“Casino Royale” predigested for easy consumption — and laughs

John Crace - The Guardian

The Books section of the Guardian’s website has been running a delightful humor series called “Digested Classics.” Author John Crace writes shortened parodies of famous novels, accurately catching their original authorial voice in a skillful pastiche.

Up for the treatment this week is Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale. Crace manages to cram the entire story down into about 20 paragraphs, while still leaving room for some Fleming-esque touches:

“I think not,” Bond smiled. “Suivi.” Two queens. Zero. It was desperate. Then a nine. “Banco”, Le Chiffre was bankrupt. The job was over. Now for Vesper’s cold and arrogant body. “Oh Jamms,” she cried, “I want you but first I must see Mathis.”

You can (and should!) read the whole thing RIGHT HERE. It will only take you a couple of minutes, and you’re guaranteed a giggle or two.

Don’t know how to read? Well, lucky for you then — you can listen to the narrated version without further stress to your rods and cones.

Christine Granville movie in the works (UPDATE)

According to the Daily Mail Online, a film project about the life and career of famed war-era British spy Christine Granville is in the works. Granville, in actuality a Polish countess named Krystyna Skarbek, was awarded The George Medal for her work with Britain’s Special Operations Executive, and was known as “Churchill’s favorite spy.”

Here’s the James Bond connection — she was a lover of Ian Fleming’s, and thought to be the inspiration for Casino Royale‘s Vesper Lynd. The movie Vesper, Eva Green, is said to be in the running for the part, as is Kate Winslet.

Read the whole story RIGHT HERE at the Daily Mail’s website.

POSTSCRIPT June 6:
Now going under the (working) title of Christine: War My Love, the project is listed at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB.com). Slated for release in 2010, you can follow its progress RIGHT HERE.