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thinkspink's review
4.0
So I only read this as my version has a schlocky cover... but it's really good! I would definitely read these over the Bond books. Although I possibly could stand less descriptions of Modesty's clothing in every single scene.
sherwoodreads's review
I wondered how I managed to miss these when I was a teenager and absolutely starved for active female protagonists whose entire reason for being wasn't marriage. When I hit the scene where Modesty has guilt-free sex with an artist friend, I thought, bingo, now I know why our local librarian didn't buy it.
It was published in 1965, and the inspiration was probably a female James Bond. (It shows in the details about weapons, and what she's wearing in any given scene.) There is far less wince-making stereotyping and casual racism than many novels of the time, and there is some interesting stuff about how people with severe PTSD deal with finding a meaning for life when survival mode is no longer necessary.
The pacing is fast, the villains extremely unpleasant, and there is a lot of violence. On the plus side, vivid settings and the attention to detail is extended to minor characters as well as major.
I find Modesty a little too perfect to be interesting in herself, but Willie Garvin, her partner, is compellingly complex, and I love the way their platonic relationship is handled.
It was published in 1965, and the inspiration was probably a female James Bond. (It shows in the details about weapons, and what she's wearing in any given scene.) There is far less wince-making stereotyping and casual racism than many novels of the time, and there is some interesting stuff about how people with severe PTSD deal with finding a meaning for life when survival mode is no longer necessary.
The pacing is fast, the villains extremely unpleasant, and there is a lot of violence. On the plus side, vivid settings and the attention to detail is extended to minor characters as well as major.
I find Modesty a little too perfect to be interesting in herself, but Willie Garvin, her partner, is compellingly complex, and I love the way their platonic relationship is handled.
ida_hagen03's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
sienamystic's review
5.0
The Modesty Blaise books have been on my to-read list for a while and I’m happy that I’ve started in on them. A great thriller with wonderful characters. I’m already in love.
carriedoodledoo's review
3.0
Beat James Bond all to heck. Comics are good, and this book was good, but for the love of all that is right and good in the world I beg of you do not go see the movie. Calm and cool Modesty is turned into a shrieking, giggling Italian "it" girl.
What I liked about this book: Modesty lived her life on her own terms, rose above her circumstances, and didn't let all the horrible things that happened to her define her. She accepts the admiration and care of others as right, but doesn't let them tie her down.
I liked the characters. The heroes were heroic, the villains were dirty rotten bad guys--but they had individualism. Good writing from the author of the comic strip. It's a shame the movies ditched his screenplay to make a Bond parody--the phrase is an oxymoron those darn movies parody themselves.
What I liked about this book: Modesty lived her life on her own terms, rose above her circumstances, and didn't let all the horrible things that happened to her define her. She accepts the admiration and care of others as right, but doesn't let them tie her down.
I liked the characters. The heroes were heroic, the villains were dirty rotten bad guys--but they had individualism. Good writing from the author of the comic strip. It's a shame the movies ditched his screenplay to make a Bond parody--the phrase is an oxymoron those darn movies parody themselves.
al27caro's review
3.5
I read this because he also wrote as Madeleine Brent and I really liked those books. I was not as fond of the Peter O'Donnell books.
ja_aska's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
dodgson's review
4.0
Witty and energetic, with elegant twists that keep things challenging without seeming overwrought. Despite a few earmarks of its era, the sexual politics feel remarkably forward-thinking.
zare_i's review
5.0
I've followed adventures of Modesty and Willie for almost 20 years now but always in the form of comics (drawn by the great Holdaway and later by Romero).
So I was surprised when I found out that there were novels about Modesty Blaise. At first I was afraid that the quality will be lower (movies were true let-downs) but boy was I wrong.
This is the first novel in the series and what a novel if I may say. I can only say I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Update Jan 10th 2019 - Books that age well are very rare and [b:Modesty Blaise|463149|Modesty Blaise (Modesty Blaise, #1)|Peter O'Donnell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327947244s/463149.jpg|3689460] is one of these gems. I re-read it with joy 8 years after and it still packs a punch.
Highly recommended to all action, thriller and Modesty Blaise fans.
So I was surprised when I found out that there were novels about Modesty Blaise. At first I was afraid that the quality will be lower (movies were true let-downs) but boy was I wrong.
This is the first novel in the series and what a novel if I may say. I can only say I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Update Jan 10th 2019 - Books that age well are very rare and [b:Modesty Blaise|463149|Modesty Blaise (Modesty Blaise, #1)|Peter O'Donnell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327947244s/463149.jpg|3689460] is one of these gems. I re-read it with joy 8 years after and it still packs a punch.
Highly recommended to all action, thriller and Modesty Blaise fans.
tanac's review
5.0
I love, love, loved this book. Despite being written in the 1960s, our heroine is surprisingly modern. She's sexually adventurous and not ashamed about it, she's competent, brilliant, and dashing, all at the same time. I see the stamp of her heritage on Phryne Fisher, and it's just as delightful there. The plot is serviceable enough (as good as any Bond plot), but Modesty's rightfully the center attraction. Delightful.