Book Review - Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker

I read this trilogy after finding it at my local library. I thought it would be a bit of a daggy read, so I took it home.

I was impressed with the general quality of the writing. I was a little less impressed with the lack of political correctness.

There is some degree of misogyny and poor race relations (e.g. the chapter N****r Heaven in Live and Let Die). Having said that the presentation of woman in particular is much more positive and capable than most Bond movies.

Casino Royale

When a communist leader attempts to gamble himself and his organisation out of debt, the powers that be decide to send their best gambler. Of course their best gambler is Bond that we all know and love.

It is quite refreshing that the villains are quite happy to shoot our hero or beat him up, rather than selecting some over the top method of doing him in.

I was surprised how good this book was and it was not at all "over the top".

Rating: 4/5

Live and Let Die

Bond is out for revenge against SMERSH, so he is chasing a shadowy figure called Mr Big.

Although Mr Big does go for the slightly complicated method of dispatching Mr Bond it is somewhat justified - he doesn't want to leave a mess after all.

Rating: 3/5

Moonraker

Moonraker is a more typical Bond story. A mysterious multi-millionaire offers to build a ballistic missile on behalf of Great Britain - what could possibly go wrong?

From the strange, diabolical attempts on Bond's life to the incredible way he saves all Brittania and his own skin, this story is pure Bond.

Yes Moonraker is well written and exciting but it is also a little over the top.

Rating: 3/5


Title: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker
Author: Ian Fleming
ISBN: 9780141187419