I've never read the book, but have seen the movie, and it was a rambling crap pile, like all James Bond movies have been, IMHO. :^)
You must have had a very sad youth.. From Russia with Love, Goldfinger - the Daniel Craig Bond movies? Now those are entertaining movies!
It is a thundering good yarn. I read it as a kid about the same time I read all the classic children's novels, Treasure Island, Kim, Captain Courageous, Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland, all great books but King Solomon's Mines was the one that I carried to three countries because I liked re-reading it.
Left it in, I think it was Peru. Hopefully who ever got it enjoyed it as much as I did.