Live and Let Die (James Bond Novels) by Ian Fleming
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Book Reviews of Live and Let Die (James Bond Novels)
Book Review: Bond series kicks into high gear
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a fine novel for Bond fans, and it kicks the series into high gear after the relatively low-key "Casino Royale." We get a more operatic Bond villain (Mr. Big), an appealing heroine (Solitaire), and a good sidekick (Quarrel); sadly, the plot doesn't quite match up, revolving around pirate treasure.
There is a bit of an element of racism -- how offended you are by this probably will depend on how unable you are to put the novel in a proper histroical context. Personally, I don't think Fleming had any racist intent; if anything, he was merely reflecting a mostly racist world.
Fleming's writing style here is inconsistent, but frequently quite elegant. There is a chapter toward the end involving Bond making his way by sea-bottom to Mr. Big's lair, and this chapter is beautifully written all the way through; it's one of the novel's highlights, and shows the keen eye for detail that marked the best of Fleming's work.
The novel is only vaguely similar to the 1973 movie, but it is interesting to note that major elements and scenes from the novel that went unused in that movie were later used in both "For Your Eyes Only" and "Licence to Kill."
Book Review: Another Solid Bond
Summary: 4 Stars
This is another solid Bond. Well-written, lots of action, the obligatory gorgeous woman, etc. There is not much to differentiate the plot from other Bonds. That is not to say it is not a classic in the spy genre - all of Fleming's are. This is just not the best.
What does differentiate this novel from the others is the bad guy. He is right up there with the best of the bad. Mr. Big is an ingenious torturer/killer. He wants to be the first great black criminal and commit his crimes with ingenuity and subtlety. He is great character. One of the most sinister villains a reader will ever encounter. The plot line actually plays second fiddle to this master of voodoo and evil.
A warning, or maybe a cultural aside: this book, written in the fifties, has a none too politically correct view and take on the black race. Especially at the beginning, it read as a cross between revolting bigotry and an interesting lesson of the racial stereotypes of the fifties.
A good, solid spy novel with everything one can expect from Fleming's Bond.
Book Review: Voodoo Bond
Summary: 4 Stars
Live and Let Die is the second book in Ian Fleming's James Bond series. I preferred Casino Royale, but this one is certainly a good Bond story. This time 007 is in the United States trying to deal with the dangerous Mr. Big, the leader of a well-organized mob dealing in drugs and smuggling. Bond is helped in his efforts to learn about Mr. Big's operations by the enigmatic and beautiful Solitaire. As was true in Casino Royale, Bond is also aided by Felix Leiter, the indomitable US CIA agent. The story leads from New York to Florida to Jamaica and has an outstanding ending as Bond once again saves the day under extremely perilous circumstances. The characters in the book are well written, but the book's descriptions of African-Americans are particularly dated since the book was written in 1954.
Read the book and enjoy Bond, but this was not Ian Fleming's best effort. Now on to Diamonds are Forever, the third book in the series.
Book Review: Fast Paced and Enjoyable
Summary: 4 Stars
The second Bond novel has a fairly simple plot yet some of the most memorable moments in the Bond series. Bond is sent to New York because some underworld thug is smuggling god coins to the Russians. The thug, named Mr. Big, is a SMERSH agent and Bond, along with CIA contact Felix Leiter, are up to spoiling his plans.
This book, published around 1954, could be deemed racy in today's world (in the context that it was written by an aging white European many years ago) and the love scenes with Solitaire (Mr. Big's card reader) seem forced - as if Fleming was too uptight describing passion.
However, overall this is an enjoyable book, fast paced, lots of action and great characters.
Book Review: What a lovely squat you have, Miss Dennings . . . .
Summary: 4 Stars
I don't know about you guys but I bought this one exclusively for the cover. This broad makes all the coarse black hair on my back stand up and do a jig. Are you kidding me? When me and my old lady are in bed at night reading, she's the only one reading, trust me. I'm looking over this here broad. The fine curves, the jack and the queen and all the subliminals make this a hot-to-trot number that I can't put down. When the old lady asks me what the book's about, I show her the cover. Let her cuss. I'm thinking about maybe reading the back cover or something, I don't know, I guess I still ain't figured out the front cover. When I do, maybe I'll write a review about it.