tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post1538802111919874909..comments2024-03-28T18:16:09.693+00:00Comments on Clothes In Books: The Spy Who Loved Me by Ian FlemingClothes In Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-69025812681114995142019-06-22T22:13:53.957+01:002019-06-22T22:13:53.957+01:00Thanks for the nice compliments.
This was such an ...Thanks for the nice compliments.<br />This was such an interesting entry in the series, and showed that, as you say, he could have written quite different books. <br />Maugham is an interesting comparison - I always reckon WSM wrote the best women characters of his (male) contemporaries, he is streets ahead of most of the others. <br /><br />A lot of the Bond women wear timelessly stylish clothes which could be worn any time - it was something that very much struck me as I worked my way through the books. Clothes in Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00058207970686573597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-16549303907535761222019-06-22T12:02:28.433+01:002019-06-22T12:02:28.433+01:00I entirely agree that the main character, Vivienne...I entirely agree that the main character, Vivienne, is well drawn, as is her first lover even though a very minor player. Fleming was entirely familiar with the class system and divide of the era and the conduct of the characters rings true. It has been said that the 1930s didn't actually end until the early 1960s, and I think that is right with regard to social attitudes.<br /><br />Fleming could have been a great writer after the style of his friend Somerset Maugham....but wanted wealth rather than literary acclaim, at least at first.<br /><br />The clothes in your second piece about this book, tight black trousers ( jeans nowadays), loose fitting top and gold sandals would still be stylish today.<br /><br />Incidentally....great blog!<br /><br />Thismickchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04808168287298715132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-43190456692814540652019-03-21T13:41:54.685+00:002019-03-21T13:41:54.685+00:00You are absolutely right, I think: much more real ...You are absolutely right, I think: much more real characters in this one, with a real backstory, and yes Bond does seem different. It shows Fleming could have done more varied things if he'd put his mind to it, and hadn't died relatively young. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-87551914704252629142019-03-18T19:19:14.938+00:002019-03-18T19:19:14.938+00:00I really like this one, though I can see why it...I really like this one, though I can see why it's not for everyone. Vivienne is a much more fully realized character than most of the Bond girls, and Bond is a kinder and more compassionate gentleman who we don't see in the rest of the series. <br /><br />I love the line, “Loneliness becomes a lover, solitude a darling sin,” because I am a solitary person. When you're single with no kids, you can either embrace your solitude or be miserable- cue my darling Marjorie Hillis! :) I think Vivienne definitely benefited from her solitude, after the rackety life she'd been living in England. <br />Auroranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-91873716136272310462016-08-18T10:53:03.157+01:002016-08-18T10:53:03.157+01:00I'm waiting for you to get on with it! They...I'm waiting for you to get on with it! They'll seem tame by modern thriller standards, but they certainly have their moments, and their momentum. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-9546500441140644592016-08-18T10:52:28.601+01:002016-08-18T10:52:28.601+01:00Oh that's interesting, and makes sense, about ...Oh that's interesting, and makes sense, about his not wanting a film of this one. And yes, good point - if it had gone as a standalone it would be treated differently. I thought he made a good stab at it.Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-50648380402880472602016-08-18T05:00:31.625+01:002016-08-18T05:00:31.625+01:00Been saying it for a while now, I'll have read...Been saying it for a while now, I'll have read some Fleming one day!col2910https://www.blogger.com/profile/06422138069939709043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-29203584959312053072016-08-17T23:02:04.941+01:002016-08-17T23:02:04.941+01:00If I remember correctly, Fleming specified that th...If I remember correctly, Fleming specified that the movie could not be filmed. They were allowed to use the title and nothing else (although when they did the next movie, MOONRAKER, they only used the name of the main villain and a spacecraft called the MOONRAKER,and absolutely nothing else, so it was hardly unusual in that.<br /><br />I think that after THUNDERBALL, Fleming felt that he wanted to stretch himself a bit. You can tell why it got such a critical pasting, but it's a much better book than its reputation would suggest. Flemings big mistake was in trying to sell it as part ofthe series, rather than simply do a standalone. Anyway, how can you not love a book where the villains are called 'Slugsy' and 'Horror'?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-43208744077306138792016-08-17T21:23:47.908+01:002016-08-17T21:23:47.908+01:00That makes sense - it is a great title for a movie...That makes sense - it is a great title for a movie, but unfilmable plot really... Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-43069406877532905272016-08-17T21:22:20.181+01:002016-08-17T21:22:20.181+01:00The Spy Who Loved Me is the only Roger Moore movie...The Spy Who Loved Me is the only Roger Moore movie that we own. I think it is one of those that just uses the title of the book and the plot of the movie bears no resemblance to the book at all. It has been a while since we watched it.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-8072392642634598552016-08-17T20:48:42.013+01:002016-08-17T20:48:42.013+01:00Thanks Chrissie - this one was tremendous fun to d...Thanks Chrissie - this one was tremendous fun to do!Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-50072530943940172192016-08-17T20:48:15.749+01:002016-08-17T20:48:15.749+01:00From Russia... sticks in the mind I think, because...From Russia... sticks in the mind I think, because of that distinctive setting, which isn't a Carribean island. I've liked all of them in their own way. Still trying to work out how they made this one into a Bond movie!Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-39866044878397961132016-08-17T07:58:48.746+01:002016-08-17T07:58:48.746+01:00It is a marvel the way you track down these photos...It is a marvel the way you track down these photos, Moira!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16510409974009816550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-13042856066550441102016-08-16T20:25:13.064+01:002016-08-16T20:25:13.064+01:00I had heard that this one was very different, I lo...I had heard that this one was very different, I look forward to giving it a try. I just finished From Russia With Love and loved it. Probably because it is so close to the movie, but also because it has a coherent plot and more realistic than some of the books.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-90423623895463617982016-08-16T09:03:37.593+01:002016-08-16T09:03:37.593+01:00Yes, you've pretty much summed it up Sergio. I...Yes, you've pretty much summed it up Sergio. I think credit for trying, but also it must have been disappointing if you were a solid Bond fan waiting for the new book each year...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-17013162697548362352016-08-16T08:34:04.507+01:002016-08-16T08:34:04.507+01:00Well, after the highs of DR NO and GOLDFINGER, one...Well, after the highs of DR NO and GOLDFINGER, one does get the impression that Fleming grew tired of the need to churn out a new book a year, turning to earlier TV and film stories for inspiration, gimmicks (Bond gets married) and, on the plus side, experimentation (this one) - on the downside, this is such a peculiar book ... look forward to part 2!Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)https://bloodymurder.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-56832146498943556822016-08-15T23:53:10.339+01:002016-08-15T23:53:10.339+01:00I am discovering myself how different they are, th...I am discovering myself how different they are, though from the other direction!Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-45920581031699514062016-08-15T23:52:42.954+01:002016-08-15T23:52:42.954+01:00You have to give him credit: he had a highly succe...You have to give him credit: he had a highly successful formula, but was willing to try something new. And I thought it was more successful than the reader might be expecting. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-49660482655900235972016-08-15T12:35:44.723+01:002016-08-15T12:35:44.723+01:00Moira, I didn't know, until reading your revie...Moira, I didn't know, until reading your reviews of Fleming's novels, that his books could be different from the movies which are snazzy and glamourous.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-77794971957362259382016-08-15T12:31:29.052+01:002016-08-15T12:31:29.052+01:00I do wonder why Fleming chose to write this one fr...I do wonder why Fleming chose to write this one from Viv's point of view, Moira. It's quite different to his other work, isn't it? And a departure for him in terms of plot line, too. I'll be keen to know what you thought of that aspect of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com