'Goldfinger' by Ian Fleming follows James Bond as he faces off against the wealthy and ruthless Auric Goldfinger, a man driven by a pathological lust for gold. The plot involves Goldfinger's elaborate scheme to rob Fort Knox, with Bond trying to stop him. The writing style is described as containing moments of tight prose and intriguing plot twists, while also facing criticism for implausible scenarios and cringeworthy twists. The book explores Bond's character in a deeper way than the films, showcasing his internal conflicts and moral dilemmas.

Characters:

The characters are complex, with Bond shown as more human and vulnerable, while Goldfinger embodies the traits of a classic villain.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is descriptive and detailed, blending tension with slower pacing, often filled with 1950s social reflections that may feel outdated.

Plot/Storyline:

The story features a complex plot centered around gold smuggling and an elaborate heist at Fort Knox, showcasing Bond's cleverness in navigating dangerous situations.

Setting:

The setting features glamorous and exotic locales, typical of mid-20th century luxury and lifestyle.

Pacing:

Pacing is generally steady but can lag during extended descriptions, slowing the overall momentum at times.

It was part of his profession to kill people. He had never liked doing it and when he had to kill he did it as well as he knew how and forgot about it. As a secret agent who held the rare double−O pre...

Notes:

The book Goldfinger was first published in 1959 and is the seventh novel in the James Bond series by Ian Fleming.

The original title for Goldfinger was going to be "The Richest Man in the World."

In the story, Bond discovers that Goldfinger is cheating at Canasta, which leads him to investigate further.

Goldfinger is portrayed as a multi-millionaire obsessed with gold, who plans to rob Fort Knox of gold bullion.

The novel explores themes of sexism and racism prevalent in its time, with characters reflecting outdated attitudes.

Pussy Galore, one of the main characters, is depicted as a strong yet stereotyped femme fatale, leading a gang of female criminals.

The famous scene of Bond nearly dying from a laser device does not actually occur in the book; it was added in the film adaptation.

The book features a lengthy golf game between Bond and Goldfinger, which has been critiqued for being overly drawn out.

Bond is characterized as more introspective in the novel, reflecting on his actions and the morality of killing.

Oddjob, Goldfinger's henchman, is known for his deadly hat and becomes a notable villain alongside Goldfinger.

The book contained elements of the Cold War, as Goldfinger is suspected of working with SMERSH, the Soviet counterintelligence agency.

In the novel, Bond's method of killing is not glamorized; he experiences guilt, which adds depth to his character.

Bond's relationship with women in the novel, especially regarding consent and sexual dynamics, has been criticized for its portrayal of gender roles.

Fleming's writing style includes detailed descriptions of settings and characters, contributing to the book's atmosphere.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include sexism, racism, and homophobia, reflecting the dated attitudes of the time when the book was written.

Has Romance?

While there are romantic elements, particularly with Bond's encounters with women, the portrayal is often shallow and tied to the character's sexual exploits.

From The Publisher:

There is only one Bond.

Catch up on this classic adventure before the release of No Time to Die.

Who is Auric Goldfinger? The Bank of England wants to know and they're also curious to find out what he's done with the huge stock of gold he's been collecting since the war. James Bond is put on the trail.

This isn't the first time 007 has come across the enigmatic millionaire and he quickly discovers that Goldfinger never forgets and never forgives. Bond is drawn inexorably into the most ambitious heist of the century and finds himself the only defence against Goldfinger's murderous mania for gold.

'Bond is a hero for all time' Jeffrey Deaver

Ratings (6)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (4)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (10):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (2)
Not Interested (1)

2 comment(s)

ColorfulLeo92

It Was OK

2 months

It's a very entertaining story, can't deny that but it wasn't that great either. But I definitely prefer the books over the movies, still has a lot of things I don't love but a great deal of fun and entertaining time if you can look past it. There is only one more book available in my book app, which is number 13 I think. might read that as well but not that happy there was a big jump from each book

AHollyS

Incredible

3 months

Best Bond after Casino Royale.

What can you read after
Goldfinger?

See the list (16 books)

About the Author:

Ian Lancaster Fleming was born in London in 1908. His first job was at Reuters news agency after which he worked briefly as a stockbroker before working in Naval Intelligence during the Second World War. His first novel, Casino Royale, was published in 1953 and was an instant success. Fleming went on to write twelve other Bond books as well as two works of non-fiction and the children's classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Bond books have sold over sixty million copies and earned praise from figures such as Raymond Chandler who called Fleming 'the most forceful and driving writer of thrillers in England' and President Kennedy who named From Russia with Love as one of his favourite books. The books inspired a hugely successful series of film adaptations which began in 1961 with the release of Dr No, starring Sean Connery as 007. Fleming was married to Anne Rothermere with whom he had a son, Caspar. He died in 1964.

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Goldfinger

Ian Fleming

Book 7 in the series:James Bond