What do you think?
Rate this book
Es muß nicht immer Kaviar sein
Thomas Lieven ist alles, was sich eine Frau wünschen kann: gutaussehend, im besten Alter, charmant und ein begnadeter Koch. Aber der Mann ist noch viel mehr — Geheimagent wider Willen. Seine Abenteuer führen ihn quer durch das Europa des kalten Krieges, durch eine Zeit voller Hass und Fanatismus, Lügen und Verrat. Trotzdem geht er, dessen einzige Schwächen die Frauen und das Kochen sind, unbeirrt und unbesiegt durch jede Gefahr, denn nicht umsonst trägt er eine philosophische Erkenntnis im Herzen: Es muss nicht immer Kaviar sein!
558 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1960
68 people are currently reading
1110 people want to read
About the author
Johannes Mario Simmel
133 books88 followersJohannes Mario Simmel was an Austrian writer.
He was born in Vienna and grew up in Austria and England. He was trained as a chemical engineer and worked in research from 1943 to the end of World War II. After the end of the war, he worked as a translator for the American military government and published reviews and stories in the Vienna Welt am Abend. Starting in 1950, he worked as a reporter for the Munich illustrated Quick in Europe and America.
He wrote a number of screenplays and novels, which have sold tens of millions of copies. Many of his novels were successfully filmed in the 1960s and 1970s. He won numerous prizes, including the Award of Excellence of the Society of Writers of the UN. Important issues in his novels are a fervent pacifism as well as the relativity of good and bad. Several novels are said to have a true background, possibly autobiographic.
According to his Swiss lawyer, Simmel died on January 1, 2009 in Lucerne, at 84 years of age.
He was born in Vienna and grew up in Austria and England. He was trained as a chemical engineer and worked in research from 1943 to the end of World War II. After the end of the war, he worked as a translator for the American military government and published reviews and stories in the Vienna Welt am Abend. Starting in 1950, he worked as a reporter for the Munich illustrated Quick in Europe and America.
He wrote a number of screenplays and novels, which have sold tens of millions of copies. Many of his novels were successfully filmed in the 1960s and 1970s. He won numerous prizes, including the Award of Excellence of the Society of Writers of the UN. Important issues in his novels are a fervent pacifism as well as the relativity of good and bad. Several novels are said to have a true background, possibly autobiographic.
According to his Swiss lawyer, Simmel died on January 1, 2009 in Lucerne, at 84 years of age.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
April 16, 2014
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book!!!
I laughed like crazy, I almost cryed, I sighed, I chewed my nails!
It's a roller-caoster adventure! It's brillantly complicated and at the same time easy to read and follow.
It's so an incredible story that it could just be true!
It's a fantastic book.
It's one of those that you cherish forever!
I think I read it at least 10 times and enojoyed it every single one!
So, believe me: READ IT!!! You'll LOVE it!!!
I laughed like crazy, I almost cryed, I sighed, I chewed my nails!
It's a roller-caoster adventure! It's brillantly complicated and at the same time easy to read and follow.
It's so an incredible story that it could just be true!
It's a fantastic book.
It's one of those that you cherish forever!
I think I read it at least 10 times and enojoyed it every single one!
So, believe me: READ IT!!! You'll LOVE it!!!
March 5, 2022
When I was thirteen years of age and had finished with all of the varied and diverse German language middle grade novels I had taken along to Canada when we immigrated there when I was ten, (and yes, by age thirteen, I had also reread some of these books at least seven to eight times), I was indeed so totally and utterly desperate for as yet completely unread by me pieces of prose writing penned in German that I started to actively attack my parents’ bookshelves (and of course, these were filled with tomes generally geared not towards children but towards adults). And the very first novel I grabbed and tried to peruse was Austrian contemporary literary fiction author Johannes Mario Simmel’s 1978 Hurra, wir leben noch! (but which I stopped reading almost immediately, as the author’s writing style totally rubbed me the wrong proverbial way, was on the surface, annoyingly arrogant and massively pretentious).
Therefore, while I bien sûr did not have very high if in fact any expectations with regard to Simmel’s 1960 Es muß nicht immer Kaviar sein (which I had accidentally downloaded on my Kindle in 2018), I decided to at least try my luck, since I was naturally and equally kind of wondering and curious whether my negative reaction to Johannes Mario Simmel as a teenager might have been age-related, whether it might have been a case of me simply not being mature enough yet for Simmel, for his work and in particular for his manner and way of literary expression.
But no, my annoyed and frustrated feelings toward Johannes Mario Simmel’s writing in 1980 (for his Hurra, wir leben noch!) was obviously (at least for me) not just a sign of age related immaturity, was not that I was at thirteen unable to appreciate him. Because yes indeed, as soon as I started reading Es muß nicht immer Kaviar sein two days ago, I had the same gutturally negative reaction concerning Johannes Mario Simmel’s penmanship (exactly akin to my teenaged self), namely that I do still majorly find how he, how Simmel expresses himself (in Es muß nicht immer Kaviar sein) totally and gratingly arrogant, full of holier than thou condescension and to such a pretentious and presumptuous extent that I will definitely (and just like with Hurra, wir leben noch!) not bother with continuing past page ten, to thus rate Es muß nicht immer Kaviar sein with but one star and to most definitely consider Johannes Mario Simmel’s writing style as absolutely not my thing potential reading pleasure wise (as indeed, arrogance and pretentious stylistics are one of my absolutely unforgivable author-induced and caused pet peeves, and one which very often does cause DNF books).
