tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36879283.post348599000086863955..comments2024-03-20T01:16:08.502-07:00Comments on Double O Section: Book Review: DEVIL MAY CARE (2008) by Sebastian FaulksTannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03910873055922510145noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36879283.post-60612622097919455732008-06-25T14:07:00.000-07:002008-06-25T14:07:00.000-07:00'I mean, who is this guy -- some pretentious liter...'I mean, who is this guy -- some pretentious literary writer nobody has ever heard of.'<BR/><BR/>Good heavens above. Is this a witty pistache of an idiot, or have you genuinely not heard of him?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36879283.post-6074924817574310772008-06-19T21:15:00.000-07:002008-06-19T21:15:00.000-07:00Ted, you're absolutely right: there were definitel...Ted, you're absolutely right: there were definitely moments in DMC that I enjoyed, even if I really didn't like the "overall shape of the thing," as you put it so well. The tennis match, for sure, and Chagrin and his backstory. In fact, after the slow start, I was really with it throughout most of the first half... until 007 got to Tehran and everything really went off the rails. I enjoyed a lot of the little references (especially the Young Bond one), but some of them verged on being too cute. <BR/><BR/>Not all the details were right though. Little things bothered me like the fact that Faulks didn't seem to realize that SMERSH was defunct by that point in both Fleming's world and the real world, or that Bond HAD been to the USSR before--to be brainwashed. <BR/><BR/>I really do wish I could have enjoyed it more. But I certainly don't wish to hamper other people's points of view. There are bloggers and a surprising amount of mainstream critics who seem to have enjoyed the book a lot, so I wouldn't want to discourage you from enjoying your father's day gift, Bish! (And if you don't, at least you've got the Ron Perlman Magnificent Seven to fall back on; Ron's awesome!) Maybe you'll like it more than I did. There are certainly small things that anyone will enjoy, even if the big picture is tougher. Please let us know what you end up thinking! (Plus, it's definitely a fast read; it's got that going for it.) <BR/><BR/>I do agree that Faulks put his foot in his mouth a lot in interviews, and whether he felt that way or not, he certainly made it seem like he saw Bond as beneath him, which was unfortunate. Still, I was fully prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt... and he let me down.Tannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03910873055922510145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36879283.post-78098935529854927842008-06-19T20:36:00.000-07:002008-06-19T20:36:00.000-07:00My wonderful wife bought this for me for Father's ...My wonderful wife bought this for me for Father's Day (along with the two season set of The Magnificent Seven television series). However, I am loath to start reading.<BR/><BR/>Right from the beginning I was dubious of Sebastion Faulks. I mean, who is this guy -- some pretentious literary writer nobody has ever heard of. Secondly, when interview he seemed to have distain for the project (the whole, "I'm only going to write one Bond novel" thing).<BR/><BR/>Charlie Higson has done far more for Bond than Faulks will ever get credit for. I think the whole thing is a massive misfire -- a bestseller becasue it's Bond and for no other reason.Paul Bishophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02102723351945251883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36879283.post-64944650350325845572008-06-18T19:26:00.000-07:002008-06-18T19:26:00.000-07:00I was more enthusiastic for Devil may Care right a...I was more enthusiastic for Devil may Care right after I finished it, but your observations about structural weakness and a passive Bond are spot on I find myself thinking less of it.<BR/><BR/>I still enjoyed reading it fast and once, and there were moments when it felt right.<BR/><BR/>You were let down by tthe overall shape of the thing, and I fixated on the details. It could have been much worse, that's what I'll say if anyone asks me.Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16333649435219609877noreply@blogger.com