Book Review: Goldfinger by Ian Fleming

About:
Goldfinger by Ian Fleming is the seventh novel featuring James Bond, 007, agent of MI6, the British Secret Service. The book’s original title was The Richest Man in the World, it was written in 1958 and published in 1959.

• 214 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9997407229

My rat­ing for Goldfinger — 4
Buy Goldfinger from Amazon.com*
Books by Ian Fleming*

Thoughts:
Goldfinger by Ian Flem­ing is another fun book in the series. The story is, of course, dated and some of it seem downright laughable or cringe worthy if not keeping in mind the attitudes at the times towards women and minorities.

The book features two very memorable villains, Goldfinger and Oddjob, which have become the classic stereotype of Cold War rogues like many of Fleming’s inventions. The character of Pussy Galore, is a strong, smart, independent woman but Fleming still manages a few sexist remarks regardless and Fleming’s antiquated views on the subject of feminism. I just took his old time views with a chuckle, but it’s amusing to read about those and I don’t know if his views are representatives of the times or even of the majority of men in the era. For example, Fleming “blames” the suffragette movement and women voting on… lesbians. Quite laughable these days, but a bit disturbing to think that those views actually existed and maybe even still exist.

With the exception of From Russia with Love, I thought that the character of Bond grew in this book more than the previous ones. Bond is more human and develops some form of a sense of humor, verbally jabbing at Oddjob simply for his own amusement.

Frankly, another fun and silly adventure which has to be read with a wink and a nod to another time. A page turner which, to today’s audience, might seem funny at all the wrong places.

Synopsis:
Bond first meets Auric Goldfinger, a millionaire, after being asked by a rich friend to find out if Mr. Goldfinger cheats at Canasta. Coincidentally, Bond’s boss asks him to discover how Goldfinger manages to smuggle gold out of the country and also if he has any connection to SMERSH, the Russian anti-spy agency.

Bond discovers Goldfinger’s dealings with smuggled gold and, of course, other misdeeds. He meets Oddjob, a henchman for Goldfinger, and manages to entrench himself in Goldfinger’s get rich quick scheme.

Buy Goldfinger from Amazon.com*
Books by Ian Fleming*

Zohar — Man of la Book
Dis­claimer: I got this book as a gift.
*Ama­zon links point to an affil­i­ate account