Therefore, while I bien sûr did not have very high if in fact any expectations with regard to Simmel’s 1960 Es muß nicht immer Kaviar sein (which I had accidentally downloaded on my Kindle in 2018), I decided to at least try my luck, since I was naturally and equally kind of wondering and curious whether my negative reaction to Johannes Mario Simmel as a teenager might have been age-related, whether it might have been a case of me simply not being mature enough yet for Simmel, for his work and in particular for his manner and way of literary expression.
But no, my annoyed and frustrated feelings toward Johannes Mario Simmel’s writing in 1980 (for his Hurra, wir leben noch!) was obviously (at least for me) not just a sign of age related immaturity, was not that I was at thirteen unable to appreciate him. Because yes indeed, as soon as I started reading Es muß nicht immer Kaviar sein two days ago, I had the same gutturally negative reaction concerning Johannes Mario Simmel’s penmanship (exactly akin to my teenaged self), namely that I do still majorly find how he, how Simmel expresses himself (in Es muß nicht immer Kaviar sein) totally and gratingly arrogant, full of holier than thou condescension and to such a pretentious and presumptuous extent that I will definitely (and just like with Hurra, wir leben noch!) not bother with continuing past page ten, to thus rate Es muß nicht immer Kaviar sein with but one star and to most definitely consider Johannes Mario Simmel’s writing style as absolutely not my thing potential reading pleasure wise (as indeed, arrogance and pretentious stylistics are one of my absolutely unforgivable author-induced and caused pet peeves, and one which very often does cause DNF books).
August 11, 2020
Budući da će ove godine od plaže biti samo laže, jedino mogu da se okrenem (p)lažnom štivu. Jedna od zabavnih knjiga koje se mogu čitati uvek i koja ne zahteva apsolutno nikakav intelektualni napor (neuroni mogu da nastave da hiberniraju, što im je difolt stanje od sredine marta).
Imamo tajnog agenta Tomasa Livena koji u toku Drugog svetskog rata radi istovremeno za nemačku, francusku i britansku obaveštajnu službu, koji “nikad ne koristi silu” (osim da lupka tajne agentice po guzi kada besne na njega), koji govori savršeno više evropskih jezika i, najznačajniji detalj - obožava da kuva, što će mu više puta spasiti život. Čim se pomene neko jelo, autor daje detaljan recept koji stvarno RADI (ja sam ih isprobala nekoliko).
Ono što je za divljenje jeste benevolentno ruganje svim učesnicima Drugog svetskog rata: Tomas Liven gleda samo da ih pokrade, bez obzira na uniformu. Simel (Austrijanac jevrejskog porekla) je izgubio veliki deo porodice u koncentracionom logoru i mnogo vremena proveo u istom, ali njegove knjige su lišene besa, ozlojeđenosti, teških i tužnih scena - čist humor i gomila peripetija, tako da bi ovo moglo biti zanimljivo i deci, pod uslovom da se deca dobro razumeju u bankarske termine i geopolitičke sile četrdesetih godina minulog veka.
Jedina (ali stvarno jedina) stvar koja bode oče jeste seksizam: nema žene iz knjige da nije mlada (ni slučajno preko 28 godina... osim jedne dobro očuvane matrone), prelepa, i koja ne potpadne pod Tomasov šarm; ali bogo moj, ovo je objavljeno šezdesete a napisano malo ranije, teško da se moglo očekivati nešto drugo.
Imamo tajnog agenta Tomasa Livena koji u toku Drugog svetskog rata radi istovremeno za nemačku, francusku i britansku obaveštajnu službu, koji “nikad ne koristi silu” (osim da lupka tajne agentice po guzi kada besne na njega), koji govori savršeno više evropskih jezika i, najznačajniji detalj - obožava da kuva, što će mu više puta spasiti život. Čim se pomene neko jelo, autor daje detaljan recept koji stvarno RADI (ja sam ih isprobala nekoliko).
Ono što je za divljenje jeste benevolentno ruganje svim učesnicima Drugog svetskog rata: Tomas Liven gleda samo da ih pokrade, bez obzira na uniformu. Simel (Austrijanac jevrejskog porekla) je izgubio veliki deo porodice u koncentracionom logoru i mnogo vremena proveo u istom, ali njegove knjige su lišene besa, ozlojeđenosti, teških i tužnih scena - čist humor i gomila peripetija, tako da bi ovo moglo biti zanimljivo i deci, pod uslovom da se deca dobro razumeju u bankarske termine i geopolitičke sile četrdesetih godina minulog veka.
Jedina (ali stvarno jedina) stvar koja bode oče jeste seksizam: nema žene iz knjige da nije mlada (ni slučajno preko 28 godina... osim jedne dobro očuvane matrone), prelepa, i koja ne potpadne pod Tomasov šarm; ali bogo moj, ovo je objavljeno šezdesete a napisano malo ranije, teško da se moglo očekivati nešto drugo.
May 8, 2013
This is the story of Thomas Levin, ladies man, pacifist, gourmand and reluctant secret agent. Through a series of circumstances, Thomas is driven out of his beloved London and forced to work as a spy for no less than 4 different countries - England, France, Germany and the U.S., before, during and after WWII. He's clever, this Thomas Levin, and manages for the most part to outwit these agencies, all of whom need him to do their bidding, and some of whom want him dead. Clever as he is however, his Achilles heel is women.
