I guess this could be considered the most descriptive novel in the series. Not so much for Bond, but for the Bond Girl-Vivienne Michel. I guess Fleming at this point in his writing, after developing Bond quite elaborately, wanted to venture futher and develop a story involving a girl, who unlike others in his previous novels, had a story worth spending time on. And if you keep that in mind while reading this novel, you will find that it is much more entertaining, and not as slow and boring as you might have expected at first glance.
The book is split into three parts, each narrated by Vivienne Michel herself. The first section, dealing with her life and relationships prior to her position at The Dreamy Pines Motor Court where the bulk of the story is situated entitled "ME", takes up approximately seventy pages or so, devoted primarily to the development of her character alone, while allowing the reader to enter her world of heart-break and soul-searching.
The second part of the novel, entitled "THEM", deals with the main
conflict facing her at the present time involving two scummy looking guys
with a scummy plan, Sluggsy Morant and Sol Horror. The two men plot
to burn down the Motor Court in return for the insurance money that
they and their employer, Mr.Sanguinetti will be rewarded with. They also
plan to dispose of Vivienne after they have had their fair share of what
she has to "offer".
"Tomorrow's Tomorrow. What you got to worry about's tonight."
The third and final section of the book entitled "HIM" involves the intervention of this plot with the apperance of James Bond and how quickly their plan is changed into something that was just not expected in the deal. As one could expect, this final section move very quickly and is filled with passion and excitement. The last sixty pages or so are very enjoyable because then and only then do the readers get what they really wanted when they picked up the book to begin with-James Bond.
I think that a tale like this was bound to come along sooner or later in
Flemings' stories as he never really developed a girl to the extent that he
may have liked to in his previous books. The first section is quite
descripive, containing information of Viviennes' past, the second is filled
with suspenseful moments and chapter ending cliffhangers with the
introduction of the villians, and the third is basically just good, fun reading
where James Bond saves the day. Although it lacks much of the action
as previous Fleming novels it makes up for it with excellent drama of
situation and I for one had no problem waiting a hundred pages for Bond
to come through the door. I would reccomend this novel to any Bond
fan looking for a little differnet road to travel, but with highway signs
containing the same Fleming magic.
***1/2 out of *****
© 1997 amonte007@hotmail.com
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