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FINALLY started reading the Bond books.


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#1 DamnCoffee

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Posted 06 November 2011 - 09:42 PM

Love it. Truly. I've never really gotten round to reading the Bond novels, not because I wasn't interested, just because I'm not that much of a reader. After acquiring the audio books, I decided to give them a shot. I have a vague idea of what goes on in each novel, but I haven't properly read them. Thought it would be about time to start.

I adored Casino Royale, the only thing I had a problem with was the Bond and Vesper relationship. I mean, the Royale assignment lasted a few days. Bond met Vesper some time during that, not straight away. Bond was tortured and was hospitalised for 3 weeks. He resigned, which I completely understand. The thing is, I really didn't find the Bond and Vesper relationship believable. I honestly don't think for a second that Bond loved her. For a man as tough as he is, he can't just start to fall in love with Vesper over the course of a few days. Bond said it himself that he only really felt lust for her. It's a great novel, but I dunno. I felt it was too easy. Plus, Vesper annoyed the hell out of me. Crying into her pillow every night ever so dramatically.

Although, a great novel. Started Live and Let Die. Loving it so far, only a few chapters in, though.

#2 Pussfeller

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Posted 06 November 2011 - 10:01 PM

I love Live and Let Die. It's my favorite of the novels. I remember liking it a lot more than Casino Royale, and finding it more "Bondian".

#3 MarkA

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Posted 06 November 2011 - 10:10 PM

I first read Live and Let Die before it was a film! I am so envious of you. I read the books so many years ago and have read them many times since but that first read is so exciting. You have some great times ahead.

#4 jrcjohnny99

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Posted 06 November 2011 - 10:18 PM

Yep, CR is a decent read but LALD is a big step up and still remains one of my top 3 Bond books (along with FRWL and OHMSS);
I read the books about once every 5 years, i'm actually towards the end of a cycle right now having just finished YOLT...

#5 Elmason

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Posted 06 November 2011 - 10:34 PM

Love it. Truly. I've never really gotten round to reading the Bond novels, not because I wasn't interested, just because I'm not that much of a reader. After acquiring the audio books, I decided to give them a shot. I have a vague idea of what goes on in each novel, but I haven't properly read them. Thought it would be about time to start.

I adored Casino Royale, the only thing I had a problem with was the Bond and Vesper relationship. I mean, the Royale assignment lasted a few days. Bond met Vesper some time during that, not straight away. Bond was tortured and was hospitalised for 3 weeks. He resigned, which I completely understand. The thing is, I really didn't find the Bond and Vesper relationship believable. I honestly don't think for a second that Bond loved her. For a man as tough as he is, he can't just start to fall in love with Vesper over the course of a few days. Bond said it himself that he only really felt lust for her. It's a great novel, but I dunno. I felt it was too easy. Plus, Vesper annoyed the hell out of me. Crying into her pillow every night ever so dramatically.

Although, a great novel. Started Live and Let Die. Loving it so far, only a few chapters in, though.


Casino Royale was the first of the books that I read back in 2006 before the film came out and I've since read some of the other Fleming novels.

I enjoyed it (and the others) but do remember being surprised at how unlikeable I felt the character of Bond was. Undoubtedly this was coloured by me having grown up watching the movies first and foremost and obviously the shift in attitudes in society generally from the time the book was written.

I'd be interested to know what your thoughts were.

#6 DamnCoffee

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Posted 06 November 2011 - 10:37 PM

Personally, I didn't think that much of Bonds character, I definitely thought he was a right bastard. But at the same time, I loved just how... sophisticated he was. The food he eats, etc. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Bond progresses throughout the novels, that's the aspect i'm most excited about.

Also, whenever I read I see the actors from the films. I saw Craig as Bond, Green as Vesper. Saw Orson Welles/Mads Mikklesen as Le Chiffre, too. I did see Bernard Lee as M though. Reading Live and Let Die it's pretty much the same. Although, Craig is still Bond for me.

#7 Elmason

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Posted 06 November 2011 - 11:09 PM

Yeah I think bastard is a nice word to sum him up.

I enjoyed the details of the way he lives as well and you'll get a lot more of that as you continue through the books. Theres one particular sequence in Moonraker (I think) where Bond is getting dressed to go to a gentlemans club with M and the description of the suit, shirt and tie are intricately detailed. Great stuff!

#8 Clements

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Posted 07 November 2011 - 01:35 AM

I adored Casino Royale, the only thing I had a problem with was the Bond and Vesper relationship.


I remember having the same impression the first time I read CR (and after subsequent readings as well). For such a worldly guy, Bond comes off as rather...emotionally immature when it comes to women.

