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stuporfly's review against another edition
3.0
I meant to write about this immediately after I finished it, but that happened during my last day in New York, and I was kind of anxious and scrambling to make sure I was packed and everything ahead of my cross-country drive. And since then I've listened to a bunch more Bond tales as audiobooks, so I lost much of the nuance I'd have added here. I did enjoy quite a lot of it, but I also remember some plainly stupid racism, so let's call it a 3-star book, then.
elctrc's review against another edition
2.0
I'm sure I should have began my foray into Fleming from a different spot, but as it stands, I may not bother. The racism is so intense. I was prepared for the sexism (it's Bond, afterall), but the racism is incredible and in-your-face. And it's not as seen through the eyes of the characters in the story -- it's obvious that Fleming has a true hatred for blacks, Chinese, and anything in-between.
The story itself was better than I expected -- although the ending is anti-climactic at best. It was a fun read when I wasn't cringing. I quickly turned this one over to the kiddo to tear apart at his leisure...
The story itself was better than I expected -- although the ending is anti-climactic at best. It was a fun read when I wasn't cringing. I quickly turned this one over to the kiddo to tear apart at his leisure...
adamrshields's review against another edition
3.0
Short review: This is my first James Bond novel. It is pretty much what I expected. Slightly darker than the movies. Enjoyable read. Dated attitudes and setting.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/dr-no/
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/dr-no/
barts_books's review against another edition
4.0
A fun page turner. The second half suffers a bit compared to the first. Not helped by one of the most ridiculous fight scenes I've read in a thriller as Bond does battle with a caged giant squid! However, I can't help but smile at the incredibly dated charms of Fleming's iconic creation. I will be back for more, no doubt.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
ericbuscemi's review against another edition
4.0
I listening to the audiobook version of this book, and although it dragged a bit in the middle, the gauntlet Bond was forced to navigate at the end more than made up for it. I loved some of the stereotypical tropes of Dr. No -- a megalomaniac madman with mechanical hands that tells Bond his entire evil plan before sending him to be killed without any witnesses present. Of course, if I read that in a current book, I would roll my eyes, but since these were where some of these tropes originated (see: Bond Villain Stupidity), I kind of enjoyed seeing them.
Merged review:
I listening to the audiobook version of this book, and although it dragged a bit in the middle, the gauntlet Bond was forced to navigate at the end more than made up for it. I loved some of the stereotypical tropes of Dr. No -- a megalomaniac madman with mechanical hands that tells Bond his entire evil plan before sending him to be killed without any witnesses present. Of course, if I read that in a current book, I would roll my eyes, but since these were where some of these tropes originated (see: Bond Villain Stupidity), I kind of enjoyed seeing them.
Merged review:
I listening to the audiobook version of this book, and although it dragged a bit in the middle, the gauntlet Bond was forced to navigate at the end more than made up for it. I loved some of the stereotypical tropes of Dr. No -- a megalomaniac madman with mechanical hands that tells Bond his entire evil plan before sending him to be killed without any witnesses present. Of course, if I read that in a current book, I would roll my eyes, but since these were where some of these tropes originated (see: Bond Villain Stupidity), I kind of enjoyed seeing them.
andrealoverke's review against another edition
3.0
I guess I have to admit that I am one of those people who never watched a Bond movie. I might start now because I liked the book. I picked it up at a book fair with 9 others for 1 euro. If it wasn't 10 books for 1 euro I probably would never have bought it. Just because I needed 10 and it was there, I picked it. And I didn't regret it for a minute.
kzizz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
talina's review
adventurous
fast-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
One of the more interesting Bond girls I’ve encountered so far but the plot felt kind of kitschy and cliche. I’m aware it feels this way because it’s the originator of a lot of those cliches but the story itself isn’t strong enough to overcome being cannibalised by the narratives that came after it.
angela_king's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs