapters to get into nearly gave up. Pleasedto stayed with it. Enjoyed the storyline and plot that came with it. plenty going on. loved the narration.

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Not much spy in this ‘spy’ novel.

Curious slice of post-war Americana where women are all patient secretaries waiting to be rescued by stern, square-jawed men. Throw in a heavy dose of Cold War paranoia but it all ends up as a leaden political lecture.

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Neither good nor worthy

Days of our lives meets Dick Tracy. Do yourself a favour and watch grass grow. Preferable to this predictable and boring story. I felt sorry for the poor soul who had to record this.

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