One of the charming aspects of this novel is the inclusion of the recipes (in broad strokes) of the numerous fine meals our hero prepares for those he encounters along the way. Even if you don't read the book, the recipes alone justify the purchase.
I've read this book no less then 5 times - thrice in the original German and twice in English. The first English version I read over 20 years ago had a another title (the Monte Cristo Affair?). I lost that paperback years ago, but recall that at least one chapter was edited out - one that included my favorite recipe in the book - Koenigsburger Klopse. The other English version is called It Can't Always be Caviar, and it suffers the same fate. Published in England shortly after the original appeared in German in the early 60's, there may have been some reason to delete or severely edit sections of the book. The German edition weighs in at a hefty 605 pages. The English version is lighter by about 150 pages, weighing in at 457. I feel the reader is cheated by these omissions. If you want the complete experience, get the original in German - Es Muss nicht immer Kaviar sein. If you prefer the Reader's Digest version (or can't read German), then by all means try one of the translated versions.
The redacted English editiona only rates 4 stars. The original in German 5!
A timeless classic.
One of the charming aspects of this novel is the inclusion of the recipes (in broad strokes) of the numerous fine meals our hero prepares for those he encounters along the way. Even if you don't read the book, the recipes alone justify the purchase.
I've read this book no less then 5 times - thrice in the original German and twice in English. The first English version I read over 20 years ago had a another title (the Monte Cristo Affair?). I lost that paperback years ago, but recall that at least one chapter was edited out - one that included my favorite recipe in the book - Koenigsburger Klopse. The other English version is called It Can't Always be Caviar, and it suffers the same fate. Published in England shortly after the original appeared in German in the early 60's, there may have been some reason to delete or severely edit sections of the book. The German edition weighs in at a hefty 605 pages. The English version is lighter by about 150 pages, weighing in at 457. I feel the reader is cheated by these omissions. If you want the complete experience, get the original in German - Es Muss nicht immer Kaviar sein. If you prefer the Reader's Digest version (or can't read German), then by all means try one of the translated versions.
The redacted English editiona only rates 4 stars. The original in German 5!
A timeless classic.
December 28, 2020
Štvorhviezdičková kniha, ktorá dostala tú piatu za príjemné prekvapenie, keďže som také dobré čítanie od nej nečakal.
Thomas Lieven, agent nemeckej, francúzskej i americkej tajnej služby a jeho pôsobonie v druhej svetovej vojne. Kšeftár, podvodník, mafián, partizán aj záchranca životov. Kniha sa tvári ako skutočná udalosť, ale nad tým by sa asi dalo polemizovať.
Thomas bol, snáď mi dámy odpustia moju francuzštinu, kurevník. Ženy sú pôvodcom väčšiny jeho problémov (vojna samozrejme tiež), ale aj väčšiny jeho radostí. K nim pridajte obrovitánsku dávku šťastia, talentu na jazyky, odvahy/hlúposti a máte úžasný životný príbeh, ktorý nemá logiku, ale je napísaný podivuhodne uveriteľne.
Kniha má humorný podtón, kopec receptov (Thomas rád varí a pri varení dostáva tie najlepšie nápady) a zaujímavé zvraty, ktoré vás plynulo posúvajú stránku po stránke. Som rád, že pri triedení rodičovskej knižnice som naďabil na takýto klenot a snáď som v nej našiel celé klenotníctvo.
Thomas Lieven, agent nemeckej, francúzskej i americkej tajnej služby a jeho pôsobonie v druhej svetovej vojne. Kšeftár, podvodník, mafián, partizán aj záchranca životov. Kniha sa tvári ako skutočná udalosť, ale nad tým by sa asi dalo polemizovať.
Thomas bol, snáď mi dámy odpustia moju francuzštinu, kurevník. Ženy sú pôvodcom väčšiny jeho problémov (vojna samozrejme tiež), ale aj väčšiny jeho radostí. K nim pridajte obrovitánsku dávku šťastia, talentu na jazyky, odvahy/hlúposti a máte úžasný životný príbeh, ktorý nemá logiku, ale je napísaný podivuhodne uveriteľne.
Kniha má humorný podtón, kopec receptov (Thomas rád varí a pri varení dostáva tie najlepšie nápady) a zaujímavé zvraty, ktoré vás plynulo posúvajú stránku po stránke. Som rád, že pri triedení rodičovskej knižnice som naďabil na takýto klenot a snáď som v nej našiel celé klenotníctvo.
April 30, 2008
Now, this book is not well know among the English speaking population, but trust me, it is a must read!
It's combined of 2 books, and, well, numerous cooking recipes.
It tells a story about a cunning, inteligent, handsome man who durring the II WW worked as a spy for: French Inteligence, CIA, MI6, KGB, Nazis, am I forgeting anyone here? Interesting, eh? Well, the thing is, he worked for all of them- in the same time. Yes.
And the recipes really work!
Read it, you'll laugh-cry-eat-love it!
It's combined of 2 books, and, well, numerous cooking recipes.
It tells a story about a cunning, inteligent, handsome man who durring the II WW worked as a spy for: French Inteligence, CIA, MI6, KGB, Nazis, am I forgeting anyone here? Interesting, eh? Well, the thing is, he worked for all of them- in the same time. Yes.
And the recipes really work!
Read it, you'll laugh-cry-eat-love it!
October 24, 2020
Yer yer fantastik yer yer gerçekçi yer yer komikli bir casusluk hikayesi. Ne kötü yanı baskısı olmaması. Çok eğlenceli bir okuöa için buyurunuz.
