The Bond novels have been a surprising treat. Like any period piece (1950s British spy thriller), some language and phraseology is dated, but the common thread of these first five books has been solid: deliberate, character building, and tense.

“From Russia with Love" is unlike any of the preceding titles. The first 30% of the novel details the Russian machinations to groom the perfect assassin. A short interlude to introduce a capable but manipulatable female MGB agent (precursor to the KGB), and we’re off.

Bond is a relatable hero, and I find him most charming when he is confronting a mystery or situation with another intelligence officer. For some reason the chemistry with another agent enhances his own. Here that is Darko Kerim, a Turkish member of the British office in Istanbul, where the MGB hopes to snare Bond for his eventual murder in spectacular, public fashion.

The last segment of the novel occurs on a train, with several memorable scenes that sizzle with tension and charisma. Really enjoyed the finale and cliffhanger. I’ll guess I shall keep on going...

From Russia with Love
by Ian Flemming

3.85/5 stars

This is my first James Bond novel that I read properly. From an early age From Russia With Love has been my favourite Bond film for no specific reason.

I had the quite struggling with this book, the premise and the writing were too mature for me, it needed full concentration to know what's happening in the book, it was rather slow paced. However after about 30 percent of it became easier.

I truly loved Ian Flemming's way of writing, he describes every scene and every chatacter in details, he gives no time for his readers to imagine the scenries or the apperance of the characters in their own way.

For almost 11 chapters we get full introdutin of the villains and their scheming plots against the British secret spy James Bond, and after twenty chapters Bond and Tatania (the russian spy who has to seduce Bond) have finally met. However, I liked the film Bond so much better than the Bond in the novel, Ian's Bond isn't as charismatic and as witty unlike in the movies who from the first glance makes women fall in love with him immidetely.

Despite Bond being a proffesional and experienced agent he trusted Nash bindly, because he thought 'M' had sent him to help Bond, that frustrated me.
When Bond and Tatania first met each other, she paid a compliment to Bond saying 'You are like an American film star', and Bond's reaction was 'For God's sake! That's the worst insult you can pay a man!' Now, if this has been the film Bond he would have been delighted, that's the big difference between film Bond and book Bond, film bond is friendlier that Ian's.

While Nash talks with Bond his last words afer every single sentence was 'old man', he was a fraud, he thought he was talking like a normal Englishman, those two words angered the heck out of me I wanted to shut him up myself but fortunately Bond, James Bond did that for me 'For God'd sake, stop calling me 'old man'.' That part was pretty funny, hell it was hilarious.

How I despise if a book ends on a cliffhanger, which was FRWL's case, it would have been better if we got a full conclusion of the book. I guess authors do that to keep their readers on the edge of their seats and let them worry what will happen in the next one.

I've seen every Bond film that exists, but that doesn't mean I won't read the books. I enjoyed this very much, and looking forward reading other Bond novels.