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220th out of 386 books
—
36 voters
My rating:
add to my books
Body of Lies
A tale of counterterrorism from an author who "ranks with Graham Greene in his knowledge of espionage and the human heart" -Publishers Weekly.
CIA soldier Roger Ferris has come out of Iraq with a shattered leg and an intense mission—to penetrate the network of a master terrorist known only as "Suleiman." Ferris's plan is inspired by a masterp...more
CIA soldier Roger Ferris has come out of Iraq with a shattered leg and an intense mission—to penetrate the network of a master terrorist known only as "Suleiman." Ferris's plan is inspired by a masterp...more
Hardcover, 349 pages
Published
April 16th 2007
by W. W. Norton & Company
(first published April 1st 2007)
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There's nothing like an intelligent, well thought out spy novel with believable characters and credible situations. If that's your kind of novel, KEEP LOOKING!
This was horrible! Indigestible and inexcusable.
It's inexcusable when an author has supposedly smart people do stupid things. But it gets even worse here. Suspicious people accept information without question. Secretive people talk to other people about their secrets. A hardened terrorist yields to the pressu...more
This was horrible! Indigestible and inexcusable.
It's inexcusable when an author has supposedly smart people do stupid things. But it gets even worse here. Suspicious people accept information without question. Secretive people talk to other people about their secrets. A hardened terrorist yields to the pressu...more
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Tyler
added it
Awesome! But there are some things that are against my religion
This novel is one well crafted post 9/11 spy thriller with a highly elaborate plot. The story starts when CIA agent Roger Ferris is sent on a mission to flush out a terrorist known as Suleiman. In order to forestall further Al-Qaeda attacks he develops an intricate scheme to pit the terrorists against each other by sowing seeds of suspicion that their leaders are collaborating with the Americans. Unable to succeed alone, he requires the full support of his boss Ed Hoffman and with the help of Ha...more
An interesting book that is, unfortunately, marred by a poor beginning and a somewhat unsatisfying ending. Ignatius seems to know enough about the intelligence community to write a convincing novel about its operations, but a lot of things detract from this novel. For starters, the beginning has a very weird structure to it in that it doesn't really start at the beginning. In fact, the first 100 pages are the worst part of the book as it is incredibly boring. But it picks up once Farris, the mai...more
Watched the movie and found it ok, and I tend to enjoy Ignatius's column, so I gave it a try. Have to say i was a bit disappointed - the liberal, Bush-loathing politics (that I agree with) are just put on too thick, and the book can never quite decide whether it wants to be a page-turner or a liberal manifesto on US politics in the Middle East. I also found it questionable in an overtly political novel to lionize the fictional head of the Jordanian intelligence service as a suave, non-violent su...more
I was first attracted to this book because it involved the relationship between Jordanian Intelligence and the CIA. Since there had been a recent story in the news about several CIA agents who were killed by an operative who came from Jordanian Intelligence, I thought perhaps this novel may have predicted the actual news event. Well, this book didn’t do that, but I’ll have to admit that I was impressed with the book’s ending.
Through the first half of the book I seriously considered...more
Through the first half of the book I seriously considered...more
Bookmarks Magazine
added it
David Ignatius, journalist and author of Agents of Innocence, has used his vast knowledge of Middle Eastern politics to write one of the most compelling post-9/11 spy thrillers. While creating psychologically deep characters and painting rich portraits of life in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria, he narrates a fast-paced search for a terrorist. A few critics noted, however, that Ignatius bends over backwards not to stereotype his Arab characters (most are wise; few are anti-Semitic), while blatantly crit
...more
Having seen the movie a year before, I was pretty convinced that the book would have more to offer. A journaslist first and then a novelist is a fair indicator of the detailing he would provide on the topic, not widely covered. He has bundled up a brilliant with VERY fine details of the Middle Eastern countries and their landscape. Add the the backdrop of the CIA and their secret operatives and you get a compelling jig-saw puzzle to solve. While he does justice to the plot, and brings out his in...more
I wish I could give this book two raiting--3-4 stars for the plotting, one star for the characters--so I am compromise by giving it 2.
Ignatius crafts an interesting thriller with some pretty good plot twists and at some points near the ending you are not exactly how it is going to turn out.
However, Farris and Alice were soo uninteresting and at times one dimensional. Often both characters seem so self righteous that it even if you agreed with their politics it was dist...more
Ignatius crafts an interesting thriller with some pretty good plot twists and at some points near the ending you are not exactly how it is going to turn out.
