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armandovqz13's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sianw1992's review against another edition
4.0
I thought it best that my first foray into the written word of James Bond be Casino Royale, seeing as it's the first and one of the books for World Book Night 2013. I've seen the recent film version starring Daniel Craig (not the David Niven spoof) so I had a vague idea of the plot and certain characters.
The character of James Bond isn't always what you expect. He views women as sex objects, or something that 'gets in the way' which the film has used but softened to a degree. Bond has also put a deposit down on a Morris Minor, which is so un-Bond-like that I had a bit of a giggle at that.
Ian Fleming is a great writer. By the end of the novel I felt like I knew the characters, and he explains the card game very well. I had no problem following the game and the tension as Bond and Le Chiffre played was brilliant. I felt myself clenching my hands as the stakes grew.
Overall, a brilliant read and I can't believe it took me so long to read it! I can't wait to get onto the next.
The character of James Bond isn't always what you expect. He views women as sex objects, or something that 'gets in the way' which the film has used but softened to a degree. Bond has also put a deposit down on a Morris Minor, which is so un-Bond-like that I had a bit of a giggle at that.
Ian Fleming is a great writer. By the end of the novel I felt like I knew the characters, and he explains the card game very well. I had no problem following the game and the tension as Bond and Le Chiffre played was brilliant. I felt myself clenching my hands as the stakes grew.
Overall, a brilliant read and I can't believe it took me so long to read it! I can't wait to get onto the next.
ziraff's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
theevester's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
I expected the misogyny but not the boring plot. Nevertheless I want to read the next for some reason.
sckanque's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
spaceysloth's review
3.0
Overall not bad especially for the time it was written. I felt like the ending could have wrapped up quicker. But then it wouldn’t have packed the punch it needed to.
scottjp's review
2.0
Since enjoying the fantastic series of films starring Daniel Craig, I found myself with a mild interest in trying at least one of the novels to see what the "real" (because there have been so many cinematic interpretations) James Bond was like.
Unfortunately, this is one of those rare examples where the film is much better.
The best you could say about Fleming's prose is that it is serviceable: heavy on exposition, light on dialogue, and frequently awkward. The long section in which Bond and le Chiffre face off in a card game is particularly tedious. I didn't follow the game of baccarat at all, or maybe it just wasn't interesting enough to try. It's just boring to read about. Maybe it helps if you're a gambler? It made me want to re-watch the film to see again how it played out there.
As characters, Bond and love interest Vesper Lynd have none. It's bad enough when they are going about their agently business, but when the romance starts it's particularly flimsy. There's no emotional weight at all, which makes the ending of the book fail completely to affect the reader. You can tell that the author wanted it to have a punch, but it neither earns nor delivers it.
I'm hoping that Fleming's writing improved the more he did it, but I don't know if I want to find out firsthand.
Unfortunately, this is one of those rare examples where the film is much better.
The best you could say about Fleming's prose is that it is serviceable: heavy on exposition, light on dialogue, and frequently awkward. The long section in which Bond and le Chiffre face off in a card game is particularly tedious. I didn't follow the game of baccarat at all, or maybe it just wasn't interesting enough to try. It's just boring to read about. Maybe it helps if you're a gambler? It made me want to re-watch the film to see again how it played out there.
As characters, Bond and love interest Vesper Lynd have none. It's bad enough when they are going about their agently business, but when the romance starts it's particularly flimsy. There's no emotional weight at all, which makes the ending of the book fail completely to affect the reader. You can tell that the author wanted it to have a punch, but it neither earns nor delivers it.
I'm hoping that Fleming's writing improved the more he did it, but I don't know if I want to find out firsthand.
_traveler_'s review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
fatalamelia's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.25