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amazingbass13's review
4.0
Excellent foray into the world of espionage. Quite a fun little tale of mystery, suspense, and gold old gambling. While most of the story telling holds up, the blatant misogyny reminds me how far society has come and has yet to grow. Definitely leaves a desire to continue the series.
elanna76's review against another edition
2.0
All'epoca fu il James Bond che mi piacque di meno. Non ricordo neanche più perché, avevo diciotto anni e non mi va di fare il conto di quanto tempo è passato.
Credo di aver trovato noiosa l'interminabile sessione di gioco d'azzardo.
E adesso che ho finalmente visto il kolossal, cretino ma con quel glorioso maschiaccio pin up che esce dall'acqua tutto grondante come Ursula Andress nei vecchi James Bond, non penso che tornerò a leggere il libro, a meno che in originale sia una bomba. La storia ormai me la ricordo, e l'occhio ha avuto la sua parte.
Credo di aver trovato noiosa l'interminabile sessione di gioco d'azzardo.
E adesso che ho finalmente visto il kolossal, cretino ma con quel glorioso maschiaccio pin up che esce dall'acqua tutto grondante come Ursula Andress nei vecchi James Bond, non penso che tornerò a leggere il libro, a meno che in originale sia una bomba. La storia ormai me la ricordo, e l'occhio ha avuto la sua parte.
asamara_777's review
4.0
Apart from the obsession with nudity and lust and stereotypes against women and where they belong even though his boss is the most badass woman ever
It’s a good book
Sad tho
Death hurts
It’s a good book
Sad tho
Death hurts
danielpollard's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jakekilroy's review against another edition
4.0
It's funny to read the origin book of a cinematic franchise that's been running 65+ years without any signs of slowing down. Yet there are character differences here that may not be all that different, but rather a separation of mannerisms. There's more charisma to the Bond of screen, whereas the Bond of page is more straightforward (at times almost curmudgeonly). There remains subtly for each version, though it's more that we don't get an internal monologue in the movies and there's less high action in the book.
One point is that Bond in book form is sexist in a way that is practically a caricature by now, and it seems to set him up for failure by way of arrogance. He never overlooks the men, naturally, seeing them as calculated as he is. But, for Bond, women are destined for his other realms (home, bistro, nightclub, etc), so being out and about in the tumble of the espionage world is probably too much for them in his eyes—and that, of course, sets up a rather monstrously sized blind spot. It makes "send in the hot girl" a legitimate strategy for Bond's many villains. It's not that he'll be wooed and distracted; it's that, to Bond, they couldn't possibly be a threat.
As a reader, you're not even invited to like Bond the way you do in the movies. Here, he's at times purposefully tedious. I recall once reading a quote from Fleming: "I wanted Bond to be an extremely dull, uninteresting man to whom things happened." Fleming even named him "James Bond" because he though it was the dullest name he ever heard (borrowed from an ornithologist). So it fits him! In the movies, Bond enters a room and you can practically hear the record scratch of swoons. In the books, at least this inaugural outing, Bond's like a traveling salesmen on a business trip (who just happens to be a spy with a kill count). He's good at what he does and he's just trying to close the deal. It's a lot of fun; it's just more A to B without the glory of his film legend.
One point is that Bond in book form is sexist in a way that is practically a caricature by now, and it seems to set him up for failure by way of arrogance. He never overlooks the men, naturally, seeing them as calculated as he is. But, for Bond, women are destined for his other realms (home, bistro, nightclub, etc), so being out and about in the tumble of the espionage world is probably too much for them in his eyes—and that, of course, sets up a rather monstrously sized blind spot. It makes "send in the hot girl" a legitimate strategy for Bond's many villains. It's not that he'll be wooed and distracted; it's that, to Bond, they couldn't possibly be a threat.
As a reader, you're not even invited to like Bond the way you do in the movies. Here, he's at times purposefully tedious. I recall once reading a quote from Fleming: "I wanted Bond to be an extremely dull, uninteresting man to whom things happened." Fleming even named him "James Bond" because he though it was the dullest name he ever heard (borrowed from an ornithologist). So it fits him! In the movies, Bond enters a room and you can practically hear the record scratch of swoons. In the books, at least this inaugural outing, Bond's like a traveling salesmen on a business trip (who just happens to be a spy with a kill count). He's good at what he does and he's just trying to close the deal. It's a lot of fun; it's just more A to B without the glory of his film legend.
thinkingbookishthoughts's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
tomleetang's review
2.0
Gawd Bond's a bit of a dull fish. I did enjoy learning how to play Baccarat, though, and the gambling scenes are surprisingly exciting. For an avid viewer of the Bond movies, it's all very surprising - if not always very engaging.