Review by Steven Sutton: Ian Fleming's Casino Royale
Posted by sregan | Filed under misc
Before reading this book, shake off all notions of Daniel Craig's performance in the film of the same name. His James Bond is nothing like the real James Bond. The real Bond is a human being. He's a product of 1953.
It's hard to believe, but the James Bond franchise is almost sixty years old. The twenty-two blockbusters to date - along with the merchandize, cult status, parodies, tributes, and remakes - all originated from Ian Fleming's first Bond book, Casino Royale.
Before reading this book, shake off all notions of Daniel Craig's performance in the film of the same name. His James Bond is nothing like the real James Bond. The real Bond is a human being. He's a product of 1953. To us he'd be chauvinistic, bigoted, living an extraordinarily unhealthy lifestyle, but a hero. This James Bond went through the war, has a smile on his face, and like a human being, gets hurt.
We follow Bond as he sets out to bankrupt the villainous Le Chiffre at the poker table. What is the hidden agenda behind Le Chiffre's need to win? Who is pulling the strings in the casino? What threat is there to Europe's safety? Can Bond defeat the more experienced player?
The naive loyal citizen has a routine: the most unhealthy English breakfast, cigarettes until the lungs are filled, and surprisingly quaint little destinations. In Casino Royale, James Bond has two constant companions: the seductive Vesper Lynd, and Lady Luck. Any time the story goes Bond's way, it is only because circumstances and Fleming favour him. The result is a civil servant who waltzes into danger, and waltzes out again. But that is exactly the point of this novel. James Bond knows the skills, knows the language, knows the game, but knows no judgement. Casino Royale is a learning curve, and a thrilling learning curve at that.
The book comes highly recommended, and has a growing need to be reintroduced to the 21st century of movie fans. The two versions of Casino Royale have virtually nothing in common beyond the very basic plot. One is a Hollywood blockbuster - the other is an emotive and exciting tale of a human being.
Fleming has a style of writing that fulfils every sense and places the reader in the scene, smelling the cigarettes or feeling the warmth of the south of France. Be warned that Ian Fleming does have a tendency to use the word 'reflected' on every other page, but also be prepared to be astonished by the superb story and the suspense. Expect to see real characters in fanciful yet gripping situations. Expect the best of Casino Royale.
- Steven Sutton
