Rating: 
Summary: One of my Favorite Fleming Novels
Review: "Goldfinger" has always been one of my favorite James Bond novels from the pen of Ian Fleming. I have read it several times through the years and I still return to it. It is just so well written with Fleming's unique style that the words linger in your mind forever. Good book.
Rating:
Summary: One of my Favorite Fleming Novels
Review: "Goldfinger" has always been one of my favorite James Bond novels from the pen of Ian Fleming. I have read it several times through the years and I still return to it. It is just so well written with Fleming's unique style that the words linger in your mind forever. Good book.
Rating: 
Summary: The Root of Evil
Review: Both this book, and the later film, are entertaining stories. If you read the book you can understand the film and the changes made from the book. James Bond again works as an enforcer for an Official Monopoly the Bank of England. They want to eliminate the competition in the sale of gold. Gold is "the most valuable and most easily marketable commodity in the world", and "gold is virtually untraceable". "Gold attracts the biggest, the most ingenious criminals." You can review the history of imperialism for thousands of years, since Imperial Rome. Bond is to investigate the activities of Goldfinger, as suspect in gold smuggling.
The book begins by telling of as assignment in Mexico to stop the shipment of heroin to England by unofficial means. Arriving in Miami, he meets an American millionaire who wants his advice. Bond finds out why: Junius is losing thousands playing two-handed Canasta. Bond discovers the cheating method, and turns this around; this is his introduction to Goldfinger. [Fleming's detailed observations shows his skills as a former foreign reporter and intelligence agent.] Back in England Bond is assigned to investigate smuggling gold from Britain to India (reversing the effect of 19th century imperialism?). Goldfinger is the suspect; he uses a chain of shops to buy Old Gold (a euphemism for stolen goods?). The problem is to find the method used in smuggling so it can be ended. Goldfinger is also suspected of being a paymaster to Soviet spies, and thus a target for counter-espionage. Bond and Goldfinger play a game of golf. [Fleming shows his skill for details and knowledge of the game and course.] Once again Bond outwits Goldfinger by out-cheating him.
Bond follows Goldfinger to France, and on to Switzerland. There is a complication in "Miss Tilly Soames:, and they are caught spying on Goldfinger. Bond offers to work for Goldfinger to save his life and Tilly's too. To further the plot, this offer is accepted! They are flown to New York to be used in Goldfinger's next bold and illegal project, so audacious as to be unthinkable: robbing Fort Knox of its gold! The rest of the book tells how this plot is put into action, and how it fails through the heroic efforts of James Bond. The story continues with Goldfinger's escape from Fort Knox, and his later reappearance in a hijacked airplane. There is a miraculous escape. Oddjob is rejected, Goldfinger no longer needs his millions. Bond survives the crash of a Stratocruiser at sea. And so ends another fantastic story from the mind of Ian Fleming. Was this character inspired by Sir Harry Oakes?
To learn more about Ian Fleming you can read "Ian Fleming The Spy Who Came In with the Gold" by Henry A. Zeiger. His last chapter tries to explain the popularity of the Bond novels. Perhaps Bond is a heroic figure who can always win against adversity [like The Lone Ranger?]. Does Fleming deliberately and systematically excite and satisfy the worst instincts of his readers? Or does Fleming play to the faults of mankind, who like to read about places and activities that would be strange to their lives? John Le Carre (cover name) says that Bond is a mirror of contemporary maladjustments. Ian Fleming seems like a later version of John Buchan. Fleming's politicization of the enemy recalls the novels of E. Phillips Oppenheim. Note how often the Bond villains are parvenus fighting against the Establishment [a reflection of the sun setting on the British Empire?].
Rating:
Summary: Class never goes out of style
Review: Goldfinger has an effortless grace that is simply beyond most thriller writers. And this is the point; Fleming could really write. Yes, Goldfinger is just a potboiler fantasy, but it is suffused with beautiful writing; elegant simple sentences that contain real wit and character. It was Fleming's longest book and yet compared to a Clancy or a Ludlum it is little more than a short story. But in contrast to the turgid, plot ridden lumps that so many writers today (and in fairness, for the last thirty years) seem compelled to churn out, Fleming's brevity and clarity, his development of character, the pace and humour he injects, all shine out.Reading again the account of the game of Canasta or, especially, the round of golf, is to feel a sense of joy and appreciation of his sheer skill with words. (In contrast, can any one really read Tom Clancy and not, by about page 400, emit a despairing cry of "get on with it!".) And Goldfinger is a great story. It's far fetched and unlikely, but it roars along with a logic that lasts as long as the book does. And yes of course it's dated, and Fleming's views would not hold up to much scrutiny in 2002. But are today's readers such sensitive little flowers that they cannot accept that the ideas and views of another time are totally valid when expressed in the context of that time? Goldfinger was written by a man who had an instinctive lightness of touch, who was writing when people did not mistake information for knowledge, and who above all wrote for the sheer enjoyment of it all. And that's what Goldfinger is...sheer pleasure and sheer enjoyment.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant writing....
