Live and Let Die (James Bond)

Even considering when this was written it is hard to read the derogatory way he writes about African-Americans. He also had no love for America. When he sticks to the story line instead of social commentary it's good.

A good thriller, but its racial stereotyping certainly is offensive by any reasonable standards, including those of the 1950s. The views expressed may have been acceptable in the British upper class and in significant parts of the white upper class in the US at the time that they were written, but were not acceptable even then in liberal society. The stereotyping is harsh and demeaning and not in any way required to tell the story. I was shocked by it, and it altered my view of Fleming. This is not literature of the quality of Huckleberry Finn and was written long after that book and is set in a time by which a large fraction of society had abandoned the worst of the prejudices of the 19th century, so does not deserve the qualified exceptions given to Mark Twain's classic.

If you enjoyed Casino Royale, then you will also like the next book in the series, Live and Let Die. I don't know what it was, but I think it is just a little less enjoyable than the first book. The reason being the way that Ian writes for the black characters, it is some times hard to read and understand what they are saying. Trying to get the accent of what all black people talk like, according to him, makes some of the lines unreadable. Such as, it will say something like 'I dun no bot dis bose' but worse.

Anyway, still a good story overall, but almost completely different from the movie.

If you enjoyed Casino Royale, then you will also like the next book in the series, Live and Let Die. I don't know what it was, but I think it is just a little less enjoyable than the first book. The reason being the way that Ian writes for the black characters, it is some times hard to read and understand what they are saying. Trying to get the accent of what all black people talk like, according to him, makes some of the lines unreadable. Such as, it will say something like 'I dun no bot dis bose' but worse.

Anyway, still a good story overall, but almost completely different from the movie.

Enjoyed the book, but I like the screen version of Bond better. He isn't as charismatic in print as on the big screen. After the likes of Sean Connery and Daniel Craig, book Bond fell a little flat. I

Like a great action movie you speed through the pages. The period setting is, of course, racist. But going in with this knowledge you will not be disappointed be Fleming or the Bond which is far deeper than anything found on the silver screen.

Seems dated and far-fetched. Portrayal of blacks will offend some, but was probably an accurate picture of the times (mid 1950's). Not at all like what the Sean Connery movies portrayed (although this title wasn't made into a movie until Roger Moore came on the scene).

This is classic James Bond/Ian Fleming story telling. WARNING - By today's standards this would be considered very racist - so much so that I often cringed at the stereotypes, the "ethnic dialect," and the portrayal of Voodoo. So apart from the Bond adventure, it is almost a historic piece about British and U.S. attitudes on race at the time.