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johan_botha69's review
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
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
2.25
postyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
3.0
bibliophile_37's review against another edition
5.0
“While thrillers may not be Literature with a capital L, it is possible to write what I can best describe as ‘thrillers designed to be read as literature…'” So said Ian Fleming, creator of 007 and the James Bond franchise. He had a point. The first novel in the Bond series and the book that would establish Fleming as an icon in the spy genre, Casino Royale is a well written book that remains enjoyable some seven decades after its publication.
Written and heavily influenced by World War II, the novel sees Britain as an Imperial power; an image that saturates all of Fleming’s Bond novels. The extent of this power is tested when M, head of the British Secret Service dispatches Bond to play a high-stakes game of baccarat against Le Chiffre, the paymaster for a Russian trade union. Bond is assigned a companion in the attractive form of Vesper Lynd, a personal assistant to the Head of Section S of the Soviet Union. In the novel, Vesper explains that she was born on a stormy evening and her parents named her after the Latin word ‘vesper’, meaning evening. Fleming created the famous cocktail recipe for Bond in the novel, which became popular after the its publication and which Bond names ‘the Vesper martini’. (Sidenote: the recipe is recited by Daniel Craig in the 2006 film adaptation of Casino Royale and it is delicious!)
Vesper and Bond are required to bankrupt Le Chiffre and the baccarat session sees a number of international spies who have been sent to keep an eye on the proceedings. Initially, Bond fails and loses the money that was invested by the British government – essentially meaning they have indirectly financed terrorism. Bond is staked in the game by a member of the FBI and he proceeds to bankrupt Le Chiffre. This leads to Bond and Vesper being captured and tortured with disastrous consequences for all involved.
The writing is extremely precise and accurate, yet it somehow lacks an emotional attachment. This may sound odd, but in order to write about a character with Bond’s sense of hypermasculinity, a detachment from emotion and from people, as well as the character’s ability to switch off after a kill, it makes sense for the creator to demonstrate these qualities in every part of the writing. This is most notable towards the end of the novel, when Bond has allowed himself to be open emotionally and consequently wounded. This is one of the reasons I’ve selected Casino Royale as part of the countdown; Bond is the ultimate icon of misogyny, yet he is still human. The training he receives as an agent for the secret service, coupled with him being an orphan is a perfect case study in dysfunctional masculinity. Although the character is portrayed as a hero, he is thoroughly fallible and whether Fleming intended it or not, it shows through in the writing.
The world of James Bond back in 1953 is in some ways not unlike our world today. Several decades on, the novel presents one striking question, which many of us find ourselves asking today. When it comes to men and women, are we equals? The novel certainly presents one answer. It also serves as a potent reminder that until the answer is yes, we must never stop asking.
Written and heavily influenced by World War II, the novel sees Britain as an Imperial power; an image that saturates all of Fleming’s Bond novels. The extent of this power is tested when M, head of the British Secret Service dispatches Bond to play a high-stakes game of baccarat against Le Chiffre, the paymaster for a Russian trade union. Bond is assigned a companion in the attractive form of Vesper Lynd, a personal assistant to the Head of Section S of the Soviet Union. In the novel, Vesper explains that she was born on a stormy evening and her parents named her after the Latin word ‘vesper’, meaning evening. Fleming created the famous cocktail recipe for Bond in the novel, which became popular after the its publication and which Bond names ‘the Vesper martini’. (Sidenote: the recipe is recited by Daniel Craig in the 2006 film adaptation of Casino Royale and it is delicious!)
Vesper and Bond are required to bankrupt Le Chiffre and the baccarat session sees a number of international spies who have been sent to keep an eye on the proceedings. Initially, Bond fails and loses the money that was invested by the British government – essentially meaning they have indirectly financed terrorism. Bond is staked in the game by a member of the FBI and he proceeds to bankrupt Le Chiffre. This leads to Bond and Vesper being captured and tortured with disastrous consequences for all involved.
The writing is extremely precise and accurate, yet it somehow lacks an emotional attachment. This may sound odd, but in order to write about a character with Bond’s sense of hypermasculinity, a detachment from emotion and from people, as well as the character’s ability to switch off after a kill, it makes sense for the creator to demonstrate these qualities in every part of the writing. This is most notable towards the end of the novel, when Bond has allowed himself to be open emotionally and consequently wounded. This is one of the reasons I’ve selected Casino Royale as part of the countdown; Bond is the ultimate icon of misogyny, yet he is still human. The training he receives as an agent for the secret service, coupled with him being an orphan is a perfect case study in dysfunctional masculinity. Although the character is portrayed as a hero, he is thoroughly fallible and whether Fleming intended it or not, it shows through in the writing.
The world of James Bond back in 1953 is in some ways not unlike our world today. Several decades on, the novel presents one striking question, which many of us find ourselves asking today. When it comes to men and women, are we equals? The novel certainly presents one answer. It also serves as a potent reminder that until the answer is yes, we must never stop asking.
wickedmitch's review against another edition
3.0
A solid installment. While nothing particularly groundbreaking it’s a good quick read if you are traveling or otherwise need something to kill a few hours with
charmingcapybara's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
bookhamster88's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
eller's review
2.0
he could get away with the misogyny in the movies bc he was hot but he has a skinned peener and an abrasive disposition just like his skinned peener
nmussarrat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0