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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
again so blithely entertaining and yet doubly racist and equally misogynistic. still sort of a vibe, although man it makes me hate the British. i used to love spy fiction and so it's a nice thing to return to for me, I guess :') but yeah this was really outdated
Nothing quite like a racial-slur filled and misogynistic romp like James Bond that makes you go yikes. Sure, this series has exciting action sequences, interesting plots, and complex women (when we can get them!). What's missing from this equation, for me, is the likability of James Bond who is the titular character! He lacks the warmth of a non-robotic male and says derogatory things about anyone who is not a white male. I know that this book was written in the 50's, but Anne of Green Gables was written in 1905 and it was filled to the brim of her sun-hat with positivity and zero man-bashing. 007 seems like a goon and I was more interested in where his American BFF Felix Lighter was off shooting pistols before he was left in quite the predicament..
I thought the narrator, Rory Kinnear, did a spectacular job fulfilling the tall order of what Live and Let Die entails. His acting choices and variations on the characters's voices were entertaining and I did not confuse the characters. I did wince at his high-pitched female impersonations and I mega-cringed at his repetition of lines spoken by some black members of Mr. Big's club. I saw how the dialogue was written phonetically and he did do his job, as unsavory as it was. He has a nice, rich tone and I liked listening to him, despite the cringiness of the writing itself.
Is it bad that I enjoyed the villain more than the love interest? Mr. Big was a Haitian crime boss whose size and prestige matched his moniker. He was well spoken and had a commanding presence. He practiced voodoo and was one bad penny. Sure, he was a nefarious smuggler and used poisonous fish to hide his treasure, but at least he had personality. That's more than I can say for Solitaire, the Bond girl of Live and Let Die.
Our lady of interest this time was a henchwoman of Mr. Big who was able to "read people", a mistress of cards, and chose to ignore men in order to become Solitaire. I wasn't that impressed with her as a character and seemed like a poor follow-up to the class act Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale. Solitaire was very flirtatious as soon as Mr. Big left the room and it was evident that it was all an act. She seemed rather weak to me and was perhaps written as an easy lay for Bond after his heartbreak in the first book. I'll have to scrounge up a copy of the film to see if Jane Seymour gave the character some pizzazz it desperately needed.
This was an interesting installment in the James Bond series. I'm enjoying myself listening to the fabulous celebrity narrators despite my disdain for the main character and his snark. I like the plots and it's fun to read about spies. Casino Royale was a great start to the 007 saga and let's roll some dice for another winner along the way!
I thought the narrator, Rory Kinnear, did a spectacular job fulfilling the tall order of what Live and Let Die entails. His acting choices and variations on the characters's voices were entertaining and I did not confuse the characters. I did wince at his high-pitched female impersonations and I mega-cringed at his repetition of lines spoken by some black members of Mr. Big's club. I saw how the dialogue was written phonetically and he did do his job, as unsavory as it was. He has a nice, rich tone and I liked listening to him, despite the cringiness of the writing itself.
Is it bad that I enjoyed the villain more than the love interest? Mr. Big was a Haitian crime boss whose size and prestige matched his moniker. He was well spoken and had a commanding presence. He practiced voodoo and was one bad penny. Sure, he was a nefarious smuggler and used poisonous fish to hide his treasure, but at least he had personality. That's more than I can say for Solitaire, the Bond girl of Live and Let Die.
Our lady of interest this time was a henchwoman of Mr. Big who was able to "read people", a mistress of cards, and chose to ignore men in order to become Solitaire. I wasn't that impressed with her as a character and seemed like a poor follow-up to the class act Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale. Solitaire was very flirtatious as soon as Mr. Big left the room and it was evident that it was all an act. She seemed rather weak to me and was perhaps written as an easy lay for Bond after his heartbreak in the first book. I'll have to scrounge up a copy of the film to see if Jane Seymour gave the character some pizzazz it desperately needed.
This was an interesting installment in the James Bond series. I'm enjoying myself listening to the fabulous celebrity narrators despite my disdain for the main character and his snark. I like the plots and it's fun to read about spies. Casino Royale was a great start to the 007 saga and let's roll some dice for another winner along the way!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5/5
Audiobook narrated by Rory Kinnear.
