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Eye of the Needle
Eye of the Needle, Ken Follett's historical thriller, is a heart-racingly exciting tale about the fate of the war resting in the hands of a master spy, his opponent and one brave woman.Victory Hangs in the Balance1944. In the weeks leading up to D-Day the Allies are disguising their invasion plans with elaborate decoy ships and planes. If they can land a force on mainland Europe they will gain the upper hand in a war that has ravaged the world for years, and take the fight to the Nazi menace.A Cold-Blooded KillerHis weapon is the stiletto, his The Needle. He is Hitler’s prize undercover agent � a ruthless and professional murderer. In England he uncovers the Allies� D-Day plans but his cover is blown in the process.A Deadly ChaseLeaving a trail of bodies in his wake, The Needle ruthlessly races to a U-boat waiting to convey him and his critical message to Germany, with MI5 on his tail. But he hasn’t planned for a storm-battered island and the remarkable young woman who lives there . . .
484 pages, ebook
First published May 23, 1978
5644 people are currently reading
74350 people want to read
About the author
Ken Follett
556books57.3kfollowersKen Follett is one of the world’s most successful authors. Over 170 million copies of the 36 books he has written have been sold in over 80 countries and in 33 languages.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy � later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken’s most popular books.
In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken’s new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy � later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken’s most popular books.
In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken’s new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,594 reviews
May 12, 2014
This was the novel that gave Follet star quality status in publishing circles. Not only was it a best seller but it also was adapted into a movie, starring Donald Sutherland.
Here are some reasons to read THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE:
(1) PRECISION: you like reading about cool, precise heroes or anti-heroes or villains who are painfully precise in their plans, the best at what they do and are totally "stone cold.";
(2) WWII BUFF: you love to read about the "big thrills" of WWII; this has it since the German spy discovers D-Day plans and tries to get back to Germany to warn the High Command (i.e. his tap was taken after he was shortly exposed);
(3) TAUT THRILLS: if this turns you on, Follet is right up there with Forsythe, Higgins and other masterful spy thriller novelists.;
(4) MOVING LOVE/LUST TALES: Follet has always been unusually good at the subplot love stories in his tales; the intimacy level is higher than some people encounter in their real lives; the details of the lovemaking is hot. I still remember, at one point, the female interest asks the male love interest why he never married and he replied to something along the lines as: "I never loved any woman enough to marry them."; and
(5) LOTS OF COMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHARACTERS: especially for the villain who seems to overcome almost all of them.
Follet also does a good job of centering the story on the villain so that you like him and then switching over to another character later. The transition works for a number of reasons but saying more would spoil the story.
STORY/PLOTTING: A minus to A; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: A minus; TENSION LEVEL: B plus; WHEN READ: 2002 (revised review July 2012); OVERALL GRADE: A minus.
Here are some reasons to read THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE:
(1) PRECISION: you like reading about cool, precise heroes or anti-heroes or villains who are painfully precise in their plans, the best at what they do and are totally "stone cold.";
(2) WWII BUFF: you love to read about the "big thrills" of WWII; this has it since the German spy discovers D-Day plans and tries to get back to Germany to warn the High Command (i.e. his tap was taken after he was shortly exposed);
(3) TAUT THRILLS: if this turns you on, Follet is right up there with Forsythe, Higgins and other masterful spy thriller novelists.;
(4) MOVING LOVE/LUST TALES: Follet has always been unusually good at the subplot love stories in his tales; the intimacy level is higher than some people encounter in their real lives; the details of the lovemaking is hot. I still remember, at one point, the female interest asks the male love interest why he never married and he replied to something along the lines as: "I never loved any woman enough to marry them."; and
(5) LOTS OF COMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHARACTERS: especially for the villain who seems to overcome almost all of them.
Follet also does a good job of centering the story on the villain so that you like him and then switching over to another character later. The transition works for a number of reasons but saying more would spoil the story.
STORY/PLOTTING: A minus to A; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: A minus; TENSION LEVEL: B plus; WHEN READ: 2002 (revised review July 2012); OVERALL GRADE: A minus.
April 26, 2016
Today, most people know Ken Follett as the author of mammoth works of historical fiction. I mean, we’re talking novels that would make War and Peace turn and run like Napoleon’s troops from Moscow. (See what I did there?) It’s a known fact that you can construct a home able to withstand an F5 tornado solely from copies of Pillars of the Earth, World Without End and Fall of Giants. (Note: this house will not have doors, windows, a roof, or the ability to withstand an F5 tornado).
Before he started authoring 1,000-page beasts populated with dozens of characters and crammed with historical tidbits, Ken Follett was known for his thrillers, including Eye of the Needle, his breakout hit. Published in 1978, Eye of the Needle weighs in at a trim 330 pages (in trade paperback), features three main characters, and gets to its point with the precision of a Swiss watch, or at least a very well-run subway system.
Eye of the Needle is filled with Follett hallmarks: paper-thin characters who exist solely to fulfill plot-derived motivations; dialogue that is mostly expository, but veers towards the excruciating when touching on matters of the heart; and, most important of all, anatomically-precise sex scenes.
Set during World War II, the main character of Eye of the Needle is a German spy named Henry Faber. Faber is known as “die Nadel� � the Needle � because his weapon of choice is a stiletto, which is a knife with a long, slender blade. He is your typical Nordic superman:
Faber is quite skilled with his stiletto, which he proves early in the book. And it makes perfect sense that Faber, who exudes lethal sexiness, would choose as his weapon what amounts to a sharp, steel penis.
The plot kicks into gear quickly, when Faber learns about Operation Fortitude, a real-life counterespionage operation undertaken by the Allies on the eve of D-Day. Operation Fortitude used leaks of fake information, dummy tanks and equipment, and meaningless wireless traffic to fool the Germans into thinking that the invasion of Europe would come at Calais, instead of Normandy. Faber learns of the deception and realizes its vital importance. With dogged MI5 agents on his trail, Faber attempts to escape England and deliver the news to Hitler.
Meanwhile, there is a parallel story involving David and Lucy Rose. David is a dashing young RAF officer (was there any other kind?), and Lucy is his beautiful bride. They have an awkward first sexual encounter, because apparently British people do not know how to have sex. (For proof, please read Ian McEwan’s Chesil Beach). This is enough to get Lucy pregnant. Shortly thereafter, David gets in a car wreck, putting him in a wheelchair. Later, they move to a secluded island off the coast of Scotland. It’s called Storm Island. (Hey, honey, where should we live? How about Storm Island? Sounds nice!)
It’s not giving too much away to tell you that Faber ends up on Storm Island with David and Lucy. I also hope I’m not ruining anything by revealing that Faber and Lucy develop “feelings� for each other. This won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s read Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which is explicitly mentioned several times, and is paid homage in the love triangle between the crippled husband, lovelorn wife, and virile male interloper.
(And just in case you don’t pick up on the Chatterley angle, Lucy exclaims “Now I know what Lawrence means� after receiving cunnilingus for the first time. The combination of execrable dialogue and a sex scene so detailed it’d make a doctor blush is Follett at his most enjoyable. I mean that sincerely).
Whatever his shortcomings as a writer (and frankly, he’s always readable), Follett is a master storyteller. In Eye of the Needle, he is especially good at placing his fictional character into a fascinating, true-life context (especially one that might not be known to casual fans of history). It is a testament to Follett’s plotting that, despite knowing the overall outcome of the novel (the Allies successfully invaded Normandy and won World War II), you will tear through the book to see how it ends.
Of course, when it does end, you will probably feel vaguely unsatisfied, and maybe a little dirty, but that’s to be expected. You don’t read a Follett thriller to be intellectually nourished. You read a Follett thriller for the twists and turns, the outbursts of violence, and the it-leaves-nothing-to-the-imagination sexual encounters.
Before he started authoring 1,000-page beasts populated with dozens of characters and crammed with historical tidbits, Ken Follett was known for his thrillers, including Eye of the Needle, his breakout hit. Published in 1978, Eye of the Needle weighs in at a trim 330 pages (in trade paperback), features three main characters, and gets to its point with the precision of a Swiss watch, or at least a very well-run subway system.
Eye of the Needle is filled with Follett hallmarks: paper-thin characters who exist solely to fulfill plot-derived motivations; dialogue that is mostly expository, but veers towards the excruciating when touching on matters of the heart; and, most important of all, anatomically-precise sex scenes.
Set during World War II, the main character of Eye of the Needle is a German spy named Henry Faber. Faber is known as “die Nadel� � the Needle � because his weapon of choice is a stiletto, which is a knife with a long, slender blade. He is your typical Nordic superman:
[A] fine figure of a man: tall, quite heavy around the neck and shoulders, not a bit fat, with long legs. And he had a strong face, with a high forehead and a long jaw and bright blue eyes�
Faber is quite skilled with his stiletto, which he proves early in the book. And it makes perfect sense that Faber, who exudes lethal sexiness, would choose as his weapon what amounts to a sharp, steel penis.
The plot kicks into gear quickly, when Faber learns about Operation Fortitude, a real-life counterespionage operation undertaken by the Allies on the eve of D-Day. Operation Fortitude used leaks of fake information, dummy tanks and equipment, and meaningless wireless traffic to fool the Germans into thinking that the invasion of Europe would come at Calais, instead of Normandy. Faber learns of the deception and realizes its vital importance. With dogged MI5 agents on his trail, Faber attempts to escape England and deliver the news to Hitler.
Meanwhile, there is a parallel story involving David and Lucy Rose. David is a dashing young RAF officer (was there any other kind?), and Lucy is his beautiful bride. They have an awkward first sexual encounter, because apparently British people do not know how to have sex. (For proof, please read Ian McEwan’s Chesil Beach). This is enough to get Lucy pregnant. Shortly thereafter, David gets in a car wreck, putting him in a wheelchair. Later, they move to a secluded island off the coast of Scotland. It’s called Storm Island. (Hey, honey, where should we live? How about Storm Island? Sounds nice!)
It’s not giving too much away to tell you that Faber ends up on Storm Island with David and Lucy. I also hope I’m not ruining anything by revealing that Faber and Lucy develop “feelings� for each other. This won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s read Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which is explicitly mentioned several times, and is paid homage in the love triangle between the crippled husband, lovelorn wife, and virile male interloper.
(And just in case you don’t pick up on the Chatterley angle, Lucy exclaims “Now I know what Lawrence means� after receiving cunnilingus for the first time. The combination of execrable dialogue and a sex scene so detailed it’d make a doctor blush is Follett at his most enjoyable. I mean that sincerely).
Whatever his shortcomings as a writer (and frankly, he’s always readable), Follett is a master storyteller. In Eye of the Needle, he is especially good at placing his fictional character into a fascinating, true-life context (especially one that might not be known to casual fans of history). It is a testament to Follett’s plotting that, despite knowing the overall outcome of the novel (the Allies successfully invaded Normandy and won World War II), you will tear through the book to see how it ends.
Of course, when it does end, you will probably feel vaguely unsatisfied, and maybe a little dirty, but that’s to be expected. You don’t read a Follett thriller to be intellectually nourished. You read a Follett thriller for the twists and turns, the outbursts of violence, and the it-leaves-nothing-to-the-imagination sexual encounters.
May 29, 2021
A enthralling tale with falling off your seat suspense.
I absolutely couldn't stop thinking about the characters and their plight in this "older" gem of a read! I enjoy WWII historical fiction and this one delivered on many fronts.
The terrifying German spy called "The Needle", a determined British intelligence officer, a betrayal, a strong English woman, a hunt for the villain, a shipwreck, an unlikely rendezvous. There are even a few steamy scenes that may give you some chills.
