Just finished Thunderball last night on ThunderPussy's recommendation (cheers fella), did not take me that long (even though I am in the slow-reader group).
The reason it did not take me very long to read? it's so damn good I couldn't put it down!
I loved this book. Everything just works, the story is tight, Bond is at his best, the locations, characters, the mission itself, all are great.
The Shrublands bit drags a touch, but the rest just works. Great, great book.
LALD, is another great story, very America in the 50s, the language is
Very racist in places ( Then it was a very different time) Mr Big is a
Superb villain. With some terrific set pieces. -{
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,689MI6 Agent
I've just finished For Special Services ( J Gardner) and I'm really enjoying
Getting to reread his novels. FSS is an epic in scale, up there with GF or
TB for the villain's plan.
It's still my favourite J Gardner Bond book, and I'll be reading Icebreaker
For March. -{
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
What Fleming Novels have you read, Spoff? I would recommend MR (As many here know I would )
Hi. I have read about five, Moonraker is one of them and I really liked it.
I have also read:
Casino Royale
Thunderball
Octopussy/ The living daylights
I realise I read some out of publication order, so I am trying to go from after CR forwards now (missing out the ones I have already read) I am slowly collecting the "Vintage 007" series as I really like the retro covers, I am buying the next as I reach the end of the current one. They can be had for really good prices on Amazon.
Just started Live and Let Die last night, after two chapters I am really enjoying that too. Flemings descriptions of New York are excellent. Technically Moonraker would be next, but I read a dog-eared charity shop copy about a month ago (same with CR and OP), so I will move right on to Diamonds are forever, and buy Moonraker/ Octopussy and Casino Royale to complete the set when I finish them all (TB and LALD are already the "vintage" ones).
I too read them out of order Spoff, as I'd pick them up from old book shops and
Markets, but I can recommend ( as you're doing) reading them in order as you can
See Fleming building up his style and the development of Bond himself. -{
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Yes, I can relate to that: I read them out of order originally (starting with Dr No) as I didn't know what the 'proper order' was until I thought to look a the publication dates. I remember being surprised that they didn't follow the 'film order' (to say nothing of the content!)
As to the "Vintage Classic 007" Fleming novels with their retro covers, I've just blown a wad of cash replacing my 'mix & match' collection with all new versions in this retro range. The covers are just awesome!
I'm now going back through them to read them in order, even the ones I've read before. I'm nearly finished Moonraker now and enjoying the marathon. Can't wait to start Diamonds are Forever next, which is one of the few I've never read before.
Just convinced the wife to give Casino Royale a try (she did the same to me with the "Harry Potter" series, years ago) so I hope she enjoys it enough to try the whole series...
{[] I think it's always great to go back and read them again from time to time. As
Sometimes you forget how good they are. Also time/age plays a part as ( as a teen)
I hated TSWLM and most of the short stories, but on my last reading, I could
Appreciate the excellent writing in TSWLM and enjoyed the short stories much more
Even QOS, which is Bond listening to a story of a married couple who end up hating
Each other. Is a lovely little example of how a deep love can change over time to a
Cruel hatred for each other ( look at Higgins and ASP9mm ) )
I love FYEO and TLD, both excellent examples of Fleming's skill as a storyteller but
Also examples of Bonds work. When not on a big case like TB.
I have the audio books and generally load up one or two to my phone or mp3 player
To listen to in the car etc. Although I still dance around, to fool people into thinking I'm
Listening to music!
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
It's funny because my missus who is an English Literature Graduate took the mickey at them when I first started (not in a nasty way, but in a "really? are they any good?" kind of way). Then she read a page or two of Thunderball over my shoulder the other night and got hooked )
Hahaha! Luckily my missus hasn't picked up on that. We're watching all the films in order in our house (I bought a stack of the films a while back and we now have everything up to The Living Daylights, plus a couple of Brosnans and a Craig.
The missus, myself and the in-laws often get together to watch them. We're currently up to Thunderball next. We're pretty much unanimous in that Connery epitomises Bond for us (except the missus still holds a candle for Roger Moore).
Inevitably, we've cheated somewhat: we watched For Your Eyes Only (to keep the missus happy with a Moore film), On Her Majesty's Secret Service (as the mother-in-law thinks that Lazenby was the hottest Bond) and Diamonds are Forever as the father-in-law saw it and put it on because it was the closest one to him at the time.
However, I'm insisting that we carry on with Thunderball next...
Agree LALD is another great novel. Mr Big is a fantastic villain and the
Atmosphere Fleming describes of the 50s setting is superbly done. One
Scene I think is truly brilliant and creepy, is Bond's moonlight swim across
To Mr Big's yacht. -{
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Comments
Under control.
