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reggiezim76's review against another edition
2.0
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I thought the writing was well done, but I was utterly turned off by the racial overtones. I understand Fleming was trying to capture the speech patterns of African Americans of the time, but he turned them into caricatures. Sadly, many black characters suffered from this phenomenon around this time.
On the plus side there are some great suspenseful moments and I like the fact that Bond is not the superman that he is in the films.
Reading Moonraker next and hoping it doesn't have the sexism and racism of this novel and the first one, Casino Royale.
On the plus side there are some great suspenseful moments and I like the fact that Bond is not the superman that he is in the films.
Reading Moonraker next and hoping it doesn't have the sexism and racism of this novel and the first one, Casino Royale.
dcbev's review against another edition
3.0
Reading the early Bond novels can be a tough sled these days. The casual racism and dismissive sexism characteristic of the mid-20th century Anglo-Saxon male mind now seems, even to one born into it in the early 1950s as I was, both appalling and disgraceful. Toss in a leavening of sunsetting (and therefore defensive) colonialist attitudes, the I-can-damn-well-say-whatever-I-damn-well-want-whenever-I-damn-well-want-to-just-because-I-can arrogance that characterized colonial British uppercrustism, combine it with the chest-puffing defeat of the Axis powers in WWII as reflected in the novel's language and the phony superiority that spawned it (so much for the Greatest Generation, Tom) and the Angloexceptionalist racist stench rises from the pages, foul and fetid. No wonder, well, everything.
Beyond that, this is a slapdash pastiche of what will become the signature Bond tropes: universal adoration of the cruel white handsome adventurer, preposterous action sequences in exotic locales, villains that can only be evil geniuses (or else why bother sending Bond James Bond on the assignment?), and violence as entertainment: necessary fun for the good guys but dastardly doings when performed by the bads.
The book reads as if written over a long weekend. I'm glad it's over and hoping for better in the later books.
Beyond that, this is a slapdash pastiche of what will become the signature Bond tropes: universal adoration of the cruel white handsome adventurer, preposterous action sequences in exotic locales, villains that can only be evil geniuses (or else why bother sending Bond James Bond on the assignment?), and violence as entertainment: necessary fun for the good guys but dastardly doings when performed by the bads.
The book reads as if written over a long weekend. I'm glad it's over and hoping for better in the later books.
fosully's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
joshparr's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
kim_reads87's review against another edition
2.0
I felt so uncomfortable reading this book. The writing of this one really shows its age. The writing and language used is so archaic. The language is so racist, it was really hard to get through this one especially at the beginning but I pushed through as it’s such an iconic series. I love the characters, especially Solitaire. She holds so much power but is overlooked. I will continue with the series and read Moonraker.
ccyc's review against another edition
I knew this was written in the 1950s but I draw the line at the N word
andreastopit's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
3.0
boabyb25's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sams84's review against another edition
2.0
This is the second in the Bond series and once again finds Bond battling for the greater good against colourful villains and seducing beautiful women. While this is relatively well written and with plenty of twists, you know that all will be well and no matter how many times Bond gets himself captured he will escape in the end. The story itself has all the traditional elements with the Soviets using whatever means they can to bring America down with Britain and America working together against the tyranny of the Soviet Bloc (probably more relevant then than it is now…) as well as the usual exotic locations and complicated criminal goings-on. A fairly good read but not one that really adds a lot to the series, perfect for Bond aficionados though.
bookhamster88's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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