Keyifli okumalar.
Keyifli okumalar.
August 15, 2013
The Monte-Cristo Cover-Up (originally titled It Can’t Always Be Caviar and originally published in German) is no longer in print, and I became aware of it through a friend who purchased a copy for me as a surprise gift. This is a novel that falls in the espionage genre, but it’s not your ordinary spy novel. The tone of it can be gleaned by a caption provided below the title on an inside page of the book: “The fabulously daring adventures and exquisite cooking recipes of the involuntary secret agent Thomas Lieven.”
Yes, you read right…cooking recipes. I’ve never read anything like this, and taken as a whole, the novel is quite funny. The premise is that Thomas Lieven, with ties to the world of high finance in England, gets mixed up with the spy agencies of no less than Germany, France, England, and the United States during World War II through various mishaps beyond his control- he in a sense becomes a spy for each of the agencies, and thus, I suppose, a quadruple agent!
Thomas is very refined in his tastes and is an exquisite cook, and that’s where the recipes come in. During various critical moments in the story, Thomas volunteers his culinary expertise, and the actual recipes of the meals utilized to get him out of various jams are provided at those points in the story. It took me a while to notice that after each of the recipes, a caption is provided to indicate the significance of the meal: “During this meal Thomas Lieven became a secret agent,” or “This meal revolutionized French monetary policy.” Thus, there is a lighthearted feel to the story; it’s funny, but it doesn’t go so far as to be a spoof (thankfully).
In fact, parts of it are so funny that it caused me to laugh out loud, which, for me, I’ll be honest, is no easy feat. Here’s an example. When Thomas was recruited into one of the spy agencies, the recruiter stated, “I must insist on your attending a training course for secret agents I’ll take care to see that you are transferred to one of our special camps.” Thomas was packed into a truck, with blinds drawn to exclude all light, and hauled away on an aching five hour journey. When he exited the truck, he found himself in a dreary place with barbed wire and a dilapidated building, with a small forest behind it. While he was waiting to be escorted into the guarded building, an old peasant driving a little cart came past. “Got a long way to go still, grandpa?” Thomas asked. “A good two miles yet to St. Nicolas,” the man responded. “Where’s that, then?” Thomas continued. “Why, down there of course. Just before you get to Nancy.” The two guards then returned, and one explained: “We must apologize for having locked you up in that truck. We had strict orders to do it, as otherwise you might have found out where you are, and it’s absolutely essential for you not to know that.” “Aha,” said Thomas.
Of course one must suspend belief for this story, as too many things happen in such a short period of time, and Thomas can get himself out of a lot of jams. But it’s fun, sort of in the way Cary Grant was fun in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest. The passage about learning the art of secret codes, and the use of the book The Count of Monte Cristo to do so (the actual one, not to be confused with the Cristo book which is the subject of this review), was another hilarious moment in the book!
The Monte-Cristo Cover-Up is not for everyone, and it may be difficult to obtain given its out-of-print status. But if you’re looking for a little lighter fare and some comic relief, this may be just the book.
Yes, you read right…cooking recipes. I’ve never read anything like this, and taken as a whole, the novel is quite funny. The premise is that Thomas Lieven, with ties to the world of high finance in England, gets mixed up with the spy agencies of no less than Germany, France, England, and the United States during World War II through various mishaps beyond his control- he in a sense becomes a spy for each of the agencies, and thus, I suppose, a quadruple agent!
Thomas is very refined in his tastes and is an exquisite cook, and that’s where the recipes come in. During various critical moments in the story, Thomas volunteers his culinary expertise, and the actual recipes of the meals utilized to get him out of various jams are provided at those points in the story. It took me a while to notice that after each of the recipes, a caption is provided to indicate the significance of the meal: “During this meal Thomas Lieven became a secret agent,” or “This meal revolutionized French monetary policy.” Thus, there is a lighthearted feel to the story; it’s funny, but it doesn’t go so far as to be a spoof (thankfully).
In fact, parts of it are so funny that it caused me to laugh out loud, which, for me, I’ll be honest, is no easy feat. Here’s an example. When Thomas was recruited into one of the spy agencies, the recruiter stated, “I must insist on your attending a training course for secret agents I’ll take care to see that you are transferred to one of our special camps.” Thomas was packed into a truck, with blinds drawn to exclude all light, and hauled away on an aching five hour journey. When he exited the truck, he found himself in a dreary place with barbed wire and a dilapidated building, with a small forest behind it. While he was waiting to be escorted into the guarded building, an old peasant driving a little cart came past. “Got a long way to go still, grandpa?” Thomas asked. “A good two miles yet to St. Nicolas,” the man responded. “Where’s that, then?” Thomas continued. “Why, down there of course. Just before you get to Nancy.” The two guards then returned, and one explained: “We must apologize for having locked you up in that truck. We had strict orders to do it, as otherwise you might have found out where you are, and it’s absolutely essential for you not to know that.” “Aha,” said Thomas.
Of course one must suspend belief for this story, as too many things happen in such a short period of time, and Thomas can get himself out of a lot of jams. But it’s fun, sort of in the way Cary Grant was fun in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest. The passage about learning the art of secret codes, and the use of the book The Count of Monte Cristo to do so (the actual one, not to be confused with the Cristo book which is the subject of this review), was another hilarious moment in the book!
