Eye of the Needle
by Ken Follett
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of Eye of the Needle.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
This book is not in any lists. Go add it to a list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1269)
Read in June, 2008
Fantastic read. This is <li>Follett</li> at his best.
I've wanted to read the book ever since I saw the movie in the theater, but somehow I always gravitated toward something else. I finally picked up a copy of the book, and it sat on my shelf. Then it sat in a box while we moved. Then it sat on my shelf again. Finally I realized that it was just the book I needed to move me from the historical fiction of <a href="...more
I've wanted to read the book ever since I saw the movie in the theater, but somehow I always gravitated toward something else. I finally picked up a copy of the book, and it sat on my shelf. Then it sat in a box while we moved. Then it sat on my shelf again. Finally I realized that it was just the book I needed to move me from the historical fiction of <a href="...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2004
I was in a rare mood for espionage and after much searching on the Net it seemed that Eye of the Needle was my best bet. Good choice.
In the preface, Follett gives us some historical background on the Allied effort to build an elaborate deception to throw off the Germans prior to the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The rest is fiction, but something like this must have happened. The rest involves the discovery
of the deception by a German assassin and the race to catch The Needle before he can g...more
In the preface, Follett gives us some historical background on the Allied effort to build an elaborate deception to throw off the Germans prior to the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The rest is fiction, but something like this must have happened. The rest involves the discovery
of the deception by a German assassin and the race to catch The Needle before he can g...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Easily one of the best debut novels by any author. Could you believe that at just 27 years old Ken Follet was churning out such fantastic stuff!
If you are a fan of Ken and have read most of his books, the central theme is more often than not around World War.
So spying, counter-spying, betrayal, loving the enemey, planning and chasing are the in things.
The climax setting (a scottish island) and the escape from the train have been rendered with masterful class that lingers on in the re...more
If you are a fan of Ken and have read most of his books, the central theme is more often than not around World War.
So spying, counter-spying, betrayal, loving the enemey, planning and chasing are the in things.
The climax setting (a scottish island) and the escape from the train have been rendered with masterful class that lingers on in the re...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2007
Ken Follett was probably the best of this type back in the 70's; I would even go so far as to say that was his best period outside of The Pillars of the Earth. This book gives you a very good story that I found difficult to put down. Follett is great at developing his characters; you really get a feel for them. He also always gets the facts correct and is very generous with the historical items. He also writes a book that does not talk down to the lowest common denominator of the audience. This ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1984
I read this back in 5th or 6th grade, so I'm not sure what I'd think of it now, especially since my mom ripped out the several-pages-long sex scene (and blacking out a couple shorter ones) before letting me read the book.
It's a spy novel, and the guy's weapon of choice is a stiletto knife. He's ruthless and calculating, but then falls in love (or at least lust) with a lonely housewife whose husband was maimed in an accident. I honestly don't remember much more, but I remember liking it enou...more
It's a spy novel, and the guy's weapon of choice is a stiletto knife. He's ruthless and calculating, but then falls in love (or at least lust) with a lonely housewife whose husband was maimed in an accident. I honestly don't remember much more, but I remember liking it enou...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
I read this one because my son had to read it for his honors english class. This book had a good plot. It was just okay as far as content. There were some pretty x-rated scenes that I really think could have been left out. They did not add anything to the book. If it weren't for that it would have been a really good book. I don't understand why they think those types of things add to the storyline. I probably would not recommend this to anyone just for that reason.
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
This book is the story of the besst nazis spy during world war ii, in this exciting heartwrenching book the needla as they call him finds out the biggest secreat of the war but can he get it home. Following the lives of 3 different people through the chapters the cops, the nedle, and the brave patriot who becomes the unlikey hero. this is a great book and always had me on the edge of my seat and when it ended all i wanted was more. GReat read,
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommends it for:
fans of spy thrillers
It's probably wrong of me to give this book a rating. I didn't get to finish it, because my brother was leaving and had to return it to the library. I did give it three stars, for the simple reason that I would have finished it had I been able to, but didn't feel any real regret at having to give it back midway. It was basically your typical thriller, well-written but not particularly deep or unusual.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Very satisfying book. Reminded me of drinking a glass of chocolate milk -- like I just enjoyed it so much I couldn't take a break until it was gone, and when I finished I was like, "ah, that was good." But I suspected somewhere deep down that it's junk-foodyness outweighed its nutritional value.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in January, 1978
particularly in the late '70's, this book really validated a lot about women's power. i wonder if it would stand up today, and what age groups . . .
[why do i have to clarify that i read this in hardback?!?]
i hear his Pillars of the Earth is eXcellent [albeit 1200 pages!] and the sequel [which took 4 years] is released today. anyone read this?
[why do i have to clarify that i read this in hardback?!?]
i hear his Pillars of the Earth is eXcellent [albeit 1200 pages!] and the sequel [which took 4 years] is released today. anyone read this?
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1980
recommends it for:
All lovers of spy thrillers!
My first novel to read by Ken Follett. Great spy thriller originally titled! And, the movie followed the novel so closely. That's unusual. It's also when I became a big Donald Sutherland fan! Novel originally published in 1978 with title of Storm Island. It later became a movie in 1980.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2006
Great book! It was a very exciting story about a spy's battle between love and loyalty to his nation. Perfect for the quick read about history, but it always doubles up because it shows the human side of war, which of course is the best! Remember my Follett warning to all sensitive readers.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Very, very exciting! I always appreciate books that manage to work in a romance without it being saccharinely overwhelming (that was why I stopped reading 1984, by the way). But there is SO MUCH cleverness in each of the main characters that you race through this book to see who wins!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Oooo - favorite WWII spy novel! My father-in-law lent me a copy (he has 2) several years ago. I've read it a few times, and admittedly have not returned it. If you like fast spy thrillers, this one and "The Unlikely Spy" which I've also got in my booklist, are intriguing and hard to put down.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in February, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
military or spy book fans
This book tracks a WWII German spy in Britain desperately trying to get news of the Normandy deception back to Germany. It's a brisk, action-packed read that I enjoyed. My only criticism is that Follett depicts events in a bit too much of a blow-by-blow manner.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
solid spy thriller about german spy in england during world war 2 and mi5's attempts to stop the spy from informing the germans about the d-day fake army deception.
good page turner, not exactly high level reading or writing but quality and enjoyable read...
good page turner, not exactly high level reading or writing but quality and enjoyable read...
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This is another of Folletts books I read so long ago, but I remember it as being one of his GREAT WWII books he is known so well for. I love his spy intrique stuff. Another page turner you won't regret picking up if you like political thrillers.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2000
recommends it for:
WWII history buffs; espionage/thriller addicts who like 3-D characters
I loved this book the first time; I loved the movie; & I love it the 2nd time on CD. I haven't liked any of Follett's books as much as this one, but I haven't tackled "Pillars of the Earth" yet, his favorite apparently.
Like this review?
yes
2 comments
Good, tense, interesting, historical fiction. Not as trivial as most of his books (and I've read surprisingly many), but with good action and of course the obligatory catches-you-off-guard-its-so-graphic sex scene.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