A friend handed me this old paperback and said, "read this". It sat on my side table for weeks, but when I picked it up and began reading, I was captivated.
Highly recommend to the espionage, historical WWII fiction fans! Or anyone who loves a suspenseful and intriguing ride!
I absolutely couldn't stop thinking about the characters and their plight in this "older" gem of a read! I enjoy WWII historical fiction and this one delivered on many fronts.
The terrifying German spy called "The Needle", a determined British intelligence officer, a betrayal, a strong English woman, a hunt for the villain, a shipwreck, an unlikely rendezvous. There are even a few steamy scenes that may give you some chills.
A friend handed me this old paperback and said, "read this". It sat on my side table for weeks, but when I picked it up and began reading, I was captivated.
Highly recommend to the espionage, historical WWII fiction fans! Or anyone who loves a suspenseful and intriguing ride!
January 7, 2022
I do enjoy a good old fashioned spy thriller and who better than Ken Follett to write a suspenseful and exciting story that had me intrigued from start to finish.
In the weeks leading up to D-Day. Hitler’s prize undercover agent and a cold and professional Killer who goes by the enamel of The Neddle, is on the cusp of discovering the Allies Invasion plans and ruining what has been months of planning. Hunted by MI5 he leads a murderous trail across Britain to a waiting u Boat but he hasn’t planned for a storm-bartered island the the remarkable young woman who lives there.
Ken Follett’s Eye of the Needle (written in 1978) reads so well even 40 year later. I really appreciated the complex characters, the well crafted and suspenseful story. The great chase of MI5 agents on the trail of Henry Fabre ( The needle) had me on the edge of my seat.
A compelling and unputdownable story.
I listened to this one on Audio and the narration by Samuel West was excellent and really added to my enjoyment of the story.
In the weeks leading up to D-Day. Hitler’s prize undercover agent and a cold and professional Killer who goes by the enamel of The Neddle, is on the cusp of discovering the Allies Invasion plans and ruining what has been months of planning. Hunted by MI5 he leads a murderous trail across Britain to a waiting u Boat but he hasn’t planned for a storm-bartered island the the remarkable young woman who lives there.
Ken Follett’s Eye of the Needle (written in 1978) reads so well even 40 year later. I really appreciated the complex characters, the well crafted and suspenseful story. The great chase of MI5 agents on the trail of Henry Fabre ( The needle) had me on the edge of my seat.
A compelling and unputdownable story.
I listened to this one on Audio and the narration by Samuel West was excellent and really added to my enjoyment of the story.
November 8, 2018
If you have never read any of Follett's work, then this is a good place to start. The paperback is 368 pages, which is shorter than many of his other books. If you like his style, then his other books have even more point-of-view characters that he rotates his narration around. I'm guessing that Follett realized he had a solid formula for creating tension. He just added more characters to prevent telegraphing too many plot points.
This spy thriller delivers quite the adventure! No master work of literature here, but the story certainly diverts your attention and allows you to escape into WWII moves and counter-moves.
Follett sets his story as the Allies are building up forces for D-Day and they are trying to camouflage their activity with misdirection in a variety of areas. While the plot centers around these true events, the majority of the characters are fictional. Sure Hitler and Churchill get some face time, but Follett's point is who knows if a spy like Faber really existed.
I think what makes this book truly great is the superb use of character. Yes, the plot is exciting, well-constructed, and full of wonderful historical detail. But Die Nadel is one of the best 10 villains ever written, not because he is the most evil, but because of his complexity. I swear, for most of the book, I was rooting for him despite myself. Each challenge the spy faces, the reader actually wants him to overcome. Which makes the climax all the more compelling—how ought the story to end? How do I want it to end?
Fabulous novel. Highly recommend.
This spy thriller delivers quite the adventure! No master work of literature here, but the story certainly diverts your attention and allows you to escape into WWII moves and counter-moves.
Follett sets his story as the Allies are building up forces for D-Day and they are trying to camouflage their activity with misdirection in a variety of areas. While the plot centers around these true events, the majority of the characters are fictional. Sure Hitler and Churchill get some face time, but Follett's point is who knows if a spy like Faber really existed.
I think what makes this book truly great is the superb use of character. Yes, the plot is exciting, well-constructed, and full of wonderful historical detail. But Die Nadel is one of the best 10 villains ever written, not because he is the most evil, but because of his complexity. I swear, for most of the book, I was rooting for him despite myself. Each challenge the spy faces, the reader actually wants him to overcome. Which makes the climax all the more compelling—how ought the story to end? How do I want it to end?
Fabulous novel. Highly recommend.
October 27, 2020
Um Amor Complicado
Por onde passa deixa um rasto de morte. Mata com um estilete e por isso lhe chamam o Agulha. Tem uma missão a cumprir e é tudo o que lhe importa. Até que Ela aparece...
E... se mais quiserem saber... terão que ler a sinopse ou outras resenhas (algo que definitivamente não recomendo), pois eu irei calar-me por aqui.
É ler e ganhar ou não ler e perder. O conselho é meu e a escolha é vossa! 😉
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�++++++++++++++++++—�
☠️💕 Love is a Hunter 💕 ☠️
They call him The Needle. They know he’s been there by the trail of corpses stabbed with a Stilleto � his trademark “needle�. He has a mission to accomplish and nothing else matters. Until the day he met Her...
Are you eager for more?
If your answer is Yes, you have one of 3 options:
Option number 1 - Read the book
Option number 2 - Read the book
Option number 3 - Read the book
Did you chose number 3?
I bet you did!!! 😉😜
Por onde passa deixa um rasto de morte. Mata com um estilete e por isso lhe chamam o Agulha. Tem uma missão a cumprir e é tudo o que lhe importa. Até que Ela aparece...
E... se mais quiserem saber... terão que ler a sinopse ou outras resenhas (algo que definitivamente não recomendo), pois eu irei calar-me por aqui.
É ler e ganhar ou não ler e perder. O conselho é meu e a escolha é vossa! 😉
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�++++++++++++++++++—�
☠️💕 Love is a Hunter 💕 ☠️
They call him The Needle. They know he’s been there by the trail of corpses stabbed with a Stilleto � his trademark “needle�. He has a mission to accomplish and nothing else matters. Until the day he met Her...
Are you eager for more?
If your answer is Yes, you have one of 3 options:
Option number 1 - Read the book
Option number 2 - Read the book
Option number 3 - Read the book
Did you chose number 3?
I bet you did!!! 😉😜
July 30, 2023
For years, Ken Follett has been one of the authors I most admire... but given the length of his novels and the historical aspects, I tend to only read one or two a year -- and he has a lot to catch up on. This year, I started with Eye of the Needle, perhaps his most well-known novel. A German spy is at the center of the story, and he's infiltrated the British military intelligence agency... several are killed before his identity becomes compromised, and then he's on the run. He kills with a stiletto and it's never a clean kill. The book switches POV a few times to cover different primary characters, including the heroine who suffers greatly for many years before finally winning at something in her life. Great dialog, beautiful settings, and just a fantastic story to read. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that I'm a bit worn down on WWII spy thrillers and all that comes with them. I found this one compelling and easy to read, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone as a way to understand the art that is Ken Follett's imagination and writing style. Now I get to pick my next read from his behemoth of a backlog!
September 30, 2023
I just finished The Day of the Jackal, loved it, and decided to try another suspenseful fiction book which is a genre that I seldom read. It was a good decision.
This book, which was made into a film in 1981, is a well written story of the Nazi top secret agent, The Needle (Die Nadel), who has discovered that the Allies will indeed attack Fortress Europa at Normandy. The Allies have so far convinced the Nazis that they will invade at Cherbourg where Hitler is moving his troops to stop them on the beaches. But Hitler is waiting to hear from die Nadel before he makes his final decision. The plot revolves around the attempted escape of the spy who is still in Britain and whose identity is unknown to the authorities.
Much of this exciting tale is based on actual history but the author weaves his fiction seamlessly into the facts. Granted, it stretches credibility at times, especially the denouement, but that's what makes it so suspenseful. I would recommend this book, even to the reader who does not read spy fiction.It's a dandy!
This book, which was made into a film in 1981, is a well written story of the Nazi top secret agent, The Needle (Die Nadel), who has discovered that the Allies will indeed attack Fortress Europa at Normandy. The Allies have so far convinced the Nazis that they will invade at Cherbourg where Hitler is moving his troops to stop them on the beaches. But Hitler is waiting to hear from die Nadel before he makes his final decision. The plot revolves around the attempted escape of the spy who is still in Britain and whose identity is unknown to the authorities.
Much of this exciting tale is based on actual history but the author weaves his fiction seamlessly into the facts. Granted, it stretches credibility at times, especially the denouement, but that's what makes it so suspenseful. I would recommend this book, even to the reader who does not read spy fiction.It's a dandy!
August 4, 2016
Clichéd and predictable: an ultimate disaster. Wasted my precious time on this one.
December 23, 2020
Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett is an adventurous spy thriller novel set in the backdrop of World War II, specifically leading to the D-Day aka the Battle of Normandy. Henry Faber aka The Needle, is a German spy in the midst of the English. He somehow gathers the most important intelligence information that can decide the fate of the war for the Germans. Hitler trusts him, but will he able to successfully transfer that knowledge, given that the English Intelligence is doing everything in their power to catch him before he leaves England? The result is a cat-and-mouse chase between the spy and the intelligence officers, one which kept the reader in me hooked.
Love-making scenes written by Ken are spicier than the ones by the authors in the erotica genre. Is there anything he is not good at?
Given that his other books are tomes, this one can be a perfect choice to start reading Ken. Now that I have liked his style, I will definitely be picking more of his works.
Verdict: Recommended.
Love-making scenes written by Ken are spicier than the ones by the authors in the erotica genre. Is there anything he is not good at?
Given that his other books are tomes, this one can be a perfect choice to start reading Ken. Now that I have liked his style, I will definitely be picking more of his works.
Verdict: Recommended.
February 25, 2021
One of the Best of All Time
“The Eye of the Needle� by Ken Follet is one of the top ten books that I have ever read
Besides being a WWII psychological thriller, it is 100% factual about the planning and spying of the Normandy Landing.
Memorable characters like Henry Faber, a nondescript Englishman, who is a railway clerk living in a widow's house. Oh by the way, Henry is a German agent and assassin working in Britain where bhe discovers one of the biggest secrets of WWII--rhe date and location for D-DAY. All he needs to do now is escape the UK and meet a Nazi U-Boat off the coast of Scotland. The chase is on.
This book by Follet is a psyological hriller, with an outstanding plot, superb writing, and a pace with breakneck speed. It was so well written, I found myself rooting for the spy to get away.
It is one of the finest novels of all time. Somehow, I missed it previously. I am glad I picked it up now. You should get a copy & read it right away.
I highly recommend this novel.
“The Eye of the Needle� by Ken Follet is one of the top ten books that I have ever read
Besides being a WWII psychological thriller, it is 100% factual about the planning and spying of the Normandy Landing.
Memorable characters like Henry Faber, a nondescript Englishman, who is a railway clerk living in a widow's house. Oh by the way, Henry is a German agent and assassin working in Britain where bhe discovers one of the biggest secrets of WWII--rhe date and location for D-DAY. All he needs to do now is escape the UK and meet a Nazi U-Boat off the coast of Scotland. The chase is on.
This book by Follet is a psyological hriller, with an outstanding plot, superb writing, and a pace with breakneck speed. It was so well written, I found myself rooting for the spy to get away.
