#thebooknotthemovie

[carolyn-smiley-face]

Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead

Meyer Wolfsheim | Great Gatsby ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

[ferrule]

#HappyMonday!!! #LouiseFitzhugh #HarrietTheSpy #FavoriteBook #TheBookNotTheMovie (at Downtown Dallas) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6JLbbeHE0E/?igshid=dtzm7zd92y93

[wwwseattle]

The only book with 102 chapters that I’ve loop-read through because I just can’t bring myself to leave the cowboys, horses and the big-open country that I find within the pages. #thebooknotthemovie #lonesomedove #fortheloveofbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/B1elqHclqzpjNqhRfM_wGxeQ8Qnr4FesbS7ZKQ0/?igshid=1j3k2bc3goz6p

[biblioventures]

I took this one on my reading retreat last weekend and friends... this book left me COMPLETELY DEVASTATED. Seriously. I haven’t cried like that since The Notebook. #thebooknotthemovie 📚 📚What will you bring on your reading retreat? (at Murphin Ridge Inn) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoxcTqeHthp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=eiun85idn09e

[fab40swiftie]

2017 bucket list here we come! @egonzaleza3 and @chapulinadventures let's do this!💪🏼🚶🏻🏃🏻‍♀️#hikingadventures #hikinggoals #cahikingtrails #pct2017 #wild #thebooknotthemovie #lol thanks to @adjanis for the wonderful gift that I'll finally be putting to use. 😁 (at Pacific Crest Trail)

[capitallossom]

Dramatic pause for effect. Of course. Lets immediately jump to that conclusion. #jurassicpark #thebooknotthemovie #readingaddict #bookaddict #books #bookworm

[i-deal-in-facts-not-legends]

Concerning Hobbits

I wanted to touch more on Bilbo Baggins’ reaction to the gold and the Arkenstone, and the misconception that seems to be around about it.  

Firstly, for some reason there seems to be the belief that Hobbits have no care for riches.  To some extent, that’s true.  However, they do place great value on a different kind of wealth: how big of a home one has, and where that home is, what’s in the home, and most importantly, one’s reputation.  A different kind of greed, but it’s still a form of greed.  

Secondly, to say Bilbo was completely unaffected by the gold or to downplay it is an insult to the character I think.  Bilbo is taken by the gold: “His heart was filled and pierced with enchantment and with the desire of dwarves; and he gazed motionless...at the gold beyond price and count.” He’s also ensnared by the Arkenstone: “Suddenly Bilbo’s arm went towards it, drawn by its enchantment.” As time goes, he does become less enamored with both, although he does show a reluctance to part with the stone: “Then Bilbo, not without a shudder, not without a glance on longing, handed the marvelous stone to Bard...”

He seems to have mixed feelings by that point and in the end dismisses gold and treasure mostly altogether.  But the fact remains, he was, for however brief a time, ensnared by the dragon-sickness.  

[i-deal-in-facts-not-legends]

Casino Royale, by Ian Flemming

My book review of Casino Royale

This is probably the most straight forward work of fiction I’ve ever read; it has very little in the way of flowery words. The plot is clear, the progression sure, and the characters are pretty honest in their personalities. Mostly. For all of that, it’s still a gripping and absorbing story.

In the set up and delivery, it’s wonderful. You have a great understanding of how and why the bad guy is bad, and you can feel the tension in Bond in all the right places. Except for some major points, this book seems, eventually, more like a who done it than a spy thriller. But for some reason it works; after all, you can’t have spy without some kind of mystery.

Our main character, Bond, is surprisingly aware of his personality, faults, and weaknesses as well as his strengths. For a spy, that’s intriguing. He’s described as a man’s man, a womanizer and a sexist. He’s honest with himself to a point, but is perfectly willing and able to ignore his instincts and warning signs. He also goes through a moral conundrum that at face value is childish and naive, but makes sense and is pretty deep when you consider what he’s just been through. This is James Bond in his rawest and freshest form, before the turmoil and damage of torture, betrayal and loss hardens him.

This book is unapologetically violent and sexual, and somewhat descriptive in both. You can cringe and flush at some of the things written, even though compared to what’s out there today it’s very tame and not as explicit. That’s part of why you react that way, because it gives you a glimpse, an idea, and your imagination takes it from there. You also aren’t really expecting it.

In the end, this is a good read and a great intro into the 007 series; I definitely enjoyed it enough to continue. It may be difficult to get through the beginning, but it’s worth it. I give it a 3/5 rating