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katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
The theme of bankers and greed reminded me of The Mark and the Void (Paul Murray), that of potential redemption made me think of Eleven by Mark Watson, but Gavin Extence has his own voice and his own theme running throughout his novels so far - brain injuries/conditions and mental illness seem to feature in each.
Here we have a rather interesting protagonist - a banker. Patrick Bateman without the psychosis, a greedy and thoughtless young hotshot rising up the ranks to be suddenly stopped in his tracks by the discovery of an incurable brain tumour.
With little time left, he finds the symptoms of sudden emotion and empathy to make him see the London world of big business around him in a new way.
You never think this is going to end with a miracle cure, but you DO want Gabriel to have a George Bailey realisation and see the world as it truly is, and what he could have done in it.
It would make a lovely heart-warming tear-jerker of a film, with some slightly predictable relationships (seeing the banking protesters as humans, Gabriel also develops feelings for someone he wouldn't ordinarily have noticed) but a good build to a fitting and moving conclusion.
I've read all of Extence's novels and this may be my favourite, tipping Alex Woods off the top spot.
An unusual 'hero' but an enjoyable journey as the reader hopes the erstwhile 'money guy' will learn the most important lessons of all while he still can.
Could be a good one for book groups and discussions.
Here we have a rather interesting protagonist - a banker. Patrick Bateman without the psychosis, a greedy and thoughtless young hotshot rising up the ranks to be suddenly stopped in his tracks by the discovery of an incurable brain tumour.
With little time left, he finds the symptoms of sudden emotion and empathy to make him see the London world of big business around him in a new way.
You never think this is going to end with a miracle cure, but you DO want Gabriel to have a George Bailey realisation and see the world as it truly is, and what he could have done in it.
It would make a lovely heart-warming tear-jerker of a film, with some slightly predictable relationships (seeing the banking protesters as humans, Gabriel also develops feelings for someone he wouldn't ordinarily have noticed) but a good build to a fitting and moving conclusion.
I've read all of Extence's novels and this may be my favourite, tipping Alex Woods off the top spot.
An unusual 'hero' but an enjoyable journey as the reader hopes the erstwhile 'money guy' will learn the most important lessons of all while he still can.
Could be a good one for book groups and discussions.
howe_many_books's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed reading something a bit different and interesting overlap with the Occupy St Pauls protest.
jacki_f's review against another edition
3.0
I so wanted to like this book. It reads a little like a mash up of "The Rosie Project" and "The Firm". It's a fast and easy read but ultimately it doesn't have enough of an emotional payoff.
Gabriel is 32, a handsome and very successful hedge fund manager working in London. His life revolves around his work. He lives in a swanky apartment, drives a yellow Ferrari and only wears bespoke suits. Then he is diagnosed with a brain tumour and given only months to live.
His initial impulse is to tell nobody and keep working. But the effect of the tumour on his brain means that suddenly his (previously strictly harnessed) emotions are running riot. For no apparent reason he starts crying at inconvenient times. Classical music moves him deeply. He starts taking an interest in the Occupy London protestors camped outside his building. He also finds himself attracted to a woman who is nothing like his usual type, and who would be appalled to know she was dating a millionaire hedge fund manager.
This is Gavin Extence's third book and it is every bit as readable as his first two, but it doesn't worm its way into the reader's heart in the same way. For starters, it feels quite predictable - I didn't know exactly which ending he would opt for, but I felt pretty sure it would be one of two: either he reforms and dies a happier man or the doctor made a huge mistake and he will live. (I wasn't 100% correct but I was close). The characters are also kind of lifeless. Gabriel's love interest Caitlin never became a real person for me. The most touching characters had only bit parts: Gabriel's father and his PA Nicola.
The first half of the book is about Gabriel coming to terms with his diagnosis and getting to know Caitlin and to be honest, it's a little slow. In the second half a stronger plotline emerges as he starts to envision a way to leave his mark on the world. This part tears along but the payoff doesn't feel sufficient.
I did like this book, but only in a lukewarm kind of way.
Gabriel is 32, a handsome and very successful hedge fund manager working in London. His life revolves around his work. He lives in a swanky apartment, drives a yellow Ferrari and only wears bespoke suits. Then he is diagnosed with a brain tumour and given only months to live.
