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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
Thunderball is one of the better plotted Bond books, introducing SPECTRE and Blofeld. Following a somewhat comedic opener with Bond sent off to a health spa, he teams up with Leiter on what they think is a waste of time to avert a nuclear tragedy. With the world held hostage we are treated to some actual espionage, numerous underwater action scenes and a thrilling race against the clock ending. Leiter is always fun, Domino is an interesting Bond girl who holds her own and Largo is a cold fish.
The negatives? Well, unfortunately with all the Bond books there is the hardcore misogyny, casual sexual violence, racism and xenophobia (though less than some of the other books). It was wrong then and it's wrong now. I've decided to finish the series for reasons but you can't escape these aspects if you read them.
The negatives? Well, unfortunately with all the Bond books there is the hardcore misogyny, casual sexual violence, racism and xenophobia (though less than some of the other books). It was wrong then and it's wrong now. I've decided to finish the series for reasons but you can't escape these aspects if you read them.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Ian Fleming may have created an iconic character but boy howdy character description was NOT than man's strong suit. I don't think I was supposed to laugh every time a new character was introduced and described but that's what happened.
My first Bond. Definitely not my last. Very fun little spy novel. I'd like to read some of the others too.
Again the woman is the hero
The more I read these books the less I like the early movies. Domino is the hero here. Bond is the mechanism. And another fun race with good action.
The more I read these books the less I like the early movies. Domino is the hero here. Bond is the mechanism. And another fun race with good action.
Typical Bond-by-numbers. I enjoyed the fact that this one has a decidedly less than farcical plot than the previous one I read (Moonraker). He also seems slightly less of a misogynist pig here too, which was nice.
I like Thunderball and I'm pretty sure no one is telling me I can't like Thunderball but I do wonder -
....to what extent is it really "of its time"?
I doubt it's a shock to anyone that the series is pretty (as in extremely) racist, sexist and classist. Yet there is something about Bond in particular that stands out as to the openness of it, beyond surely the sensibilities of the 50s-60s.
Is Bond cool because he says and does the things that people were all thinking but too afraid to express? Fleming has Bond and his CIA colleague Leiter spend pages on how the prices of luxury food and cocktails are just too high. You can just force yourself onto women whenever you want. Dialogue can involve some of the most wretched reproductions of ebonics.
Whatever, I guess.
....to what extent is it really "of its time"?
I doubt it's a shock to anyone that the series is pretty (as in extremely) racist, sexist and classist. Yet there is something about Bond in particular that stands out as to the openness of it, beyond surely the sensibilities of the 50s-60s.
Is Bond cool because he says and does the things that people were all thinking but too afraid to express? Fleming has Bond and his CIA colleague Leiter spend pages on how the prices of luxury food and cocktails are just too high. You can just force yourself onto women whenever you want. Dialogue can involve some of the most wretched reproductions of ebonics.
Whatever, I guess.
Bookcrossing 2007 thoughts. Seems I didn't have so much to say on this one: Well, its James Bond, does it need any introduction? This one, Thunderball is set in the Bahamas, about the stolen plane. Its a little dated, but thats nice in a way as it takes you back to a time that is no longer with us - rather than the Bond of the cinema who is always being updated. And it is sexist, and the plots are a bit silly, I suppose but its light entertaining reading. And considering Ive seen all the films and Bond is a British institution, I thought I should read at least one of the books!