However, Farris and Alice were soo uninteresting and at times one dimensional. Often both characters seem so self righteous that it even if you agreed with their politics it was dist...more
Maiga Milbourne
added it
Really suspenseful read. The lack of depth of "intelligence" agents is telling (it reads true). There are slight brushes with the idea that current world affairs could stem from history, more specifically have arisen due to HORRIBLE US foreign policy decisions. But, those brushes are VERY light. I doubt the book would have gotten such widespread attention had it taken a firmer political stance. Instead, it describes action packed events, illuminates how international intelligence ...more
Possibly in a minority of one, I have to confess to finding Body of Lies a disappointingly mechanical novel. I read it in forty-eight hours while on holiday and only hazy recollections remain.
There was probably no choice for Ignatius but to admit that a central plank of his plot was borrowed from The Man Who Never Was but it immediately removed one star for originality. Cardboard characters removed another. But the author conveys a sense of knowing something about the CIA and also a...more
There was probably no choice for Ignatius but to admit that a central plank of his plot was borrowed from The Man Who Never Was but it immediately removed one star for originality. Cardboard characters removed another. But the author conveys a sense of knowing something about the CIA and also a...more
am on page 64 and am loving it - it is apparent that author knows what he is talking about both from a policy point and also has knowledge about how we are really fighting the war - I did not understand the power of drones until it was explained
I have now finished this book and must say my overall feeling is one of dissappointment - I consider myself to be of at least average inteligence and this book was hard to find - it is as if whole sections were missing - maybe that was the poi...more
I have now finished this book and must say my overall feeling is one of dissappointment - I consider myself to be of at least average inteligence and this book was hard to find - it is as if whole sections were missing - maybe that was the poi...more
I learned sooo much from this book. It helped me understand more about the thoughts and principles of Arab Muslims. I learned that America shoots herself in the foot in Arabia because we deal as arrogant interlopers. Yes, we've got the power, the money and the weapons, but it's their home.
Body of Lies was full of adventure and spy story sizzle. It would make a great movie (starring Bruce Willis, if I got to choose). There were surprises at every turn and took me on a thrilling ride a...more
Body of Lies was full of adventure and spy story sizzle. It would make a great movie (starring Bruce Willis, if I got to choose). There were surprises at every turn and took me on a thrilling ride a...more
The current book by Ignatius, again devoted to espionage in the modern Middle East. His writing has improved since Agents of Innocence; this actually reads like a story rather than a history of a particular spy case with novel pieces tacked on here and there. While still a little clunky, particularly with respect to some of the characters (a sexpot named Gretchen? Give me a break), the narrative moves right along and the surprise ending is well handled. Having said that, I have now had...more
Kelly Konrad
added it
This was a nice break from a non-fiction bender I was on...I haven't seen the movie, but could easily picture Russell Crowe and Leo DiCaprio in their respective roles. I'm not sure if I bought the Ferris character entirely. It seemed odd to me that someone in his field, who had no problems ditching his wife and compartmentalizing his emotions, could fall head over heels for another woman. He just didn't strike me as a "love at first sight" kind of guy. Very suspenseful. Lots of action....more
Lanier
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Spy readers, action, Middle East, terrorist fans
Though I picked this up because the movie was fascinating, I love the ending of the book much better, yet I can understand why Hollywood might have changed it to be less threatening to the larger viewing public. It's too bad, because, while the movie works, the book's conclusion fits so much better on many more levels. I loved how Roger Ferris was portrayed in the beginning of the film, looking and acting more Islamic than in the book, which ironically would've work far better in the latter. Alt...more
he other week, as I was flying home from Chicago, I needed something
to read, so I bought a copy of "Body of Lies," which is a
political/espionage thriller set mostly in Jordan, written by David
Ignatius. He's one of the better Washington Post columnists, and not
a bad novelist.
I liked the book. David Ignatius has a good eye for character, and I think he captures something of the intelligence mindset. It has some cute ideas in it.
One of the ...more
to read, so I bought a copy of "Body of Lies," which is a
political/espionage thriller set mostly in Jordan, written by David
Ignatius. He's one of the better Washington Post columnists, and not
a bad novelist.
I liked the book. David Ignatius has a good eye for character, and I think he captures something of the intelligence mindset. It has some cute ideas in it.
One of the ...more
There are several issues with this book that detracted from my enjoyment. The first is that the story felt rushed. The initial premise was quite compelling (CIA agent creates and carries out daring plan to ensnare an elusive terrorist before more violence erupts!), but the development of the story and characters was lacking. There was little actual action in the story, and the intrigue was uninteresting.
The second issue is the over-arching liberal message of the story. To be br...more
The second issue is the over-arching liberal message of the story. To be br...more
Reading as a promise to Bert who REALLY wants me to see this movie with him when it comes out in the next few months. Stars George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio (hell, who wouldn't want to see THAT movie?!). This is not my typical genre and 85 pages in I remain skeptical about liking it.