The second book in the original Bond series and honestly a disappointment compared to Casino Royale. Some good camaraderie and atmosphere but otherwise a fairly dull story.
- The atmosphere created during certain sections of the book was excellent and really captured the fear and ambience. The scenes in the Boneyard and at the fish warehouse were particularly excellent.
- The actual plot was pretty uninspiring and boring. At no point did I feel like the situation was dire or inescapable and it made the narrative uninteresting a lot.
- The racism. This book is spectacularly racist. It uses terms that are completely unacceptable in current times. There's also a reasonable dose of sexism and misogyny.
Overall a below average Bond novel with limited appeal. Casino Royale had a better plot, narrative and intruige and I hope that Moonraker is more in this vein than Live and Let Die.
Audiobook narrated by Rory Kinnear.
The second book in the original Bond series and honestly a disappointment compared to Casino Royale. Some good camaraderie and atmosphere but otherwise a fairly dull story.
- The atmosphere created during certain sections of the book was excellent and really captured the fear and ambience. The scenes in the Boneyard and at the fish warehouse were particularly excellent.
- The actual plot was pretty uninspiring and boring. At no point did I feel like the situation was dire or inescapable and it made the narrative uninteresting a lot.
- The racism. This book is spectacularly racist. It uses terms that are completely unacceptable in current times. There's also a reasonable dose of sexism and misogyny.
Overall a below average Bond novel with limited appeal. Casino Royale had a better plot, narrative and intruige and I hope that Moonraker is more in this vein than Live and Let Die.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol
I’m not really sure how to rate this one.
First off, the racism in this book is appalling. As is a whole section where Bond is all, “Ew, old people are gross,” as he walks through a Florida retirement community.
As for the action-adventure stuff, it’s a massive amount of fun. The fights are brutal and the peril is visceral and hard-hitting.
It’s sad that it’s so well-plotted, but the rip-roaring plot is overshadowed by the excessive racism of both the narrator and from the characters. I was shocked that it was Solitaire who hurls the n-word as an insult, rather than any of the other American characters. Also, the long meditations on how, no matter how (I’m paraphrasing)”advanced Black people were becoming lately, they would always be a primitive people ruled by superstition.” Ugh.
It’s just really sad. I’m glad the film version took the Blaxploitation route, showing how out of place Bond was as he moved into Black spaces where he shouldn’t have intruded. This book sets up Black spaces as cagey dens of villainy where everyone is a potential criminal.
So, read this if you want to be a completionist. But be aware that you will absolutely need to white-knuckle (no pun intended) or just skim through some parts.
If anything else, this book can be a great catalyst to discussions of how white authors use the behaviour of subjugated peoples as evidence that they SHOULD be subjugated, rather than seriously looking at the effects of systemic racism on minority communities.
Also, it’s a great entry point into discussing the homoerotic subtext of the series, especially when we learn that, while traveling rough through the Jamaica jungle, Quarrel routinely gives Bond massages (which is totally a normal thing vague acquaintances do, right?) There’s also Bond’s reaction to Felix when he gets into some trouble. His concern is more tender than anything he says to Solitaire. Yes, I’m reading a lot into this, but dissecting and deconstructing a problematic text is my favourite way to interact with it.
Would recommend only if you know you would be bothered by the racist elements. If a white supremacist reads this, it would only reinforce their inborn hated. So read it with a critical eye and use it to fight against your own prejudices.
First off, the racism in this book is appalling. As is a whole section where Bond is all, “Ew, old people are gross,” as he walks through a Florida retirement community.
As for the action-adventure stuff, it’s a massive amount of fun. The fights are brutal and the peril is visceral and hard-hitting.
It’s sad that it’s so well-plotted, but the rip-roaring plot is overshadowed by the excessive racism of both the narrator and from the characters. I was shocked that it was Solitaire who hurls the n-word as an insult, rather than any of the other American characters. Also, the long meditations on how, no matter how (I’m paraphrasing)”advanced Black people were becoming lately, they would always be a primitive people ruled by superstition.” Ugh.
