Books similar to The Americans TV series

LovesMacs · 03-24-2013, 02:51 PM

I like to watch the FX channel show The Americans, a period drama series about Soviet deep cover spies in Washington D.C. Can anybody recommend books similar to this? Thanks.

applesauce · 03-25-2013, 06:57 AM

I have to agree. I am enjoying the tv show and think a book along the same lines would be great. Tho I think the personal interaction between the main characters is what makes it mesh and I think finding a book with that element would be difficult.

applesauce

davidfor · 03-25-2013, 07:01 AM

"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" by John le Carré comes to mind. I watched the recent movie version on the weekend it I think it should fit. And from memory, just about everything else John le Carré wrote would also be similar.

applesauce · 03-25-2013, 07:45 AM

I think what they are looking for is books based on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegals_Program

applesauce

LovesMacs · 03-25-2013, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by applesauce

I have to agree. I am enjoying the tv show and think a book along the same lines would be great. Tho I think the personal interaction between the main characters is what makes it mesh and I think finding a book with that element would be difficult.

applesauce

That's exactly what I mean. I think what makes the TV series compelling is how the characters interact with each other and try to have a normal life on top of all the secret stuff which they don't seem to even enjoy but feel locked into continuing.

P.S. How do you change the title of a thread? I wanted to change the thread title so as not to confuse other people.

HarryT · 03-26-2013, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LovesMacs

P.S. How do you change the title of a thread? I wanted to change the thread title so as not to confuse other people.

Click the "Report" button (the "!" to the left of a message) and leave a message asking the moderating team to rename it.

elemenoP · 03-27-2013, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LovesMacs

That's exactly what I mean. I think what makes the TV series compelling is how the characters interact with each other and try to have a normal life on top of all the secret stuff which they don't seem to even enjoy but feel locked into continuing.

Well... that describes "The Expats" by Chris Pavone pretty exactly. The only problem is, I really didn't like that book. A lot of people did, though, so you can check out the reviews. Did anybody here read "The Expats"? If so, what did you think of the book and do you think it meets the OP's request?

eP

PS my husband and I really enjoy "The Americans" and we rarely agree on TV shows.

Bookworm_Girl · 03-27-2013, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

Well... that describes "The Expats" by Chris Pavone pretty exactly. The only problem is, I really didn't like that book. A lot of people did, though, so you can check out the reviews. Did anybody here read "The Expats"? If so, what did you think of the book and do you think it meets the OP's request?
eP
PS my husband and I really enjoy "The Americans" and we rarely agree on TV shows.

To the OP, I think your title is fine. I understood the request. I thought it was a great question! I just wish I had some suggestions and instead have been waiting to see what other people post.

The Expats also was the only book I could think of when I read the original post since it is about a CIA agent living as an expat and housewife in Luxembourg when her husband takes a job there. It also addresses the duplicitous nature of the family / marriage and interactions with others in the community. However, I also had mixed feelings about recommending the book. Hard to describe why. Perhaps because it had more of a subtle, psychological intrigue rather than the typical excitement and action of an espionage thriller. I borrowed it from my local e-library when I read it.

HarryT · 03-27-2013, 12:04 PM

Richard Condon's classic "The Manchurian Candidate" is along vaguely the same kind of lines, although it's much more closely related to the TV series "Homeland".

elemenoP · 03-27-2013, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Richard Condon's classic "The Manchurian Candidate" is along vaguely the same kind of lines, although it's much more closely related to the TV series "Homeland".

Oh wow, I really love that movie, and I never knew it was a book! Going by the rule of "the book is always better," I guess I have to read it!

eP

HarryT · 03-27-2013, 03:57 PM

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be available as an ebook.

jmilica · 03-31-2013, 04:46 AM

Have you read Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan? It's in UK, not in US, but it was rather an interesting read.

Bookworm_Girl · 03-31-2013, 12:18 PM

Sweet Tooth is on my To Be Read list.

Maybe I should move it higher up in priority. Reading the summary made me think of The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva. Although it's about a female German spy undercover in England during WW II rather than the Cold War.

jmilica · 03-31-2013, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

Sweet Tooth is on my To Be Read list.

Maybe I should move it higher up in priority. Reading the summary made me think of The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva. Although it's about a female German spy undercover in England during WW II rather than the Cold War.

I think Sweet Tooth is worth a try. From reviews I read after reading the book it seems to be a hate it it or love it one. I loved it

03-24-2013, 02:51 PM	#1
LovesMacs Fanatic Posts: 513 Karma: 2644386 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: iPhone, Kindle Touch	Looking for books similar to The Americans TV series I like to watch the FX channel show The Americans, a period drama series about Soviet deep cover spies in Washington D.C. Can anybody recommend books similar to this? Thanks. Last edited by LovesMacs; 03-24-2013 at 05:40 PM. Reason: Thread title misleading, I'm looking for books not suggesting them

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03-25-2013, 06:57 AM	#2
applesauce Addict Posts: 387 Karma: 3553492 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle oasis	I have to agree. I am enjoying the tv show and think a book along the same lines would be great. Tho I think the personal interaction between the main characters is what makes it mesh and I think finding a book with that element would be difficult. applesauce

03-25-2013, 07:01 AM	#3
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" by John le Carré comes to mind. I watched the recent movie version on the weekend it I think it should fit. And from memory, just about everything else John le Carré wrote would also be similar.

03-25-2013, 07:45 AM	#4
applesauce Addict Posts: 387 Karma: 3553492 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle oasis	I think what they are looking for is books based on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegals_Program applesauce

03-27-2013, 12:04 PM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Richard Condon's classic "The Manchurian Candidate" is along vaguely the same kind of lines, although it's much more closely related to the TV series "Homeland".

03-27-2013, 03:57 PM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be available as an ebook.

03-31-2013, 04:46 AM	#12
jmilica Banned Posts: 335 Karma: 1545924 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: India Device: Kindle KB, Kindle PW	Have you read Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan? It's in UK, not in US, but it was rather an interesting read.

03-31-2013, 12:18 PM	#13
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	Sweet Tooth is on my To Be Read list. Maybe I should move it higher up in priority. Reading the summary made me think of The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva. Although it's about a female German spy undercover in England during WW II rather than the Cold War.

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