In preparing for this review, I decided to repeat the actions of my review of Moonraker by reading the Amazon.com summary of the plot of the Diamonds are Forever film. The only thing I came away with from said exercise is the fact that I cannot believe whomever owned the Bond rights at the time allowed this film to be made. Could they have even read the book? Unlike Moonraker, this film does seem to represent a few more actual plot points from the book…just a few. The experience I had with this book is similar to that I have had with the others…I came away with a healthy respect for the writing talents of Ian Fleming.
I was not entirely sure what to expect when, after seeing Casino Royale, I decided to read Fleming’s 007 stories for myself. I expected them to be good, but not this good. I also did not expect each story to be so uniquely different from the last. I would have guessed that the Bond books would be formulaic, that Fleming would drop Bond in a differnt locale with a different woman and essentially tell the same story over and over again. While the professional critic might easily point out how similar devices, themes, etc. are in each book, the layman reader/reviewer like myself is amazed at how Fleming seems to reinvent himself as a writer with each successive novel.
Diamonds are Forever follows Bond on a return trip to America (the last being in Live and Let Die) in an attempt to stop the illegal smuggling of diamonds from the mines in Africa. 007’s last foray into America pitted him against the Harlem gangster Mr. Big. This time it is the old-fashioned mob that Bond must contend with, all the while plotting and scheming how to rescue the damsel-not-necessarily-in-distress, Tiffany Case.
Like the three previous Bond novels I have read, this one is a page turner. There are one or two nice surprises for those who have read the novels in order that I will not spoil here. I was a little worried early on in the novel as African and American settings appeared that they would mark a return to the racism I deplored in Live and Let Die. Thankfully that was not the case and remarks that were made in Diamonds are Forever appeared more appropriate to the era while not being too patronizing or discriminatory.
There is little more that I want to say as I know some of you are reading these and I do not want to ruin the pleasure in any way by revealing too much. Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay to Ian Fleming’s creation is this: as I am reading there are other non-Bond books on my to-read pile that I am very desirous to read, however, by the time I am finished with a Bond book all I can think of is how desperately I want to read the next one. I have gotten through 100 pages of the next book, From Russia With Love, today! And I just purchased the book late this morning!
Once again Ian Fleming has captivated me with the fast-paced, adventurous, and slightly romantic tale of one James Bond, Agent 007.
Dude! I can’t keep up with you on these but I’m enjoying Moonraker immensley and I can’t wait to get to Diamonds are Fovever too. I’m also amazed how each book has been so different. It’s a shame the movies ignored so much of the source material over the years. I hope with the success of the recent movie and how much it drew from the book that this may be the case with future films too.
Me too. In some ways I wish they would continue with the Bond canon in the new films. They could essentially remake them all sticking closer to the books and they would not be anything like the previous Bond movies. One can dream.
Every review you do of this series makes them sound more interesting. I guess it’s time to hit the library. I had been staying away from there because I paid a fine before Christmas that appalled me. I could have bought one of the books instead.
That’s hilarious Pat. I’m sure they’ll let you back now…
It’s your civic duty to incur library fines. Of course, ours are ludicrously cheap.
The only thing Bond movies have in common with the books are the names and the titles. It’s amazing. They could easily remake them all using the actual book as the basis. Be a lot better than basing a new movie on an old 70’s series.
Exactly!
hmmm among bond fans this is supposed to be the worst novel besides TMWTGG ( the man with the golden gun ) , OATLD (octopussy & the living daylights ) i heard it it was a bit too american at some points & led off like being a crime thriller rather than a smooth tale of espionage . To get a a good feel of the other bond novels before you read it i suggest you look into http://www.mi6.co.uk for excerpts & such . Maybe it all depends upon taste 🙂
Hmmm…if this is the worst then I certainly am in for some more great fiction as I’ve enjoyed each Bond book thus far and plan to continue reading them as time permits. I certainly agree, taste definitely has a lot to do with what one likes as far as novels and movies, etc. goes. It has been long enough now since I’ve read it that I don’t remember feeling it was significantly different than the other Bond books that I’ve read. From Russia With Love is my favorite thus far, but each of them has been a particular delight to read.