I also saw Casino Royale and thoroughly enjoyed it. Since the book is one of the 1001 Books you must read before you die, I thought it might be interesting to actually read a book by Ian Fleming. Let’s just say that this is one case where the movie is WAY better than the book (and smokin’ Daniel Craig is only part of the reason). In summary, the most redeeming line in the whole book is the recipe for the infamous Bond martini:
Three measures of Gordons, one of Vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice cold, then add a thin slice of lemon peel.
The rest of the book read like a cross between a Harlequin romance and a bad Agatha Christie novel. This was Fleming’s first novel so maybe he got better with Bond adventures 2-13 but in this book, his writing was sophomoric and ridiculous. For the first 3/4 of the book, Bond is somewhat contempuous of the partner he was assigned, the beautiful Vespa. Then all of the sudden within a span of 2 pages towards the end of the book, he falls in love with her and decides to marry her. There is no build-up of the romance nor is there any reasoning behind why he wants to marry Vespa. It seemed that Fleming just needed to throw in a reason for why Bond became such a cruel, heartless 007 agent. The book differs significantly from the movie in that it ends while Bond is still in convalescence from his excruciating torture (which is even more vividly described in the book) and does not cover the last half of the movie set in Venice.
There is no need for any further remarks on this book - just go see the movie for an entertaining night out on the town.
January 5th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
I had forgotten that Casino Royale was one of the 1001 Books. The new Penguin cover does seem a little Harlequin-esque, doesn’t it?
Any idea what Kina Lillet is? WikiPedia lists the recipe with “Lillet Blanc” - but I don’t know what that is either.
The scene in the movie where Bond makes up this drink off the top of his head and everyone else at the table orders one too was great. On DVD March 7.
January 5th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Answering my own question, please visit the James Bond Dossier drinking guide.
January 5th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
I visited the drinking guide and the only liquor store that comes up in US where you can buy Lillet is at Rockfeller Plaza in Manhattan. I’m on it. Or we could all just use Vermouth and pretend.
January 5th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
No, no, we need to do this one by the book. Although, the Bond Dossier says in it Lillet page that the formulation has changed since the book was written. But still… Put me down for a case.