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Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful, memorable, surprising...READ IT!
Review: As a Le Carre fan I was a little confused when I first started this novel - this is not another spy novel. Sort of like when you order coffee and are presented with a cup of tea: but then if it's the best cup of tea you've ever had, you soon forgive the mistake. The author was exploring an entirely different side to himself when he wrote this. I first read this book many years ago and it has haunted me since, and still rates as one of my all-time top 5. It is an achingly beautiful and involving story about three people struggling with themselves while caught in a love triangle. The power relations between the characters are intense and engaging. Read this classic story about the "human condition" and be amazed, entertained and moved.
Rating: 
Summary: Painful
Review: Over the years, I had read all of Le Carre's books except for this one. I recently decided to give "Naive" a try, notwithstanding the departure from a "spy" theme. Subject matter aside, which is a two man, one woman love triangle, the book is painfully slow. While I usually find Le Carre's character development to be compelling, and his books hard to put down, I had great difficulty getting through the middle of this one. I'd never before read one of his books and found myself anxious to be finished. I'm an enormous Le Carre fan--I think of him as my favorate author. Nonetheless, my advice is to skip this book.
Rating:
Summary: Painful
Review: Over the years, I had read all of Le Carre's books except for this one. I recently decided to give "Naive" a try, notwithstanding the departure from a "spy" theme. Subject matter aside, which is a two man, one woman love triangle, the book is painfully slow. While I usually find Le Carre's character development to be compelling, and his books hard to put down, I had great difficulty getting through the middle of this one. I'd never before read one of his books and found myself anxious to be finished. I'm an enormous Le Carre fan--I think of him as my favorate author. Nonetheless, my advice is to skip this book.
Rating: 
Summary: More Drummer Girl than Honourable Schoolboy
Review: Perhaps I'm lucky - NASL was one of the first Le Carre's I read - at the age of about 14. I hadn't thought much of A Small Town in Germany, and I wasn't expecting much from Naive.
In the event, The Naive & Sentimental Lover far exceeded my hopes. Le Carre plays the emotions of his characters and his readers like a Stradivarius, he attacked social taboos, and gave me much food for thought.
I've gone on and enjoyed thousands of books; and every other Le Carre I've read. But Naive has a special place for me, and I recall it with affection. I still can't get on with A Small Town in Germany. though!!
Rating: 
Summary: uuuuuggggghhhh
Review: The only reason I give this book one star is because it cannot be rated any lower.I have read every novel authored by Le Carre and I rate him as one of, if not THE best writers in the espionage/cold-war genre. He is one of my favorite writers and I am fascinated by his ability to introduce a the human side to his characters and make you have compassion for them This book however, may very well win the title of "the worst book I have ever read". I was unable to relate or have any feeling for any of these characters except for one of distaste, and struggled to make it through this book. I constantly wanted to throw the book away, but read on in the hope tht I would discover some redeeming quality ... none was found. For readers looking to discover the wonderful collection of LeCarre novels, I would recommend any of the Smiley books and would warn all readers away from this work.
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