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As much as I like CR the film, the novel is just so vivid and attention-grabbing to me, especially in those last 70-80 pages which was when I really took off and couldn't put the book down. I wouldn't have minded the film adaptation going that way; would've been slower paced and without a grand, explosive finale, but still, I thought it was a lot more personal and emotional, the angle Fleming took.
LALD was fairly solid - didn't necessarily wow me, a bit sluggish in parts (mainly from the time he dispatches The Robber to when Bond and Quarrel are prepping over that week period), but a good cast of characters and some very rich detail made it a joy, as all the novels likely are. Reading through Bond and Leiter's trip through Harlem was so well done that it felt like the closest to 1950's club hopping as I'll ever get to experience.
2018 Novel Ranking:
1. CR
2. LALD
I have the Penguin Edition, and it retained the original 'Nigger Heaven' chapter title. I just looked into it, had no clue the chapter was renamed in the American version, though that's not surprising.
DAMN, was that a good novel (finished it a couple days back, forgot to post). I went into it knowing my expectations of the film, and I was delighted to find the whole novel felt very contained around Drax's estate and the Moonraker launch site; felt akin to a proper detective mystery, with all the Bond flair and extravagance tossed in for good measure. Comes close to rivaling CR for my favorite thus far, a cracking good time. DAF is next, think I'll start that one tomorrow.
2018 Novel Ranking:
1. CR
2. MR
3. LALD
MR seems to just always edge it.
TB is one of my lesser Flemings, due to the obvious cinematic ambitions perhaps. I prefer the ones that were purely litterature.
Objectively I suppose I really can't name a best book. Especially after my latest read-through of the series (in order for the first time). It's become a sort of landscape with peaks of varying heights and just a few valleys. Sometimes with a fresh read of one novel or another, the peaks change.
"The dead are alive."
Took just a little bit to get going, but once it did, it took off. Loved Bond's journey across the States, his unexpected run-in with Leiter, the mud bath sequence, the characters were sound (Tiffany seems infinitely more manageable in the novels, I'll gladly take a Felix appearance any time, and Ernie made for a great tag-along with Bond, particularly during the entire chase sequence). The finale was excellent; the chase sequence, getting separated from Ernie, the showdown at Spectreville (which I wouldn't have minded Bond spending a little more time at, honestly), and the final throwdown between Bond and Wint and Kidd on the ship is gold. Much more preferable and tense than what we get for the finale of DAF, that is for damn sure.
2018 Novel Ranking:
1. CR
2. MR
3. LALD
4. DAF
Ranking is still "irrelevant" to me thus far because I've loved all four so far. Stayed up late as hell last night getting through the first 40 or 50 pages of FRWL; couldn't put it down, had me hooked already.
Slicing up people during a full moon, I love it. Got to the bit where they even take him to a prison monthly to execute however many subjects are available however he'd like.
I believe she even questions his sexuality as she traces and focuses on the hair. I really love just how in-depth they're going into Grant's character. I would've loved to have seen this translated even further on the big screen.
Including the coccyx, aka tailbone.
Interesting. What have you been studying, @MaxCasino?