Devil May Care (James Bond)

by Sebastian Faulks | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 9780718153762 Global Overview for this book
Registered by LindyLouMac of Tywyn, Wales United Kingdom on 6/2/2009
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1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by LindyLouMac from Tywyn, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Amazon.co.uk Review
A variety of authors have written 007 novels since the death of Bond's creator, Ian Fleming -- and the results have been mixed, to say the least. As 'Robert Markham', Kingsley Amis penned the very first post-Fleming Bond, and this attempt by a novelist better known for his 'literary' work was judged a success. Now, after a decade of less successful entries by such writers as John Gardener, we have another serious writer, Sebastian Faulks (author of such acclaimed novels as Birdsong), taking up the challenge.
Devil May Care has already collected a jaw-dropping amount of publicity, with even the Royal Navy helping to put the book firmly at the top of the best-seller charts (Bond is, of course, a naval commander), and few books have had such wind under their sails (the relaunch of the movie franchise with the re-make of Casino Royale and Daniel Craig's second Bond film, Quantum of Solace, is all part of the ever-accelerating momentum). Of course, this also gives the book farther to fall if it misses the mark.

Faulks' author credit on the book ('Sebastian Faulks writing as Ian Fleming') is both revealing and encouraging – the author has reportedly said that he undertook the task with total seriousness, and he has tried to work within the parameters of the Ian Fleming formula (Faulks re-read all the extant Bond novels and stories) rather than the more glossy film incarnation. Among several very canny moves by the author is his decision to keep his 007 in the 1960s rather than catapulting him into the 21st century (as other ersatz Fleming novels – and, of course, the films -- have done. So how successful are the results?

Fleming aficionados can relax – this is a sterling job of recreation, and a novel that functions with total authority in its own right. The evocation of time and place (or places, notably Paris and the Middle East) is impeccable, as are the plotting and detail (as colourful and violent as anything in Fleming); there is a satisfyingly unpleasant larger-than-life villain, Julius Gorner, with a grotesque deformity of the kind Fleming often gave such characters (the chapter 'The monkey's hand' gives this away) and grandiose, evil ambitions. Best of all, this is Ian Fleming's James Bond – not a superman -- worried about his health and his physical powers (which he fears may be on the wane). Delicious stuff in fact. Now... can Faulks be persuaded to write another such novel? --Barry Forshaw.

Journal Entry 2 by LindyLouMac from Tywyn, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A quick fun read for fans of James Bond. Set back in the late sixties during the cold war we are treated to all the elements of an exciting Bond story, exotic locations, incredible stunts and a sinister villain of course not forgetting a beautiful heroine. This time the heroine is Scarlett who turns out to be not quite what Bond had expected!

Sebastian Faulks is an author whose novels I have always enjoyed reading. As for the character James Bond as created by Ian Fleming I have always watched the films, but I have never read any of the stories before now.
‘Devil May Care’ is another typical adventure for James Bond although having not read any of Flemings work I am unable to compare the writing style. I prefer Bond on the big screen rather than in print and I hope that Sebastian Faulks regarded this Bond novel as a one off venture. He wrote it to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Ian Fleming on 28th May 1908. It is an exciting new adventure for James Bond and an honour to his originator Ian Fleming but let’s hope that it is now left at that and Sebastian Faulks can return to his more literary writing.


Reserved for my brother in law.

Journal Entry 3 by LindyLouMac at controlled release, A Colleague -- Controlled Releases on Monday, July 6, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (7/7/2009 UTC) at controlled release, A Colleague -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

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Leaving at our holiday home for my brother in law to read.

Happy reading

LindyLouMac

Journal Entry 4 by LindyLouMac from Tywyn, Wales United Kingdom on Friday, July 17, 2009
Read and enjoyed by my brother in law and now back with me, unexpectedly! Will be travelling again when I decide how.

Offered on Bookmooch.com July 2009

Journal Entry 5 by LindyLouMac at Bookmooch.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, July 19, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (7/20/2009 UTC) at Bookmooch.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

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En route to a Bookmoocher in the UK.
Dear Finder of this book,

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Happy reading

LindyLouMac

Update July 28th I have heard via bookmooch that this book has reached its destination safely.

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