“Bond knew Jamaica well…” (Chapter 4) As did his creator, Ian Fleming! A page later we are told Bond “liked to make a good breakfast”.

What sense do we get of their characters? How do they compare with their film incarnations?ĥ. Bill Tanner and Miss Moneypenny are briefly introduced for the first time in Chapter 3. Fleming rarely wastes words on lengthy description of characters (food and drink is another story…). Why do we think the technique has become so popular? Why is it so effective here?Ĥ. It’s a technique used widely in modern cinema, in part due to the influence of the James Bond films, which dropped audiences right into the action in the pre-titles sequences. When a writer chooses to drop us into the middle of a story this is called ‘in media res’, literally ‘in the middle of things’. Chapter 2 moves us back in time to “Two weeks before”.

“The safe, empty room sneered at him.”(Chapter 1) Bond inspecting his hotel room for any signs of intrusion has been depicted numerous times on screen. “The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning.” (Chapter 1) What makes this such a powerful and evocative opening? Ģ. There’s also a BIG DEBATE at the end comparing the Bond character on the page with his screen incarnations.ġ. The 30 questions are presented chronologically, so you can reflect at the end of each chapter, or you can wait until you’ve finished the whole book and look back at the parts that interested you most. And with Bond books, there’s certainly a lot to love. But we can love something AND have an informed, critical opinion at the same time. They’re fantastic! Yes, there are elements that are undeniably ‘problematic’ nearly seventy years since their first publication.

Like Zaritsky, I really think you’re missing out if you haven’t read the Bond books. Above all, I hope my questions help you to capture what Zaritsky calls the 'essence” of James Bond. Whether you’ve been around the block with Casino Royale (like me) or this if your first time (I promise to be gentle) I hope you enjoy them. So this time, I actually wrote down the questions that go through my mind as I read. Even though I have read it at least half a dozen times, there are still things that make me think. The #FlemingReadingChallenge inaugurated by David Zaritsky presented me with an excuse for me to re-read one of my favourite novels: Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale.

Novel casino royale