Rating: 
Summary: Very Good
Review: A masterpeice written by a master. As an Israelian I had special interest in this book, and I really liked it. The plot is thrilling and fun to read and the book is very well written. Yet, the most important thing about this book is, in my opinion, that it reflects the reality in the middle-east: A cycle of old hates and old revenges. No one can remember who started it, and it doesn't really matters. There are no bad guys or good guys because the whole concept of justice doesn't exist anymore. Everybody knows they are angry about something, that they are revenging something, however, does it really matters? Does it right? Does anyone really remember why it all started? This book is recommended as a good thriller and a thought provoking book.
Rating:
Summary: Ambiguous and Ambivalent
Review: All of the Le Carre novels involve the theme of betrayal and exploitation in some subtle manner. This is one where the main character, as actress, has to betray and exploit herself. She - and by implication, us as readers - never know what is authentic and what is artifice in her. Le Carre demolishes the distinction. For this very quality she is taken on by the Israeli secret service, who need to construct an elaborate but plausible facade. Like all Le Carre's other novels there's an ambivalence about what is right and wrong. The characters are complex, ofttimes confusing in their motives and unsure of the efficacy and rightness of what they're doing. What makes this book unusually troubling is Le Carre's exposure of the fakeness and schism in the soul of western man.Is there anything bona fide and clear about us? Is life for us just theatre?
Rating:
Summary: haunting
Review: As a suspense author with my debut novel in its initial release, I admire John Le Carre's LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL because it achieves what all authors of such types of fiction hope to achieve. Le Carre takes the complex issues involved in the Middle East and personalizes these issues with an intricate plot and vividly drawn characters. He makes the underlying and conflicting truths beneath this permanent international hotspot comprehensible to all who read his novel. Charlie, a beautiful actress, is lured into participating in a mission to entrap a Palestinian terrorist. Le Carre avoids simple answers and presents the views of all sides fairly. LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL is a terrific book, one I always recall when there is additional senseless violence in that most unfortunate world region.
Rating:
Summary: Personalizing the Chaos in the Middle East
Review: As a suspense author with my debut novel in its initial release, I admire John Le Carre's LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL because it achieves what all authors of such types of fiction hope to achieve. Le Carre takes the complex issues involved in the Middle East and personalizes these issues with an intricate plot and vividly drawn characters. He makes the underlying and conflicting truths beneath this permanent international hotspot comprehensible to all who read his novel. Charlie, a beautiful actress, is lured into participating in a mission to entrap a Palestinian terrorist. Le Carre avoids simple answers and presents the views of all sides fairly. LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL is a terrific book, one I always recall when there is additional senseless violence in that most unfortunate world region.
Rating:
Summary: The best spy novel written.
Review: Having read about a thousand novels in this genre, and having read _this_ novel four or five times over the past fifteen years, I can, with confidence, award it the highest possible marks. Le CarrŽ has woven fascinating characters into a marvellously complex plot that is seamless from beginning to end. His writting is both clever and wise, his characters larger than live but fully, deeply human (even his throw-away characters are richly drawn). One word of advice to first-time readers... you may find the first twenty pages somewhat bewildering. Hang in there. You will be amply rewarded.
Rating: 
Summary: Complex story, great read, but I just don't like Charlie
Review: I read this book when it first came out and absolutely adored it. It really is very good. The story is a complex world of espionage, counter espionage and intricate plotting. Le Carre never talks down to his readers either - he uses marvellous language, and leaves you hanging by the merest threads to what is going on for a good half of the novel. Its a complex story which involves a number of blinds and counter blinds for the characters to implement to make the whole thing work. So, for instance, the recruitment of English actress, Charlie, is almost simultaneous to the kidnap of Salim, a Palestinian terrorist. However at the time there is no guarantee that Charlie will work with them, and they only have 6 days with Salim before they must move on. Le Carre keeps us on a knife edge the whole time, trying to figure out how each piece fits, or what each move means. Basically, the Israeli's have a plan to stop a terrorist group - and to do that they must send in someone with a watertight cover story to track down Khalil - the terrorist leader and Salim's brother. Charlie's world becomes a complex series of fantasy and reality which she must live out to survive, to infiltrate the terrorists and flush out Khalil. My feelings for this book have changed over the years though, when I re-read this book recently I found I just didn't like the character of Charlie as I used to. As a 20 year old first reading about her I found her compelling and real. Now as a bit of a jaded 30-something I am less apt to like her, or find her as real as I used to. Perhaps its just that I don't really relate to her as a character - she is too dependent on Joseph, on making up a romance all the time, on being an actress and on being somewhat theatrical. I guess if that sort of thing annoys you then you might feel the same way about this book too - and that is really the only reason I have given the book 3 stars. The story is superb - but I just found I didn't like Charlie as a character and my reading is character driven.
Rating:
Summary: The most realistic portrayal of modern espionage available.
Review: Le Carre blends realism and fiction into a compelling story, involving believable characters and events from today's headlines. The result is a masterpiece of modern literature, both exciting and heart-wrenching at the same time. You will understand both sides of the Middle East conflict, and grieve for both hero and villain alike. This is one of the best novels Le Carre has ever written.
Rating:
Summary: Best fiction on the middle east since the bible
Review: Like most le Carre novels, the spy story is the canvas to paint a majestic portrait of the people, the region, the art of deception.
I have known Jewish people who criticize this book as being pro-Arab, as well as Arabs who criticize this book as being pro-Zionist. Which of course means how fairly he treats the two.
All in all, an excellent read. The movie, however, was an absolute flop. Why do Hollywood fools insist on American characters?
Rating: 
Summary: Another bore-to-death book by Le Carre!
Review: Ridiculous plots with absolutely no fundmental logical premises. This book is like written by a college student with lot of imaginary thought-so plots but actually ridiculous with no realistic experience in Espinage or couter-terrorist professions
Rating:
Summary: Terrific
Review: The Little Drummer Girl is a great spy novel from Le Carre, concerning Israeli intelligence using an actress to get to a Palestinian terrorist responsible for a series of bombings. This book is fantastic. This was my first Le Carre book, and it certainly is not the last.
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