Comment

Nov 18, 2015lukasevansherman rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
The first of the James Bond novels, written by Fleming shortly before his marriage. Some may say this was his way of dealing with a mid-life crisis. If you just know Bond from the movies, this is quite a bit different. Bond is tough and taciturn and there are few one liners or charismatic villains. "Casino Royale" is one of the better written of the series, but Fleming, even at his best, was a limited writer. For those who aren't familiar with baccarat, there are far too many gambling scenes. And there's a casual sexism that creeps in way too often. But it is a swift, enjoyable escapist thriller, which is all it's meant to be. It also contains the recipe for the Vesper cocktail.