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Comments
@Ludovico, what a brilliant summation.
I started reading this stuff when I was ten. I read Dr.No first and then the rest in chronological order. The first two that I bought in JC first editions were OHMSS & YOLT in '63 and '64 respectively.
As I said previously, I've revisited most of them multiple times and confirmed that my initial comprehension was actually quite strong. Given your appreciation, I fear YOLT could have been the exception. I will read it again - thanks!
Oh and I forgot the whole ''transformation'' into a Japanese. First as a disguise, then when he loses his memory, he ''becomes' one. 007 turned into a dim-witted Japanese fisherman. There are things in Fleming's novels they never dare to bring on the screen so far. This is one of them.
Is that a good or a bad thing. I think both novels are excellent, though clearly Fleming was a one of a kind author never to be truly replicated again.
:O
My thought exactly.
And mine. Moonraker is a most excellent novel. My personal favourite, but there's no pleasing some people, I suppose.
Oh dear. Will probably come back tomorrow saying he's just finished Devil May Care and it was brilliant.
Yes, and sadly the two don't really mix that much.
:O
They CAN, I guess you mean that they usually don't-?
I meant that Fleming and the films are often so very different. Sorry if I did not convey the correct meaning there @chrisisall.
I'm not including TSWLM here for obvious reasons. I'm gonna go with Goldfinger.
I agree with you. Ironic then that it was this novel that caused Fleming so much trouble, and may have cost him his life...
Truth, although one can have one's least favourite I guess, maybe, barely......
All 14 volumes are double-plus excellent!
For reference, Dr No has been my favorite by far. I'd rank them:
1. Dr. No
2. From Russia With Love
3. Live and Let Die
4. Diamonds Are Forever
5. Casino Royale
6. Moonraker
Hence why TSWLM and QOS deal more with the emotional side of life's troubles.The destruction of a relationship, the subtle turning of love to hate.
Fleming was a skilled and nuanced writer, perhaps some would be better off reading some Dan Brown or JK Rowling, if Fleming is too advanced for them.
Re: TB again, as noted above, I found it not only a slog, but did anyone else find that Leiter (a character I love), was unlikeable and most of his interaction was bitching about something or other?? Fleming creates great character, but this is not the Leiter I had met in CR, or LALD!
I think he did wrote them on the spot - all the books that is. I heard he took roughly six weeks to 2 months on writing from start to finish. That was where he was truly skilled.