Casino Royale
★★★★★Read Jan 1, 2013
Really didn't like this book; reads like some childish fantasy by a hack. I suppose it's unsurprising to criticize it for sexism but geez, he could have done better. And lots of clumsy prose. Redeemed a bit by what the James Bond series became, of course. Also I loved the central device on Bond betting on baccarat and knowing it was 100% a game of chance, not skill.
Goodreads readers give it 3.73★, from 101,350 ratings. I gave it 2★, −1.7, where I'm usually −0.9: I liked it less than most.
Readers call it Thriller, Classics, Mystery, Espionage, Adventure, Crime, Mystery Thriller.