The Monte-Cristo Cover-Up is not for everyone, and it may be difficult to obtain given its out-of-print status. But if you’re looking for a little lighter fare and some comic relief, this may be just the book.
April 5, 2009
Spy novel with recipes - what could be better??!!
May 19, 2014
This book is the best book....it combines aspects of my favorite book The Count of Monte Cristo....and the coolest non-spy spy character Ever.
I have read hundreds of espionage books and this is top 3. The story is an ever changing saga of adventures and misadventures that run the gambit of emotions from
Comedy, hysteria, passion, tragedy, intrigue, clever wits, high class sophistication to the European underbelly across two dozen European cities . Thomas Levien, is a suave pacifist banker thrown into the blender of wwII, and ends up playing for half a dozen different intelligence teams, not by his own choice....a brilliant strategist , a gourmand and an old-world "ladies" man.
The alternate title is my new favorite saying.."It can,t always be caviar!" I want to read it again already!
I have read hundreds of espionage books and this is top 3. The story is an ever changing saga of adventures and misadventures that run the gambit of emotions from
Comedy, hysteria, passion, tragedy, intrigue, clever wits, high class sophistication to the European underbelly across two dozen European cities . Thomas Levien, is a suave pacifist banker thrown into the blender of wwII, and ends up playing for half a dozen different intelligence teams, not by his own choice....a brilliant strategist , a gourmand and an old-world "ladies" man.
The alternate title is my new favorite saying.."It can,t always be caviar!" I want to read it again already!
January 6, 2012
The impression is that this book is written for teenagers dreaming of becoming superheroes. The main character is too lucky, too smart and his reasoning is as primitive as a one belonging to a 15-years old idealist. How the hell did this book become a best-seller in the 60-s?
I stopped reading after 150 pages. It's just not worth the effort.
I stopped reading after 150 pages. It's just not worth the effort.
February 9, 2024
3,5* и ще се обоснова защо.
Не знаех какво да очаквам от този роман, но познавах стила на писателя от "Любовта е само дума". Разделена е на две книги за удобство при четене. Ще намерите и много рецепти за готвене. Жанрово не мога съвсем да я определя, може би като фикция, ретро криминална, шпионска, леко забавна и приключенска. Героят се среща с много известни личности, което ми напомни за "Стогодишният старец, който скочи през прозореца и изчезна", но тази е по-добре написана, поне за мен. Имам чувството, че авторът е взел някои интересни случки за Втората световна война и ги е вплел в героя си, смесвайки действителност с измислица.
Томас Лийвен е обикновен банкер на 30 години, когато неговият съдружник го изпраща на сигурна смърт в лапите на Гестапо. От там започват неговите приключения като шпионин и той често изпада в нелепи ситуации с агентурите на различни държави. Всеки го дърпа да шпионира за него, да прави нещо и никой не го пита какво желае самия той. Томас прилича малко на Джеймс Бонд по маниери, умее да готви вкусна храна, облича се като джентълмен, чаровен и забавен е. Жените припадат по него и постоянно има някоя, която се е провесила на врата му. Лошото е, че го лъжат и крадат парите му, често попада в капаните на женската коварност. Иначе, той е умен, обаятелен и интелигентен, успява да разиграва години наред агентурните служби. В същото време е и пацифист, не обича убийствата и по време на Втората световна война от която и страна да се намира, винаги гледа да спаси колкото може повече хора. Благородството му и разбиранията му често го вкарват в неприятни ситуации, от които се измъква благодарание на гениалните си хрумки по време на готвене. Действието се развива в периода 1939 - 1957 г.
Текстът е лек и ненатоварващ, чете се бързо. В един момент зациклих, защото общо двете книги са 820 страници и приключенията започнаха да стават повторяеми. Героят се въртеше в кръг и не можеше да се освободи от агентурните мрежи и преследванията. Тази книга заслужава един хубав ретро сериал, може да се превърне в чудесен филм.
Не знаех какво да очаквам от този роман, но познавах стила на писателя от "Любовта е само дума". Разделена е на две книги за удобство при четене. Ще намерите и много рецепти за готвене. Жанрово не мога съвсем да я определя, може би като фикция, ретро криминална, шпионска, леко забавна и приключенска. Героят се среща с много известни личности, което ми напомни за "Стогодишният старец, който скочи през прозореца и изчезна", но тази е по-добре написана, поне за мен. Имам чувството, че авторът е взел някои интересни случки за Втората световна война и ги е вплел в героя си, смесвайки действителност с измислица.
Томас Лийвен е обикновен банкер на 30 години, когато неговият съдружник го изпраща на сигурна смърт в лапите на Гестапо. От там започват неговите приключения като шпионин и той често изпада в нелепи ситуации с агентурите на различни държави. Всеки го дърпа да шпионира за него, да прави нещо и никой не го пита какво желае самия той. Томас прилича малко на Джеймс Бонд по маниери, умее да готви вкусна храна, облича се като джентълмен, чаровен и забавен е. Жените припадат по него и постоянно има някоя, която се е провесила на врата му. Лошото е, че го лъжат и крадат парите му, често попада в капаните на женската коварност. Иначе, той е умен, обаятелен и интелигентен, успява да разиграва години наред агентурните служби. В същото време е и пацифист, не обича убийствата и по време на Втората световна война от която и страна да се намира, винаги гледа да спаси колкото може повече хора. Благородството му и разбиранията му често го вкарват в неприятни ситуации, от които се измъква благодарание на гениалните си хрумки по време на готвене. Действието се развива в периода 1939 - 1957 г.
