Rating: 
Summary: Nicely written but not what I expected
Review: I'd never really read a "spy" novel before this book, but I'd imagined them to be tense, white-knuckle affairs. Strangely, I didn't find that at all in this book, although it is largely hailed as the greatest spy novel ever written. It is much more of a human drama with a lot of sad commentary on the psychological and physical torture some people go through for the sake of their countries. The plot happened rather gradually, with Le Carre never giving you enough information to be sure if you were understanding what was happening in the right light. The plot itself was very convoluted and complex, but most of the twists and turns just shuttled you back and forth between wondering if A was happening or B was happening. By the end of the book you knew that either plot A or B was going to turn out to be the truth, and the book could have conceivably ended a chapter or two early without the final change even necessary. Le Carre's writing style is engaging but economical and the book is a surprisingly quick read. I wouldn't include this on a must-read list, but if you're looking for an easy read, you might try it.
Rating: 
Summary: An intelligent and entertaining book
Review: This book starts as your standard cold war spy novel that is vaguely interesting before moving into high gear. When you finally realise what is actually going on in the plot, I assure you that you'll be astounded at the sheer intelligence that LeCarre has communicated in this novel. All is not what it seems and the plot kicks into gear, it is addictive reading. In fact, a second reading is often necessary just to go over and comprehend it completely. All around it is a great story, so great, in fact, that when the novel was first released it was believed that LeCarre was a former government agent! A great book that makes for a fascinating read. I totally recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best books of the 20th century
Review: Not just a spy novel. Not just a cold war novel. A book about alienation, connection, loyalty, secrets, lies, and all that stuff. What a treat. Not to be missed. I probably read it 20 years ago, and remember it clearly today.
Rating:
Summary: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Review: The book that I read is called "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold". It was written by John Le Carre and first published in 1969. The book is a very good but a complicated spy story. It focuses on the espionage back in the 1960s when Berlin was divided into West and East Berlin. The main character of the book is Leamas, a clever English spy. After finishing his job of spying in East Berlin for London, he started to drink and deteriorate. Leamas had done a good job while he was working for London, but when he retired he appeared to have no savings and no income. Being extremely poor, he resented the Organization for which he had been employed. However, one day he met other spies who worked for East Berlin and who took him to a man named Fiendler who was interested in obtaining information that Leamas had. They offered Leamas money and he accepted. The story is an astonishing one. It is mostly about the rough times a man goes through while spying and how he is left out at the end by the Organization he worked for. Trying hard to avoid poverty, he falls into a very dangerous business. The book is good because it has a lot of mystery and suspense. At the same time it is very hard to understand because it has a lot of information that makes your head spin. I don't like the characters that much. I don't agree with the desicions they make, because of their selfishness and greediness. I think that "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" is a good story. It is full of suspense and adventure. It is the story of a man who had to make a hard decision after being let down by the ones he trusted. It is a story about betrayal, hatred and jealousy. At the same time it can be very confusing because of too much mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Berlin
Review: This is the classic cold war spy novel. All the elements are here before they became cliches. Le Carre's themes in later novels became repetitive and stale, but here they are new and deeply felt.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT HISTORY. ONE OF THE BEST !
Review: Even if there is no more "Wall", this book stands the test of time. Written in short chapters, it is highly readable without being cheap literature. Amazing!
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful story within a cold-war shell
Review: As someone who has always been facinated by the world of secret agents and the cold war, this book was a wonderful step in my education of what went on during that period. I have seen more than enough movies, and I have read a few fiction and non-fiction books about the era, but this was a fictional work of art. Although it is a short book, I often had to go back and reread parts because of the enormous complexity. From a literature standpoint, Le Carre's characters are so real that you don't need to try to imagine what they are really like; they simply are what they are while avoiding your prototypical characters. I would definately recommend this book for anyone with any interest in the cold war, spies, or simply good works of literature. A true classic.
Rating:
Summary: It was ok, but seemed to forced.
Review: Over all I would have to say this book was "alright" at it's best. I'm not a big fan of spy books but if I have to drudge my way through one, this one would be it. It's pretty fast passed and easy reading. It keeps you confussed engough that you want to keep on reading. What I didn't like was that it seemed to forced. The charaters, the side love plot, a lot of the feelings and emotions expressed through the book, just didn't seem like they had to be there. It seemed like LeCarre just thought "it's a spy book, so I HAVE TO have this in it...". It would have been better if LeCarre had completely broken away from the stereotypical spy book as it seemed he was trying so hard to do.
Rating:
Summary: Get a feel for what spies really go through
Review: I think it is one of the best spy books ever written. It brings you into the real world, where things don't always end up, "Happily ever after." Le Carre has a great touch of realism and characterization. Great book!
Rating:
Summary: Quick and Bleak
Review: Considered the best spy novel ever written, this is a quick, bleak book. It is widely praised for its realistic portrayal of Cold War spycraft, and rightfully so. There's hardly any 007-style action, no gizmos, no babes, just an elaborate, nasty plot. More or less makes all other Cold War spy novels redundant in its efficient depicted of an old British spy making his last big gambit before being retired. Tight prose and lots of tension.
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