Review: Goldfinger is the first 007 novel I've read, and it certainly will not be the last!
Bond is on this occasion chasing Auric Goldfinger, a powerful gold trader lokking to bring down the value of the English Pound. 007 soon discovers that Goldfinger's master plan to steal $11 billion of gold from the vault in Fort Knox, USA.
Bond is soon caught in the middle of the biggest criminal operation of all time, and is the only man who can stop it. A brilliant book, with detailed descriptions of every aspect of the story, and a fool-proof plot. Only 007 could possibly get so deeply involved in a plan such as Goldfinger's, and with the twists at the end you will not know what is coming next.
A great book, and I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the 007 series.
Rating:
Summary: Golden
Review: Goldfinger is the first James Bond book in which Bond actually spies. In previous Bond books, 007 is a detective at best, or just along for the ride as events unfold more or less beyond his control at worst. In contrast, Bond in Goldfinger makes covert observations, follows his subject at a distance, and infiltrates his opponents' organization in order to ascertain information. There. Now James Bond is a spy. This Bond is also funnier and smarter than his past incarnations. Bond seems to have a personality. While he is still somewhat gullible (the degree to which he falls for "old tricks," such as when he's captured in the airport near the end of this book, strains credulity), he also uses his wits more than in earlier books. All this makes for an interesting story that is sufficient enough a departure from its predecessors to remain engaging. Still, GOLDFINGER retains some fairly typical problems characteristic of Fleming's Bond stories. Key plot developments turn on incidents that make little sense or are simply unbelievable. Goldfinger keeps Bond alive because Bond offered to help. Goldfinger essentially hires him as a secretary. Didn't he already have a secretary? Wasn't relying on Bond risky on the face of it? Later, Pussy Galore turns on Goldfinger for reasons that go completely unexplained. The movie version of GOLDFINGER acknowledges these plot holes and improves upon the stories. It fixes the most glaring problem in the story, which is the utter impossibility of moving all the gold out of Fort Knox in a short period of time. In the movie, Goldfinger has no intention of moving it, but in the book he initially gets away with 20 tons of it. But James Bond books are supposed to be fantasies. An unintended contribution to the fantastic setting is the 1950s perspective of the books. Fleming was not aware that he was writing in an alien world, but that's how the world seems half a century later. At one point, Goldfinger explains to Bond what karate is, telling him that Oddjob is one of only three black belts in the world. Fleming's overt racism (in this case towards Koreans and, to a lesser extent, Germans) is also somewhat alien compared to contemporary novels. With the exception of the racism, all the quirks of GOLDFINGER and the other Fleming Bond novels are part of their charm. GOLDFINGER is far from perfect, but its fun.
Rating: 
Summary: A rare case
Review: Goldfinger was Ian Fleming's 9th James Bond novel and admitedly, it is not one of the stronger entries. Indeed, Goldfinger is one of those rare cases where the film made from the book is actually better than the book itself. The book's plot finds James Bond investigating the gold-obsessed Auric Goldfinger. The case starts largely as a lark for Bond but eventually involves Bond in a bizarre plot to rob Fort Knox. As opposed to Fleming's best works, Goldfinger's plot often feels as if Fleming made it up as he went along and the book's final set piece and conclusion comes across as rushed and just a little bit lazy. In fact, upon reflection, it becomes apparent that most of the book's twists and turns come less from any cunning on Goldfinger's part and more from James Bond simply making a series of stupid mistakes. That said, it should also be remembered that Ian Fleming was, even at his most uninspired, a far better writer than most of his contemporaries. As such, even subpar Fleming is usually more entertaining than the best of what other writers are capable of. Especially in its opening chapters, Goldfinger has its moments of true wit and it certainly is enjoyable to follow Bond as he subtly manipulates the man's vanity. While this book doesn't feature Fleming's usual strong cast of quirky supporting characters, both Bond and Goldfinger are strong and memorable enemies. While Bond himself comes across as a bit more ruthless than usual (at times seeming to be an almost borderline sociopath), Auric Goldfinger stands as one of Fleming's strongest creations. Incredibly childish at times while still being fully (and credibly) capable of amassing the world's largest fortune, Goldfinger is indeed a worthy villian and, even if his plan disappoints, the man never does. The book is worth a read just for the chance to appreciate the skill with which Fleming creates a villian who, otherwise, could have been a harmless cartoon. As well, any book that features a character named Pussy Galore can't be all bad. In the end, Goldfinger is lesser Bond but it is a Bond book nonetheless and those who are familiar with Fleming's work will find much to enjoy. (Those with the right sense of humor will certainly find some amusement in Fleming's theory that lesbianism is the result of women getting the right to vote.) Goldfinger is not the type of book that should serve as anyone's introduction to Ian Fleming's Bond. Certainly, both were capable of more than Goldfinger would (at first) indicate. But with its flaws come several pleasures and it is a must for fans of the literary Bond.