It is one of the finest novels of all time. Somehow, I missed it previously. I am glad I picked it up now. You should get a copy & read it right away.
I highly recommend this novel.
April 19, 2020
"It has taken the total military and industrial might of the whole English-speaking world - the greatest civilization since the Roman Empire - four years to win this 50/50 chance. If this spy gets out, we lose even that. Which is to say, we lose everything. Don't bring me probabilities, professor. Bring me 'Die Nadel.'" -- Winston Churchill, fictional quote but actual U.K. prime minister
Follett's Eye of the Needle is probably best remembered as being his first bestseller over 40 years ago, as well as (I think) the only one of his books that received a film adaptation. Set in Europe on the eve of D-Day, the plot centers on 'The Needle' (a.k.a. 'Die Nadel' in his native tongue), a shrewd German espionage operative who has been eluding capture in the British Isles for four years. Known for his stealth abilities as well as his lethal use of a stiletto, he is on the run from British military intelligence (represented here by a pair of 'citizen soldiers' - a keen university professor and a dogged Scotland Yard detective) after obtaining photographic evidence for the Allied plan of Operation Overlord.
The first half of the book is a traditional hero / villain pursuit (though still well written), but the narrative is then kicked up a notch in the latter part once The Needle is unexpectedly forced to take refuge on a sparsely inhabited island on the Scottish coast. There he meets Lucy, an unhappy wife of a disabled man and mother of a very young son. The Needle insinuates himself into this family dynamic, but things soon go very awry and Lucy has to 1.) flee for her safety during a storm to avoid The Needle, which is obviously a very difficult thing to do on a small isolated island, plus 2.) attempt to contact British authorities - as there is only a single two-way radio locally available - for both assistance and to advise of The Needle's activities. Without giving everything away, the quiet Lucy believably rises to the occasion and displays admirable grit and determination for her son and 'for Queen and country' - I know I stayed put to read the final 100 or so suspenseful pages in one sitting.
Follett's Eye of the Needle is probably best remembered as being his first bestseller over 40 years ago, as well as (I think) the only one of his books that received a film adaptation. Set in Europe on the eve of D-Day, the plot centers on 'The Needle' (a.k.a. 'Die Nadel' in his native tongue), a shrewd German espionage operative who has been eluding capture in the British Isles for four years. Known for his stealth abilities as well as his lethal use of a stiletto, he is on the run from British military intelligence (represented here by a pair of 'citizen soldiers' - a keen university professor and a dogged Scotland Yard detective) after obtaining photographic evidence for the Allied plan of Operation Overlord.
The first half of the book is a traditional hero / villain pursuit (though still well written), but the narrative is then kicked up a notch in the latter part once The Needle is unexpectedly forced to take refuge on a sparsely inhabited island on the Scottish coast. There he meets Lucy, an unhappy wife of a disabled man and mother of a very young son. The Needle insinuates himself into this family dynamic, but things soon go very awry and Lucy has to 1.) flee for her safety during a storm to avoid The Needle, which is obviously a very difficult thing to do on a small isolated island, plus 2.) attempt to contact British authorities - as there is only a single two-way radio locally available - for both assistance and to advise of The Needle's activities. Without giving everything away, the quiet Lucy believably rises to the occasion and displays admirable grit and determination for her son and 'for Queen and country' - I know I stayed put to read the final 100 or so suspenseful pages in one sitting.
January 8, 2023
I recently reread the Eye of the Needle, and this is the best espionage story set in the time of WWII that I know (I don't know too many, though). I enjoyed the characters, the fast-paced plot, the setting, the suspense and how the outcome was open until the very end of the story.
So, if you are interested in this kind of story I can highly recommend the Eye of the Needle.
5 out of 5 stars
My review is based on the English kindle version.
So, if you are interested in this kind of story I can highly recommend the Eye of the Needle.
5 out of 5 stars
My review is based on the English kindle version.
January 28, 2024
EYE OF THE NEEDLE [1978] By KEN FOLLETT
My Review 5.0 Stars Out Of 5.0 Stars
It was not surprising that just between Amazon and ŷ, this timeless debut novel by a young Ken Follet had amassed roughly 200,000 ratings. One must realize that this number is likely to be woefully low when one considers that the book was originally published by MacDonald & Jane's Publishers in 1978 under the title Storm Island. That same year the rights were acquired by the Penguin Group who published the novel under the title “Eye of The Needle.� I read the Reprint Kindle Edition dated July 7, 2015, but I make it a point of indicating the original release date in my reviews as I have done above.
The title of this worldwide phenomenon by the 27-year-old Welshman was “EYE OF THE NEEDLE� when I read it for the first time. The title is derived from the code name of a master spy for Hitler, one nicknamed ‘die Nadel� (the needle). Henry Faber had been given the nickname because of his kill method using a stiletto in a single move to pierce the heart of his target and silence him or her simultaneously. However, the main character in this spellbinding work of historical fiction set in 1940’s wartime felt as though the nickname was bad luck. It may have been just that when one reads the final pages of this thrilling, pulse-pounding wartime adventure.
This novel was Follett's first successful, best-selling effort as a novelist, and one he had written over a period of a mere five weeks. It was therefore kismet that the finished product won the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel. Follet was destined to become a great author of outstanding abilities which found his novels instant bestsellers on the NYT Bestseller List and also with options for film adaptation in many cases. However, it was the novel he wrote at age 27 in an effort to win a cash price to get his car repaired that would be the start of it all. “Eye Of the Needle� became an international bestseller selling over 10 million copies. It was the nerve-wracking and breather thriller of a sociopathic spy and the unlikely nemesis that would bring him down and save the free world that made Follett both rich and famous across the globe.
The teaser description for this masterpiece on Amazon is quite brief. The reader is told a bit more about the lethality, skills, and temperament of Hitler’s favorite and most reliable purveyor of information about the allies and strategies. “The Needle� [Henry Faber] is a German aristocrat who possesses if not a genius IQ extraordinary intelligence. Faber is not just smart, he “reads� people with uncanny accuracy, he is patient, methodical and lethal. ‘Die Nadel� is a master spy in all facets of the word with violence as much a part of his birthright as his brains.
The author does a wonderful job with fleshing out Faber’s British counterparts, namely a history professor named Godliman, and a widowed ex-policeman named Bloggs. The pair are brought on board by MI5 to catch this proverbial “needle� in a haystack. Dialogue is colorful between the two and the reader feels like they know these two guys, who have both suffered enough heartbreak between them to diminish most men but they are successful in turning their losses into flames of a tireless manhunt to save their homeland. Bloggs is the more colorful and forceful of the two and it is he who is there at the end of the story to marvel in its events.
Basically, our tale takes place in 1940 when ‘die Nadel� is both acting and dressing the part of a nondescript nobody, but collecting information on Allied troop movements. Faber is holed up in his small rental space radioing his collected findings on the Allied Troop movements to Berlin when his landlady literally uses her master key to his room and walks in unannounced in high hopes of seducing him. He is halfway through the transmission and fears that she has noticed the fact that he was deploying a transmitter. Would the love-starved widow have spotted the transmitter and extrapolated that her unassuming but hunky renter was a German spy? Faber is too meticulously mindful of such risks and dispatches her with his stiletto without further ado. He then resumes his transmission, the threat neutralized.
It is fascinating how and under what circumstances that ‘die Nadel� stumbles across the most vital information that was available. He recognized the ramifications of what he had discovered but his intelligence told him that only physical evidence would convince the Furor. It comes to pass that the Allies discover what pure golden spy intel that Faber possesses. It is in this fashion that Faber (‘Di Nadel�) becomes the target of the most desperate manhunt in the Allies history.
There are few accolades not bandied about when readers start discussing “Eye of The Needle.� “One of the twelve best thrillers from the last fifty years� is a good one. I started thinking about this book when I was chatting back and forth with a fan of Follet’s present day, and she had not read his phenomenal book “Eye of The Needle.�
I have not touched upon any information about the events or the participants of the end of the novel because that material although not a spoiler, I do not want a new reader to be thinking ahead or speculating. This is an absolutely riveting, pulse-pounding thriller of thrillers. Yes, it is a “spy thriller.� I for one am fascinated with the World War II period. Espionage was a go-to genre for me when I was younger, and I laugh now at the fact that I read all of the 007 Novels by the great Ian Fleming when I was still a young kid in my mid-teens. I later discovered Robert Ludlum and reread his famous Jason Bourne Trilogy when I bought my first Kindle and bought the digital copies. I know I went off a tangent, but I did have a point, and that is I believe that any lover of “thrillers� would love this one. The novel has a sympathetic well-drawn protagonist at the end whose life is pitted against the robotic nemesis and killing machine that Hitler dubbed “Di Nadel.� It is not one life but the fate of the Allies and all of Britain that is in the balance.
A PHENOMENAL SUSPENSE THRILLER FROM THE �70s STILL HEART-STOPPING TODAY
My Review 5.0 Stars Out Of 5.0 Stars
It was not surprising that just between Amazon and ŷ, this timeless debut novel by a young Ken Follet had amassed roughly 200,000 ratings. One must realize that this number is likely to be woefully low when one considers that the book was originally published by MacDonald & Jane's Publishers in 1978 under the title Storm Island. That same year the rights were acquired by the Penguin Group who published the novel under the title “Eye of The Needle.� I read the Reprint Kindle Edition dated July 7, 2015, but I make it a point of indicating the original release date in my reviews as I have done above.
The title of this worldwide phenomenon by the 27-year-old Welshman was “EYE OF THE NEEDLE� when I read it for the first time. The title is derived from the code name of a master spy for Hitler, one nicknamed ‘die Nadel� (the needle). Henry Faber had been given the nickname because of his kill method using a stiletto in a single move to pierce the heart of his target and silence him or her simultaneously. However, the main character in this spellbinding work of historical fiction set in 1940’s wartime felt as though the nickname was bad luck. It may have been just that when one reads the final pages of this thrilling, pulse-pounding wartime adventure.
This novel was Follett's first successful, best-selling effort as a novelist, and one he had written over a period of a mere five weeks. It was therefore kismet that the finished product won the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel. Follet was destined to become a great author of outstanding abilities which found his novels instant bestsellers on the NYT Bestseller List and also with options for film adaptation in many cases. However, it was the novel he wrote at age 27 in an effort to win a cash price to get his car repaired that would be the start of it all. “Eye Of the Needle� became an international bestseller selling over 10 million copies. It was the nerve-wracking and breather thriller of a sociopathic spy and the unlikely nemesis that would bring him down and save the free world that made Follett both rich and famous across the globe.
The teaser description for this masterpiece on Amazon is quite brief. The reader is told a bit more about the lethality, skills, and temperament of Hitler’s favorite and most reliable purveyor of information about the allies and strategies. “The Needle� [Henry Faber] is a German aristocrat who possesses if not a genius IQ extraordinary intelligence. Faber is not just smart, he “reads� people with uncanny accuracy, he is patient, methodical and lethal. ‘Die Nadel� is a master spy in all facets of the word with violence as much a part of his birthright as his brains.
The author does a wonderful job with fleshing out Faber’s British counterparts, namely a history professor named Godliman, and a widowed ex-policeman named Bloggs. The pair are brought on board by MI5 to catch this proverbial “needle� in a haystack. Dialogue is colorful between the two and the reader feels like they know these two guys, who have both suffered enough heartbreak between them to diminish most men but they are successful in turning their losses into flames of a tireless manhunt to save their homeland. Bloggs is the more colorful and forceful of the two and it is he who is there at the end of the story to marvel in its events.
