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3.03 AVERAGE
3.03 AVERAGE
Ian Fleming wasn’t even happy with this effort. Meant it as a cautionary tale of some kind, but it’s so boring. So, so boring. There’s a lot of talk about the misogyny but that was supposed to be off putting. Instead it just makes for an uninteresting main character with an uninteresting story. Also, it ends horribly. D+ effort all around.
Hmmm, I'm not sure this one works. I'm not sure Fleming has the talent to write a book entirely from the female point of view. Perhaps I'm harsh?
If inside every fat man is a thin man trying to escape then this inside this novel is a good short story fighting to escape.
I think my least favourite of the Bond books so far, although I'd probably need to re-read my own comments on the previous ones. It's the first one I put down for a short time and then took a while to pick up again.
It's not a terrible book, but it isn't a good one either.
If inside every fat man is a thin man trying to escape then this inside this novel is a good short story fighting to escape.
I think my least favourite of the Bond books so far, although I'd probably need to re-read my own comments on the previous ones. It's the first one I put down for a short time and then took a while to pick up again.
It's not a terrible book, but it isn't a good one either.
I haven't read all of them, but this is my least favorite bond novel
Fleming should get a little credit for getting out of his comfort zone and writing from a female perspective, but he should get just as much grief for doing it so badly. It is so bad that you can't forget, even for a second, that its Fleming writing as a woman. He comes through in every word and is just off.
It's also not a super exciting Bond story. Most of the first half is a weird delving into the narrator's sexual history, her travels in America, and her effort to repel the crude advances of a series of louts. The action picks up when a pair of mobsters turn up to burn down the hotel where she is working as a clerk in order to further an insurance scheme by their mysterious boss. Bond just happens to drop by in the midst of this, catches the girl's eye, steals her heart, and handily defeats the oafish gangsters. They are among the lamest of bond's opponents and wouldn't make the cut as junior henchmen for any of the named Bond villains.
Fleming should get a little credit for getting out of his comfort zone and writing from a female perspective, but he should get just as much grief for doing it so badly. It is so bad that you can't forget, even for a second, that its Fleming writing as a woman. He comes through in every word and is just off.
It's also not a super exciting Bond story. Most of the first half is a weird delving into the narrator's sexual history, her travels in America, and her effort to repel the crude advances of a series of louts. The action picks up when a pair of mobsters turn up to burn down the hotel where she is working as a clerk in order to further an insurance scheme by their mysterious boss. Bond just happens to drop by in the midst of this, catches the girl's eye, steals her heart, and handily defeats the oafish gangsters. They are among the lamest of bond's opponents and wouldn't make the cut as junior henchmen for any of the named Bond villains.
Well that was different…
Ian Fleming really changed things up with his 9th novel in the James Bond series. (Tenth book in the series if you count the collection of novelettes in “For Your Eyes Only”). First, Fleming changes from his usual third person point-of-view to a first person telling of the tale. Second, we don’t see the story unfold from Bond’s eyes but rather from Vivienne “Viv” Michel, a young Canadian lady trying to escape from her unlucky-at-love past and fleeing to small-town America. She gets caught up in what appears to be a mobster crime story, and two dangerous hoodlums.
The novel is broken down into three sections. The first, entitled “Me” allows Viv to tell her own backstory and is the longest part of the novel. It was a strange beginning for a Bond novel; who is this lady and where is Bond? Where is “M” and what is the mission? Why are we following the life of a Canadian gal with a privileged upbringing in her pursuit of doomed love affairs? Give me some double-0 action!
The second part of the novel, “Them” continues Viv’s story as she finds herself in a small rural motel confronted with the two baddies of the novel, Sol Horror, and Sluggsy Morant, (yes, those are their names) who have nefarious plans for the property. Viv is a looker so the two thugs decide to add assault and rape to their plans.
It is not until part three of the novel, “Him” where Bond finally makes his entrance and rescues the damsel in distress. It turns out he is on a mission and it involves the SMERSH gang, two of which are these two thugs. Bond spends more time spilling his mission secrets to this previously unknown woman than he does in taking out the bad guys and even though they prove tougher than the reader would at first suspect given their behavior, Bond eventually triumphs.
Many readers have criticized this particular Bond novel for being so different than the others. After all, it’s not really a “spy” novel at all but much more of a romance with some action sequences thrown in during part three. My opinion differs but then again, I love it when an author takes chances with a proven formula and tries new things. I found this novel quite enjoyable, although a quick read, and didn’t mind the dated attitudes towards women that seem to bother so many of today’s readers. (This is the novel that contains the infamous line from Viv claiming that "all women love semi-rape.") It’s also important to note that this novel is virtually nothing like the movie of the same name. About the only similarity is that one of the two thugs, Sol Horror, has metal-capped teeth. Not exactly Jaws, but there you go.
