Janet Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 Does anyone read the Bond books? I finished Casino Royale a few days ago. I thought I'd post my review here rather than in a specific review thread as their are so many Bond books! The ‘Blurb’ Introducing James Bond: charming, sophisticated, handsome, chillingly ruthless and very deadly. This, the first of Fleming’s tales of agent 007, finds Bond on a mission to neutralize a lethal, high-rolling Russian operative called simply ‘Le Chiffre’ - by ruining him at the baccarat table and forcing his Soviet spymasters to ‘retire’ him. It seems that lady luck is taken with James - Le Chiffre has hit a losing streak. But some people just refuse to play by the rules, and Bond’s attraction to a beautiful female agent leads him to disaster and an unexpected saviour. I’m not a Bond fan although I’ve seen quite a few of the films (not Casino Royale though!). This is our next Bookworms book otherwise I certainly wouldn’t have picked it up. I finished it a few days ago, but I’m not sure what to say about it, to be honest. First published in 1953, it was bound to be a bit dated, but I found Bond to be even more of a chauvinist than I thought… ”These blithering women who thought they could do a man’s work. Why the hell couldn’t they stay at home and mind their pots and pans and stick to their frocks and gossip and leave men’s work to the men.” …leaving him looking a bit stupid when it turned out that she was a double agent - a fact I worked out - and Bond didn’t. He had to be told in her suicide letter! Then I thought - chill out - Bond’s not even a real person! I didn’t hate it but I won’t be reading any more Bond books! 4½/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 HandD reviewed The Spy Who Loved Me... she's wasn't very keen either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyanddandy Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 That's right Michelle - it was my freebie from Penguin which I reviewed. Good job it was a thin book! Can safely say I wont be reading another - sold it very quickly on Amazon though so someone must like them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted April 5, 2008 Author Share Posted April 5, 2008 Ah - I didn't search in the 'Reviews' forum. D'oh! I tried getting Casino Royal from The Bookbarn but the owner said the Bond books go out as quickly as they arrive there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verre Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 Yes, I've read all of them. The style is definitely lacking in some places, and you really have to be a cigar-smoking man in the 1930s to get all of the references, but they're very enjoyable books. The first line in casino royale is "James Bond lit his eigtieth cigarette of the day". Although writing the Bond books was probably a bit of an ego trip for Flemming, you have to love a character who drinks 20+ bourbons per day and magnetically attracts the most attractive girl in the bar. Goldfinger is my favourite, so if you haven't read any, that's where I'd start. I know they doesn't adhere to modern feminist standards, but I think the Bond books are best when they're not taken seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottishbookworm Posted April 19, 2008 Share Posted April 19, 2008 I've read the book and Loved it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger53 Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I think they are marvellous. Hard to pick a favourite, Maybe On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Quite old fashioned now as thrillers but I think that makes them even better to read. I started reading them as a teenager, and I am re reading from time to time now. Very racy back in those days... I read Moonraker a few years ago, and it is seriously dated as far as technology goes, but being a very non tech person, this is no real problem for me. I am still to finish Octopussy which for some reason I have started a number of times but have not yet got very far. Anyway, great books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 The only one I've ever read was Live and Let Die, which I read because that's my fave Bond Movie (despite the fact that it doesn't star my fave Bond - the story appealed to me most). I enjoyed it fine, but I've never really been tempted to read any of the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiseog Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I read Goldfinger and thought that it made Bond more sensitive than the films did! They are of an era though makes me realise how things have changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottishbookworm Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I've not read goldfinger yet! but I will pick up a copy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergran71 Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Who is your favourite Bond Kell? The film version man I mean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sedgewick Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 I think the Bond books would have vanished long ago if it were not for the movie franchise. Fleming's writing is rather weak and, at times, dated. He is capable of some great moments and I seem to recall a page or two in 'Live And Let Die', but it was buried amongst so much stodge that it was hard to appreciate. After so much urgh, that became an a ha moment, quickly followed by a steep descent into oh no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukeozade100 Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I read Devil May Care a few months ago (the bond book by Sebastian Faulks) & thought it was great as a holiday read so decided i'd order