24. A character that might be called a Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, or Spy

[Rijuta]

Tracy wrote: "Rijuta wrote: "Tracy wrote: "@Rijuta - I’m not clear how Scientist would relate to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier or Spy. But you could use this book for “18. A book related to science”."

Hmmm... I had a..."

Mainly as during WW2 scientist from both sides were working on developing nuclear warheads and Oppenheimer was one of the Prominent scientists involved.

[Tracy]

Well, that still says “scientist” to me. How is this connected to tinker, tailor, soldier or spy? The closest I can see is that it’s set during WWII, which involved soldiers, but I don’t know if any soldiers were involved in his work.

[Pam]

I haven’t started it yet but am planning to read Parrot & Olivier in America by Pater Carey. Parrot has a spy role.

[Denise]

Rijuta wrote: "I am wondering if American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer the Biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer fall in this catergy. Since he was a Scientists."

I definitely think Oppenheimer did some "tinkering" in the lab when developing the bomb

[Ingrid]

I'm struggling with this prompt. I just read The Measure by Nikki Erlick, and wonder if it will work for the "soldier" part of this prompt. The book is told from the POV of eight main characters, two of these are in military school and graduate/go onto active duty over the course of the novel. Thoughts?

[NancyJ]

Rijuta wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Rijuta wrote: "Tracy wrote: "@Rijuta - I’m not clear how Scientist would relate to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier or Spy. But you could use this book for “18. A book related to science”."

H..."

I'm sure there were hundreds of soldiers and spies employed by Oppenheimer's Manhattan project. There were soldiers in the building with the scientists all day long, and spies watching them outside the building. Especially Oppenheimer. They were really worried about him (his safety, and his loyalty), so they were watching him all the time. Then of course, there were soldiers (airmen) dropping the bombs.

[Wendy]

I went to the source for this one and just finished Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré. I had read The Spy Who Came In from the Cold a few years back and really got into it -- I'd recommend starting there first if you are new to his work. I've heard Tinker Tailor described as "just this side of incomprehensible" due to being a jargon-heavy, difficult read. It was, but as the story and characters gradually come into focus, I found it difficult to put down. Tough read but worth the effort.

[Pam]

Not what I was planning to read, but I read Moonraker by Ian Fleming. It's #3 in the James Bond series.

[Denise]

I read The Odyssey by Homer. Has soldiers, spies, and a tailor if you consider Penelope's weaving to be tailoring...I do.

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

I went non-fiction but there's enough people in the book who are tailors!

Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano