So having at least once read all but three of these, I had to go with the one that, though I would not have sought out on my own, I would be willing to read for this book club.

I actually read (actually reread) Black Rain when it came in second and read A Spy Who Came in from the Cold when it came in second as well. When I read the latter I did to really feel the need to own a copy and anyway I had heard that there were these places called “public libraries.” In fact I discovered that there was such an institution even in my very small town way up in the Wisconsin north woods. So I went over to this library. What an amazing place. I just walked right in, no one hindered or questioned me, and had no trouble finding A Spy Who Came in from the Cold amongst literally thousands of books arranged on shelves. It turns out that the staff at the library thoughtfully keeps fiction titles sorted according to the author's last name. So I just reached up and took the book and stopped by the desk at the library entrance where it did not take as much as a minute for the librarian there to check to book out for temporary loan to me. Astounding!