After being raised on Bond week on TBS, Live and Let Die, the film always seemed like the most over the top in regards to campiness. My father would always make comments "That wasn't in the book" or "That's from Dr. No" or "They took out the club scenes". So finally, I decided to read an actual Bond book, not really knowing what to expect. Live and Let Die was published by Folio Society two years ago and I assumed it was a good a start as any.
I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Ian Fleming was interested in social commentary, racial social commentary to be exact. Now, I'll be the first to say that he probably got a lot of things wrong, and most certianly propagated some not-so-kind stereotypes. Those disclaimers aside, I enjoyed the basic observations that Bond makes about American society in the 1950's: going through customs at the airport, the quality of room service at certian hotels or on trains, the terror of retirement communities in suburbia Florida. It was all so delicious.
There is even a philosphical plane flight where Bond is contemplating the temporariness of life while flying through some turbulence on a small plane. Life and death is almost always out of one's control, regardless of your profession, status, or risk aversion. Might as well live life to its fullest.
I also enjoyed how much Bond read about the dangers he faced. James Bond reads books to prepare for a mission. How delightful. Roger Moore never read a book to save his life, pun intended. Furthermore, the Bond of Live and Let Die is very low tech. His secret weapon: steel toed shoes and a limpet mine.
Lastly, the Folio Society edition I read had some great illustrations, nice thick paper, and a illuminating introduction by Ken Follett. ( )

"In the history of Negro emancipation," Mr. Big continued in an easy conversational tone, "there have appeared great athletes, great musicians, great writers, great doctors and scientists. In due course, as in the developing history of other races, there will appear Negroes great and famous in every other walk of life." He paused. "It is unfortunate for you, Mister Bond, and for this girl, that you have encountered the first of the great Negro criminals."

Written over 50 years ago, Live and Let Die shows the unfortunate racial, ethnic and gender prejudices of that time. Fleming isn't a literary paragon and his protagonist certainly doesn't take the high moral ground, but his works still have something to offer. I choose a Bond novel when I want escapism: high-stakes espionage, adrenaline-charged action scenes and a cunning and cognizant arch-villain. Based on that criteria, Live and Let Die succeeds. And may I say that it does so infinitely better than its predecessor, Casino Royale. I saw much improvement in Fleming's writing style. The action scenes were fantastic. When Bond found what he found (no spoilers!) my jaw dropped open. Mr. Big's simple and elegant solution brought him up a notch on my villain leader board. And the scenes of Bond swimming with sharks and barracuda will certainly give me pause should I ever be presented with the opportunity to go reef diving. I enjoyed it and I look forward to reading Bond's adventures in continuity... ( )

It's unfortunately racist, but there's an entertaining adventure if you can look past that. I like how the elaborate extravagances of the villain are explained and acknowledged as seeming absurd. ( )

Removed from its film adaptation, which was produced as a kind of blaxploitation flick nearly 20 years after this book's publication, the second James Bond novel reveals itself as an entertaining if muddled foray into race relations in America. The Harlem and Jamaican based smuggler Mr. Big calls himself a wolf living by a wolf's laws. Fleming describes his rise to power through the manipulation of Voodoo superstition. Those seeking meaningful insights into African-American identity should look elsewhere. But there are amusing passages, as when Bond's superior, M., comments that the "Negro races are just beginning to throw up geniuses in all the professions," and so naturally there will be Negro progress in crime, as well. Bond and his CIA counterpart are like tourists as they infiltrate Mr. Big's operation: first in Harlem, then in Florida, and lastly in Jamaica. Like all Bond books, the action is interlaced with travelogue-like passages which describe the local cuisine and hotel accommodations, and somehow these are as entertaining as the bits about sharks and barracudas. ( )

Live and Let Die was my second foray into the bond series, I am most certainly hooked. Fleming's writing style again proved to be a wonderful experience. The pacing of the story is quick and keeps things moving forward. Again, one of the most intriguing things about reading the book over watching the movie is the ability to hear what is going on inside Bond's mind. The emotions and responses he shows to situations make for a great read. ( )