Post Read: OK, so the movie stars Russell Crowe, not George Clooney. Darn.
Anyway, I can see how this book can be translated into a really good and thrilling movie. In fact, it almos...more
Post Read: OK, so the movie stars Russell Crowe, not George Clooney. Darn.
Anyway, I can see how this book can be translated into a really good and thrilling movie. In fact, it almos...more
This book is put together from the 9/11 attack with a great plot.I liked the action that took place in the book because it felt like it was the movie. The CIA feeling of the book really interested me and i liked how the author David Ignatius didnt just show Roger ferris as a agent but also as a regular person with problems. His relationship with his wife and later on a new girlfriend was a turning point in the story. The ending of the book was very surprising.
Wanted to read it when I saw the movie that is out. A good read, and a very clever plot. CIA agent trying to catch a new, scary Al Qaeda car-bomb planner comes up with a twist on a British ploy used against the Germans in WWII: Create a fake agent and pretend he has infiltrated Al Qaeda to make the planner surface so he can be caught. A little like Le Carre, whom I can't stand, and too raunchy, but 3 stars for great plot and very good writing.
Unfortunately I did not find this novel as compelling as my fellow reviewers. The prose was mechanical and the plot formulaic. Worst of all were the cardboard characters that Mr. Ignatius moved around the cut-out diorama of his book. Quickly I lost interest and ultimately I had to put it down. I found Robert Baer's "See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism" much better written and much more compelling.
I learned that to secret service officers, the end truly does justify the means. Collateral deaths are regrettable but acceptable in the course of a project meant to enhance national security and/or weaken enemies. Ignatius' characters, while they could have been fleshed out much more, were entirely believable. The author seemed to have been workng from real-life models of people he had known during his long career in journalism.
If I could have given it two-and-a-half stars it might have been more accurate. It was more than "just okay" but less than "I liked it." As spy thrillers go, it had its thrilling moments, and towards the end of the book it had more unexpected layers/twists than a Russian stacking doll. However, I'm NOT a fan of the rough language and sexual sidelines in the story. I really believe the adage that any swearing is a sign of a weak mind trying to express itself. So that does...more
David Ignatius is a great crafter of spy novels and he has a real sense for the Middle East. Body of Lies is a well written exploration of the duplicity that is at the heart of espionage and which runs riot through the middle east...not just the middle east, duplicity may run riot through national affairs of all kinds. This book, which is better than the movie, rings true in a sad way.
Actually I couldn't bring myself to finish the book, it lost me about 2/3 of the way. The plot, such as it was, overran the characters, leaving them gasping for life. I got this book right after Ignatius' more recent "Bloodmoney" (which was excellent) expecting more of the same. I can't imagine it was by the same author! (And to think this was made into a movie of the same name in 2008.) I gave two stars because I know Ignatius is capable of doing much better.
Honestly, I expected something much better. I read Ignatius' column in the Post, so when I read the book I must say - WOW, what a disappointment. That's it, that is really all I can say. Just as a sidenote, I was struck about how sexual that book was. It seems like Ignatius should perhaps focus on writing a script for an x rated movie, rather than writing another "insider" CIA novel.
The movie was pretty good - one of the best spy films I've seen lately. The book was better in some ways and worse in others for me. Ignatius definitely knows his stuff, and you have no trouble visualizing the places he's talking about - he clearly knows them well. Likewise, he seems to have a decent hold on the modern business of espionag e. All that stuff is good, but the love story in the book is just not compelling for me - the girl, Alice, is a little too plainly allegorical for the "j...more
The best about this book is the great story. Everything is connected and you really have to stay with the story to keep up with it. I never would have guessed the solution, even on the last pages!
It's a thriller so you can't expect characters with any depth. Even though I was able to relate to the main character. Still, given the storyline it could have been a little better explained how an why Ferris changed his mindset and life. I don't quite understand how he got from his occasional do...more
It's a thriller so you can't expect characters with any depth. Even though I was able to relate to the main character. Still, given the storyline it could have been a little better explained how an why Ferris changed his mindset and life. I don't quite understand how he got from his occasional do...more
this was a very involved story about all the lies being told to bring lead terrorists out into the open and how they (CIA or whomever)orchestrate the lies and situations to make this come about. Probably not too unlike what the government for over 10 years to find Osama bin Laden. Interesting read.
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David Ignatius, a prize-winning columnist for the Washington Post, has been covering the Middle East and the CIA for more than twenty-five years. His novels include Agents of Innocence, Body of Lies, and The Increment, now in development for a major motion picture by Jerry Bruckheimer. He lives in Washington, DC.
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