If you haven't - read the Fleming novels!

DB6 · February 2016

Not sure if this belongs here - to perhaps catch a wider audience - or in the literature thread........

I only started reading the original Ian Fleming Bond novels fairly recently and can't believe what I've been missing out on for so long! Whilst some of the language is a little dated - no surprise given they were written 50 years ago - the stories are absolutely gripping, well written and really suspenseful. I'm loving "discovering" the absolute joy of reading these - if you've only ever seen the Bond films, do yourself a favour and read the books; it's an investment in time you won't regret!

(And there's something very pleasurable about picking up a set of 1960's reprints for a few quid on eBay and reading those - feels like you're right back in the day!)

Enjoying Death · February 2016

Back in high school I read all of the Fleming novels as part of reading hour. Been a Bond fan ever since.

chrisisall · February 2016

First time I read them I became obsessed, reading one right after another for a few months. I guzzled them.

Dutchfinger · February 2016

Couldn't agree more! I'm still yet to digest all of them ( I just happen to start over all the time, and take ages to finally read to them all) I have now started reading them in English for the first time. (I used to read the Dutch ones)

Have to say, the first one is still one of my favorites: Casino Royale. I just read through that one in a matter of hours, a page turner!

Thunderpussy · February 2016

I too would recomend the books to everyone -{

eric7064 · February 2016

Love to find a box set of them to buy. Never read them.

Barbel · February 2016

I first read them 50 years ago, and have re-read them countless times since- and as participants in this thread http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/36380/the-james-bond-quote-conversation/ will confirm I practically have them memorised by now. I love them beyond all sense of reason, and anyone with the slightest interest in James Bond should at least have a try at reading the Fleming novels. Apart from obviously being where the whole thing began, he's a genuinely good writer who draws the reader into his world and creates involving characters, wonderful stories and arresting turns of phrase (you don't need me to point those out).
For an oldster like me (who read the books first), part of the fascination in watching the films is to see Fleming characters/lines/situations onscreen. For those drawn in by the movies reading the books amplifies the experience since there's more detail-

What's the name of this character?

Tell me more about these two-

Why on earth did this happen...?

Sometimes the films don't even mention a character's name, as with

And how did Bond really feel about

Would he have married Vesper? How old is Blofeld? Does Moneypenny really love Bond (okay, you can get that from the films!)

I won't go as far as saying "it's all there in the books" since the films have gone much further than the books ever did (that's the effect of time and success) but the roots of the whole global James Bond phenomenon (and let's be serious, that's what it is) are in Ian Fleming's books.

Read them.

chrisisall · February 2016

Barbel wrote:

Read them.

It not only severely enhances and deepens the sublime cinematic Bond experience, it makes you a bunch more literate & stuffs.

)

Loeffelholz · February 2016

This is axiomatic; IMO, you really don't know Bond until you've read Fleming---the films' interpretation(s) is but one aspect of the character.

We used to have a regular AJB member (apparently long absent) who simply refused to read the Fleming novels: he said that he was perfectly happy with Cinematic Bond, and no curiosity whatsoever regarding the source material. I never understood that point of view*, entitled to it though of course he was.

*_{But one of many such I encounter here, haha.}

Matt S · February 2016

Loeffelholz wrote:

This is axiomatic; IMO, you really don't know Bond until you've read Fleming---the films' interpretation(s) is but one aspect of the character.

We used to have a regular AJB member (apparently long absent) who simply refused to read the Fleming novels: he said that he was perfectly happy with Cinematic Bond, and no curiosity whatsoever regarding the source material. I never understood that point of view*, entitled to it though of course he was.

*_{But one of many such I encounter here, haha.}

I think of the literary Bonds and the cinematic Bonds as independent entities, but completely refusing to consider the source material won't allow someone to have that opinion.

Chriscoop · February 2016

I'm constantly reading the books. There are still two I haven't read, Dr no and TSWLM, I'm not sure why as I've read many of the continuation novels as well. CR remains my favourite. I'm of the opinion you should read these books or listen to audio books if reading is not your thing, at the very least they will broaden your bond understanding and I personally find they amplify my pleasure of the films. Though I also at times regard literary and cinematic bond as separate entities.

TheWorldIsEnough · February 2016

I have not read the books. I've thought about buying a couple to read, but haven't.. What I'd like to do is wait until I'm retired and looking for activities to keep me busy. I'm in my forties and have always had a fondness for pop culture entertainment from the decades I grew up in and the few decades before I was born. And I think that reading the books when I'm in my 60's or 70's would be an exciting, fresh way to reconnect with some old school literature. As an American, the movies have always been mainstream pop culture, but the books never were (well they were for a little bit when President JFK said he read them). . So, no I don't feel like I'm missing anything by being a fan of the movies, but not a fan of the books. Someday, I believe I will purchase a copy of Casino Royale and it will instantly become my favorite book of all time. So, it's on my to do list, but am quite happy to just be a fan of the films for now.

