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A review by aliterarylion
Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming
3.0
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!