Disappointing James Bond outing.

"Goldfinger" was the first James Bond movie I ever saw, and this is one of those rare cases of the movie being better than the book. Just consider one difference between the plots on page and screen. In the book, Goldfinger spares Bond's life because Bond suggests that he could work for Goldfinger. Goldfinger then makes Bond sit in on his meeting with his co-conspirators. In the movie, Goldfinger spares his life because Bond mentions Operation Grand Slam, a phrase Bond overheard but does not understand. Goldfinger decides to keep Bond alive as a prisoner because he wants to know what Bond knows and when he knew it. (Do others know about Grand Slam?) Neither plot makes much sense, but the movie version is a little better, especially since it means that rather than being invited to the meeting with Goldfinger's fellow conspirators (boring), Bond must sneak out of his cell in order to spy on the meeting.

The movie also has that great scuba/tuxedo opening that is not in the book. According to Ben McIntyre, I believe, that scene was based on an actual World War II operation that Fleming was either in on or at least knew about at the time. So when did he use it in a Bond story or did he ever? The movie also has somewhat different final confrontations between Bond and Oddjob and between Bond and Goldfinger than the book does. I think the movie versions of these are better, even if, perhaps, all of these demises strain credulity. (One demise is the same, just not for the same villain.)

The movie also avoids Fleming's ridiculous notion that Bond is such a "real man" that he can convert a lesbian to heterosexuality by his mere assertion of masculinity.

While we are at it, I am not big on political correctness, but it is clear from books like this that what might have seemed like subtle, almost unnoticeable prejudice in 1959 is clearly bigotry. Goldfinger's Korean bodyguard might seem like a particular ogre, but all of Goldfinger's several Korean servants seem less than human. Oddjob is not quite human as depicted here. Is he shown any better in the movie? Maybe, but only because the actor who plays him is unmistakably a human being. (Not that Goldfinger's German henchmen are any less cipher-ish than his Koreans. If they are it is only because one the Germans actually has a line in the novel, while none of the Koreans do.)

On the other hand, the book does begin with the intimation that Bond might be suffering from PTSD as a result of killing too many people too easily for too long. Life has been cheapened by his line of work, and he is not enough of a sociopath to like it. That is interesting, and we never get that in any of the movies. At least not pre-Daniel Craig. ( )

3½ stars
Fleming partially spoiled this book for me with the views on women he gives Bond near the end regarding Tilly Masterton & Pussy Galore -- too misogynist for me! {In case you were wondering, I am referring to the fact that he blames Tilly's lesbianism to giving women the vote!! Plus then Pussy, who is also a lesbian, succumbs to Bond because he is a "real man" }

The plot about Goldfinger himself though was quite enjoyable. Not as good as "From Russia With Love" in my opinion, but still worth reading. ( )

I know, I know, I sound like a broken record, but how are these so popular?! It began with Bond catching a guy cheating at cards, then led into a riveting game of who could out cheat who at golf (yes the riveting was sarcasm), then some blah blah blah where Bond finds out what the bad guy is doing and how he does it, then he should have died, but the bad guy decided to spare him for some reason, then the conclusion, which drew less attention than the golf game, it seemed. Maybe the time was so different that back in the late ‘50s, early ‘60s these were really something, but it’s not holding up to the test of time. And I don’t even mean the blatant misogyny and racism, just the whole plots themselves. Also it cracks me up how we have these recurring characters showing up every so often in the books, except for the women, who either get killed off, or just forgotten about, despite how much Bond loves them so, at the time. ( )

The plot differs somewhat from the movie. And again, Flemming's physical descriptions for people are a bit jarring. ( )

I liked this book a lot. It has an interesting plot and it has interesting characters too. This on is my favorite movie too, so I was excited to read the book finally. Also, the theme so to this is stuck in my head.

The first few chapters ere kind of boring to be honest, but as soon as Goldfinger appeared this book got a lot more entertaining. I still like Bond as a character, but I really liked Goldfinger in this too. He makes a great villain. He's not fully bad either. He's super rich, but he also has manors in some weird way. I mean he invites Bond to a game of golf and dinner too.

It was interesting to see more then one Bond Girl in this book too. Although one we don't see as much, but she is turned into that iconic golden girl. The Tilly is kind of plain in my opinion, but I still liked her. I liked Pussy Galore a lot though. Found it kind of funny she is part of a lesbian gang, but then sleeps with Bond at the end (oh the 1950s).

Out of any of the characters in the book though, I liked Oddjob the most. He's basically the same as he is in the movie. For a henchmen I like his because he's got a neat weapon and fighting style and he is silent. Plus he has a cool name too.

Out of the first 7 books I've read of Bond, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger are my favorites. Sill find it cool that Fleming doesn't really write all these book the same. He has motifs, but he doesn't make the books longer and longer as they progress, nor do the books have the same writing style. It makes reading the series fun because you get curious how he will write the next book, and the next one is a lot shorter then the three I just read. ( )