Michael and Hannah discuss how confusing spy movies are, take a stroll on the other side of the iron curtain, and tip their hats to grifters and their nutso schemes before turning to the MANY other things they are reading this week.

Books mentioned: Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those who Leave and Those who Stay, The Story of the Lost Child; Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary; Joel Dicker, The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair; Alan Hollinghurst, The Sparsholt Affair, The Swimming Pool Library, The Line of Beauty.

Movie mentioned:Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Articles mentioned: Le Carré, “In Ronnie’s Court,” New Yorker; Le Carré, “The Madness of Spies,” New Yorker; Boyd, “Rereading The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,” The Guardian

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