Basically, our tale takes place in 1940 when ‘die Nadel� is both acting and dressing the part of a nondescript nobody, but collecting information on Allied troop movements. Faber is holed up in his small rental space radioing his collected findings on the Allied Troop movements to Berlin when his landlady literally uses her master key to his room and walks in unannounced in high hopes of seducing him. He is halfway through the transmission and fears that she has noticed the fact that he was deploying a transmitter. Would the love-starved widow have spotted the transmitter and extrapolated that her unassuming but hunky renter was a German spy? Faber is too meticulously mindful of such risks and dispatches her with his stiletto without further ado. He then resumes his transmission, the threat neutralized.
It is fascinating how and under what circumstances that ‘die Nadel� stumbles across the most vital information that was available. He recognized the ramifications of what he had discovered but his intelligence told him that only physical evidence would convince the Furor. It comes to pass that the Allies discover what pure golden spy intel that Faber possesses. It is in this fashion that Faber (‘Di Nadel�) becomes the target of the most desperate manhunt in the Allies history.
There are few accolades not bandied about when readers start discussing “Eye of The Needle.� “One of the twelve best thrillers from the last fifty years� is a good one. I started thinking about this book when I was chatting back and forth with a fan of Follet’s present day, and she had not read his phenomenal book “Eye of The Needle.�
I have not touched upon any information about the events or the participants of the end of the novel because that material although not a spoiler, I do not want a new reader to be thinking ahead or speculating. This is an absolutely riveting, pulse-pounding thriller of thrillers. Yes, it is a “spy thriller.� I for one am fascinated with the World War II period. Espionage was a go-to genre for me when I was younger, and I laugh now at the fact that I read all of the 007 Novels by the great Ian Fleming when I was still a young kid in my mid-teens. I later discovered Robert Ludlum and reread his famous Jason Bourne Trilogy when I bought my first Kindle and bought the digital copies. I know I went off a tangent, but I did have a point, and that is I believe that any lover of “thrillers� would love this one. The novel has a sympathetic well-drawn protagonist at the end whose life is pitted against the robotic nemesis and killing machine that Hitler dubbed “Di Nadel.� It is not one life but the fate of the Allies and all of Britain that is in the balance.
A PHENOMENAL SUSPENSE THRILLER FROM THE �70s STILL HEART-STOPPING TODAY
April 12, 2023
Thriller histórico muy interesante en los preludios del día D. Una de espías de toda la vida vamos.
Tendré que leer mas de Follett de esta temática ya que me ha gustado mucho, lo único es que ya sabía como acababa ya que había visto en su día la genial película de dicha obra.
Muy buen ritmo e intriga, con un final muy correcto y esperado.
El antagonista muy bueno, yo siempre le ponía la cara de Donald Sutherland.
Valoración: 8/10
Sinopsis: En el año 1944 los aliados preparan en secreto una de las mayores operaciones militares de la historia: la invasión de la Europa ocupada por los nazis.
Henry Faber, espía alemán, descubre que el desembarco se efectuará en Normandía e intenta llevar la noticia al Alto Mando alemán, pero nunca llegará a su destino...
Tendré que leer mas de Follett de esta temática ya que me ha gustado mucho, lo único es que ya sabía como acababa ya que había visto en su día la genial película de dicha obra.
Muy buen ritmo e intriga, con un final muy correcto y esperado.
El antagonista muy bueno, yo siempre le ponía la cara de Donald Sutherland.
Valoración: 8/10
Sinopsis: En el año 1944 los aliados preparan en secreto una de las mayores operaciones militares de la historia: la invasión de la Europa ocupada por los nazis.
Henry Faber, espía alemán, descubre que el desembarco se efectuará en Normandía e intenta llevar la noticia al Alto Mando alemán, pero nunca llegará a su destino...
April 29, 2018
full review�
Again I am truly mesmerized by Ken Follett's imagination his writing style and this absolute gem of a book Eye of the Neddle. This is an incredible novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, with massive suspense, thriller and the elaborate machinations that only Follet could design! I'm truly shook!
"In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies. "
—Winston Churchill
Eye of the Needle became Follett’s first ‘breakthrough� book, the one that got him accepted in publishing circles, and gave him early fame. Believe it or not, ‘Eye� was his eleventh published book, as Follett himself describes “It was my eleventh try�!
His eleventh try was a charm, because this book is phenomenal! A big difference according to Follett was his in depth research into the lives of soldiers and spies during WW II. Eye of the needle is a spot on, accurately written depiction of WW2 spy thriller at its best!.
The research that went on the story is self evident from the very beginning. As in most relevant ‘historical fiction� books, ‘the preface� becomes critically important for laying down the landscape for the entire book. Follett starts with a description of a massive ‘D-Day� deception. Allied forces (Brittain, US) conceived a brilliant ‘illusion� of ships, tanks and barracks made of rubber, to fool the Germans into believing in a completely different location than ‘Normandy� for the invasion of D-day:
- “It was a huge, near-impossible deception. Literally thousands of people were involved in perpetrating the trick. It would have been a miracle if none of Hitler’s spies ever got to know about it.
The remainder of the story is told in several first POVs, as we follow the most dangerous and effective German spy known as ‘Faber� (code name ‘Eye of the Needle�). We’re also introduced to two British MI5 agents, and soon enough the race for WW II’s most well kept secret begins!
The tension in this book is forever ascending..its fucking awesome! Follett creates memorable characters, and despite the fact we know the outcome of the war, and “Normandy’s D-day� surprise invasion, Follett takes the reader for a hellish ride!
Faber, the German spy is so ruthless, yet Follett is able to dab speckles of humanity in his character..just brilliant. Despite his transgressions and murders, we almost feel compassion towards him! Themes of ‘nationalism�, ‘love�, ‘pride� and ‘deception� are widespread in this book. Also there are some romantic relationships including some vividly described ‘sex scenes�, that are done in good taste and add a great deal to the narrative.
Follett again has impressed me with this masterpiece of war, deception and humanity’s greatest struggle for survival! Eye of the Needle is an expertly crafted WWII spy thriller, likely the best ever written amongst its genre! It’s a must read to those who enjoy thrillers and historical fiction!
5 Stars
Again I am truly mesmerized by Ken Follett's imagination his writing style and this absolute gem of a book Eye of the Neddle. This is an incredible novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, with massive suspense, thriller and the elaborate machinations that only Follet could design! I'm truly shook!
"In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies. "
—Winston Churchill
Eye of the Needle became Follett’s first ‘breakthrough� book, the one that got him accepted in publishing circles, and gave him early fame. Believe it or not, ‘Eye� was his eleventh published book, as Follett himself describes “It was my eleventh try�!
His eleventh try was a charm, because this book is phenomenal! A big difference according to Follett was his in depth research into the lives of soldiers and spies during WW II. Eye of the needle is a spot on, accurately written depiction of WW2 spy thriller at its best!.
The research that went on the story is self evident from the very beginning. As in most relevant ‘historical fiction� books, ‘the preface� becomes critically important for laying down the landscape for the entire book. Follett starts with a description of a massive ‘D-Day� deception. Allied forces (Brittain, US) conceived a brilliant ‘illusion� of ships, tanks and barracks made of rubber, to fool the Germans into believing in a completely different location than ‘Normandy� for the invasion of D-day:
- “It was a huge, near-impossible deception. Literally thousands of people were involved in perpetrating the trick. It would have been a miracle if none of Hitler’s spies ever got to know about it.
The remainder of the story is told in several first POVs, as we follow the most dangerous and effective German spy known as ‘Faber� (code name ‘Eye of the Needle�). We’re also introduced to two British MI5 agents, and soon enough the race for WW II’s most well kept secret begins!
The tension in this book is forever ascending..its fucking awesome! Follett creates memorable characters, and despite the fact we know the outcome of the war, and “Normandy’s D-day� surprise invasion, Follett takes the reader for a hellish ride!
Faber, the German spy is so ruthless, yet Follett is able to dab speckles of humanity in his character..just brilliant. Despite his transgressions and murders, we almost feel compassion towards him! Themes of ‘nationalism�, ‘love�, ‘pride� and ‘deception� are widespread in this book. Also there are some romantic relationships including some vividly described ‘sex scenes�, that are done in good taste and add a great deal to the narrative.
Follett again has impressed me with this masterpiece of war, deception and humanity’s greatest struggle for survival! Eye of the Needle is an expertly crafted WWII spy thriller, likely the best ever written amongst its genre! It’s a must read to those who enjoy thrillers and historical fiction!
5 Stars
February 11, 2024
When Faber’s boat is wrecked on Storm Island near Aberdeen, he finds a very lonely Lucy who lives with her crippled husband, an embittered man who has never touched Lucy after their marriage ceremony.
Lucy then begins a relationship with Faber.
Although, Faber supposedly ‘seems to love someone' for the very first time in his life, it sounds improbable, Faber is incapable of 'love' as we know it, he is trained to view people as objects to be eliminated immediately if and when threatened by them.
But both need release from pent up sexual energies.
However, what really stands out, is Lucy’s remarkable courage, her resourcefulness, her endurance in repeatedly foiling Faber’s plans.
With a shock Lucy realises and understands that their relationship is totally insignificant, when she grasps the immensity of what Faber is about to do, a secret that could derail the entire D-Day landings, the Allied invasion of France.
Both of them snap out of the brief interlude. There is only so much that sex can do.
After fighting Faber tooth and nail, she chops off his fingers; she even blows a fuse by inserting a finger in a live socket to prevent Faber from sending messages to a U-boat.
Yes, then Lucy kills Faber by rolling down stones on him when he tries to escape and board a submarine waiting for him.
Who knows maybe Faber is really incapable of killing Lucy for while he is growing 'soft' she has hardened and grown ruthless.
Lucy then begins a relationship with Faber.
Although, Faber supposedly ‘seems to love someone' for the very first time in his life, it sounds improbable, Faber is incapable of 'love' as we know it, he is trained to view people as objects to be eliminated immediately if and when threatened by them.
But both need release from pent up sexual energies.
However, what really stands out, is Lucy’s remarkable courage, her resourcefulness, her endurance in repeatedly foiling Faber’s plans.
With a shock Lucy realises and understands that their relationship is totally insignificant, when she grasps the immensity of what Faber is about to do, a secret that could derail the entire D-Day landings, the Allied invasion of France.
Both of them snap out of the brief interlude. There is only so much that sex can do.
After fighting Faber tooth and nail, she chops off his fingers; she even blows a fuse by inserting a finger in a live socket to prevent Faber from sending messages to a U-boat.
Yes, then Lucy kills Faber by rolling down stones on him when he tries to escape and board a submarine waiting for him.
Who knows maybe Faber is really incapable of killing Lucy for while he is growing 'soft' she has hardened and grown ruthless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2012
Eye of the Needle, a sharply-written WWII era thriller, is miles away in style and length from the mammoth, medieval epics Follett would later create. Though not a mindbendingly difficult read, the quality of the writing was already present at this early stage. Extra kudos must be given to any author who can switch gears and dabble in different genres. Working outside your comfortable corner can not be the easiest thing to do.