It's interesting to see how Bond evolves in this regard as the books progress. It's hard to go into detail without spoilers, so I'll just say that he seems to have evolved greatly by the time he has his first encounter with Tiffany Case in DAF. I'd be interested to hear your opinion when you get there. (I suspect the ending of MR has a lot to do with it.)

#9 00Twelve

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Posted 07 November 2011 - 01:48 AM

Hark, LALD is still my favorite. I just love the raw energy and pace of the story, and of course, the role that dear uncle Felix had to play. Looking forward to your thoughts once you're done.

#10 freemo

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Posted 07 November 2011 - 02:14 AM

The thing is, I really didn't find the Bond and Vesper relationship believable. I honestly don't think for a second that Bond loved her. For a man as tough as he is, he can't just start to fall in love with Vesper over the course of a few days.


Of course the idea is put forth that “all harsh, cold men" are "easily tipped over into sentiment", but I see what you mean.

Enjoyed your thoughts. Keep us posted as you read on through the books. :)

#11 AMC Hornet

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Posted 07 November 2011 - 03:26 AM

After I'd read Casino Royale a few times (and other literature while earning my first degree) I came to appreciate the interesting character arc Fleming created, which I think is almost unique in literature, and certainly unique in the Bond canon.

What makes Casino Royale a story - rather than just another episode in the adventures of 007 - is in how James Bond went - through his experiences at the hand of Le Chiffre - from being a self-indulgent blunt instrument in the service of HRH to a vulnerable human being who questions the validity of this game of 'red indians' he's been playing. Then, upon learning of Vesper's betrayal, he hauls his emotional armour back on and returns to being a self-indulgent blunt instrument, only now motivated to destroy "the threat behind the spies - the threat that made them spy."

I was so gratified when this arc was respected and presented in its entirety in the 2006 film. It's what likewise makes Craig's Casino Royale a story, rather than just another action episode (too bad QoS had to ignore the completion of this arc and force Bond to go through it all again).

Usually a character's experiences change him/her permantently ("I would never be the same again"), but Fleming has Bond revert to his default personality, which I think is more realistic. Bond would not experience such emotional change again until he met Tracy, and that experience would leave him shattered (and why not?). The next bout of character development would take place in YOLT, as Bond finds a new reason to live in the pursuit of Blofeld. Without offering any spoilers, MHarkin, I think you will be impressed and affected by the way Fleming has Bond recover from that catharsis.

All that said, I hope that SkyFall will indeed be just another action episode. I told myself before CR came out that, if I didn't like it, I would probably like the next one, once the new 007 character had been established. The opposite has turned out to be true - I think it's about time for another Thundeball/TSWLM actioner. I want a visceral, not an emotional, rollercoaster ride this time.

#12 OmarB

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Posted 07 November 2011 - 05:34 AM

Glad to hear have started listening to Casino Royale.

#13 x007AceOfSpades

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Posted 07 November 2011 - 05:45 AM

I'm hoping to get Carte Blanche and Icebreaker for Christmas. I've yet to read Devil May Care and I got that last Christmas.

#14 DamnCoffee

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Posted 07 November 2011 - 07:49 PM

I'm onto Chapter 10 of Live and Let Die. AMAZING. I love it. Loved how Felix made friends with one of his kidnappers, and Bonds first escape from Mr Big would be brilliant to see on film. I can easily imagine Craig dispatching Tee Hee like that. I can't wait read the rest of it. The pacing I feel is great up to now, loads better than Casino Royale. :tup:

#15 AMC Hornet

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Posted 07 November 2011 - 11:17 PM

I think we see a glimpse of Tee Hee's dispatching in the stairwell fight in CR '06 - at least that's what I thought when I first saw it.

Perhaps Craig's Bond will get a finger broken some day - or did Pierce's collar bone injury in TWINE cover that?

#16 DamnCoffee

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Posted 08 November 2011 - 03:10 AM

OH COME ON BOND! You can do Solitaire with one arm, surely!

#17 Chief of SIS

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Posted 08 November 2011 - 04:26 AM

OH COME ON BOND! You can do Solitaire with one arm, surely!


Fact

#18 archer1949

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Posted 08 November 2011 - 04:58 AM

My top three of the Fleming novels

1. Live and Let Die. A globetrotting Bond adventure with some of my favorite moments in the Bond canon. The ruthless bastard Bond against ruthless bastard enemies. Great badass moments. MUCH better than the movie.

2. Moonraker: Simple story well told with my all time favorite Bond girl.

3. Thunderball: It follows the movie pretty closely, but I prefer the prose version. Less camp moments and I think the underwater action scenes worked better in print.

