Dubious accents

The story is good, very different from the rest of the bond novels. However the language is very dated and some dialogue made me cringe albeit it was considered appropriate for the era. The reading I felt was poor. some really dodgy accents that I'm surprised you could get away with. Bonds narration also didn't seem to fit with his character. Too upper class. 50 years since I originally read the book, some I have re-read and some audiobooks listened too. On general presentation and an experience I had to give it a low score. But the narration I found the worst.

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The last of the good Bond books

What did you like most about You Only Live Twice (with Interview)?

The sympathy shown towards Bond by his superiors. The positive depiction of Japanese culture, especially in contrast with our own. The aftermath - especially the thing Bond doesn't know because Kissy doesn't tell him.

What other book might you compare You Only Live Twice (with Interview) to, and why?

Apart from the other Bond books, I can't think of any. At times it feels like a fantasy novel, and at other times like a Saturday morning serial from long before I was born.

What about Martin Jarvis’s performance did you like?

Nothing in particular. He did the job well, as always.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I'm never going to do that with an unabridged novel.

Any additional comments?

It's very pleasing the way the closing volume of a trilogy leads straight into the next story. Shame The Man With The Golden Gun isn't very good.

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Another winner from this fantastic series

The series of Bond audiobooks is one of the best in the catalogue. Each one is brilliantly cast, enhancing Ian Fleming's superb prose. Martin Jarvis is one of the finest audiobook narrators around, and he does a fabulous job here (though it is a little disconcerting having recently listened to him narrating the Just William books). Highly recommended.

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Not watch I was expecting.

Another Bond book that was different to what I thought it would be, but in a good way. It bares some similarities to the film, but this was great.

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Bond in Japan. Need I say more?

Reeling from 'the death' , Bond must be re energised. Thus, M sends Bond on an impossible mission to Japan.... the rest is well worth a read, or a listen! Classic Bond at his best. Very well narrated by Jarvis.

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Happy I read this

I was originally put off purchasing this title due to some of the reviews. However I eventually got it on during a 2 for 1 promotion.
Very happy with it, and sorry the bad reviews had put me off.
The story is very much the penmanship of Fleming, though the subject is not so much Bond in action as a view inside Bond’s mind.
Martin Jarvis does an excellent treatment of this subject matter in my opinion. I think some of the negative reviews are criticising the reader for this books difference in tone, but it is written differently.
Synopsis:
Bond on the loss of his wife is in a dark place. This adventure pits him against a physical place and villain that embody these dark thoughts.

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A series of missed opportunities

A disapointing end to Blofeld trilogy. This had so much going for it 1) Bond is a broken man out for revenge for Tracy, 2) a new setting in Japan that we haven't seen before, 3) Blofeld has gone full cartoon supper villain and is living on a privet island at the centre of a 'garden of death', 4) Erma Bunt is back and 5) Tiger is a fantastic new allies for Bond to have adventures with. But non of this goes anywhere and instead we spend the bulk of the book living with a group of scantily clad fisherwomen (not that I mind the scantily clad part mind you) And it's not that the story is bad, it's still better then Diamonds are Forever but as the conclusion to the greatest rivalry of Bond's life, the one that has taken so much from him that has see the most character development since Casino Royal it's a bit of a let down is all.

Also this should really have been read by a woman (preferably a Japanese woman) Martin Jarvis dose his best and If it weren't such a big part of the story it wouldn't matter but it is and it dose.

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Enjoyable again

Another good Bond story with quite a lot of info about Japanese culture that I assume must be true. The Japanese accent didn’t feel to me to be as offensive as the accents in Live and Let Die, but I still wonder if it is strictly necessary to do the accent. When I read it I don’t create an accent in my mind’s ear. Ignoring that, I really enjoyed another in the Bond series.

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Last book

This book was very well read by Martin, I felt it took a very long time ,up 12 chapters before the story really began follow just like the old James Bond books.

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3 people found this helpful

Excellent story and superb narration

This is a classic Bond and far better than the film. This is a faithful unabridged version with a superb narrator. You really get a feel for the ‘true’ Bond in this ‘book’- one of Flemings best!

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1 person found this helpful