The Mission Song
Author: John le Carre
Narrator: David Oyelowo
Unabridged: 11 hr 32 min
Format: Digital Audiobook Download
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Published: 09/19/2006
Category: Fiction - Thrillers - Political
Author: John le Carre
Narrator: David Oyelowo
Unabridged: 11 hr 32 min
Format: Digital Audiobook Download
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Published: 09/19/2006
Category: Fiction - Thrillers - Political
This book may be one of John Le Carre's 'lesser efforts' as one critic described it, but it would be considered a tour de force had it been written by almost anyone else. The story's flaws, such as they are, are over- shadowed by the compelling, bewitching performance of the narrator, David Oyelowo. The accents, inflections and personalities of the various characters are so distinct that its easy to forget that they all come from a single reader. The story line is as cynical and sad as the most moving of le Carre's earlier work. But the hero, 'Salvo', is a delight: so hungry to believe that positive change is possible that he can't see the duplicity surrounding him. Salvo rings true and his belief in love and hope gives the story a stong ray of light at the end.
I listened and waited for this story to take off but it stayed mired in the super ego of the main character, Salvo. It was about as exciting as driving through central Nebraska. Based on this book, I will probably never choose another of this author's books.