It’s just really sad. I’m glad the film version took the Blaxploitation route, showing how out of place Bond was as he moved into Black spaces where he shouldn’t have intruded. This book sets up Black spaces as cagey dens of villainy where everyone is a potential criminal.
So, read this if you want to be a completionist. But be aware that you will absolutely need to white-knuckle (no pun intended) or just skim through some parts.
If anything else, this book can be a great catalyst to discussions of how white authors use the behaviour of subjugated peoples as evidence that they SHOULD be subjugated, rather than seriously looking at the effects of systemic racism on minority communities.
Also, it’s a great entry point into discussing the homoerotic subtext of the series, especially when we learn that, while traveling rough through the Jamaica jungle, Quarrel routinely gives Bond massages (which is totally a normal thing vague acquaintances do, right?) There’s also Bond’s reaction to Felix when he gets into some trouble. His concern is more tender than anything he says to Solitaire. Yes, I’m reading a lot into this, but dissecting and deconstructing a problematic text is my favourite way to interact with it.
Would recommend only if you know you would be bothered by the racist elements. If a white supremacist reads this, it would only reinforce their inborn hated. So read it with a critical eye and use it to fight against your own prejudices.
MUCH easier read than casino royale but nothing really happens
This sequel was a bit lighter on the woman hating, but a lot heavier on the casual racism and the 1950s lingo. An enjoyable story, however.
Coming strictly from the perspective of story, I liked the premise and the pacing and Fleming's overall writing style. The often straight up racial slurs used for non-white characters was incredibly off-putting, as well as Fleming's use of an affected writing style to depict black character's speech. It bothered me a lot that he had black characters talking the same way regardless of where Bond was (e.g. Harlem or Florida or Jamaica). I get that these books were written in the mid-century but it is A Lot.
"I don't think I've ever heard of a great negro criminal before," said Bond, "Chinamen, of course, the men behind the opium trade."
Chain-smoking, leering Ian bends over his clacking-typerwriter while the warm Jamaican breeze riffles his finished manuscript pages. He jerks the paper out the carriage and sips a whiskey while perusing; he nods. Yes. This is going to be a great second spy novel: It's rooted in the grit of the city AND the underwater kingdom...
The opening half of this novel, set "down amongst the hooting, teeming, petrol-smelling roots of the stressed-concrete jungle" we call Manhattan and Harlem in the "great hard continent of Eldollarado," features our introduction to Mr. Big, "the great negro criminal."
The racism expressed in these opening chapters is astonishing. We can try to chalk it up to 1954 sensibilities, but that argument only clarifies why establishing equality was so difficult. Writing twenty years earlier and in the deep south, Margaret Mitchell is more PC than Ian Fleming.
For example, Bond gets his first glimpse of Mr. Big speeding by checking him out from a car. Bond is "startled":
"...but what startled Bond was that it had been a negress at the wheel, a fine-looking negress...Hardly anywhere in the world will you find a negress driving a car. A negress acting as a chauffeur is still more extraordinary."
Whaaaa? Mr. Big is almost 7 feet tall, GRAY, has a head twice the size of a normal-sized one--and he's sitting in the back seat giving Bond the look-over. For 007, that's just not as startling as seeing a "negress acting as a chauffeur." And, for the record, if you're actually transporting someone for money, you're not "acting as a chauffeur," you ARE a chauffeur.
After a horrifying but mercifully brief stint in Florida, Bond is out of Amurica and in Jamaica. The novel then improves. We have an underwater adventure complete with sharks, barracuda and octopus trying to slay our hero. Fleming references Jacques Cousteau twice, so you know this is accurate information about marine life. Furthermore, Bond is so intent on breaking into Mr. Big's Alcatraz-esque fortress he goes into training, cutting down his smoking to only ten a day. That, my friend, is focus.
As usual, here's a few sentences which popped out:
He freed his right hand and put it between their bodies, feeling her hard breasts, each with its pointed stigma of desire.
