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taegen's review against another edition
Wow. I'm surprised at how much I hated this. I've never seen the Bond movies or read any of the books and likely never would have but it was recommended to me.
I struggled massively with boredom during the first half so switched to the audiobook at 1.5 speed for the second half to get through it.
While I am yet to enjoy a classic, I thought a spy story would entertain me.
I'm still stunned at how mostly boring the story was but also, a book that contains lines like "women were for recreation" and "the conquest of her body, because of the central privacy in her, would each time have the sweet tang of rape" is not for me.
Just no.
jackjpaton's review against another edition
4.0
A long time ago I watched a documentary about Ian Fleming, and one line from it I’ve remembered ever since: “Fleming is a thriller writer, his job is to thrill the senses”. Whenever I’ve read a so-called thriller since, this line has stuck out to me, and so far I’ve found no one who can compare to Fleming in his ability to “thrill the senses”. The plot and characters of Bond and Le Chiffre and espionage and spies is all really just an excuse to escape to a world of 50s glitz and glamour through Fleming’s glorious turn-of-phrase.
In all honestly, not a lot actually happens in Casino Royale, but we do start to get a real sense for who James Bond is. Book Bond is more human than any of his film incarnations; it is definitely never a given he’s going to make it out of this one alive, and when he gets hit, it hurts.
I wonder what it must have been like to read this book seventy-odd years ago, with no preconception of who James Bond is?
In all honestly, not a lot actually happens in Casino Royale, but we do start to get a real sense for who James Bond is. Book Bond is more human than any of his film incarnations; it is definitely never a given he’s going to make it out of this one alive, and when he gets hit, it hurts.
I wonder what it must have been like to read this book seventy-odd years ago, with no preconception of who James Bond is?
7ft_rat's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
If you are a 40 year old man in the 50s who has never read a book before and you happen to think "women are basically children I can have sex with!" or "to be a proper man you should be good at card games and have a cool car!" then this book is for you.
If you're anyone else... you could do better. At least the movie had Mads Mikkelsen in it. Actually, I watched the movie immediately after finishing the book because I was intrigued on how it would adapt the problematic ideas in the modern age, and it improved upon the book in everyway it could. Sorry, Ian Fleming. But also, you did write "But each conquest of her body, because of the central privacy in her, would each time have the sweet tang of rape”... so uh, maybe not. Yikes
If you're anyone else... you could do better. At least the movie had Mads Mikkelsen in it. Actually, I watched the movie immediately after finishing the book because I was intrigued on how it would adapt the problematic ideas in the modern age, and it improved upon the book in everyway it could. Sorry, Ian Fleming. But also, you did write "But each conquest of her body, because of the central privacy in her, would each time have the sweet tang of rape”... so uh, maybe not. Yikes
naomixnaomi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
tomaz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
catherine_t's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The book that launched a genre and a film franchise, Casino Royale introduces James Bond, British secret agent and a man of large appetites for cigarettes, alcohol, and women. In this first installment, Bond is detailed to gamble against Le Chiffre, a known Communist and suspected member of SMERSH, at the titular French casino. If Bond wins, Le Chiffre will be in serious trouble with his superiors. But Bond begins to realize, as he sits at the baccarat table, that his winning may mean losing...
Honestly, if Casino Royale had been adapted for the big screen exactly, it wouldn't have been a hit. At least a third of the book takes place at the baccarat table. It might be a high-stakes game, but visually, it's a big yawn. There are no gadgets, no sardonic one-liners, and Bond doesn't quite get the girl.
But that's not what's good about the book. What's good is Fleming's utter economy with words. Fleming can set the scene, draw a picture, or sketch a character in a sentence or two. Most people only know the flashy Bond films. You need to go back to the gritty originals, the novels, and see who James Bond really is.
Honestly, if Casino Royale had been adapted for the big screen exactly, it wouldn't have been a hit. At least a third of the book takes place at the baccarat table. It might be a high-stakes game, but visually, it's a big yawn. There are no gadgets, no sardonic one-liners, and Bond doesn't quite get the girl.
But that's not what's good about the book. What's good is Fleming's utter economy with words. Fleming can set the scene, draw a picture, or sketch a character in a sentence or two. Most people only know the flashy Bond films. You need to go back to the gritty originals, the novels, and see who James Bond really is.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Car accident, and Torture
Minor: Rape
codygard's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
notunremarkable's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
I grew up on the movies and this is the first Bond novel I've read. Once you get past the "this was written in the 1950s" aspect behind you to get to the really good stuff. The reader is treated to Bond's internal monologue and we get to see that Bond isn't just a ruthless 00 agent. We see him as a human and suffer with him through **spoiler** torture.
It was a quick, fun read. I don't know that I *need* to read any more Bond novels as I prefer the movie adaptation of the character. But it was still a good read.
It was a quick, fun read. I don't know that I *need* to read any more Bond novels as I prefer the movie adaptation of the character. But it was still a good read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture and Sexism
deanstranding's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
easytocrash's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0