Текстът е лек и ненатоварващ, чете се бързо. В един момент зациклих, защото общо двете книги са 820 страници и приключенията започнаха да стават повторяеми. Героят се въртеше в кръг и не можеше да се освободи от агентурните мрежи и преследванията. Тази книга заслужава един хубав ретро сериал, може да се превърне в чудесен филм.
June 10, 2025
Die Leute Radio hatten recht; ein durchaus lesenswerter und kurzweiliger Roman. Habe aus dieser Era schon weitaus drögere Kost gelesen. Natürlich stellenweise aus der Zeit gefallen, aber Empfehlung von mir. Eine Art 007 Vorläufer in gewaltfrei?
December 17, 2020
Ein Buch nicht nach meinem Geschmack, jedoch an allen anderen Punkten ein gelungenes Werk.
February 22, 2016
Ne sjećam se da me neka knjiga ovako izmrcvarila!Pustolovine Thomasa Lievena,njemačko-britansko-francusko-američkog špijuna.
Radnja romana-2. svjetski rat.
Početak djeluje zgodno,no..nakon početka,na slijedećih 550 stranica čitat ćete jednu te istu priču s manjim izmjenama. U određenom trenutku shvatit ćete da sadržaj više nije bitan jer priča neprestano ide iz početka.
On je srećković kojem ni smrt ne može ništa,uvijek u društvu prekrasnih žena koje,sve redom,luduju za njim.Novac i dobar životni stil nikad nisu problem za njega.To rješava "jednom rukom"..
Svakako nećete zaboraviti ime glavnog protagonista jer se ponavlja u svakom poglavlju (to je kao onaj duhoviti dio koji malo podsjeća na francusku legendarnu tv seriju "Alo,alo")
Po mom mišljenju,ovaj roman je možda nekoć bio interesantan.Danas je davež...na petsto stranica!
Radnja romana-2. svjetski rat.
Početak djeluje zgodno,no..nakon početka,na slijedećih 550 stranica čitat ćete jednu te istu priču s manjim izmjenama. U određenom trenutku shvatit ćete da sadržaj više nije bitan jer priča neprestano ide iz početka.
On je srećković kojem ni smrt ne može ništa,uvijek u društvu prekrasnih žena koje,sve redom,luduju za njim.Novac i dobar životni stil nikad nisu problem za njega.To rješava "jednom rukom"..
Svakako nećete zaboraviti ime glavnog protagonista jer se ponavlja u svakom poglavlju (to je kao onaj duhoviti dio koji malo podsjeća na francusku legendarnu tv seriju "Alo,alo")
Po mom mišljenju,ovaj roman je možda nekoć bio interesantan.Danas je davež...na petsto stranica!
Read
October 25, 2023so so SO repetitive!
January 29, 2023
Bu sefer eskilerden bir kitapla geldim. Mario Simmel'in uluslararası çok satan romanı Yalnız Havyarla Yaşanmaz -yazarın dediğine göre- gerçek bir hayat hikayesini anlatıyor. Kahramanımız Alman vatandaşı olan Thomas Levien. Kendisi bir savaş karşıtı. 1939 yılında Londra'da başarılı bir bankerken kendini birden dolandırıcılıkla suçlanan bir sanık durumunda bulur. Masumdur, oyuna getirilmiştir. Sahip olduğu kişisel yetenekleri onu gizli servisler için çok cazip bir hale getirmektedir. İçine düştüğü durumdan, Fransız gizli sevisiyle is birliği yaparak kurtulabilecektir. Ve hikaye böyle başlar. Thomas ıkinci dünya savaşı sırasında ve sonrasında da çeşitli gizli servisler için çalışmak zorunda kalacaktır. Emrine çalıştığı ülkeler, kullandığı isimler ve pasaportlar değişse de, değişmeyen tek şey Thomas Lieven'in savaş ve Nazi karşıtlığıdır. Savaştan kirli para kazananların, vurguncuların, fırsatların düşmanıdır. Bu arada bal tutan parmağını yalar misali, kendi adına da kârlı işler kovalar. Ama kurbanları hep kötülerdir.
Kitapta başrollerden biri de lezzetli yemek tariflerine ayrılmış. Aynı zamanda usta bir ahçı da olan kahramanımız, tüm önemli işlerini, yemeklerini kendisinin pişirdiği muhteşem sofraların başında halleder. Tüm bu yemeklerin tarifleri de kitapta yer alıyor. Ayrıca sahte pasaport nasıl düzenlenir, soğuk damga nasıl taklit edilir, sahte hisse senedi nasıl düzenlenir gibi çok faydalı bilgileri de bayağı detaylı bir şekilde öğreniyoruz.
Kitapta çok etkileyici bir bölüm vardı. Herkesin kulağına küpe olacak, hayat dersi gibi bir paragraf. Adamın biri savaş bittikten sonra Alman hükümetine hizmet ettiği için pişman oluyor ve kendini ihbar ediyor. "Bu cani hükümete hizmet ettiğim için son derece pişmanım. Onlara inanmıştım. Daha az inanıp, daha çok düşünmeliydim." Bu tip bir aydınlanma her eve lazım sanırım.
Mario Simmel'e çok gençken, yıllar önce, Bırakın Yaşasınlar kitabıyla tanışmıştım. Kitabı elimden bırakamadan, bir solukta okuduğumu hatırlıyorum. Derken yıllar yıllar sonra Nadir kitapta Mario Simmel kitaplarını 3 - 5 TL gibi komik fiyatlara satıldığını keşfettim ve eksik olanların hepsini topladım.
