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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
If you can look past the dated racism (and boy, is there a lot of it) this is a really fun Bond story. Set party in the Carribean, there is a lot of gruesome action involving sea creatures, which is ridiculous and great.
dear gentle reader, no matter grossly racist you think this book could be, it’s worse.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As it often is the case, books much better than the movies.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Live and Let Die: Or, Racism and Misogyny Let Live
LOOK, this book is FULL of racism, misogyny, and bigotry. It is RIPE with all of that nonsense. It almost makes reading the book unbearable. James Bond... should we root for you? I'm reading this under the lens of a 2018 "woke" human being, but still, I'm sure even when this book was first written it had to have ruffled some feathers. It's just... that racist and misogynist.
That being said, if I completely ignore all of that awful stuff, the story/adventure itself is intriguing, the action is exciting, and the final conclusion is a page-turner. James lives to see another day and another woman he can use as a doll. Bah!
LOOK, this book is FULL of racism, misogyny, and bigotry. It is RIPE with all of that nonsense. It almost makes reading the book unbearable. James Bond... should we root for you? I'm reading this under the lens of a 2018 "woke" human being, but still, I'm sure even when this book was first written it had to have ruffled some feathers. It's just... that racist and misogynist.
That being said, if I completely ignore all of that awful stuff, the story/adventure itself is intriguing, the action is exciting, and the final conclusion is a page-turner. James lives to see another day and another woman he can use as a doll. Bah!
"Until it is, our policy with Mr Big is 'live and let live'. Bond looked quizzically at Captain Dexter
'In my job,' he said, 'when I come up against a man like this one, I have another motto. It's 'live and let die'."
This quote says it all, both about Bond and about the MAGA that assaulted our capitol today in an attempted coup. We can't "live and let live" with these fascists, who would just as soon see our entire government die for their precious leader.
Anyhow, to the book, Fleming's second Bond book. He works more to introduced the character and his service. This is also Bond's first visit to Jamaica, and he uses many of the characters that later saw life on Bond's big screen debut, Dr. No (the sixth Bond book).
Fleming also worked hard to portray the dialog, which *may* have worked in 1954, but is cringe worthy cover to cover in 2021. The story drags a bit in the middle, as Bond spends more than a week preparing for his invasion. The film, and later books, skip over this - the Bond character is "ready to go" for any situation, and that's what we the reader expect. His distraction for a fast car, when a damsel is in distress, is also painful to read.
It is a better book than the first, but Fleming hadn't found his voice yet. 3 of 5 stars.
'In my job,' he said, 'when I come up against a man like this one, I have another motto. It's 'live and let die'."
This quote says it all, both about Bond and about the MAGA that assaulted our capitol today in an attempted coup. We can't "live and let live" with these fascists, who would just as soon see our entire government die for their precious leader.
Anyhow, to the book, Fleming's second Bond book. He works more to introduced the character and his service. This is also Bond's first visit to Jamaica, and he uses many of the characters that later saw life on Bond's big screen debut, Dr. No (the sixth Bond book).
Fleming also worked hard to portray the dialog, which *may* have worked in 1954, but is cringe worthy cover to cover in 2021. The story drags a bit in the middle, as Bond spends more than a week preparing for his invasion. The film, and later books, skip over this - the Bond character is "ready to go" for any situation, and that's what we the reader expect. His distraction for a fast car, when a damsel is in distress, is also painful to read.
It is a better book than the first, but Fleming hadn't found his voice yet. 3 of 5 stars.
Live and Let Die was good, but I felt it didn't quite live up to Casino Royale. I did enjoy it and it did bring a darker feel to the Bond novels.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Racism
A delight! I started this very soon after DNFing Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy so I wasn't sure about diving into another spy novel, but I loved it (especially compared to TTSS). For such a short book, it dragged in some spots, but I love Fleming's writing and the insertions of humor.
One complaint: I'm pretty sure James only drank 1 (one!) martini, at the end of the story, so that was disappointing
One complaint: I'm pretty sure James only drank 1 (one!) martini, at the end of the story, so that was disappointing