April 8, 2021
বই� আই অফ নিডল
লেখক� কে� ফলেট
অনুবাদকঃ ইমতিয়াজ আজাদ
প্রকাশনী� আদী প্রকাশ�
পৃষ্ঠা� ৩৫�
মুদ্রি� মূল্যঃ ৪৮� টাকা
দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধের সময় ব্রিটেনে� গোয়েন্দ� সংস্থা এমআইফাইভ একের পর এক জার্মা� গুপ্তচরদের আট� কর� চলছিলো� কিন্তু হেনর� ফেবা� কো� নে� নিডল নামে� ব্যক্তিক� কিছুতে� পাকড়া� করতে পারছ� না� এদিক� নিডল এম� এক তথ্য সংগ্রহ করেছ� যা� দ্বারা যুদ্ধে জার্মানি� জয� শুধু সময়ের ব্যাপার। ব্যতিব্যস্� হয়ে পড়ল� এমআইফাইভ চলছে চিরুনি অভিযান� পেছন� শত্র� লেগে গেছে বুঝত� পেরে পালাচ্ছে নিডল সাথে সক� বাধা অতিক্র� করছে তীক্ষ্� বুদ্ধি � স্টিলেটো দ্বারা খু� করে। সাগর� তা� জন্য অপেক্ষ� করছে সাবমেরিন� নৌকা নিয়� পালিয়� যাচ্ছে নিডল এম� সময় জীবন মর� ঝড়ে� কবলে পড়ে বাধ্� হয়ে একটা দ্বীপে আশ্রয় নিতে হয়। তব� শে� পর্যন্� বাধা মাত্� একজন তা� না� লুসি রোজ। লুসি রো� বিয়� করেন রয়্যা� এয়ারফোর্সের পাইল� ডেভিড। বিয়ের রাতে� গাড়ী দূর্ঘটনায় পা হারাতে হয� তা� স্বামীর। তারপ� শুরু হয� তাদে� জনমানবহী� স্টর্ম আইল্যান্� দ্বীপে যেখানে লুসি, ডেভি� আর টম আর আছ� তাদে� বেড়ার খামার। কিছুদি� পর তাদে� কোলে আসলো জো নামে� এক পুত্রসন্তান। দ্বীপে� বুড়� এক রাখা�, পঙ্গ� পাইল� আর এক মহিল� ফেবারে� জন্য কো� ব্যাপারই না� শে� পর্যন্� এমআইফাইভ কি পারব� হেনর� ফেবারক� রুখত�? জানত� হল� পড়ে ফেলু� বইটি�
পাঠপ্রতিক্রিয়াঃ দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধের এসপিওনাজ ভুবন� যেনো ডুবে গেলা� এই বইটি� মাধ্যমে। হেনর� ফেবারে� তীক্ষ্� বুদ্ধি আর সাহস রোমাঞ্চক� এক পরিবেশ তৈরি করতে সক্ষ� হয়েছে� কে� ফলটে� ক্যারেক্টর বিল্� আপ আমাক� অসাধার� ভাবে মুগ্� করেছে। মন� হয়েছে প্রতিট� ক্যারেক্টর যা� যা� জায়গায় ঠি� সময়� ফুটে উঠেছে। গল্পের কো� কিছু� অপ্রয়োজনীয় বল� মন� হয়নি। দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধের চিত্� গুলা মন� হয়েছে নি� চোখে দেখেছি এতটা বাস্তব মন� হয়েছে আমার� আর হ্যা� গল্প� দু� পৃষ্ঠা� বিশ্লেষণধর্মী যৌন্যতার ব্যাখ্যা রয়েছে (যদিও এটাও গল্পের গুরুত্বপূর্ণ একটি অং� বল� চল�) তা� বলবো ১৮+ ছাড়� কে� পড়া� আগ� একটু সচেত� থাকতে। পুরো গল্পেই ভালোরক� থ্রি� পেয়েছ� যা থেকে তৃপ্তি� ঢেকু� তুলত� পারলাম�
আর অনুবাদ নিয়� বলতে গেলে ইমতিয়াজ আজাদ খু� চমৎকার কা� উপহা� দিয়েছেন একদম ঝরঝর� পরিষ্কার অনুবাদ�
যারা পড়েনন� পড়ে ফেলত� পারে� কে� ফলেটের চমৎকার এই বইটি�
ব্যাক্তিগত রেটিংঃ �.৫০/�
লেখক� কে� ফলেট
অনুবাদকঃ ইমতিয়াজ আজাদ
প্রকাশনী� আদী প্রকাশ�
পৃষ্ঠা� ৩৫�
মুদ্রি� মূল্যঃ ৪৮� টাকা
দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধের সময় ব্রিটেনে� গোয়েন্দ� সংস্থা এমআইফাইভ একের পর এক জার্মা� গুপ্তচরদের আট� কর� চলছিলো� কিন্তু হেনর� ফেবা� কো� নে� নিডল নামে� ব্যক্তিক� কিছুতে� পাকড়া� করতে পারছ� না� এদিক� নিডল এম� এক তথ্য সংগ্রহ করেছ� যা� দ্বারা যুদ্ধে জার্মানি� জয� শুধু সময়ের ব্যাপার। ব্যতিব্যস্� হয়ে পড়ল� এমআইফাইভ চলছে চিরুনি অভিযান� পেছন� শত্র� লেগে গেছে বুঝত� পেরে পালাচ্ছে নিডল সাথে সক� বাধা অতিক্র� করছে তীক্ষ্� বুদ্ধি � স্টিলেটো দ্বারা খু� করে। সাগর� তা� জন্য অপেক্ষ� করছে সাবমেরিন� নৌকা নিয়� পালিয়� যাচ্ছে নিডল এম� সময় জীবন মর� ঝড়ে� কবলে পড়ে বাধ্� হয়ে একটা দ্বীপে আশ্রয় নিতে হয়। তব� শে� পর্যন্� বাধা মাত্� একজন তা� না� লুসি রোজ। লুসি রো� বিয়� করেন রয়্যা� এয়ারফোর্সের পাইল� ডেভিড। বিয়ের রাতে� গাড়ী দূর্ঘটনায় পা হারাতে হয� তা� স্বামীর। তারপ� শুরু হয� তাদে� জনমানবহী� স্টর্ম আইল্যান্� দ্বীপে যেখানে লুসি, ডেভি� আর টম আর আছ� তাদে� বেড়ার খামার। কিছুদি� পর তাদে� কোলে আসলো জো নামে� এক পুত্রসন্তান। দ্বীপে� বুড়� এক রাখা�, পঙ্গ� পাইল� আর এক মহিল� ফেবারে� জন্য কো� ব্যাপারই না� শে� পর্যন্� এমআইফাইভ কি পারব� হেনর� ফেবারক� রুখত�? জানত� হল� পড়ে ফেলু� বইটি�
পাঠপ্রতিক্রিয়াঃ দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধের এসপিওনাজ ভুবন� যেনো ডুবে গেলা� এই বইটি� মাধ্যমে। হেনর� ফেবারে� তীক্ষ্� বুদ্ধি আর সাহস রোমাঞ্চক� এক পরিবেশ তৈরি করতে সক্ষ� হয়েছে� কে� ফলটে� ক্যারেক্টর বিল্� আপ আমাক� অসাধার� ভাবে মুগ্� করেছে। মন� হয়েছে প্রতিট� ক্যারেক্টর যা� যা� জায়গায় ঠি� সময়� ফুটে উঠেছে। গল্পের কো� কিছু� অপ্রয়োজনীয় বল� মন� হয়নি। দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধের চিত্� গুলা মন� হয়েছে নি� চোখে দেখেছি এতটা বাস্তব মন� হয়েছে আমার� আর হ্যা� গল্প� দু� পৃষ্ঠা� বিশ্লেষণধর্মী যৌন্যতার ব্যাখ্যা রয়েছে (যদিও এটাও গল্পের গুরুত্বপূর্ণ একটি অং� বল� চল�) তা� বলবো ১৮+ ছাড়� কে� পড়া� আগ� একটু সচেত� থাকতে। পুরো গল্পেই ভালোরক� থ্রি� পেয়েছ� যা থেকে তৃপ্তি� ঢেকু� তুলত� পারলাম�
আর অনুবাদ নিয়� বলতে গেলে ইমতিয়াজ আজাদ খু� চমৎকার কা� উপহা� দিয়েছেন একদম ঝরঝর� পরিষ্কার অনুবাদ�
যারা পড়েনন� পড়ে ফেলত� পারে� কে� ফলেটের চমৎকার এই বইটি�
ব্যাক্তিগত রেটিংঃ �.৫০/�
April 27, 2018
Excellent thriller where the action is happening at the time of the Second World War.
August 7, 2013
Oh Ken Follett, you've fooled me again. You are so good at the spy cat-and-mouse game aspects of writing these great WWII spy novels. Generally the first 2/3 of your books have me waking up at night to finish reading a chapter or two. Such great and complex heroes and villians. But then...you try to write sexy stuff. And honestly, you have no idea what women want or need.
I'm sorry, but a housewife is not going to wander into the next room to ravage the stranger she just met and bandaged up from his mysterious injuries two hours ago--while her disabled husband and son are in the next room! I know that's a great man fantasy--but it's just not going to happen.
So, this again follows the theme of
2/3 of book - great spy thriller
1/3 of book - terrible spy smut
And a 5 page wrap up where the good guys are vindicated.
I'm sorry, but a housewife is not going to wander into the next room to ravage the stranger she just met and bandaged up from his mysterious injuries two hours ago--while her disabled husband and son are in the next room! I know that's a great man fantasy--but it's just not going to happen.
So, this again follows the theme of
2/3 of book - great spy thriller
1/3 of book - terrible spy smut
And a 5 page wrap up where the good guys are vindicated.
July 28, 2015
A fast paced World War 2 thriller, set against the backdrop of D-Day plans secretly laid by the British. The story is very engrossing, making it a real turner and a thrilling experience, but I felt that there were a bit too many clichés. It started off pretty well, but by the end it felt like a Hollywood style spy-flick.
The writing is quite good at times, while on some occasions the lines were overtly simplistic, the romantic intrigue was mostly about sex and nothing more.
Throughout the reading I expected it to be a 4 star book, but the clichés just pulled it down to 3 stars. Still, not a bad book at all and a good conventional spy-thriller.
The writing is quite good at times, while on some occasions the lines were overtly simplistic, the romantic intrigue was mostly about sex and nothing more.
Throughout the reading I expected it to be a 4 star book, but the clichés just pulled it down to 3 stars. Still, not a bad book at all and a good conventional spy-thriller.