Kitapta başrollerden biri de lezzetli yemek tariflerine ayrılmış. Aynı zamanda usta bir ahçı da olan kahramanımız, tüm önemli işlerini, yemeklerini kendisinin pişirdiği muhteşem sofraların başında halleder. Tüm bu yemeklerin tarifleri de kitapta yer alıyor. Ayrıca sahte pasaport nasıl düzenlenir, soğuk damga nasıl taklit edilir, sahte hisse senedi nasıl düzenlenir gibi çok faydalı bilgileri de bayağı detaylı bir şekilde öğreniyoruz.
Kitapta çok etkileyici bir bölüm vardı. Herkesin kulağına küpe olacak, hayat dersi gibi bir paragraf. Adamın biri savaş bittikten sonra Alman hükümetine hizmet ettiği için pişman oluyor ve kendini ihbar ediyor. "Bu cani hükümete hizmet ettiğim için son derece pişmanım. Onlara inanmıştım. Daha az inanıp, daha çok düşünmeliydim." Bu tip bir aydınlanma her eve lazım sanırım.
Mario Simmel'e çok gençken, yıllar önce, Bırakın Yaşasınlar kitabıyla tanışmıştım. Kitabı elimden bırakamadan, bir solukta okuduğumu hatırlıyorum. Derken yıllar yıllar sonra Nadir kitapta Mario Simmel kitaplarını 3 - 5 TL gibi komik fiyatlara satıldığını keşfettim ve eksik olanların hepsini topladım.
June 20, 2017
Tem um charme das antigas, um clima bem de filme preto e branco. A estória em si não é grande coisa, mas permeia uma inocência que não se vê mais.
Qto às receitas...essas não envelheceram bem...era o que mais me interessava, mas não dá pra aproveitar quase nada... não sei se foi erro na tradução, mas são impraticaveis
It has a charm of the old, a good atmosphere of black and white film. The story itself is not much, but pervades an innocence that is no longer seen.
As fot the recipes ... these did not age well ... it was what interested me the most, but I can not enjoy almost anything ... I do not know if it was an error in the translation, but they are impractical
Qto às receitas...essas não envelheceram bem...era o que mais me interessava, mas não dá pra aproveitar quase nada... não sei se foi erro na tradução, mas são impraticaveis
It has a charm of the old, a good atmosphere of black and white film. The story itself is not much, but pervades an innocence that is no longer seen.
As fot the recipes ... these did not age well ... it was what interested me the most, but I can not enjoy almost anything ... I do not know if it was an error in the translation, but they are impractical
May 5, 2024
One of the books I try and re-read regularly. A story with multiple plots, lots of travel, secret service, threatening scenes and recipes!
Originally written in 1960 by Johannes Maria Simmel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johanne...) and translated in English as 'The Monte Cristo Cover-up) it became a world-wide success and it still attracts viewers of all ages.
Originally written in 1960 by Johannes Maria Simmel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johanne...) and translated in English as 'The Monte Cristo Cover-up) it became a world-wide success and it still attracts viewers of all ages.
April 2, 2025
Ein Klassiker der Nachkriegsliteratur und das bekannteste Werk von Simmel.
Wollte ich einfach mal Lesen. Das Buch ist durchgehend spannend und auch lustig geschrieben. Meiner Meinung nach 300 Seiten zu lang, aber ich mag keine dicken Bücher.
Vergebe 4 Sterne. Das Buch ist sehr lesenswert.
Wollte ich einfach mal Lesen. Das Buch ist durchgehend spannend und auch lustig geschrieben. Meiner Meinung nach 300 Seiten zu lang, aber ich mag keine dicken Bücher.
Vergebe 4 Sterne. Das Buch ist sehr lesenswert.
April 4, 2021
Très drôle, très bien écrit et traduit, les situations rocambolesques s'enchaînent sans jamais paraître tirées par les cheveux. J'ai passé un très bon moment en compagnie de ce livre !
May 26, 2025
3,5/5. Ben, şibumi kitabındaki Nicolai Hell karakterinden sonra en çok bu kitaptaki Thomas Lieven karakterini sevdim. 2nci Dünya Savaşı dönemi gibi çok acımasız bir süreçte bile adil, barışçıl ve masum kalmaya çalışan bir çok taraflı ajan. Müthiş bir yeme/içme kültürüne sahip, şeytan tüylü, çok zeki bir insan.
Kitap tam dizisi yapılacak bir eser. Handikapı, çok uzun olması (522 sayfa ama yazı karakteri ile 700 üzerine geliyordur). Çok fazla karakter var, not alınmasını öneririm.
Savaş dönemi casusluk romanları sevenler için şiddetle tavsiye edilebilecek bir eser.
Kitap tam dizisi yapılacak bir eser. Handikapı, çok uzun olması (522 sayfa ama yazı karakteri ile 700 üzerine geliyordur). Çok fazla karakter var, not alınmasını öneririm.
Savaş dönemi casusluk romanları sevenler için şiddetle tavsiye edilebilecek bir eser.
November 10, 2020
Um die verzwickten Verwicklungen eines kochbegeisterten Bankiers, der wider seinen Willen gezwungen wird, für verschiedene Geheimdienste im und nach dem Krieg zu arbeiten, geht es in Johannes Mario Simmels Roman "Es muss nicht immer Kaviar sein".