DB6 · February 2016

eric7064 wrote:

Love to find a box set of them to buy. Never read them.

Try eBay, sets pop up there all the time - I've never bothered with 'collectible' versions. I have a set that were published by Pan through the 60's and 70's and cost me about £20 for the lot on eBay. Joy in every page!

I'm really pleased to see the response to this topic; I was never intending to judge anyone who didn't read them - live and let live after all - more to highlight that not reading them because they are old or because you've seen the films and therefore didn't need to was, in my opinion, missing out on some genuine Bond pleasure.

Glad others feel the same!

Charmed & Dangerous · February 2016

My first experience of Bond was seeing DAF at the cinema in '71. My uncle gave me some of his old Fleming books after that and, like Barbel, Chrisisall, TP and many others here, I read them voraciously, over and again every couple of years, and memorised much of the classic passages (though probably not quite as much as Barbel

).

There's so much rich detail, high-style and, perhaps above all, what people nowadays call 'attitude' in Fleming's writing that's missing from other novels. And no matter how many times you watch Skyfall and Casino Royale, you still can't get under Bond's skin as much as you can reading the novels. -{

Thunderpussy · February 2016

I had plenty of fun, looking through markets and used book and charity
Shops to get my first set of Bond books. All different versions but fun
Hunting to get that elusive book.

When I read them again a couple of years ago, I just got them on Kindle.
Very handy to keep a book on you at all times.

Chriscoop · February 2016

Thunderpussy wrote:

I had plenty of fun, looking through markets and used book and charity
Shops to get my first set of Bond books. All different versions but fun
Hunting to get that elusive book.
When I read them again a couple of years ago, I just got them on Kindle.
Very handy to keep a book on you at all times.

I have the proper books, but also downloaded them again on my e-reader. Very handy indeed.

chrisisall · February 2016

Chriscoop wrote:

I'm constantly reading the books. There are still two I haven't read, Dr no and TSWLM,

Dr. No is excellent, and TSWLM is a fascinating experiment.

Firemass · February 2016

Dufus wrote:

if you've only ever seen the Bond films, do yourself a favour and read the books; it's an investment in time you won't regret!

I agree completely. I bought them all for my Kindle. Any serious Bond fan should read them or else be considered ignorant.

If you're pressed for time, just try reading some of the short stories like Property of a Lady and The Living Daylights.

Chriscoop · February 2016

chrisisall wrote:

Chriscoop wrote:

I'm constantly reading the books. There are still two I haven't read, Dr no and TSWLM,

Dr. No is excellent, and TSWLM is a fascinating experiment.

I will definitely be reading these two as I've read everything else, (I even follow bonds recipe for scrambled eggs) I just keep getting delayed with other books like the continuation books and I also read the Ben hope and Jack reacher series too, ah so many books to read so little time.

Golrush007 · February 2016

Thunderpussy wrote:

I had plenty of fun, looking through markets and used book and charity
Shops to get my first set of Bond books. All different versions but fun
Hunting to get that elusive book.

That was one of the most fun and exciting phases of my Bond journey, hunting for cheap used paperbacks in charity shops etc, until finally I had a complete set. My first set consisted mostly of the Penguin Modern Classics series with the silver spines, as well as Pan paperbacks from the mid-60s 'Raymond Hawkey' series.

zaphod99 · February 2016

Chriscoop wrote:

chrisisall wrote:

Chriscoop wrote:

I'm constantly reading the books. There are still two I haven't read, Dr no and TSWLM,

Dr. No is excellent, and TSWLM is a fascinating experiment.

I will definitely be reading these two as I've read everything else, (I even follow bonds recipe for scrambled eggs) I just keep getting delayed with other books like the continuation books and I also read the Ben hope and Jack reacher series too, ah so many books to read so little time.

TSWLM is fascinating as it is a different vantage point on Bond. Not an ideal entry point, but worthwhile. DN is superb, not my favourite (OHMSS ) but very fine. TMWTGG is the least accomplished. Fleming was bored with Bond and I'll by then, but despite this it still has its moments.

Thunderpussy · February 2016

I'd leave TSWLM ( if you're not reading them in published order) until
You've read a few Bonds, as I agree it was an experiment. The last
Third or so of the Book is a great read, but I've only ever read it twice.

Jamesbondjr · February 2016

I read Casino Royale just after I really got into Bond in '96. I loved it but never read any more after it.