Ian Fleming really changed things up with his 9th novel in the James Bond series. (Tenth book in the series if you count the collection of novelettes in “For Your Eyes Only”). First, Fleming changes from his usual third person point-of-view to a first person telling of the tale. Second, we don’t see the story unfold from Bond’s eyes but rather from Vivienne “Viv” Michel, a young Canadian lady trying to escape from her unlucky-at-love past and fleeing to small-town America. She gets caught up in what appears to be a mobster crime story, and two dangerous hoodlums.
The novel is broken down into three sections. The first, entitled “Me” allows Viv to tell her own backstory and is the longest part of the novel. It was a strange beginning for a Bond novel; who is this lady and where is Bond? Where is “M” and what is the mission? Why are we following the life of a Canadian gal with a privileged upbringing in her pursuit of doomed love affairs? Give me some double-0 action!
The second part of the novel, “Them” continues Viv’s story as she finds herself in a small rural motel confronted with the two baddies of the novel, Sol Horror, and Sluggsy Morant, (yes, those are their names) who have nefarious plans for the property. Viv is a looker so the two thugs decide to add assault and rape to their plans.
It is not until part three of the novel, “Him” where Bond finally makes his entrance and rescues the damsel in distress. It turns out he is on a mission and it involves the SMERSH gang, two of which are these two thugs. Bond spends more time spilling his mission secrets to this previously unknown woman than he does in taking out the bad guys and even though they prove tougher than the reader would at first suspect given their behavior, Bond eventually triumphs.
Many readers have criticized this particular Bond novel for being so different than the others. After all, it’s not really a “spy” novel at all but much more of a romance with some action sequences thrown in during part three. My opinion differs but then again, I love it when an author takes chances with a proven formula and tries new things. I found this novel quite enjoyable, although a quick read, and didn’t mind the dated attitudes towards women that seem to bother so many of today’s readers. (This is the novel that contains the infamous line from Viv claiming that "all women love semi-rape.") It’s also important to note that this novel is virtually nothing like the movie of the same name. About the only similarity is that one of the two thugs, Sol Horror, has metal-capped teeth. Not exactly Jaws, but there you go.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This read like a badly written fan-fic version of a James Bond adventure.
Ondanks dat het boek best leuk is om te lezen had ik toch meer zoiets als de James Bond films verwacht. Helaas was het dit niet.
De eerste 100 pagina's zijn eigenlijk gewoon een zoetsappig liefdesverhaal wat eindigt in een gebroken hart. De laatste 100 pagina's zijn best spannend.
Overal is het een goed geschreven boek waar best wel wat vaart in zit en makkelijk leest. Belangrijkste is dat je het boek niet gaat lezen met een 007 film in je hoofd want dan gaat het boek je tegen vallen.
Although the book is quite oke to read, i expected a bit more a 007 movie. This was not the case. The first 100 pages are more a love story ending in a broken heart. The last 100 pages are quite advantoures. The book is well written if you forget the 007 movies.
De eerste 100 pagina's zijn eigenlijk gewoon een zoetsappig liefdesverhaal wat eindigt in een gebroken hart. De laatste 100 pagina's zijn best spannend.
Overal is het een goed geschreven boek waar best wel wat vaart in zit en makkelijk leest. Belangrijkste is dat je het boek niet gaat lezen met een 007 film in je hoofd want dan gaat het boek je tegen vallen.
Although the book is quite oke to read, i expected a bit more a 007 movie. This was not the case. The first 100 pages are more a love story ending in a broken heart. The last 100 pages are quite advantoures. The book is well written if you forget the 007 movies.
dark
tense
medium-paced
misogynist as hell. do not bother with this book. literally direct quote "all women love semi-rape" ??
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
Ick. Fleming's misogyny, which always simmers near the surface in his Bond books (some more so; I'm looking at you, Casino Royale and Doctor No), bursts out in full display in this tale. The Spy Who Loved Me is presented as a personal story from the point of view of Vivienne about her interaction with 007. It is couched as a manuscript that was sent to Fleming and that he then gave to his publisher. (Which is interesting as it implies that Fleming merely edits the Bond adventures rather than writing them.). This POV from the Bond Girl's perspective could have been an interesting story but instead it put Fleming's school boy fantasies in full light - and they are not pretty. Unless you consider rape a basis for a romantic relationship and that all woman really just want to be raped, you'll be offended by this book. Just ick. Ick. Weld this to the poor plotting - not as asinine as Goldfinger, but still, dumb - and you just get an unenjoyable book.