Casino Royale by Ian Fleming Narrator: Dan Stevens
Series: James Bond (Original Series) #1
on April 13th 1953
Length: 5 hours and 5 minutes
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Amazon
Goodreads
In the first of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, 007 declares war on Le Chiffre, French communist and paymaster of the Soviet murder organization SMERSH.
The battle begins with a fifty-million-franc game of baccarat, gains momentum during Bond's fiery love affair with a sensuous lady spy, and reaches a chilling climax with fiendish torture at the hands of a master sadist. For incredible suspense, unexpected thrills, and extraordinary danger, nothing can beat James Bond in his inaugural adventure.
Casino Royale is the very beginning of the infamous James Bond stories by Ian Fleming. As a member of the secret service, James has been instructed to beat Le Chiffre, a Communist agent, at the baccarat tables in anticipation that the Soviet agency will execute him for misusing funds.
I’ve always loved the James Bond movies and have meant to read the actual book for ages. The movies are chock-full of action scenes so it was quite surprising that the book didn’t quite measure up in that regard. Much of Casino Royale is spent at the baccarat tables, explaining in detail hands dealt and the likelihood of being triumphant. It was interesting but not incredibly entertaining. The sole action scene was a horrible and unforgettable torture scene that made me wish for more action of a less painful sort.
Such as the films, James Bond is quite infatuated with his women. In Casino Royale, the woman is Vesper Lynd, a fellow agent who was sent to assist him in his mission. These books are decades old, Casino Royale being published in 1953, so it shouldn’t come as much surprise that the material feels incredibly dated. Most dated is the attitude towards females. While not excusable, unfortunately, the mentality is on par with how things were in that era so in that regard it’s fitting.
“These blithering women who thought they could do a man’s work. Why the hell couldn’t they stay at home and mind their pots and pans and stick to their frocks and gossip and leave men’s work to the men.”
It’s definitely not the easiest of things to overlook and I was cringing often, but surprisingly enough still managed to be of extreme entertainment and will be well-liked by long-time fans of James. The version of Casino Royale I read was the audiobook narrated by Dan Stevens who did a marvelous job.
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Giselle
I have a confession: I have never seen a James Bond movie! I KNOW RIGHT!??? I really should watch some but dunno man they feel like the kind of movie that was good once but not so much if you watch it for the first time now – dated like how you felt with this book I guess would be a good way to explain what I mean. The quote would not bother me for a book set (or written) in the time of that mentality, but it would still make my eyes roll most likely lol. This sounds like an entertaining read overall though.
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Bonnie
Oh my gosh, really?? They’re actually a lot of fun. I also have a confession though: I haven’t seen any of the older James Bond movies with Sean Connery or any of the other various bonds. Only seen the ones with Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. They do a decent enough job in not making the newer ones feel so dated so that is nice. 🙂
Bonnie recently posted…Audiobook Review – Casino Royale (James Bond (Original Series) #1) by Ian Fleming
Michael @ Literary Exploration
Be honest, you only listen to this because of Dan Stevens, right? I didn’t think much of this novel and that one weird line really was weird.
Michael @ Literary Exploration recently posted…Foreign Soil by Maxine Beneda Clarke
Bonnie
hahaha You caught me. It really was the only reason, HOWEVER, it was so enjoyable that I still plan on reading the other books even though he didn’t narrate them. haha
Bonnie recently posted…Audiobook Review – Casino Royale (James Bond (Original Series) #1) by Ian Fleming
Michael @ Literary Exploration
He also narrates Frankenstein but it is the 1818 edition and not the preferred 1831 revised edition. I plan to try some more Bond books one day too, I hear they get better
Michael @ Literary Exploration recently posted…Foreign Soil by Maxine Beneda Clarke
Bonnie
Ah, I didn’t know about the different versions. I actually picked that one up too because I have yet to read Frankenstein. Figured Dan could give me the kick in the pants to finally accomplish that. lol
Bonnie recently posted…Audiobook Review – Casino Royale (James Bond (Original Series) #1) by Ian Fleming
Michael @ Literary Exploration
Good reason, the 1818 edition isn’t bad but I think the 1831 is the standard nowadays. I would recommend starting with the 1831 edition but Matthew Crawley doesn’t narrate that one.
Michael @ Literary Exploration recently posted…Foreign Soil by Maxine Beneda Clarke
Bonnie
Damn. I guess 1818 will have to suffice.
Bonnie recently posted…Audiobook Review – Casino Royale (James Bond (Original Series) #1) by Ian Fleming