New Yawk Gangster Talk; after demonstrating his gun-skills by shooting a pelican: "You come aroun' here again and you follow the boid 'n I plead self-defence. I've had a bellyful of you lousy dicks aroun' here lately breathin' down my neck.
The Bond Motto: You start to die the moment you are born. The whole of life is cutting through the pack with death. So take it easy. Light a cigarette and be grateful you are still alive.
So, onto Moonraker...
Chain-smoking, leering Ian bends over his clacking-typerwriter while the warm Jamaican breeze riffles his finished manuscript pages. He jerks the paper out the carriage and sips a whiskey while perusing; he nods. Yes. This is going to be a great second spy novel: It's rooted in the grit of the city AND the underwater kingdom...
The opening half of this novel, set "down amongst the hooting, teeming, petrol-smelling roots of the stressed-concrete jungle" we call Manhattan and Harlem in the "great hard continent of Eldollarado," features our introduction to Mr. Big, "the great negro criminal."
The racism expressed in these opening chapters is astonishing. We can try to chalk it up to 1954 sensibilities, but that argument only clarifies why establishing equality was so difficult. Writing twenty years earlier and in the deep south, Margaret Mitchell is more PC than Ian Fleming.
For example, Bond gets his first glimpse of Mr. Big speeding by checking him out from a car. Bond is "startled":
"...but what startled Bond was that it had been a negress at the wheel, a fine-looking negress...Hardly anywhere in the world will you find a negress driving a car. A negress acting as a chauffeur is still more extraordinary."
Whaaaa? Mr. Big is almost 7 feet tall, GRAY, has a head twice the size of a normal-sized one--and he's sitting in the back seat giving Bond the look-over. For 007, that's just not as startling as seeing a "negress acting as a chauffeur." And, for the record, if you're actually transporting someone for money, you're not "acting as a chauffeur," you ARE a chauffeur.
After a horrifying but mercifully brief stint in Florida, Bond is out of Amurica and in Jamaica. The novel then improves. We have an underwater adventure complete with sharks, barracuda and octopus trying to slay our hero. Fleming references Jacques Cousteau twice, so you know this is accurate information about marine life. Furthermore, Bond is so intent on breaking into Mr. Big's Alcatraz-esque fortress he goes into training, cutting down his smoking to only ten a day. That, my friend, is focus.
As usual, here's a few sentences which popped out:
He freed his right hand and put it between their bodies, feeling her hard breasts, each with its pointed stigma of desire.
New Yawk Gangster Talk; after demonstrating his gun-skills by shooting a pelican: "You come aroun' here again and you follow the boid 'n I plead self-defence. I've had a bellyful of you lousy dicks aroun' here lately breathin' down my neck.
The Bond Motto: You start to die the moment you are born. The whole of life is cutting through the pack with death. So take it easy. Light a cigarette and be grateful you are still alive.
So, onto Moonraker...
3.5 stars.
Everything you'd expect of a James Bond novel.
Cars, girls, slight sexism, drinks, alcohol, creepy villains, violence, looove-making.
I was grossed out by some parts, but you know, that's what you get in a novel about a spy with a licence to kill. Still really enjoyed all the action and excitement, but also the descriptions of flora, fauna and voodoo (which isn't the most fun, but quite interesting). All those descriptions and details did make it a bit of a long, dragging read for me, but when the action got to the max, it got exciting again.
Preferred Casino Royal, its prequel, but who knows what the sequel will bring..
TO BE CONTINUED
(Read in Dutch)
Everything you'd expect of a James Bond novel.
Cars, girls, slight sexism, drinks, alcohol, creepy villains, violence, looove-making.
I was grossed out by some parts, but you know, that's what you get in a novel about a spy with a licence to kill. Still really enjoyed all the action and excitement, but also the descriptions of flora, fauna and voodoo (which isn't the most fun, but quite interesting). All those descriptions and details did make it a bit of a long, dragging read for me, but when the action got to the max, it got exciting again.
Preferred Casino Royal, its prequel, but who knows what the sequel will bring..
TO BE CONTINUED
(Read in Dutch)