FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: A JAMES BOND NOVEL

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲
𝗕𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗮 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿: 𝗦𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝘁𝗶 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿
𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: 𝟐𝟓𝟔
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱: 𝟏𝟐𝐭𝐡 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿
𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓









In From Russia with Love, Ian Fleming presents one of his most iconic James Bond thrillers—famously counted among President John F. Kennedy’s favourite books. The plot revolves around the Soviet counterintelligence agency SMERSH and its deadly plan to eliminate 007 using a carefully orchestrated trap involving the alluring Tatiana Romanova. Set against a backdrop of Cold War espionage, the story also introduces some of Fleming’s most memorable villains: the ruthless assassin Red Grant and the chilling Rosa Klebb.
As someone who enjoys thrillers, I approached this book with curiosity, especially since I’ve never read a Bond novel or watched any of the films. However, I struggled to connect with the writing style and tone. The book opens with an extended focus on the villain’s anatomy, which I found overly detailed and somewhat off-putting. The narrative lingers in Russia for an unusually long time, following characters who ultimately fade from relevance, while Bond himself appears relatively late into the plot.
Despite trying to keep an open mind, I found Fleming’s prose challenging to engage with—an issue I had previously encountered when attempting Casino Royale. His portrayal of women, in particular, feels dated and uncomfortable by modern standards. Comments about “silly emotional secretaries” and overly sexualized descriptions of female characters detracted significantly from the reading experience. One alarming moment involved a character boasting about kidnapping and imprisoning a girl as a sex slave—an inclusion that was not only shocking but wholly unnecessary.
While I understand the cultural and historical significance of the James Bond novels, I found this instalment overly focused on physical descriptions and gratuitous sexuality, which detracted from the intrigue I typically enjoy in spy fiction. Overall, I did not enjoy From Russia with Love, and I would not recommend it. Readers who are curious about the origins of the Bond legacy may still wish to explore and form their own opinions.

My Rating:

1/5

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