Rating:
Summary: Better than some would have you think
Review: Growing up in the UK of the 1970s and 1980s I was much inspired by the movies of James Bond (on television every Bank Holiday) and would scour second-hand book tables at the local village fete every year looking for old Bond novels. I had heard lots of talk about how `Goldfinger' was the definitive James Bond movie - the blueprint for every feature film that followed in the hugely popular series. Yet it never seemed to appear on British television.
So, it was with much anticipation that I dived into a copy of the Ian Fleming novel of the same name. I was not disappointed.
Much maligned by Bond fans in general, I actually list `Goldfinger' as one of my favorite of all the Fleming James Bond books. It has all the elements I love - the trademark `Fleming sweep' keeps the novel moving at a fast pace, the villain is deliciously colorful and dastardly and the structure is impressive. Split into the three sections: Happenstance, Coincidence and Enemy Action (Goldfinger's theory on his three meetings with 007), the structure is more clearly evident and works well within the overall framework of the book.
The plot of the novel follows the same path as the movie, except in one crucial detail. In the 1964 movie, Goldfinger (in cahoots with the Chinese) plots the detonation of a nuclear device inside the gold depository at Ft. Knox. In the novel Fleming has the villain scheming to steal the gold - a highly impractical scheme but still an enjoyable caper.
I remember upon first reading the novel how impressed I was with the chapters revolving around the game of golf. I find the colorful description and the game of wits between Goldfinger and James Bond especially suspenseful. It's interesting to note that these scenes in the movie are also among my favorites in the series (and even inspired Sean Connery to take up the game of golf).
`Goldfinger' is well worth a read. It's fast moving, has some great characters and a well drawn plot structure. I am frankly surprised it has received such a drubbing on amazon and Bond sites. Pick it up!
Rating:
Summary: Yet another fun book...
Review: I admit that that "Goldfinger" was the first Bond (Fleming-authored or not) that I have read. Susbsequent to reading it, though, I have plans for the reading of many more. I presume that as you are looking at this book, you have probably seen the 1964 film of the same. As with the majority of filmic adaptations, the book differs somewhat...and, again as with most things, I am convinced that the book is probably better. I also admit to having been on a quest to find my idea of the quintessential piece of summer reading. This might well be it: it's paced well, the characterisation is non-existent, but then this book is clearly the literary doppelgänger of the popcorn movie...absence of character development should be taken in stride...and Mr. Fleming's prose is both slightly ornate and, er, quirky. If you're looking for a book to expand your mind, pass on this...if you're looking for something escapist, this certainly should serve you very nicely. Great fun. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the weaker Bond novels.
Review: Ian Fleming got into a habit early on in his career as a novelist. He would churn out one Bond novel a year, during the summer, at his Goldeneye estate in Jamaica. This kind of routine can be deadening when one writes without inspiration, and, unfortunately, that's what apparently happened when he wrote "Goldfinger." This isn't a bad novel, but compared with the better Bond books, this is pretty weak. The plot seems hastily assembled, is far-fetched, and the ending seems rushed and improbable, even for Fleming. That said, it does have its good points. The villain, Auric Goldfinger, is one of the most fully realized characters Fleming ever created, and Oddjob is certainly a menacing strongman. The early chapters, where Bond teaches Goldfinger a lesson and then trails him across Europe, are mostly good, but the golf game goes on WAY too long and seems indicative of Fleming's general lack of ideas here. The last several chapters are a mess; the whole idea of robbing Fort Knox wasn't that great to begin with. All in all, "Goldfinger" is little more than a mediocre addition to the Bond series.
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