#19 Vauxhall

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Posted 08 November 2011 - 11:26 AM

You Only Live Twice and From Russia with Love are my clear favourites. Enjoy them!

#20 DamnCoffee

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Posted 13 November 2011 - 03:29 AM

Absolutely love Live and Let Die. I'm quite far in it, and I have to say that it's such a vast improvement over Casino Royale. Not that Casino Royale was bad or anything, It's just Royale was a more personal book, confined to almost one location. Live and Let Die is more open, it's lovely to see Bond travel to many different locations, it feels more grand in scale. It was nice that Licence to Kill finally brought the whole Felix thing to the screen, but it's a lot better in the book.

I can't help thinking how different it would've been if the Bond books were filmed in order and were a lot closer to the source material. I guess the world wasn't ready for that, at the time. Loving it though, truly stunning stuff.

#21 00Twelve

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Posted 13 November 2011 - 05:32 AM

Absolutely love Live and Let Die. I'm quite far in it, and I have to say that it's such a vast improvement over Casino Royale. Not that Casino Royale was bad or anything, It's just Royale was a more personal book, confined to almost one location. Live and Let Die is more open, it's lovely to see Bond travel to many different locations, it feels more grand in scale. It was nice that Licence to Kill finally brought the whole Felix thing to the screen, but it's a lot better in the book.

I can't help thinking how different it would've been if the Bond books were filmed in order and were a lot closer to the source material. I guess the world wasn't ready for that, at the time. Loving it though, truly stunning stuff.

See? We still haven't had a real adaptation of that story. Isn't it awesome? I'd have loved to seen a PTS of Bond narrowly escaping the blast in the hotel room (amplified for film, of course) and giving chase to the would-be assassin.

#22 DamnCoffee

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Posted 13 November 2011 - 01:06 PM

The only thing in the book that is annoying me, is the fact that it doesn't meke it clear whether Bond is in or out of the water. When Bond is swimming to Mr Bigs island, Bond is walking across the sand. Next thing he's getting attacked by a Barracuda. It really confuses me. Happened at many other instances as well. Just glad he's out of the damn ocean.

Edited by Mharkin, 13 November 2011 - 01:06 PM.


#23 Safari Suit

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Posted 13 November 2011 - 02:50 PM

So are you reading them or listening to them? The reference to buying the audio books in your first paragraph has confused me a little.

And yes LALD is rather special. And not just because of that.

#24 DamnCoffee

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Posted 13 November 2011 - 02:52 PM

I'm listening to them. I haven't read Casino Royale, but I can say that I've read it, if that makes sense. I know what's happening, I know what's going on, so I've as good as read the books. I just find it easier when I'm getting told what's happening. I'm not that much of a reader. :)

#25 Safari Suit

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Posted 13 November 2011 - 03:06 PM

OK, got you :)

#26 MarkA

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Posted 13 November 2011 - 04:45 PM

If they are audio they must be unabridged. The strength of the novels lies in the writing.

#27 DamnCoffee

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 05:12 PM

They are unabridged. :)

Finished 'Live and Let Die', last night. Wow, amazing book. My favourite so far, without a doubt. (I've only read 2, but it was a lot better than Casino). My god, the climax! It was done well in For Your Eyes Only, but I just loved how Bond was assessing the situation in this head, going through the alternate outcomes and possibilities. Especially loved when Bond considered drowning Solitaire, and himself. Reminded me of Bond preparing to shoot Camille, in Quantum of Solace to stop the pain for her. Overall, a fantastic, thrilling book.

I started Moonraker immediately after, I'm up to the Blades. Really liked the idea of Drax being seen as a somewhat national treasure. Even Bond respects him. Really looking forward to listening to more of it, tonight.

#28 Mr. Blofeld

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 05:20 PM

When Bond is swimming to Mr Bigs island, Bond is walking across the sand. Next thing he's getting attacked by a Barracuda. It really confuses me.

I think he means the sand at the bottom of the ocean; he's trying to carefully, cautiously walk across it, and next thing he knows, there's a giant damned barracuda -- at least, that's how I took it when I read it.

Hope you like Moonraker; it's a hell of a ride, and much better than the movie. :)

#29 DamnCoffee

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 05:22 PM

Yeah, I understand that. Just don't understand why he's walking in the first place, since the oceans so deep. Just swim man! You can't just casually walk over the ocean bed. It's not right. :P

#30 Mr. Blofeld

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 05:24 PM

It's been a while, but wasn't he wearing diving equipment? I think there was a story reason for the walking rather than the swimming, but I can't seem to bring it to mind...

...ahhh, well; it was a good one, regardless. :)