The reason it did not take me very long to read? it's so damn good I couldn't put it down!
I loved this book. Everything just works, the story is tight, Bond is at his best, the locations, characters, the mission itself, all are great.
The Shrublands bit drags a touch, but the rest just works. Great, great book.
Starting Live and Let Die tonight
Very racist in places ( Then it was a very different time) Mr Big is a
Superb villain. With some terrific set pieces. -{
As would I, it's my favourite Bond novel, being the first one I read in the summer of 1997!
Found his groove, if you will.
But I also love TB, MR and Dr No.
Getting to reread his novels. FSS is an epic in scale, up there with GF or
TB for the villain's plan.
It's still my favourite J Gardner Bond book, and I'll be reading Icebreaker
For March. -{
Such a brilliant Novel.
Good choices all.
I'm also a great fan of CR, FRWL and LALD. I've never read DAF nor GF but I'm guessing I'll enjoy those two.
They're all great but I still think that OHMSS is the best novel of them all...
Hi. I have read about five, Moonraker is one of them and I really liked it.
I have also read:
Casino Royale
Thunderball
Octopussy/ The living daylights
I realise I read some out of publication order, so I am trying to go from after CR forwards now (missing out the ones I have already read) I am slowly collecting the "Vintage 007" series as I really like the retro covers, I am buying the next as I reach the end of the current one. They can be had for really good prices on Amazon.
Just started Live and Let Die last night, after two chapters I am really enjoying that too. Flemings descriptions of New York are excellent. Technically Moonraker would be next, but I read a dog-eared charity shop copy about a month ago (same with CR and OP), so I will move right on to Diamonds are forever, and buy Moonraker/ Octopussy and Casino Royale to complete the set when I finish them all (TB and LALD are already the "vintage" ones).
I have enjoyed all of them so far...
Markets, but I can recommend ( as you're doing) reading them in order as you can
See Fleming building up his style and the development of Bond himself. -{
As to the "Vintage Classic 007" Fleming novels with their retro covers, I've just blown a wad of cash replacing my 'mix & match' collection with all new versions in this retro range. The covers are just awesome!
I'm now going back through them to read them in order, even the ones I've read before. I'm nearly finished Moonraker now and enjoying the marathon. Can't wait to start Diamonds are Forever next, which is one of the few I've never read before.
Just convinced the wife to give Casino Royale a try (she did the same to me with the "Harry Potter" series, years ago) so I hope she enjoys it enough to try the whole series...
Sometimes you forget how good they are. Also time/age plays a part as ( as a teen)
I hated TSWLM and most of the short stories, but on my last reading, I could
Appreciate the excellent writing in TSWLM and enjoyed the short stories much more
Even QOS, which is Bond listening to a story of a married couple who end up hating
Each other. Is a lovely little example of how a deep love can change over time to a
Cruel hatred for each other ( look at Higgins and ASP9mm )
I love FYEO and TLD, both excellent examples of Fleming's skill as a storyteller but
Also examples of Bonds work. When not on a big case like TB.
I have the audio books and generally load up one or two to my phone or mp3 player
To listen to in the car etc. Although I still dance around, to fool people into thinking I'm
Listening to music!
She is thinking of reading some of them now -{
She will watch the odd Bond Adventure, but she prefers Films like Indiana Jones, Back To The Future, etc..
Mine has seen Goldfinger and Dr. No, she enjoyed them, but says she has got the general idea and probably doesn't need to see any more
To which I said "wait until you see some Roger Moore ones!" -{
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
With lines like " Man talk", but I explain it as Bond being an
Alpha Male.
But back then...Perfectly acceptable -{
The missus, myself and the in-laws often get together to watch them. We're currently up to Thunderball next. We're pretty much unanimous in that Connery epitomises Bond for us (except the missus still holds a candle for Roger Moore).
Inevitably, we've cheated somewhat: we watched For Your Eyes Only (to keep the missus happy with a Moore film), On Her Majesty's Secret Service (as the mother-in-law thinks that Lazenby was the hottest Bond) and Diamonds are Forever as the father-in-law saw it and put it on because it was the closest one to him at the time.
However, I'm insisting that we carry on with Thunderball next...
Another great book, really excellent.
Tight pacing, great descriptions of New York etc. Brilliant villain. All in all very, very good.
Bit racist, but it was written 60 years ago.
Would not even get past the publishers secretary nowadays (if the publisher even has a secretary, I guess it would be a PA now?)...
Already read Moonraker recently so Diamonds are Forever next.
Atmosphere Fleming describes of the 50s setting is superbly done. One
Scene I think is truly brilliant and creepy, is Bond's moonlight swim across
To Mr Big's yacht. -{