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Liked It “One of the TOP BOOKS I have ever read! It is in my library and I intend to keep it there!” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Spook thriller. Could have been about 100 pages shorter, and the guy you think is the traitor MIGHT actually be the traitor...or not.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“One of the TOP BOOKS I have ever read! It is in my library and I intend to keep it there!”
Walter (Wally) Anderson wrote this review Saturday, July 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“big book. cool espionage tactics like "barium meal".”
Kalaga wrote this review Monday, July 21 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Great, great book that spans over decades of CIA operations. Though fictional, many parts have basis in fact. ”
Emily L wrote this review Monday, April 28 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Spook thriller. Could have been about 100 pages shorter, and the guy you think is the traitor MIGHT actually be the traitor...or not. ”
Jonathan B wrote this review Sunday, February 17 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Had to read it after seeing the miniseries. I kept forgetting it isn't history. Many Company errors, but many brave acts as well. Was Stalinism really deserving of such determined and violent opposition? ”
Sue W wrote this review Saturday, January 12 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book was an undertaking because it is so long, but I learned so much about U.S. history by reading it. I know it is a fiction book, but the history in the book is fascinating. I have always found spies particularly intriguing and Littell's portrayal of the C.I.A. throughout this book is wonderful.”
eissme wrote this review Friday, November 23 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This is an big, engrossing novel that succeeds on several levels. It is an enjoyable read and serves as a living history review of clandestine U.S. ventures going back to World War II. Littell takes several young men who joined the brand-new CIA after the war and follows their careers. All enter the spy game because their experiences with communism during the war have lead them to believe that it is a destructive element that must be halted. From the same war comes a young communist who as whole-heartedly believes that communism is the salvation of the world. In many ways, the book is a standard spy thriller, with ample supply of the requisite secrets, double-crossing, and triple agents. There's an unnecessary Alice in Wonderland theme throughout and some clunky writing. But what makes the book stand out is not just the skill Littell brings to the plot, but the scope. This is a history of covert activities, and because we see so many major incursions represented, we can watch disturbing patterns develop. It seems that since WWII, the U.S. has entered a number of frays for all the right reasons and withdrawn before the matter could be resolved. "The Company" deals with the spies and civilians left dangling, and raises questions about earlier policies that may have left us vulnerable to terrorists. ”
VillageIdiot wrote this review Sunday, November 18 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A novelisation of the history of the CIA, it reads like a saga, covering the lives of
Chris R wrote this review Sunday, January 13 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
a few of the characters. At over a 1,000 pages it the 'war and peace' of spy novels but worth reading. I was sorry to finish it.
A very good non-fiction book to read after this is 'The very best men' by Evan Thomas. It is about four important founder members of the CIA and covers much the same period as 'The Company' plus more.”
“Enjoyable historical fiction, especially for those who like CIA stuff.”
shackelford wrote this review Saturday, July 28 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“My name is on the audio box of the abridged version of this book, because I did the abridging. If you look at audiophile.com, you will see that they awarded it the Golden ears award for smoothest editing. It is the first and only book I have abridged for audio - so I can say that I guess I can do it pretty well, and not be bragging.
crabtreemama wrote this review Thursday, April 26 2007. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This story is pretty fun to read. Historical fiction - spy espionage - CIA - insider leaks, presidential visits, fun, fun, fun. The hardcover is very long, so be prepared, but it gives a view of the CIA's development in modern days, and extends to shoulder rockets in Afghanastan. Well written spy book.”
