From the Bookshelf of Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die…

Casino Royale (James Bond, #1)

Ian Fleming

Start date: March 15, 2014

Finish date: April 15, 2014

Discussion: 1001 Monthly Group Read

Why we're reading this: March 2014 Group Read
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What Members Thought

Aug 14, 2008 Inder rated it did not like it

Shelves: 1001-books, 20th-century, fiction, england, read-2008, summer-reading

So. So. Bad. Also - incredibly, over-the-top offensive. Bond wants the somewhat-withholding Vesper because he knows that making love to her will always "have the sweet tang of rape"??

W.T.F.?

Misogynist zingers aside, it's at least 70 pages too long. When it wasn't repulsive and offensive, it was really boring. I'm not saying it didn't have its fun moments, but they were surprisingly few and far between.

Raymond Chandler is quoted on the back as saying, "Bond is what every man would like to be and ...more

27 likes · Like · see review

Jul 20, 2008 Staci rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction-read, 1001-books

I listened to this in audio version & it was a very good production. I enjoyed the reader, Simon Vance. He did a very good job with the accents. Sometimes I think readers try to hard with accents. But I really enjoyed his reading. I also was pleasantly surprised by this book. This was my first experience with James Bond. I haven't even seen any of the movies. I really enjoyed this. It was a quick easy listen. I will definitely read more of James Bond. Part of the 1001 books to read list. ...more

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May 28, 2008 Deodand rated it liked it

Shelves: europe, mind-candy

I think every Bond fan should read this book, even if you don't particularly enjoy Fleming's work, just to know where the substance of the movies originated. I appreciate the asceticism of Fleming's style - less is definitely more here. He does have a fixation with describing outfits and dishes of food that's a little distracting. ...more

1 like · Like · see review