May 15, 2025
সময় ১৯৪৪� দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধ� জড়িয়� পড়েছে ইংল্যান্�, জার্মানিসহ আর� কয়েকট� দেশ। জার্মা� গুপ্তচরে সয়লাব হয়ে গিয়েছিল পুরো ইংল্যান্ড। এস� আনাড়ি গুপ্তচ� সামলাত� কোনো বেগই পেতে হয� না উপরমহলের� তাদে� ডাবল এজেন্ট বানিয়� ভালো� কায়দা দেখানো যাচ্ছি� জার্মানদের� কিন্তু মাঝখান� সুঁই হয়ে রয়ে যা� এক দুর্ধর্ষ জার্মা� এজেন্ট–যার উপ� নির্ভর করছে হিটলারের সিদ্ধান্� � যুদ্ধে� ফলাফল। কীভাবে রণ-গতিপ� পাল্টে দেওয়া যায়, তা� রোমহর্ষক বর্ণনা বিশে� আকর্ষণ�
গল্পের গত� ধী�-দুর্দান্তে� মিশেল। কৌতূহল জাগিয়� রাখত� সক্ষ� প্রতিট� পৃষ্ঠা� তব� কেন্দ্রীয় পুরু� চরিত্রটি� চরিত্র বিকাশে পাঠককে হতাশ কর� দিয়েছেন লেখক সাহেব। শুরু থেকে� তাকে রক্ষণাত্মক আক্রমণ� থাকা দেখে দেখে সয়ে যাওয়া মন যখ� দেখে� অকৃতদা� একজন মানু� তা� অ্যাসাইনমেন্টে� একদম কিনারায় এস� হুদা� ভাবলীলায় মত্ত হয়ে কাণ্ডজ্ঞান হারা�, তা� আবার �-৪বার—ভের� স্যা�! বাদবাক� সব ঠি� ছিল।
গল্পের গত� ধী�-দুর্দান্তে� মিশেল। কৌতূহল জাগিয়� রাখত� সক্ষ� প্রতিট� পৃষ্ঠা� তব� কেন্দ্রীয় পুরু� চরিত্রটি� চরিত্র বিকাশে পাঠককে হতাশ কর� দিয়েছেন লেখক সাহেব। শুরু থেকে� তাকে রক্ষণাত্মক আক্রমণ� থাকা দেখে দেখে সয়ে যাওয়া মন যখ� দেখে� অকৃতদা� একজন মানু� তা� অ্যাসাইনমেন্টে� একদম কিনারায় এস� হুদা� ভাবলীলায় মত্ত হয়ে কাণ্ডজ্ঞান হারা�, তা� আবার �-৪বার—ভের� স্যা�! বাদবাক� সব ঠি� ছিল।
January 20, 2022
"দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধ" এই শব্দবন্ধ মাথাতে আসতে� চোখে� সামন� ভাসত� থাকে আকাশের ��ুক� চিরে মহড়� দিতে থাকা ফাইটার প্লে�, মাটি� কোলে হামা দেয়� ট্যাঙ্�,বোমা� আঘাত� উড়ত� থাকা অঙ্গপ্রত্যঙ্�-বালি� বস্ত�,মাঝসমুদ্রে পরস্পরের দিকে কামানে� গোলা ছুঁড়ত� থাকা যুদ্ধজাহাজ কিংব� ভূ-গর্ভস্� বাঙ্কারে বস� ছক কষতে গিয়� প্রচণ্� স্নায়ুচাপ� চু� ছিঁড়ত� থাকা সমরবিদের ছবি।
কানে ভেসে আসবে
অজস্� নারী-পুরু�-শিশুদে� হাহাকা�...মর� চিৎকার,শকওয়ে� কেঁপ� ওঠ� দূরবর্তী কোনো কাঠে� বাড়ির ক্যাঁচক্যাঁচ শব্দ,গমগম করতে থাকা বুটে� আওয়াজ, কানফাট� বুলেটে� শব্দ কিংব� বোমা বিস্ফোরণ�
কারো মাথায় লম্ব� করিডোর ধর� পায়চারী করতে থাকা উইনস্ট� চার্চি�, আন্ডারগ্রাউন্ড ডর্ম� লুকানো ঈহুদী পরিবার, "হাইল হিটলার" বল� সালা� ঠোকা স্বস্তিক� চিহ্নে দাগাঙ্কি� নাৎস� বাহিনী কিংব� শে� ভাগে এস� পারমাণবি� বোমায় ধ্বংসপ্রাপ্ত হিরোশিমা-নাগাসাকি� ছব� আসাটাও খুবই স্বাভাবিক। কিন্তু এর বাইরেও যুদ্ধে� অন্ধকা� অলিগলি জুড়� ঘুরে বেড়াত� চাইল� মাইক্রোস্কোপের ফোকা� লেন্� আরেকটু কমাত� হবে। ঢুকে পড়ত� হব� উপরিতলের আর� গভীরে�
তেমন� এক অপেক্ষাকৃত অজান� অধ্যায়ে� সাথে কল্পনাকে ঘিরে আবর্তি� হয়েছে কে� ফলেটের "আই অফ দ্� নিডল" এর কাহিনী�
#পটভূমিএবং_কাহিনীসংক্ষে�:
১৯৪৪ সালে� প্রথ� দিকে দক্ষিণ-পূর্� ইংল্যান্ডে একটা বিরা� সেনাবাহিনী� বিষয়ে তথ্য হাতে আস� জার্মা� ইন্টেলিজেন্সের� গাদা গাদা ছব� নিয়� ফিরে এল� পরিদর্শক বিমান। সে� ছবিত� ব্যারা�, এয়ারফিল্ড, ওয়া� উপসাগর� ভাসমান জাহা�, নিজে� সাদা বুলডগস� জেনারে� জর্জ এস. প্যাটনকে দেখা গেল। ওই এলাকায� ওয়্যারলেস সিগন্যাল পাঠানো� মাত্রা বেড়� গে�, ব্রিটেনে অবস্থি� জার্মা� গুপ্তচরেরা সিগন্যাল পাঠাতে লাগল বারবার�
আসলে সেখানে কো� সেনাবাহিনী ছি� না� জাহাজগুল� ছি� রাবা� আর পলকা কা� দিয়� তৈরি, ব্যারাকগুল� ছি� সিনেমা সেটে� মতো। নিজে� অধীনে একজন সৈনিকও ছি� না প্যাটনের� রেডি� সিগন্যালগুলো ছি� অর্থহী�, গুপ্তচরদের বেশিরভাগ� ছি� ডাবল এজেন্ট�
এত কিছু� উদ্দেশ্য ছি�, পা� দে ক্যালাইস দিয়� হামল� হব� এই তথ্য দিয়� জার্মানদেরকে বিভ্রান্� করা। এর ফল� ডি-ডে’ত� নর্ম্যান্ড� দিয়� হামল� একটা চম� হয়ে দেখা দি� জার্মানবাহিনী� জন্য� পরিকল্পনাট� ছি� অনেক বড�, ধোঁক� দেয়াটাও অসম্ভব ছি� প্রায়� প্রায় কয়ে� হাজা� মানু� জড়ি� ছি� এই পরিকল্পনার সাথে�
তারপরে� হিটলারের কো� গুপ্তচ� যে এই
বিষয়ে জানত� পারেনি, তা রীতিমত� এক সৌভাগ্যই বটে।
নাকি আসলে� কোনো জার্মা� নিবেদি� প্রা� গুপ্তচ� ছি�?
দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধের সময় একের পর এক জার্মা� গুপ্তচরদের পাকড়া� কর� দারু� কা� দেখিয়েছিল� ব্রিটেনে� গোয়েন্দ� সংস্থা এমআইফাইভ� কিন্তু তারপরে� কীভাবে যে� একজন গুপ্তচ� সবাইকে ফাঁক� দিয়� বেরিয়� যাচ্ছি� বারবার� তা� না� হেনর� ফেবা�, কো� নে� ‘নিড�'�
দুর্ভাগ্যক্রমে, সে এম� অসাধার� এক তথ্য আবিষ্কার কর� ফেলল, যা� ফল� যুদ্ধে জার্মানি� জয� হয়ে গে� মাত্� সময়ের ব্যাপার। ব্যতিব্যস্� হয়ে উঠ� এমআইফাইভ� নিডলকে ধাওয়া শুরু কর� তারা� পিছন� শত্র� লেগেছে বুঝত� পেরে পালাতে লাগল নিডলও। তা� জন্য সাগর� অপেক্ষ� করছে সাবমেরিন� তব� তা� পথ� বাধা মাত্� একজনই। তা� না� লুসি রো�!
#পাঠপ্রতিক্রিয়�:
প্রথমে� বল� রাখি..."আই অ্যা� পিলগ্রিম" এর পর বড� কলেবরে কোনো স্লো বার্না� থ্রিলা� পড়ে এতোট� ভালো লেগেছে�
পটভূমিতে বল� ঘটনাক্রম অনুযায়ী লেখক একদম শুরুতে� বল� দিয়েছেন আসলে শেষে
কী ঘটতে যাচ্ছে।� কিন্তু তারপরও মাথা� ভিতর টুথপিক দিয়� খোঁচাত� থেকেছে শুধু একটা� প্রশ্ন,
"How is it even possible?"
এত� শক্তপোক্� একটা অ্যান্টাগনিস্টকে কীভাবে থামানো সম্ভ�?
সবথেকে অবাক করবা� মত� বিষয� হল�,
পটভূমি� ইতিহাসটুকু বা� দিলে বাকি সবটা� লেখকের শক্তিশালী কল্পনা� ফসল।
গল্পের শুরুতে� যেভাবে ত্রিভুজে� তিনট� কো� হিসা� কর� প্রোটাগনিস্ট, মিডিয়েট�, অ্যান্টাগনিস্টদে� দেখিয়� তাদে� ব্যাকড্র� স্টোরি ডেভেলপ করেছেন এইটা সত্যিই অনেক প্রশংসার যোগ্য।
ব্রিটিশদের দেয়� আসন্� ধোঁকার খব� নি� দেশে পৌঁছ� দিতে প্রতিজ্ঞাবদ্� নিডল,ইতিহাসবিদে� শান্� জীবন থেকে সমরে জড়িয়� পড়া গডলিম্যানে� ক্ষুরধারবুদ্ধি, কিংব� বোমা� আঘাত� স্ত্রী ক্রিস্টিনক� হারানো ব্লগসে� প্রতিশোধপরায়ণতা,অ্যাক্সিডেন্টে পা হারানো বৈমানি� ডেভিডে� অপারগত� অথবা গৃহিণী লুসি রোজে� নিজেকে ভেঙে শত্র� মোকাবিলায় মরিয়া হয়ে ওঠ�- এস� কিছু� সাথে� পাঠককে খু� ভালোমতোই রিলে� করাত� পেরেছে� কে� ফলেট�
শুরু শুরুতে একেকটা ক্যারেকটারের সূক্ষ্মসূক্ষ্ম ডিটেইল� অনেক অহেতুক মন� হয়েছি�,পর� সে� ছো� ছো� ট্রেইটগুলোরই একটা মনস্তাত্ত্বি� বিবর্ত� দেখিয়েছেন--এরকমটা বর্তমানের� থ্রিলারগুলোর মাঝে খু� কম দেখা যায়�
প্রতিট� চরিত্রের টানাপোড়েন, পরিস্থিতির সাথে বাঁকবদ� এস� কিছু� নিজে� সাথে রিলে� করবা� মতো।
ডিটেইলিং এত� জীবন্ত, পাঠ্যানুকূ�
আর বাস্তবঘেঁষ� যে দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধ নিয়� খুবই প্রাথমিক ধারণ� নিয়� পড়ত� বসলে� মূ� কাহিনী বুঝত� কষ্ট হবার কথ� নয়।
চেষ্টা করলে যে,একটা পলিটিক্যাল স্পা� থ্রিলারও ভালো সাহিত্যমান পেতে পারে,এইটা� উদাহরণ - আই অব দ্� নিডল� স্বাদু ভাষা� কারণ� কে� যদ� এটাক� থ্রিলারে� বাইর� শুধু যুদ্ধকেন্দ্রিক উপন্যা� হিসেবে� পড়ে�,তা� সমান ভালো লাগবার কথা।
কে� ফলেটের রাইটিং স্টাইলের সাথে বর্তমানে� রোলারকোস্টার রাইড টাইপ বইয়ের রাইটিং স্টাইল মেলা� সম্ভাবনা� নাই।
কারণ, আমার নিজেরও মন� হয়েছে
বে� ধীরগতি� কিন্তু প্রতিট�
চ্যাপ্টারে� শেষে ব্যবহৃ� ক্লিফহ্যাঙ্গার আপনাকে বাধ্� করবে পরের অধ্যায়ে যেতে�
এবার কী হব�--নিডল কি ধর� পড়ে যাবে?
নাকি আর� শক্তপোক্� কোনো চা� চালবেন গডলিম্যা�? লুসি নিজেকে নিজে� সন্তানকে স্টিলেটো� ফল� থেকে কি বাঁচাত� পারব�?