Nette, leichte Kost zu Beginn und gegen Ende ein bisschen langweilig. Simmel beherrscht es meisterhaft, zuerst das Ende eines Geschehens, zuerst den Höhepunkt zu bringen und dann zu berichten, wie es dazu kam. Die Spannung kommt dabei ein bisschen zu kurz. Es ist aber recht amüsant geschrieben. Wenn auch für Leute mit schlechtem Gedächtnis, denn wenn immer ein Name auftaucht: "Wir erinnern uns: Vor 5 Jahren war diese Person da und da und hat das und das getan." Naja. Aber ganz lustig.
Nette, leichte Kost zu Beginn und gegen Ende ein bisschen langweilig. Simmel beherrscht es meisterhaft, zuerst das Ende eines Geschehens, zuerst den Höhepunkt zu bringen und dann zu berichten, wie es dazu kam. Die Spannung kommt dabei ein bisschen zu kurz. Es ist aber recht amüsant geschrieben. Wenn auch für Leute mit schlechtem Gedächtnis, denn wenn immer ein Name auftaucht: "Wir erinnern uns: Vor 5 Jahren war diese Person da und da und hat das und das getan." Naja. Aber ganz lustig.
August 2, 2019
Nicht dass ihr meint, dass ich nur immer höchst seriöses Zeug lese. Nein, auch das hier ist eines meiner Lieblingsbücher. Dieser alte Schinken ist von 1960 und ein Erbstück sozusagen von meiner Mama.
Eine Agenten Geschichte die in England ihren Anfang nimmt und durch Frankreich, Deutschland und noch ein paar weitere Staaten ihre Kreise zieht.
Die hauptsächliche Zeitspanne ist die Kriegszeit vom Zweiten Weltkrieg und die Zeit danach.
Ich finde das Buch immer wieder lesenswert und amüsant und nachdenklich machend.
Der Protagonist Thomas Lieven war eigentlich ein sehr zufriedener Bankier der jedoch von seinem Kompagnon übers Ohr gehauen wird und daher fliehen muss.
Er rutscht als unfreiwilliger Agent in die Geheimdienstszene hinein und erlebt dort allerhand Abenteuer. Im Buch integriert sind Rezepte die er als leidenschaftlicher Koch nutzt um seine Art von Spionage und Weltverbesserung kulinarisch zu unterstreichen.
Der Autor Johannes Mario Simmel war geborener Österreicher (1924 – 2009) und hat sehr viele Romane in seiner ganzen Zeit geschrieben. Er recherchierte immer sehr genau und seine humorvolle Art macht das Buch zu einer wahren Freude zu lesen.
Eine Agenten Geschichte die in England ihren Anfang nimmt und durch Frankreich, Deutschland und noch ein paar weitere Staaten ihre Kreise zieht.
Die hauptsächliche Zeitspanne ist die Kriegszeit vom Zweiten Weltkrieg und die Zeit danach.
Ich finde das Buch immer wieder lesenswert und amüsant und nachdenklich machend.
Der Protagonist Thomas Lieven war eigentlich ein sehr zufriedener Bankier der jedoch von seinem Kompagnon übers Ohr gehauen wird und daher fliehen muss.
Er rutscht als unfreiwilliger Agent in die Geheimdienstszene hinein und erlebt dort allerhand Abenteuer. Im Buch integriert sind Rezepte die er als leidenschaftlicher Koch nutzt um seine Art von Spionage und Weltverbesserung kulinarisch zu unterstreichen.
Der Autor Johannes Mario Simmel war geborener Österreicher (1924 – 2009) und hat sehr viele Romane in seiner ganzen Zeit geschrieben. Er recherchierte immer sehr genau und seine humorvolle Art macht das Buch zu einer wahren Freude zu lesen.
Read
April 15, 2023Der Roman war schon alt, als ich ihn als Kind das erste Mal las. Ich mochte ihn damals wie heute. Dabei ist es wie mit alten Filmklassikern: Alles ist langsamer, die Geschichte bekommt mehr Zeit als man es von moderneren Geschichten kennt.
Die Figuren sind charmant oder lustig, die Wendungen schlau, die Darstellungen farbig. Auch heute noch kann ich an diesem 1960 veröffentlichten Roman Spaß haben.
Die Figuren sind charmant oder lustig, die Wendungen schlau, die Darstellungen farbig. Auch heute noch kann ich an diesem 1960 veröffentlichten Roman Spaß haben.
April 29, 2020
Read the French version,now listening on audio. This is one of my favorite books of all times. A must! One man against all special services during the Second World War. adventures,food and meals for every occasions,endless captures and running away from un real situations! All he wants is to be left alone,but no.
January 12, 2022
Een doldriest verhaal met spionage, verzet en koken als hoofdingrediënten
Dat eigenlijk nog niets aan frisheid ingeboet heeft, ook al is het meer dan 60 jaar geleden uitgegeven
Het blijft zeer onderhoudend en origineel
En dus nog steeds een aanrader
Dat eigenlijk nog niets aan frisheid ingeboet heeft, ook al is het meer dan 60 jaar geleden uitgegeven
Het blijft zeer onderhoudend en origineel
En dus nog steeds een aanrader
December 27, 2011
I remembered it to be an entertaining book. Now that I tried to read it after cca 15-20 years, it was just boring
May 5, 2017
If P. G. Wodehouse had written a James Bond novel, it would be a lot like this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews