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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I haven’t read all the Bonds but I have had the audiobook of this, read very entertainingly by David Tennant, on my list for some time so decided to read and listen.
As with all Fleming’s output, the book, from 1963, is very dated. Fleming writes well in a very well-spoken English style but the book is as misogynistic as you would expect. It begins as Bond watches a young woman, and becomes concerned that she is considering suicide. We find a little bit about their relationship in flashback before they are both captured and whisked off to meet a shady Corsican who takes a shine to Bond.
The next section, where the book almost loses its way, follows Bond, typically poorly undercover, to the mountaintop retreat of his arch enemy, Blofeld, whose sinister plan seems to resolve around becoming certified as a Count and hypnotising some British farm girls into liking cows and an Irish colleen into appreciating potatoes… However, things take off when Bond’s identity is uncovered and he has to escape down the mountain in a genuinely exciting fashion, pursued by Blofeld’s thugs and an avalanche.
Those who have seen the movie will know the tragic ending. Indeed the film followed the book fairly closely and, having watched the movie recently, both are overlong and slightly out-stay their welcome. Enjoyable but disjointed, Tennant’s narration just about holding it together.
As with all Fleming’s output, the book, from 1963, is very dated. Fleming writes well in a very well-spoken English style but the book is as misogynistic as you would expect. It begins as Bond watches a young woman, and becomes concerned that she is considering suicide. We find a little bit about their relationship in flashback before they are both captured and whisked off to meet a shady Corsican who takes a shine to Bond.
The next section, where the book almost loses its way, follows Bond, typically poorly undercover, to the mountaintop retreat of his arch enemy, Blofeld, whose sinister plan seems to resolve around becoming certified as a Count and hypnotising some British farm girls into liking cows and an Irish colleen into appreciating potatoes… However, things take off when Bond’s identity is uncovered and he has to escape down the mountain in a genuinely exciting fashion, pursued by Blofeld’s thugs and an avalanche.
Those who have seen the movie will know the tragic ending. Indeed the film followed the book fairly closely and, having watched the movie recently, both are overlong and slightly out-stay their welcome. Enjoyable but disjointed, Tennant’s narration just about holding it together.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It always takes me a bit to get into a Bond novel. Something about Fleming's writing style takes getting used to for me - and he is not the only author for whom this is true. However, once I am over the hurdle, I'm pretty well hooked. These stories are classics for a reason: they're taut adventures with exotic(ish) locales and larger-than-life characters who are nonetheless completely believable.
In this volume, a villain who, frustratingly, had escaped in the past is found to be alive, well, and once again plotting the destruction of the world. Only 007 has the drive and the skill to bring him down. Complicating matters, Bond finds himself in love, a place he was confident he would never find himself.
One of my favorite things about book-Bond is his coldness, toned down to a more or less extent in the films. I am also not, in general, a fan of romance cluttering up my action and adventure. This worked for me, though. First of all, it wasn't so much clutter as a thread weaving its way delicately behind the the A-story. Secondly, this woman, while not exactly a feminist heroine, is at least not a ridiculous stereotype. Third, the resoloution is appropriate.
In this volume, a villain who, frustratingly, had escaped in the past is found to be alive, well, and once again plotting the destruction of the world. Only 007 has the drive and the skill to bring him down. Complicating matters, Bond finds himself in love, a place he was confident he would never find himself.
One of my favorite things about book-Bond is his coldness, toned down to a more or less extent in the films. I am also not, in general, a fan of romance cluttering up my action and adventure. This worked for me, though. First of all, it wasn't so much clutter as a thread weaving its way delicately behind the the A-story. Secondly, this woman, while not exactly a feminist heroine, is at least not a ridiculous stereotype. Third, the resoloution is appropriate.
Perhaps the best one in the series. So moving. Also the one that was filmed closely.
It is amusing in that it is so predictably James Bond. I listened to the audiobook and honestly only because David Tennant narrated. I think David Tennant should narrate all the books! He made listening to this a delight.
A strong entry in the original series by Ian Fleming, with a mix of adventure, peril and romance. Yes, romance, as Bond falls hard for the daughter of the Union Corse, a powerful Mafia-type organization. As suggested, I read this directly after #9 Thunderball, as this book is the middle of the 'Blofeld Trilogy.' At the end of Thunderball the fate of Bond is somewhat in question, and this is not addressed in OHMSS. Perhaps it is explained in #10 The Spy Who Loved Me, which I'll get to ASAP. No matter, as here Bond is back on the trail of Blofeld, who is convinced he is a Count. Bond impersonates a British geneology expert and infiltrates Blofeld's secluded fortress in Alps, where he uncovers a sinister plan involving 10 beautiful but easily manipulated young British girls.
Fleming's trademark attention to technical detail and his knack for prose and dialogue propel the story, which has less of the racist and sexist overtones of some of the other books. I think it's held up quite well after 50 years, better than some of the others.
Fleming's trademark attention to technical detail and his knack for prose and dialogue propel the story, which has less of the racist and sexist overtones of some of the other books. I think it's held up quite well after 50 years, better than some of the others.
Not my favorite. Tracy disappears and then reappears much later in the book only as a dues ex machina. Half the novel is a boring genealogical trip, and the only plot is seemingly to determine whether or not Blofeld is actually Blofeld. The rest is classic Fleming, writing competently, even compellingly about travel, food, gambling and skiing and really writing with a tin ear when writing interactions between characters, especially between men and women. I'm glad I read it, but probably wouldn't read it again.
I see, Ian Fleming is a good writer.
And the James Bond character is not what has been portrayed on screen.
Will have to read some others.
And the James Bond character is not what has been portrayed on screen.
Will have to read some others.