তব� উপন্যাসে� শে� ভাগে� দিকে উনি� তি� পৃষ্ঠা ধর� যৌনতার বর্ণনা দেয়� শুরু করলে টানটান সিরিয়াসনেসে� ভাবট� খানিকট� সময়ের জন্য উব� যায়,বিরক্তিও ধরে।
কিন্তু পর� দেখা যায়, সেইট�
কাহিনী� বিশে� প্রয়োজনেই উন� এনেছেন�
বইটা� কাহিনী বিন্যা� আর ফলেটের ভাষারীতি� জন্য
অনুবাদ খটমট� হয়ে যাবা� বিপু� সম্ভাবনা ছিল। কিন্তু অনুবাদ� সাহে� দারু� মুন্সিয়ান� দেখিয়েছেন এখানে। মাসু� রানায় বহ� বইয়ের অ্যাডাপ্টেশন পড়ল� যেমন কখনও মন� হয� না যে রূপান্তরিত কাহিনী পড়ছ�, এখানেও সে� এক� অবস্থা� দারু� অনুবাদের কারণেই তরতরিয়ে একটানা পড়ে যেতে পেরেছি� যদিও যথায� প্রুফরিডিংয়েে অভাব� বে� কিছু মুদ্রণপ্রমাদ চোখে পড়েছে আমার, তব� কাহিনী� মোচড়ে এগিয়ে যেতে খু� বেশি সমস্যা� মুখোমুখি হই নি�
এক� অনুবাদকে� ব্ল্যা� ক্রস,দ্� ঈগ� হ্যা� ল্যান্ডে� পড়বার জন্য মুখিয়� আছি।
"Everything is fair in love and war" -
"আই অব দ্� নিডল" এর যুদ্ধাক্রান্� দম বন্ধ কর� পরিবেশ� এই কথার পৌনঃপুণি� উপলব্ধ� করতে পারবেন হাড়� হাড়ে।
একনজরে-
📗বইয়ের না�: আই অব দ্� নিডল
🔎জনরা: স্পা� থ্রিলা�
🖋️লেখ�: কে� ফলেট
🖊️অনুবা�: ইমতিয়াজ আজাদ
🗳️প্রকাশনী: আদী প্রকাশ�
🗓️প্রকাশকাল: বইমেলা,২০১৯
📌মলাট মূল্�: ৪৮� টাকা
📋গুডরিড� রেটি�: �.১৮/�
🗒️পার্সোনাল রেটি� : �.�/�
কানে ভেসে আসবে
অজস্� নারী-পুরু�-শিশুদে� হাহাকা�...মর� চিৎকার,শকওয়ে� কেঁপ� ওঠ� দূরবর্তী কোনো কাঠে� বাড়ির ক্যাঁচক্যাঁচ শব্দ,গমগম করতে থাকা বুটে� আওয়াজ, কানফাট� বুলেটে� শব্দ কিংব� বোমা বিস্ফোরণ�
কারো মাথায় লম্ব� করিডোর ধর� পায়চারী করতে থাকা উইনস্ট� চার্চি�, আন্ডারগ্রাউন্ড ডর্ম� লুকানো ঈহুদী পরিবার, "হাইল হিটলার" বল� সালা� ঠোকা স্বস্তিক� চিহ্নে দাগাঙ্কি� নাৎস� বাহিনী কিংব� শে� ভাগে এস� পারমাণবি� বোমায় ধ্বংসপ্রাপ্ত হিরোশিমা-নাগাসাকি� ছব� আসাটাও খুবই স্বাভাবিক। কিন্তু এর বাইরেও যুদ্ধে� অন্ধকা� অলিগলি জুড়� ঘুরে বেড়াত� চাইল� মাইক্রোস্কোপের ফোকা� লেন্� আরেকটু কমাত� হবে। ঢুকে পড়ত� হব� উপরিতলের আর� গভীরে�
তেমন� এক অপেক্ষাকৃত অজান� অধ্যায়ে� সাথে কল্পনাকে ঘিরে আবর্তি� হয়েছে কে� ফলেটের "আই অফ দ্� নিডল" এর কাহিনী�
#পটভূমিএবং_কাহিনীসংক্ষে�:
১৯৪৪ সালে� প্রথ� দিকে দক্ষিণ-পূর্� ইংল্যান্ডে একটা বিরা� সেনাবাহিনী� বিষয়ে তথ্য হাতে আস� জার্মা� ইন্টেলিজেন্সের� গাদা গাদা ছব� নিয়� ফিরে এল� পরিদর্শক বিমান। সে� ছবিত� ব্যারা�, এয়ারফিল্ড, ওয়া� উপসাগর� ভাসমান জাহা�, নিজে� সাদা বুলডগস� জেনারে� জর্জ এস. প্যাটনকে দেখা গেল। ওই এলাকায� ওয়্যারলেস সিগন্যাল পাঠানো� মাত্রা বেড়� গে�, ব্রিটেনে অবস্থি� জার্মা� গুপ্তচরেরা সিগন্যাল পাঠাতে লাগল বারবার�
আসলে সেখানে কো� সেনাবাহিনী ছি� না� জাহাজগুল� ছি� রাবা� আর পলকা কা� দিয়� তৈরি, ব্যারাকগুল� ছি� সিনেমা সেটে� মতো। নিজে� অধীনে একজন সৈনিকও ছি� না প্যাটনের� রেডি� সিগন্যালগুলো ছি� অর্থহী�, গুপ্তচরদের বেশিরভাগ� ছি� ডাবল এজেন্ট�
এত কিছু� উদ্দেশ্য ছি�, পা� দে ক্যালাইস দিয়� হামল� হব� এই তথ্য দিয়� জার্মানদেরকে বিভ্রান্� করা। এর ফল� ডি-ডে’ত� নর্ম্যান্ড� দিয়� হামল� একটা চম� হয়ে দেখা দি� জার্মানবাহিনী� জন্য� পরিকল্পনাট� ছি� অনেক বড�, ধোঁক� দেয়াটাও অসম্ভব ছি� প্রায়� প্রায় কয়ে� হাজা� মানু� জড়ি� ছি� এই পরিকল্পনার সাথে�
তারপরে� হিটলারের কো� গুপ্তচ� যে এই
বিষয়ে জানত� পারেনি, তা রীতিমত� এক সৌভাগ্যই বটে।
নাকি আসলে� কোনো জার্মা� নিবেদি� প্রা� গুপ্তচ� ছি�?
দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধের সময় একের পর এক জার্মা� গুপ্তচরদের পাকড়া� কর� দারু� কা� দেখিয়েছিল� ব্রিটেনে� গোয়েন্দ� সংস্থা এমআইফাইভ� কিন্তু তারপরে� কীভাবে যে� একজন গুপ্তচ� সবাইকে ফাঁক� দিয়� বেরিয়� যাচ্ছি� বারবার� তা� না� হেনর� ফেবা�, কো� নে� ‘নিড�'�
দুর্ভাগ্যক্রমে, সে এম� অসাধার� এক তথ্য আবিষ্কার কর� ফেলল, যা� ফল� যুদ্ধে জার্মানি� জয� হয়ে গে� মাত্� সময়ের ব্যাপার। ব্যতিব্যস্� হয়ে উঠ� এমআইফাইভ� নিডলকে ধাওয়া শুরু কর� তারা� পিছন� শত্র� লেগেছে বুঝত� পেরে পালাতে লাগল নিডলও। তা� জন্য সাগর� অপেক্ষ� করছে সাবমেরিন� তব� তা� পথ� বাধা মাত্� একজনই। তা� না� লুসি রো�!
#পাঠপ্রতিক্রিয়�:
প্রথমে� বল� রাখি..."আই অ্যা� পিলগ্রিম" এর পর বড� কলেবরে কোনো স্লো বার্না� থ্রিলা� পড়ে এতোট� ভালো লেগেছে�
পটভূমিতে বল� ঘটনাক্রম অনুযায়ী লেখক একদম শুরুতে� বল� দিয়েছেন আসলে শেষে
কী ঘটতে যাচ্ছে।� কিন্তু তারপরও মাথা� ভিতর টুথপিক দিয়� খোঁচাত� থেকেছে শুধু একটা� প্রশ্ন,
"How is it even possible?"
এত� শক্তপোক্� একটা অ্যান্টাগনিস্টকে কীভাবে থামানো সম্ভ�?
সবথেকে অবাক করবা� মত� বিষয� হল�,
পটভূমি� ইতিহাসটুকু বা� দিলে বাকি সবটা� লেখকের শক্তিশালী কল্পনা� ফসল।
গল্পের শুরুতে� যেভাবে ত্রিভুজে� তিনট� কো� হিসা� কর� প্রোটাগনিস্ট, মিডিয়েট�, অ্যান্টাগনিস্টদে� দেখিয়� তাদে� ব্যাকড্র� স্টোরি ডেভেলপ করেছেন এইটা সত্যিই অনেক প্রশংসার যোগ্য।
ব্রিটিশদের দেয়� আসন্� ধোঁকার খব� নি� দেশে পৌঁছ� দিতে প্রতিজ্ঞাবদ্� নিডল,ইতিহাসবিদে� শান্� জীবন থেকে সমরে জড়িয়� পড়া গডলিম্যানে� ক্ষুরধারবুদ্ধি, কিংব� বোমা� আঘাত� স্ত্রী ক্রিস্টিনক� হারানো ব্লগসে� প্রতিশোধপরায়ণতা,অ্যাক্সিডেন্টে পা হারানো বৈমানি� ডেভিডে� অপারগত� অথবা গৃহিণী লুসি রোজে� নিজেকে ভেঙে শত্র� মোকাবিলায় মরিয়া হয়ে ওঠ�- এস� কিছু� সাথে� পাঠককে খু� ভালোমতোই রিলে� করাত� পেরেছে� কে� ফলেট�
শুরু শুরুতে একেকটা ক্যারেকটারের সূক্ষ্মসূক্ষ্ম ডিটেইল� অনেক অহেতুক মন� হয়েছি�,পর� সে� ছো� ছো� ট্রেইটগুলোরই একটা মনস্তাত্ত্বি� বিবর্ত� দেখিয়েছেন--এরকমটা বর্তমানের� থ্রিলারগুলোর মাঝে খু� কম দেখা যায়�
প্রতিট� চরিত্রের টানাপোড়েন, পরিস্থিতির সাথে বাঁকবদ� এস� কিছু� নিজে� সাথে রিলে� করবা� মতো।
ডিটেইলিং এত� জীবন্ত, পাঠ্যানুকূ�
আর বাস্তবঘেঁষ� যে দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধ নিয়� খুবই প্রাথমিক ধারণ� নিয়� পড়ত� বসলে� মূ� কাহিনী বুঝত� কষ্ট হবার কথ� নয়।
চেষ্টা করলে যে,একটা পলিটিক্যাল স্পা� থ্রিলারও ভালো সাহিত্যমান পেতে পারে,এইটা� উদাহরণ - আই অব দ্� নিডল� স্বাদু ভাষা� কারণ� কে� যদ� এটাক� থ্রিলারে� বাইর� শুধু যুদ্ধকেন্দ্রিক উপন্যা� হিসেবে� পড়ে�,তা� সমান ভালো লাগবার কথা।
কে� ফলেটের রাইটিং স্টাইলের সাথে বর্তমানে� রোলারকোস্টার রাইড টাইপ বইয়ের রাইটিং স্টাইল মেলা� সম্ভাবনা� নাই।
কারণ, আমার নিজেরও মন� হয়েছে
বে� ধীরগতি� কিন্তু প্রতিট�
চ্যাপ্টারে� শেষে ব্যবহৃ� ক্লিফহ্যাঙ্গার আপনাকে বাধ্� করবে পরের অধ্যায়ে যেতে�
এবার কী হব�--নিডল কি ধর� পড়ে যাবে?
