We are seven handsome and charming* guys who meet at a different restaurant every month or so, having read a book in common, and discuss whatever we want--generally the assigned book, but usually many other timely topics as well. We rotate the responsibility to suggest titles, but the group has the final say. Our book club rules: 1) Anything goes, fiction or nonfiction; 2) paperbacks are preferred; and 3) staying under 300 pages is desirable (N.B., we violate this one all the time). We rate all books and restaurants on a 5-point scale.

* All other adjectives were vetoed.

June 25, 2013

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John LeCarre (Louis)

Despite high noise levels at Louis, we had a good conversation about issues like the morality of leaking state secrets.  We all liked the book and found it an easy read, while acknowledging that it was in a special niche of literature and could not compete in overall quality with the best novels of all time.  But it would definitely qualify as one of the best spy thrillers ever.  Dinner entrees were above average in quality and so large that lots of left overs were carted home.

Max suggested three books for next time: Jared Diamond, Collapse, Peter Beagle, Time and Private Place, and Freya Stark, Valleys of the Assassins.  We chose the last, and we'll meet on Tuesday, July 23. Don will suggest the next book.