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trin's review against another edition
2.0
In which James Bond proves to be rather unpleasant, and not a terribly good spy. This is a very quick read, but an empty one: besides teaching me the rules of baccarat, there wasn’t much here, not even the thrilling action-y set pieces of the films. I’m impressed with how well they developed Vesper in the recent movie, especially when compared to this—she’s tissue-thin here, and her “romance” with Bond completely unconvincing. “Romance”—at one point Bond thinks about how much he wants to have sex with her, as seeing as how she’s so withdrawn, each time would have the zesty tang of rape. Nice.
ruxiemcgouth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
paragchitnis's review against another edition
2.0
The book was good but not what I was expecting from James Bond. Few chapters were boring and too slow.
8ookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.75
cwgonzales's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A brief-yet-exciting intro to James Bond. While some of the attitudes towards women in the workforce and slang terms for non-white ethnicities is obviously dated, the story itself holds up really well and is just as fun to read today as I imagine it was when originally published.
hirvimaki's review against another edition
4.0
Like most people my generation, I was introduced to James Bond through the medium of film. It was nit until I was in my 20s and living in Europe that I picked up the Bond books. I was taking classes at University in Finland and to fill in the spaces of time I had I would go to the public library and check out books. For some reason the English language section had the entire collection of Ian Fleming Bond books and so I read them. Very enjoyable then. Immensely enjoyable now.
daumari's review against another edition
2.0
The bonus book for Oct/Nov 2023's Pulp/Noir theme for Biere Library Storytime Book Club!
I've previously done a Bondathon series of potlucks through the movies with grad school friends, but had never actually read any of the novels which is why I suggested it- a short, breezy read that's mostly action (though there's this odd good vs evil discussion between Bond and Mathis when the former is recuperating from torture. I'm surprised that I remember the beats from the 2006 adaptation (which by adapting Bond's introductory novel worked as a soft reset for the new Daniel Craig era), but wooooooof that movie went a long way in modernizing James Bond.
I'd have to read more, but like another of my friends' review said, I can't tell if the misogyny and racism is "of the era" for the 1950s or if this is a Bond/Ian Fleming issue. Vesper is far more on equal footing in the film, and Bond is rough but not as much of a dick if I recall. ("sweet tang of rape" really huh)
also! My bartender husband says the ratios Fleming gives for the Vesper are unbalanced, "no need for vodka, increase the lillet"
I've previously done a Bondathon series of potlucks through the movies with grad school friends, but had never actually read any of the novels which is why I suggested it- a short, breezy read that's mostly action (though there's this odd good vs evil discussion between Bond and Mathis when the former is recuperating from torture. I'm surprised that I remember the beats from the 2006 adaptation (which by adapting Bond's introductory novel worked as a soft reset for the new Daniel Craig era), but wooooooof that movie went a long way in modernizing James Bond.
I'd have to read more, but like another of my friends' review said, I can't tell if the misogyny and racism is "of the era" for the 1950s or if this is a Bond/Ian Fleming issue. Vesper is far more on equal footing in the film, and Bond is rough but not as much of a dick if I recall. ("sweet tang of rape" really huh)
also! My bartender husband says the ratios Fleming gives for the Vesper are unbalanced, "no need for vodka, increase the lillet"
jdrummond's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
phonicallychallenged's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
komoderr's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Obvious misogynies aside, this was a blast. I like that Bond lowkey is not very good in this book. He gets blindsided, loses, tortured - everything. He’s kinda shit. Can’t wait to read the next ones though.