নাকি আর� শক্তপোক্� কোনো চা� চালবেন গডলিম্যা�? লুসি নিজেকে নিজে� সন্তানকে স্টিলেটো� ফল� থেকে কি বাঁচাত� পারব�?
তব� উপন্যাসে� শে� ভাগে� দিকে উনি� তি� পৃষ্ঠা ধর� যৌনতার বর্ণনা দেয়� শুরু করলে টানটান সিরিয়াসনেসে� ভাবট� খানিকট� সময়ের জন্য উব� যায়,বিরক্তিও ধরে।
কিন্তু পর� দেখা যায়, সেইট�
কাহিনী� বিশে� প্রয়োজনেই উন� এনেছেন�
বইটা� কাহিনী বিন্যা� আর ফলেটের ভাষারীতি� জন্য
অনুবাদ খটমট� হয়ে যাবা� বিপু� সম্ভাবনা ছিল। কিন্তু অনুবাদ� সাহে� দারু� মুন্সিয়ান� দেখিয়েছেন এখানে। মাসু� রানায় বহ� বইয়ের অ্যাডাপ্টেশন পড়ল� যেমন কখনও মন� হয� না যে রূপান্তরিত কাহিনী পড়ছ�, এখানেও সে� এক� অবস্থা� দারু� অনুবাদের কারণেই তরতরিয়ে একটানা পড়ে যেতে পেরেছি� যদিও যথায� প্রুফরিডিংয়েে অভাব� বে� কিছু মুদ্রণপ্রমাদ চোখে পড়েছে আমার, তব� কাহিনী� মোচড়ে এগিয়ে যেতে খু� বেশি সমস্যা� মুখোমুখি হই নি�
এক� অনুবাদকে� ব্ল্যা� ক্রস,দ্� ঈগ� হ্যা� ল্যান্ডে� পড়বার জন্য মুখিয়� আছি।
"Everything is fair in love and war" -
"আই অব দ্� নিডল" এর যুদ্ধাক্রান্� দম বন্ধ কর� পরিবেশ� এই কথার পৌনঃপুণি� উপলব্ধ� করতে পারবেন হাড়� হাড়ে।
একনজরে-
📗বইয়ের না�: আই অব দ্� নিডল
🔎জনরা: স্পা� থ্রিলা�
🖋️লেখ�: কে� ফলেট
🖊️অনুবা�: ইমতিয়াজ আজাদ
🗳️প্রকাশনী: আদী প্রকাশ�
🗓️প্রকাশকাল: বইমেলা,২০১৯
📌মলাট মূল্�: ৪৮� টাকা
📋গুডরিড� রেটি�: �.১৮/�
🗒️পার্সোনাল রেটি� : �.�/�
September 20, 2008
Carl Sandburg said (in another context) "it pays to have a good forgettery." In this case, a good forgettery allowed me to reread Ken Follett's EYE OF THE NEEDLE (British title, STORM ISLAND) with every bit as much enjoyment as when I first read it 30 years ago. Also, having recently reread THE DAY OF THE JACKAL, it was fun to compare these two similar, but different, thrillers.
Both books feature multiple points of view -- quite a few of them in Follett's case -- and on both sides of the good guy/bad guy divide. Both involve historical events that we know turned out OK, and ask us to imagine a scenario where things could have gone quite differently. The difference in Follett's book is that nearly all the characters are more fully developed. I still found it difficult to work up much sympathy for The Needle, though, and when I found critics (both film and book) talking about his "falling in love" with Lucy, I thought only that they must have a very different idea of love than I have.
The stronger character development in Follett's book makes a lot of artistic sense, since, unlike JACKAL, EYE OF THE NEEDLE must build suspense over a period of four years, from the period just after the Phoney War in 1940, to just before D-Day in 1944. Without the character interest, this might have made for a less engaging story; and the behavior of The Needle, David, and Lucy in the final chapters would not have been as believable.
Reading this now, when Follett has again been on the bestseller lists with WORLD WITHOUT END, his sequel to (both set in the Middle Ages), one notices how he brings his interest in medieval culture and history even into a World War II thriller. For example, he parallels Godliman the medievalist's search for Henry II's travels with Godliman the intelligence agent's search for The Needle.
I haven't seen the movie of this book, but probably will before long. I am reserving judgment on the casting of Donald Sutherland as The Needle -- somehow it just doesn't seem right to me.
In any case, THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE was quite deserving of the Edgar, even though it had some stiff competition, particularly Tony Hillerman's LISTENING WOMAN.
Both books feature multiple points of view -- quite a few of them in Follett's case -- and on both sides of the good guy/bad guy divide. Both involve historical events that we know turned out OK, and ask us to imagine a scenario where things could have gone quite differently. The difference in Follett's book is that nearly all the characters are more fully developed. I still found it difficult to work up much sympathy for The Needle, though, and when I found critics (both film and book) talking about his "falling in love" with Lucy, I thought only that they must have a very different idea of love than I have.
The stronger character development in Follett's book makes a lot of artistic sense, since, unlike JACKAL, EYE OF THE NEEDLE must build suspense over a period of four years, from the period just after the Phoney War in 1940, to just before D-Day in 1944. Without the character interest, this might have made for a less engaging story; and the behavior of The Needle, David, and Lucy in the final chapters would not have been as believable.
Reading this now, when Follett has again been on the bestseller lists with WORLD WITHOUT END, his sequel to (both set in the Middle Ages), one notices how he brings his interest in medieval culture and history even into a World War II thriller. For example, he parallels Godliman the medievalist's search for Henry II's travels with Godliman the intelligence agent's search for The Needle.
I haven't seen the movie of this book, but probably will before long. I am reserving judgment on the casting of Donald Sutherland as The Needle -- somehow it just doesn't seem right to me.
In any case, THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE was quite deserving of the Edgar, even though it had some stiff competition, particularly Tony Hillerman's LISTENING WOMAN.
May 28, 2012
Among the best thrillers ever. My comments about Follett's approach to the actual history in his historical novel "Eye of the Needle" can be found in my author blog ...
Follett starts with a one page historical preface about the D-Day deception. He ends the preface � “That much is history. What follows is fiction. Still and all, one suspects something like this must have happened.�
The high stakes of blowing the deception plan are emphasized several times � Godliman: “If one decent Abwehr agent in Britain gets to know about Fortitude � we could lose the fucking war.� · But of course we know that D Day was successful and we didn’t lose the war.
Follett successfully creates tension about an event where we know the actual outcome, ie that Faber cannot succeed.
This result is much like that achieved by Forsythe in "Day of the Jackal" (published in the early 1970s, before "Eye of the Needle"), where we know that De Gaulle was not murdered by a sniper but are carried into great tension anyway.
Perhaps Follett's tension is maintained because we don’t know if Faber will fail, or if he will succeed but Hitler doesn’t act on his knowledge. However, we are told repeatedly, by Hitler himself, that he will be guided by Faber’s report.
read more about how Follett wrote "Eye of the Needle" at my author blog ... ... Just search for "follett.
Follett starts with a one page historical preface about the D-Day deception. He ends the preface � “That much is history. What follows is fiction. Still and all, one suspects something like this must have happened.�
The high stakes of blowing the deception plan are emphasized several times � Godliman: “If one decent Abwehr agent in Britain gets to know about Fortitude � we could lose the fucking war.� · But of course we know that D Day was successful and we didn’t lose the war.
Follett successfully creates tension about an event where we know the actual outcome, ie that Faber cannot succeed.
This result is much like that achieved by Forsythe in "Day of the Jackal" (published in the early 1970s, before "Eye of the Needle"), where we know that De Gaulle was not murdered by a sniper but are carried into great tension anyway.
Perhaps Follett's tension is maintained because we don’t know if Faber will fail, or if he will succeed but Hitler doesn’t act on his knowledge. However, we are told repeatedly, by Hitler himself, that he will be guided by Faber’s report.
read more about how Follett wrote "Eye of the Needle" at my author blog ... ... Just search for "follett.
April 22, 2019
This is undoubtedly one of the best thrillers to come out of World War II. The Allies are planning for invading Europe, and where is it going to be? Normandy or Calais? The outcome of the war depends on fooling Hitler - and the German spy, known as "The Needle", may yet prove spoilsport.
The story moves at a rapid pace as the Needle and his pursuers move across Britain - but what makes it stand apart is its exquisite climax, set on an island, involving the protagonist, an Englishwoman who has become his love unwittingly, her son, and her physically challenged husband. The suspense is so thick that you can cut it with a knife. I always feel sad that Hitchcock didn't film this one!
The story moves at a rapid pace as the Needle and his pursuers move across Britain - but what makes it stand apart is its exquisite climax, set on an island, involving the protagonist, an Englishwoman who has become his love unwittingly, her son, and her physically challenged husband. The suspense is so thick that you can cut it with a knife. I always feel sad that Hitchcock didn't film this one!
October 17, 2023
"Godliman se unió al coro, sabiendo que la suya era una nación que estaba perdiendo una guerra y que cantaba para ocultar su temor, como un hombre que silba cuando debe pasar por el cementerio por la noche."
Una de espías. 2ª Guerra Mundial, los aliados preparan un desembarco falso para engañar a los Alemanes, el mejor espía Alemán puede descubrir la treta, lo aliados deben capturarlo, ya que ganar o perder la guerra depende de ello. Esta es la premisa del libro, llevada a cabo magistralmente por un gran Follett.
Buena ambientación, buenos personajes, un final que convence y buen ritmo en una novela que va de menos a más, sin relleno y sin pecar de demasiados triples saltos mortales. En cada capítulo vamos viendo principalmente los puntos de vista del espía, de sus perseguidores, y de una pareja que tiene mucho que decir en esta historia.
Mi recomendación es que si te gustan este tipo de libros, que lo leas, pues no te defraudará, y que si puedes evitarlo no leas la sinopsis (puede que ya sea un poco tarde para eso) ni la entradilla del principio (que al menos tenía mi edición en libro electrónico), pues incomprensiblemente destripan la historia completamente.
Dicho esto, a disfrutar.
Una de espías. 2ª Guerra Mundial, los aliados preparan un desembarco falso para engañar a los Alemanes, el mejor espía Alemán puede descubrir la treta, lo aliados deben capturarlo, ya que ganar o perder la guerra depende de ello. Esta es la premisa del libro, llevada a cabo magistralmente por un gran Follett.
Buena ambientación, buenos personajes, un final que convence y buen ritmo en una novela que va de menos a más, sin relleno y sin pecar de demasiados triples saltos mortales. En cada capítulo vamos viendo principalmente los puntos de vista del espía, de sus perseguidores, y de una pareja que tiene mucho que decir en esta historia.
Mi recomendación es que si te gustan este tipo de libros, que lo leas, pues no te defraudará, y que si puedes evitarlo no leas la sinopsis (puede que ya sea un poco tarde para eso) ni la entradilla del principio (que al menos tenía mi edición en libro electrónico), pues incomprensiblemente destripan la historia completamente.
Dicho esto, a disfrutar.
December 20, 2012
A WW11 thriller that in a strange way leads you into rooting for both sides. Strange I admit but because the author writes the story from both angles you can't help wanting the spy to at times succeed. My first Ken Follett book and I will certainly try others.
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