11-16-2012, 01:01 AM | #1 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,157
Karma: 7068605
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro
|
Bond, James Bond
Just read Casino Royale, never seen the film, and never read a Bond book before.
WOW....what a difference in reading the books vs watching a typical Bond movie. It was 140 pages, was damn boring until like page 70. No spy gadgets, a bit of action, and of course a "Bond Girl", but wow....nothing like what I was expecting. I wonder if the Gardner or Benson books are any different. I did buy Live and Let Die and converted from .azw to .epub, and I think I'll like them now that I know what to expect. But wow....perhaps this may be an instance where the movies are better than the books? |
11-16-2012, 06:59 AM | #2 |
Literacy = Understanding
Posts: 4,833
Karma: 59674358
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The World of Books
Device: Nook, Nook Tablet
|
The movie with Daniel Craig was excellent, as is the the new Bond movie, Skyfall. The Bond books were never know to be great masterpieces. In fact, Fleming changed the Bond character after seeing Sean Connery in the first movie.
|
Advert | |
|
11-16-2012, 07:12 AM | #3 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Fleming was known for the meticulous research he put into his books. They aren't literary masterpieces, but I think they're pretty well written.
|
11-16-2012, 07:29 AM | #4 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,157
Karma: 7068605
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro
|
That's interesting! I did enjoy the book. It just wasn't the roller coaster I expected. I'll look for differences in the character when I get that point!
You can definitely tell there was an absurd amount of research and detail. I got a very clear picture of what was going on. Sometimes it was a little bogged down with it though. |
11-16-2012, 07:35 AM | #5 |
Close to the Edit!
Posts: 9,797
Karma: 267994408
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis, Amazon Fire 8", Kindle 6"
|
The truth is that apart from the early Bond movies, they bear no more resemblance to the books than the hero's name and the title. Try reading The Spy Who Loved Me, for instance, and compare it to the film. They couldn't possibly be further apart (and actually, I preferred the book, even if it is a bit dated in its values).
|
Advert | |
|
11-16-2012, 08:54 AM | #6 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,135
Karma: 11676050
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch
|
I was going to mention Spy Who Loved Me. It's the only Bond book I've read, and was the first Bond film I ever saw (which could probably be used to work out my age - it might even have been the first time I went to a cinema), and they have nothing at all in common. That kind of put me off reading any more.
|
11-16-2012, 08:58 AM | #7 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
"The Spy Who Loved Me" was the first film which took the title of a Bond book, but a completely unrelated plot, basically because they'd run out of those which could sensibly be made into films. The book only has Bond as a minor character who appears two thirds of the way through it!
|
11-16-2012, 09:02 AM | #8 |
Addict
Posts: 202
Karma: 1211098
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bristol, England
Device: Kindle 3
|
Agree with Harry, I think Fleming's Bond novels are well written.
I enjoyed Casino Royale but not read any others as of yet. Lots of differences between the books and films including Bond's favourite tipple... |
11-16-2012, 09:07 AM | #9 |
Media Junkie
Posts: 278
Karma: 2039392
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle PW
|
Always enjoyed the Bond movies (probably going to see Skyfall this weekend, can't wait). Then a few years ago. I tried a Fleming novel. Think it may have been From Russia With Love. Meh. Didn't get more than 20 pages in.
Wouldn't be opposed to giving them another go at some point. For anyone who had read most of them, is there one that stands out as the best, or as the one to start with? |
11-16-2012, 09:15 AM | #10 | |
Wizard
Posts: 2,157
Karma: 7068605
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro
|
Quote:
And I can't wait to get into the John Gardner/Raymond Benson/Sebastian Faulks/Jeffrey Deaver books. I've heard good things about those. |
|
11-16-2012, 09:17 AM | #11 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
All the early ones are pretty good, I think. "From Russia, With Love" is one of my favourites.
|
11-16-2012, 09:22 AM | #12 |
Guru
Posts: 722
Karma: 2084955
Join Date: Dec 2010
Device: iPhone
|
BookRiot ran a column a few weeks ago where they ranked their favourite Bond novels. Moonraker ended up on top.
|
11-16-2012, 11:36 AM | #13 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 7,196
Karma: 70314280
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2
|
I read the Bond books a long while ago. I actually enjoyed the books, but I first had to mentally accept that the books and movies were not even remotely related.
|
11-16-2012, 02:52 PM | #14 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,747
Karma: 3761220
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD
|
The original Casino Royale did not have that much action compared to the other early Bond movies. So the book was close in that regard. The newer film version was a lot different.
|
11-17-2012, 05:41 AM | #15 |
Literacy = Understanding
Posts: 4,833
Karma: 59674358
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The World of Books
Device: Nook, Nook Tablet
|
Skyfall is everything I expect from a Bond movie; definitely great entertainment. My wife and I certainly recommend it.
But if you want to see what I think is the best movie of 2012 and should win Oscars for Best Movie, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best everything, it is Spielberg's Lincoln. There is not a badly played role in the movie; in fact, I'm not sure there is even a mediocre played role -- the acting was superb. Lincoln is by far the best movie I have seen in a very long time. It is not a "fun" movie; it is a serious drama. Daniel Day-Lewis is outstanding as Lincoln and Sally Field is equally outstanding as Mary Todd Lincoln. I can't praise the movie enough. |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Western Bond, Lee: Lee Bond Sampler. V1. 11 Jun 2012 | crutledge | Kindle Books | 0 | 06-11-2012 03:01 PM |
Western Bond, Lee: Lee Bond Sampler. V1. 11 Jun 2012 | crutledge | ePub Books | 0 | 06-11-2012 02:58 PM |
Western Bond, Lee: Lee Bond Sampler. V1. 11 Jun 2012 | crutledge | BBeB/LRF Books | 0 | 06-11-2012 02:56 PM |
James Bond Novels | radamo | Reading Recommendations | 5 | 04-30-2009 12:15 PM |
Mobile James Bond Site | Bob Russell | Lounge | 1 | 09-20-2005 05:44 AM |