Casino Royale sooner or later, and having just got it yesterday I read it last night after I got in from work and thought it was really enjoyable. It's really quite a good light read and though its probably more a book for the lads than the lasses' (Bond is clearly very sexist, though I don't see why that should detract from the book, it just adds to his character, it's really by the end of the book revealed as a flaw, though I don't know if this was Flemings intention.) it's probably worth a go if you tend to read heavier books and want a little something to break them up. (The Count Of Monte Cristo arrived yesterday and I knew it was big but 'woah'!) Overall 7.5/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukeozade100 Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I just read Live & let Die today and again i'd say it's another good lads book, something to break up heavier reads. I don't think it's quite as good as Casino Royale, and theres more uses of the N word than your average 50 Cent song, but apart from that, 'tis all good... Overall 7/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Who is your favourite Bond Kell? The film version man I mean supergran, I have always been a dyed in the wool Sean Connery as Bond advocate, however this new guy Daniel Craig is very good. Just as intense, focused and has that basic streak of what I call stick-to-it-tivness that makes Bond what he is. I never, ever liked Roger Moor as Bond, love him as The Saint [the old TV series], but he was too smooth, too soft for Fleming's Bond. While I liked some of the others as actors, they just weren't Bond. Daniel Craig "gets" Bond. Not Kell, but couldn't resist answering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baggiesfan Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 i have read the new one, devil may care and really enjoyed it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivyleaf Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I was 'around' when they were first published and I bought and read the whole lot - they'd be worth a fortune now if I'd kept them As for the 'new' books not written by Fleming - not read those, just watched the films. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergran71 Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 supergran,I have always been a dyed in the wool Sean Connery as Bond advocate, however this new guy Daniel Craig is very good. Just as intense, focused and has that basic streak of what I call stick-to-it-tivness that makes Bond what he is. I never, ever liked Roger Moor as Bond, love him as The Saint [the old TV series], but he was too smooth, too soft for Fleming's Bond. While I liked some of the others as actors, they just weren't Bond. Daniel Craig "gets" Bond. I absolutely agree with every word you have said. Yes Roger Moore was way too "smooth" for Bond. Sean Connery and Daniel Craig are from the same mould. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 I really liked Sebastian Faulks new James Bond book, Devil May Care, and I've just seen a news item saying Jeffrey Deaver has been commissioned to write the next Bond story. His Bond story will be set in the present day, unlike Faulks installment, set in 1967. I've never read any Deaver, although I know there are a lot of fans on the forum, so I'll be keen to read his take on Bond due out next May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 I've got a set of Bond books in a cupboard somewhere, I really should get around to reading some of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickle Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 I read a few Bond books years go, the original Ian Flemings I remember them being completely different from the films particulalry The Spy who loved me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidr Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 I read all the Bond books in the 60s (I'm very old!) and loved them then. I re-read Casino Royale last year and really enjoyed it. Yes they are chauvinistic and the name-dropping consumerism gets a bit wearing, but they are still a thrilling read, different from the films (in the later ones only the title was the same as the book!). I think that's why the film of Casino Royale was so successful, not only a new Bond in Daniel Craig but a reach back to the back for the story line. My favourite - probably 'Dr No' - great beginning and terrific ending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladd Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 I read a few Bond books years go, the original Ian Flemings I remember them being completely different from the films particulalry The Spy who loved me. Yes you couldn't get much different than those two stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 The title of the new Bond book by Jeffrey Deaver was revealed today. It will be called Carte Blanche and will be published on 26th May 2011. I've only read one Fleming book (Casino Royale) which I didn't like, but I really enjoyed the Sebastian Faulks Bond book, and I'm keen to read this one when it's published. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I read the entire original fleming books about a year ago now, getting them from the library one at a time and reading them in order, which IMHO, is the best way to read them. I'd agree with other comments here; it isn't the best writing. My favourite is probably "The spy who loved me" and the weakest "Moonraker". I would still recommend them if only to be amazed at how in some cases they dragged a film that bears no resembelance out of book of the same name! Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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