Nick’s choices
*THEME: Retirement*
READ:John Le Carre - A Legacy of Spies (2017)
Peter Guillam, Smiley's former right-hand man, returns to a very 21st century new service headquarters by the Thames. Bunny is fabulously and memorably faux-friendly whilst Laura is all business. The veteran Guillam uses all his knowledge to try to outfox this pair of interrogators who want to know all about Operation Windfall (detailed in 'The Spy Who Came In from the Cold'). This protracted opening scene is John le Carré at his very best and brings Guillam slap bang into the modern world. From then on Guillam is forced to revisit his former life and consider the consequences of what happened. Le Carre was a fabulous writer and this is a fabulous novel which beautifully concludes the series, or is it?
Nick explained how retirement was a good overarching theme. He felt this book was a somewhat stilted read and was not le Carre at his best.
This was the second time that Hamish had read this book and, aside from some shocking sex scenes, he found it as agreeable as ever.
Robin was new to the book and the author and he absolutely blimmin loved it.
Keith thought it was clever with great attention to detail. He enjoyed the set up but also noted there were too many notes in files. He was however transported back to places and times, in a good way.
Roland was less impressed. He never got a feel for the characters. And felt overall it was laboured, uninspiring, and heavy going. Suffice to say he did no enjoy it.
Tristan is a big fan, however this book simply did not work for him. Rehashed thin gruel which does sound pretty unpleasant.
Nick 6.5 / Tristan 4 / Nigel 8 / Keith 7 / Robin 9 / Hamish 7.5 / Roland 5
LISTEN: Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker (2016)
Nick described this album as an extraordinary piece of work. Also, very funny. Brilliant, stunning!
It was not Roland‘s kind of thing. He didn’t listen to the words. Words schmords. Pleasant but too simplistic and uninspiring with a lack of hooks and melodies. Back in yer box Cohen.
Keith liked the humour and the writing and found it all very musical.
Nigel loves the voice, the sound and was glad to revisit this legacy assuring gem which is a perfect fit with the mortality saturated vibe of the book. The sparse dark sound works perfectly with Leonard Cohen‘s gravelly baritone. Both gloomy and comforting, a trick few other musical artists could pull off.
Hamish described Leonard Cohen as an extraordinary lyricist. This album is much better than the early stuff. It was a pleasure to listen to his voice again.
Tristan has never been a Leonard Cohen fan and was only dimly aware of who he was, and so was not expecting a lot. After a few listens he concluded that the lyrics and indeed the songs are absolutely brilliant. Pure poetry. He was surprised by how much he enjoyed the music.
Nick 10 / Tristan 8 / Nigel 9 / Keith - / Robin - / Hamish - / Roland -
WATCH: The Limey (1999) dir by Steven Soderbergh
Steven Soderbergh directs a solid cast in this powerful non-linear neo-noir crime film which subverts the revenge genre. The editing creates a fragmented and dreamlike feel which works well.
The old clips of a young Terence Stamp are from the 1967 film Poor Cow, directed by Ken Loach. Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Lem Dobbs used the footage to create a backstory for Stamp's character, Wilson, showing him as a young man and a budding criminal.
This stylistic masterstroke provides a hazy, memory-like peek into Wilson's past and his relationship with the mother of his daughter.
The cast are great - especially Terence Stamp and Peter Fonda - and the clash of these legends gives the film added resonance.
It’s a simple plot given added heft by the editing, performances, flashbacks, and artistic choices.
Nick enjoyed it despite the awful Cockneyisms dubbing it a melancholy & weird little film.
Nigel was seduced by the film’s dreamlike, hallucinatory quality and enjoyed seeing Stamp and Fonda back on the screen.
Roland was gradually won over by this film. He enjoyed the culture clash between the Californians and the Terrence Stamp character.
Keith described it as a real romp. The moral position of the daughter was a good theme.
Robin was less convinced but found elements enjoyable enough
A clean sweep of (relative) positivity? Alas no. Tristan called it a stinker and piss poor and went on to lambast everything about it.
Nick - / Tristan 2 / Nigel 8 / Keith 9 / Robin 5 / Hamish - / Roland -
ENDORSE IT
HBG endorse it: 5th September 2025 - 9th October 2025
TV
Mixtape (BBC iPlayer)
Black Rabbit (Netflix)
BOOKS
Camilla’s second hand bookshop in Eastbourne
The Impossible Fortune (Thursday Murder Club #5) by Richard Osman
Clown Town (Slough House, #9) by Mick Herron
MUSIC
Geese - Getting Killed (2025)
Maodcast Riviera Beat
Edwyn Collins live
FILM
The Holdovers
One Battle After Another
PODCASTS
Sleeping Forecast (BBC Sounds) - classical and ambient music mixed with excerpts from the Shipping Forecast
EXHIBITIONS
Sussex Modernism (Towner Gallery, Eastbourne)
The Ravilious collection (Towner Gallery, Eastbourne)
