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jiffygriffin's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
danimuniz's review against another edition
2.0
I am really conflicted about this book.
To be honest I've not read many "spy" books, they just aren't my genre. I read this book because I am doing a book challenge and one ofthe challenges was to read an espionage thriller. I thought about Ian Fleming because I used to occasionally watch James Bond movies. I expected chauvinism and dramatic plot lines, but I was not prepared for this book.
I won't go into to detail about the extreme sexism in this book because previous reviews have already gone into it, but it was pretty glaring. When a male character laughingly discusses rape and imprisoning women for his own enjoyment and he is supposed to be a "good guy", I don't really know how to react. I recognize that this book was written in a time when women were often viewed as property or playthings, but I feel like this book is ridiculously blatant about dehumanizing women. The racism was also really prominent and uncomfortable.
I honestly would give this book one star, but I have to admit that Mr. Fleming can write. His descriptions of places, people, and events are compelling and vivid. I doubt I will read any other books of his, but I admire his talent.
To be honest I've not read many "spy" books, they just aren't my genre. I read this book because I am doing a book challenge and one ofthe challenges was to read an espionage thriller. I thought about Ian Fleming because I used to occasionally watch James Bond movies. I expected chauvinism and dramatic plot lines, but I was not prepared for this book.
I won't go into to detail about the extreme sexism in this book because previous reviews have already gone into it, but it was pretty glaring. When a male character laughingly discusses rape and imprisoning women for his own enjoyment and he is supposed to be a "good guy", I don't really know how to react. I recognize that this book was written in a time when women were often viewed as property or playthings, but I feel like this book is ridiculously blatant about dehumanizing women. The racism was also really prominent and uncomfortable.
I honestly would give this book one star, but I have to admit that Mr. Fleming can write. His descriptions of places, people, and events are compelling and vivid. I doubt I will read any other books of his, but I admire his talent.
tenmillionhardbacks's review against another edition
5.0
Famous opening lines of novels often get bandied about in lists, but it wasn’t until I read From Russia With Love for the first time that I saw one that seems to have been overlooked among all the truths being universally acknowledged and weighing up of best and worst of times.
Having thus garnered your attention, Ian Fleming doesn’t let it wander too far for the next 200 or so pages. We soon learn that the body might have been, but sadly isn’t, for this formidable not-dead unclothed man is the distinctly non-Russian-sounding Donovan Grant, Chief Executioner of SMERSH, ‘the Soviet organ of vengeance: of interrogation, torture and death’. A few, more detailed, yet taut chapters and we are apprised of the formidable team which that organisation has set against our man Bond.
Read my full review - and many more! - at my site ten million hardbacks
The naked man who lay splayed out on his face beside the swimming pool might have been dead.
Having thus garnered your attention, Ian Fleming doesn’t let it wander too far for the next 200 or so pages. We soon learn that the body might have been, but sadly isn’t, for this formidable not-dead unclothed man is the distinctly non-Russian-sounding Donovan Grant, Chief Executioner of SMERSH, ‘the Soviet organ of vengeance: of interrogation, torture and death’. A few, more detailed, yet taut chapters and we are apprised of the formidable team which that organisation has set against our man Bond.
Read my full review - and many more! - at my site ten million hardbacks
crash14z's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
eyeoftheteiger's review against another edition
4.0
A weird book, but nonetheless enjoyable. It didn’t follow the same serial nature of many spy stories I felt like.
The opening threw me off, but it ended up being a very good set up for the story and villains. I like the look into Russian culture/government too. I felt like the book was less about Bond and more about the Russians, but I’ll take it, no problem.
I wish we got more of Red Grant than we did though.
Also that ending. I know what was going to happen, but still it was so good.
The opening threw me off, but it ended up being a very good set up for the story and villains. I like the look into Russian culture/government too. I felt like the book was less about Bond and more about the Russians, but I’ll take it, no problem.
I wish we got more of Red Grant than we did though.
Also that ending. I know what was going to happen, but still it was so good.
jamesthegill's review against another edition
3.0
A ripping yarn
Very much a tale of it's time, but an enjoyable holiday read. Not bad for a quid in a sale!
Very much a tale of it's time, but an enjoyable holiday read. Not bad for a quid in a sale!
brandondorf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
laurenreed's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
andyshute's review against another edition
4.0
From Russia With Love is my favourite Bond movie and I'd forgotten how tight an adaptation it is. I really liked this. Yes, the usual xenophobia and sexism is rampant but there's an intriguingly bizarre set up, some great action sequences and a thrilling cliffhanger. It feels very different to the preceeding novels and works nicely as a cold war thriller, even if Bond acts (yet again) as a foolish love struck teenager.
Good fun.
Good fun.