Tildes Book Club Discussion - October 2026 - Dr. No by Ian Flemming
This is the ninth Tildes Book Club Discussion for 2026 and the twenty-ninth overall. We are discussing Dr. No by Ian Fleming.
I don't have a particular format in mind for this discussion, but I will post some prompts and questions as comments to get things started. You're not obligated to respond to them or vote on them though. So feel free to make your own top-level comment for whatever you wish to discuss, questions you have of others, or even just to post a review of the book you have written yourself.
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How familiar were you with James Bond as a character before reading this book?
What books would you recommend to anyone who enjoyed this one?
What's a small thing you appreciated about this book (A turn of phrase, a minor character beat, a worldbuilding detail, etc.)?
If you've read this before, what's something that stood out to you on a repeat reading? Has your relationship with the book changed?
What did you expect from the book? Did the story surprise you?
What else do you want to say in response to the book?
Finished it a month and a half ago, so it's not super fresh in my mind, but I enjoyed this book! My boyfriend is a bigger fan of the Bond movies than I am, but I've seen and enjoyed a fair few, including the Dr. No film.
One thing that surprised me in comparison to the films was that Bond kind of seemed like less of a pig in this. Not to say he wasn't a pig, but I think the interiority we get in the novel format gives a different perspective compared to his brash exterior. I think his view of Honey as esentially a child initially and coming to see her as mature and only sleeping with her afterwards is still a bit uncomfortable, but it's difficult to imagine Connery's Bond as even having second thoughts about whether to sleep with a 20 year old, so there's a bit of a contrast there.
As far as Honey Rider herself, I liked her a lot! Bond treated her like a child, but I felt she was written as a capable individual and was well characterized throughout the novel. One thing that was a bit comical was the focus on her broken nose, her insecurity about it makes sense but it's painted as like this huge obvious flaw! I think people cared more about noses in the 20th century but I feel like I've never seen a nose, broken or otherwise, that made someone ugly? Idk, maybe others have different experiences.
I also liked Quarrel a lot, I think the patois dialogue can certainly come across as offensive but I enjoyed his dynamic with Bond. Live and Let Die is one of my favorite of the movies, and since Quarrel appears in that book as well it is one I think will be worth checking out.
I already mentioned the interiority of Bond, and I think that's one of the strongest parts of the novel. I like the slower and more introspective moments, there's a particular part where Bond is laying in the boat looking at the stars, and that's something that doesn't really translate well to a fast paced action movie. I also like the more procedural parts where it's focused on him doing his investigation, makes him seem more like a competent secret agent.
There was a Raymond Chandler blurb on the back of my copy, and I think that's appropriate since my experience with this reminds me of his books, well done prose with a strong plot focus, although obviously a little more action oriented. Overall, it was an enjoyable book and I am definitely convinced it's worth reading more Fleming!
How do I get added to this? I would’ve read it