His initial impulse is to tell nobody and keep working. But the effect of the tumour on his brain means that suddenly his (previously strictly harnessed) emotions are running riot. For no apparent reason he starts crying at inconvenient times. Classical music moves him deeply. He starts taking an interest in the Occupy London protestors camped outside his building. He also finds himself attracted to a woman who is nothing like his usual type, and who would be appalled to know she was dating a millionaire hedge fund manager.
This is Gavin Extence's third book and it is every bit as readable as his first two, but it doesn't worm its way into the reader's heart in the same way. For starters, it feels quite predictable - I didn't know exactly which ending he would opt for, but I felt pretty sure it would be one of two: either he reforms and dies a happier man or the doctor made a huge mistake and he will live. (I wasn't 100% correct but I was close). The characters are also kind of lifeless. Gabriel's love interest Caitlin never became a real person for me. The most touching characters had only bit parts: Gabriel's father and his PA Nicola.
The first half of the book is about Gabriel coming to terms with his diagnosis and getting to know Caitlin and to be honest, it's a little slow. In the second half a stronger plotline emerges as he starts to envision a way to leave his mark on the world. This part tears along but the payoff doesn't feel sufficient.
I did like this book, but only in a lukewarm kind of way.
christinebeswick's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure about this book: the same old story of rich, heartless individual who learns humanity and empathy (hence the title) which has been around since Dickens, and before. However, Gavin Extence's book took it to a whole new level. His writing was beautiful as always and the story had real depth. Gabriel Vaughn, the "empathy-less" main protagonist, was extremely well drawn with insight and touches of humour which drew me to him, even at the beginning. His brain tumour, the underlying cause of Gabriel's fundamental change, although very present, was mostly kept in the background with its symptoms minimised, although you knew what its end result would be.
I enjoyed this, his third book, just as much as the previous two.
I enjoyed this, his third book, just as much as the previous two.
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
This is a not easy book to read, and loosing my mum a month ago with a colon cancer doesn't help at all... but I have to say that this book is beautiful.
Gabriel, who only respect money and powerful people, his brain tumour will make him discover that life can be beautiful and precious, even if you have little time to enjoy it.
This is a book of love, friendship and redemption, Gavin has created a sensitive book with one of the more frightening cases we can imagine.
Read this book, share it and talk about it, cancer is a scary word but it always make people change, even if they don't want it.
Gabriel, who only respect money and powerful people, his brain tumour will make him discover that life can be beautiful and precious, even if you have little time to enjoy it.
This is a book of love, friendship and redemption, Gavin has created a sensitive book with one of the more frightening cases we can imagine.
Read this book, share it and talk about it, cancer is a scary word but it always make people change, even if they don't want it.
gorillagrippip's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sklewi's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gwitchinghour's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
saraheholtom's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
evanbernstein's review against another edition
4.0
This is a generous 4 star rating. I liked reading the book. It was a fast read, but not a great book. I'm rating it 4 stars because I enjoyed my reading of it, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to others. This is the 2nd book I've read by the author and if you haven't read anything by this author, read "The Universe Versus Alex Woods" instead. I plan to read more of his books.
The plot of this book is that a hedge fund manager gets a brain tumor is given months to live at the same time that the 99% movement is occupying part of london outside his office. He is egotistical and shallow and only focused on money at the beginning of the book. Clearly from the title and the setup, one would guess that by the end of the novel he would have learned empathy before dying and you'd hope it isn't as cheesy as that sounds like it is going to be. I think the author does as good a job as you can with that setup, but ... well, that really is what happens.
I liked that there is a therapist character who calls him on the awful things he is doing. I like that things are messy and aren't as clean as could be (which would have been easy more cheesy).
I agreed with the politics of it all, so I liked it, but it is close to being too cheesy a plot concept.
Spoiler
The plot of this book is that a hedge fund manager gets a brain tumor is given months to live at the same time that the 99% movement is occupying part of london outside his office. He is egotistical and shallow and only focused on money at the beginning of the book. Clearly from the title and the setup, one would guess that by the end of the novel he would have learned empathy before dying and you'd hope it isn't as cheesy as that sounds like it is going to be. I think the author does as good a job as you can with that setup, but ... well, that really is what happens.
I liked that there is a therapist character who calls him on the awful things he is doing. I like that things are messy and aren't as clean as could be (which would have been easy more cheesy).
I agreed with the politics of it all, so I liked it, but it is close to being too cheesy a plot concept.