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catherine_t's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Drug abuse, Car accident, and Torture
Minor: Rape
notunremarkable's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
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.
Moderate: Torture and Sexism
vtewok's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Moderate: Torture and Misogyny
Minor: Suicide and Car accident
letter_planet's review against another edition
- 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? No
2.5
Graphic: Violence and Torture
Moderate: Sexism and Racism
madisus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I found myself appreciating how much the recently resolved Second World War permeates the attitude of Bond and everyone around him, which is harder to extrapolate from the modernized Craig movies. To Bond, his “license to kill” is nothing more than what was expected of him and his contemporaries when they were soldiers. It’s part of the job— yet he still struggles with the concept of heroes and villains and the spy’s role as a servant of the state. It was more than I expected from this first novel.
Graphic: Sexism, Torture, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual assault
ellachandler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny and Violence
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Sexual content
lisaloulaa's review against another edition
- 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
1.0
Graphic: Torture, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Kidnapping and Suicide
Minor: Rape
noonjinx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was interesting to see how the huge cultural phenomenon started though.
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Suicide
fjordpingvin's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexism, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Torture
Minor: Pregnancy and Blood
crochetcat22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Car accident, Misogyny, Suicide, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Medical content