Keith ODERBERG

A complex storyline which rewards the patient reader with an apparent sense of the work performed by overseas agents acting on behalf of the CIA in the Middle East. A romantic storyline is comfortably interwoven with the violence and chaos of Damascus in the violent uprising which occurred in the period 2010-13 and there is no shortage of blood and gore! There is a good deal of interesting technical material. The story is well told but perhaps a little too much back and forth in time. At the end of the day a very satisfying and interesting early work of this gifted writer.

A quite extraordinary opus from a skillful and greatly informed author. This "novel" spans most of the 20th century and concerns espionage and counter espionage between Britain, the United States and Russia culminating in events in the early years of the 21st century. I use the word novel but it seems fair to say that while the work is firmly entrenched in known or suspected facts the actual existence of a number of the primary players is, I suspect, a woven fabric of both fact and fiction. The author sheds no light on the elements and ratio of this mix. The story (or interwoven stories) are complex to a degree that the reader needs to be fully alert at all times in order to keep the story lines under control. There is perhaps a little too much I'll defined back and forth in chronology but this is forgivable given the complexities and historical contexts of the storylines. The writing is otherwise clear and most impressive. The author's commitment to these fascinating strands is immense and deserving of considerable admiration. There are some unanswered questions but then this work is about the greatest spies and double-spies of the 2nd World War and the years thereafter so the least the reader can expect is the delicacy of what is not said. A great and wonderful work about an endlessly fascinating aspect of war both hot and cold.

This is a major addition to the existing body of books and films dealing with the difficult and complex issues around teenagers becoming adults. Despite some of the surrounding publicity, this 12 part television production goes well beyond sexual awakening and personal relationship development. It is as involved with "young adults" grappling with and resolving the inner conflicts arising from passage into adulthood as it is with relating to others in their cohort. The main characters (Marianne and Connell) are as much involved with self-discovery as they are with the emotional and physical development of the other but this is precisely where the magic occurs. Each of the young actors playing Marianne and Connell bring to these characters a certain kind of freshness and innocence which one rarely sees on the screen in these days of the premature aging of young people. No drugs here (but pints of booze) and no criminal behavior save for domestic violence which plays a contextual role in Marianne's character and a trigger in the relationship). Depression, confusion, love and hate, deception and lust are, however to the fore. It would be difficult to fully reflect the wonderful sensitivity and faux maturity that is brought to the screen by the two leads and by the Director Lenny Abrahamson. Daisy Edgar Jones and Paul Mescal brilliantly create characters who are are, at once, both attractive and deeply flawed. The actors themselves are absolutely convincing, engaging and genuine. Their commitment to Sally Rooney's book is never diminished. They are to be congratulated and, hopefully rewarded with industry recognition. The supporting cast allows them to fully develop their roles. Too much has been said about the sex scenes : they are without exception relevant, realistic and entirely appropriate. Great care was taken to stop the product becoming a skin - flick and this care shows through. The sex is memorable only because of its simple relevance to the storyline. Nothing more needs be said. My pessimistic hope is that they are not seduced into the corresponding American genre where glitz and glitter tend to override the essence of the actors and characters alike. Absolutely 5 stars. Keith Oderberg