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A review by andyshute
Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming
3.0
I read all the Bond books (and most of John Gardner's books) as a young teen and recently managed to pick most of them up in newer editions for a pittance in a fantastic bookshop in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. I'm also working my way back through the films (which I've seen countless times).
Wow. This book is, how do we say it? Colourful? Of the era? Horrifically racist? Yep, that's the one. You can probably argue it was just reflective of an era etc etc but the fact is the depictions of the African American population are terrible.
Is there anything more to it? Well, the plot is intriguing and there are some nifty set pieces and moments of tension. Bond and Leiter visiting a club in harlem; a shoot out in a fish stocked warehouse; the horrific events that occur to poor Felix. It's also impressive how much of it ended up in the film (and other Bond films). Personally I loved the film version as a kid but having watched it a few weeks ago, it doesn't stand up as well as some of the other Moore films.
So, if you're a decent human being you will probably find this pretty hair raising. But there are some interesting moments and the characters of both Bond and Leiter are developed nicely. So, enter at your own discretion.
Wow. This book is, how do we say it? Colourful? Of the era? Horrifically racist? Yep, that's the one. You can probably argue it was just reflective of an era etc etc but the fact is the depictions of the African American population are terrible.
Is there anything more to it? Well, the plot is intriguing and there are some nifty set pieces and moments of tension. Bond and Leiter visiting a club in harlem; a shoot out in a fish stocked warehouse; the horrific events that occur to poor Felix. It's also impressive how much of it ended up in the film (and other Bond films). Personally I loved the film version as a kid but having watched it a few weeks ago, it doesn't stand up as well as some of the other Moore films.
So, if you're a decent human being you will probably find this pretty hair raising. But there are some interesting moments and the characters of both Bond and Leiter are developed nicely. So, enter at your own discretion.