Now, forgive me for sounding like a Braggart... I finally started reading them all in 2007; I was living in the south of France and loved spending my evenings relaxing by the pool reading Fleming with a Red Stripe or Rose D'Anjou. I'm not going to lie, it was just as fantastic as it sounds. I got totally swept up in each of the novels, Fleming is a wonderful story-teller.

Since 2007 I have re-read them each year and can see myself doing this indefinitely.

Also, on the point of TSWLM, a fantastic way of experiencing this novel is via the audiobook narrated by Rosamund Pike, she does a fantastic job of conveying the story and improves the experience in my opinion.

DB6 · February 2016

Intrigued by TSWLM - reading in published order and currently on Dr No; so in the novel Honeychile Rider is naked when she first appears apart from a belt.........wonder if they ever asked Ursula Andress how close to the literary character she wanted to play it........?

Firemass · February 2016

To be honest, I should point out that I'm not the biggest Fleming fan. However, I'm still glad I read all the novels and think every serious Bond fan should do so.

Novels I thought were excellent:

Goldfinger
Diamonds Are Forever

(and almost all the short stories: Octopussy, Living Daylights, Risico etc)

Very Good:

Casino Royale
Thunderball

Mixed Bag:

Dr. No
You Only Live Twice
The Man With the Golden Gun
On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Frustrating/Not very enjoyable:

Live and Let Die
From Russia With Love
Moonraker
The Spy Who Loved Me

As with the films, opinions vary widely.

)

UnderwaterBattle007 · February 2016

Enjoying Death wrote:

Back in high school I read all of the Fleming novels as part of reading hour. Been a Bond fan ever since.

I didn't have that at school although my mum enforced that on me and my two brothers read for an hour at least after church on a Sunday morning. So like you I read all the Fleming Bond books and loads of Alistair McClean novels as well.

Puppet on a Chain is a great read.

Golrush007 · February 2016

Firemass wrote:

To be honest, I should point out that I'm not the biggest Fleming fan. However, I'm still glad I read all the novels and think every serious Bond fan should do so.

Novels I thought were excellent:

Goldfinger
Diamonds Are Forever

(and almost all the short stories: Octopussy, Living Daylights, Risico etc)

Very Good:

Casino Royale
Thunderball

Mixed Bag:

Dr. No
You Only Live Twice
The Man With the Golden Gun
On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Frustrating/Not very enjoyable:

Live and Let Die
From Russia With Love
Moonraker
The Spy Who Loved Me

As with the films, opinions vary widely. )

Clearly opinion do vary! LALD, FRWL and MR are all in my top 5 or 6 Bond novels, along with OHMSS, DN and CR.
DAF ranks quite low for me, I feel I need to revisit that novel though.

superado · February 2016

I started reading the Fleming books in the mid-80's, just after the release of OP and AVTAK (neither which I've read at the point). I started with the books on which my then favorite EON films were based, FRWL and YOLT, which at first gave me mixed feelings because they were not as exciting as their film counterparts and they were a bit "heavy" if you know what I mean (but now I love them much, much more than their movie versions!), then I read CR and that's what hooked me! Because it had no EON counterpart, I was able to experience a "pure," stand-alone Fleming experience without having to compare it to a movie (the Feldman version doesn't really count, does it?) I don't think I could have experienced the same appreciation if I read it for the first time AFTER the 2006 CR because I would have carried all the action sequences and plot additions as extra baggage into the reading experience and it would have muddied it up.

DB6 · February 2016

Interesting observation, thanks.

I've deliberately not watched any of the older movies whilst reading the novels so some of the movies plot additions and 'added action' are dim in my mind; as such I'm really enjoying them for what they are - well told and gripping stories. Moonraker in particular was a revelation - I'll re watch the movie but it will be with a different view - amazing what 'based on 'X' book' can actually translate to on the screen.

superado · February 2016

Dufus wrote:

Interesting observation, thanks.

I've deliberately not watched any of the older movies whilst reading the novels so some of the movies plot additions and 'added action' are dim in my mind; as such I'm really enjoying them for what they are - well told and gripping stories. Moonraker in particular was a revelation - I'll re watch the movie but it will be with a different view - amazing what 'based on 'X' book' can actually translate to on the screen.

I agree, reading MR was another pleasant experience for me even though I've watched the movies so many times, because it was so far removed from its source.

Golrush007 · February 2016

I'd never really given it much thought, but I'd have to say that you are right Superado, my response to CR would certainly have been different if I'd read after the film adaptation came out. Instead, I got to enjoy my first ever experience of watching the film having already read the novel on which it was based, which was very exciting indeed.

If you haven't - read the Fleming novels!

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