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flijn's review against another edition
4.0
A bit underwhelmed by the plot, but frankly smitten with the main character, Kathryn.
She is not a very likeable person, but she is interesting, strong, smart, sarcastic, ambitious, flawed, lonely, and confident.
If Banks had written a book only consisting of dialogue, I would probably enjoy it immensly. There, his wit and understanding of human nature really shine. The scenery and plot add some (very luxurious) context, but Kathryn's understated cynicism steals the show (without ever crossing the line into nihilism).
She is not a very likeable person, but she is interesting, strong, smart, sarcastic, ambitious, flawed, lonely, and confident.
If Banks had written a book only consisting of dialogue, I would probably enjoy it immensly. There, his wit and understanding of human nature really shine. The scenery and plot add some (very luxurious) context, but Kathryn's understated cynicism steals the show (without ever crossing the line into nihilism).
vbroes's review against another edition
4.0
When Iain Banks speaks, I listen--or rather, when he writes, I read. Entertaining, funny, and engaging to the last.
steg's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
lazygal's review
4.0
The more I read Iain Banks' work, the more I appreciate it. His way with words aside, it's the fact that no two books are exactly alike in tone or style, but they share a common quality that makes me go "yummm".
In The Business, Banks introduces us to Kathryn, a Level Three in The Business, but who knows from personal experience what the hard life actually is - she's from the "schemes" (Scots for "projects") and only by dint of natural cunning and adoption by Mrs. Telman does she get out. The Business is one of those shadowy, semi-secret, incredibly long-lived organizations, predating the Roman Empire and essentially running the world in whatever era it is. Kathryn's a computer/IT geek, but she's also intelligent and has caught the attention of several Level Twos and Level Ones because she's also caught the eye of the Prince of Thulahn. The Business, it appears Has Plans.
The other characters in the book are well-drawn, but definitely secondary to Kathryn (a trait that many of Banks' books share). The plotting and counter-plotting, the games and tricks are interesting, and while I guessed what the Big Plan was, it's never explicitly stated, even at the end. I also loved how Kathryn could go from mushy about her "pillow children" (especially Dulsung) to quite, well, frightening in her last encounter with Adrian.
Any of Banks' books makes for a great adult read.
In The Business, Banks introduces us to Kathryn, a Level Three in The Business, but who knows from personal experience what the hard life actually is - she's from the "schemes" (Scots for "projects") and only by dint of natural cunning and adoption by Mrs. Telman does she get out. The Business is one of those shadowy, semi-secret, incredibly long-lived organizations, predating the Roman Empire and essentially running the world in whatever era it is. Kathryn's a computer/IT geek, but she's also intelligent and has caught the attention of several Level Twos and Level Ones because she's also caught the eye of the Prince of Thulahn. The Business, it appears Has Plans.
The other characters in the book are well-drawn, but definitely secondary to Kathryn (a trait that many of Banks' books share). The plotting and counter-plotting, the games and tricks are interesting, and while I guessed what the Big Plan was, it's never explicitly stated, even at the end. I also loved how Kathryn could go from mushy about her "pillow children" (especially Dulsung) to quite, well, frightening in her last encounter with Adrian.
Any of Banks' books makes for a great adult read.
admiralette's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
2.25
6th_extinction's review against another edition
2.0
The Business - a globalist, advanced capitalist organisation - attempts to buy a country. Sort of.
Best read as a Culture novel in disguise. It reads like a Contact novel (The Business AKA an Institutional Utopia meets Impoverished Planet; tries to affect change gently). However, lumpy plotting, uninteresting side characters (alongside a compelling narrator), and a core tension that never feels real lets it down. I think the premise is intriguing... but ultimately underutilised.
And, in true Iain (M) Banks fashion, one of the best scenes is a torture scene.
Best read as a Culture novel in disguise. It reads like a Contact novel (The Business AKA an Institutional Utopia meets Impoverished Planet; tries to affect change gently). However, lumpy plotting, uninteresting side characters (alongside a compelling narrator), and a core tension that never feels real lets it down. I think the premise is intriguing... but ultimately underutilised.
And, in true Iain (M) Banks fashion, one of the best scenes is a torture scene.
termith's review against another edition
4.0
Эта книга стала для меня сюрпризом. Я читал Бэнкса до этого и запомнил его произведения, как интересные, но сложные и читающиеся довольно медленно. "Бизнес" я проглотил за полдня в поезде.
Увлекательная история, которая вполне могла произойти на самом деле (и Бизнес тоже мог бы вполне существовать в наше время). Не сильно закрученный почти детективный сюжет, привлекательные герои, интересные мысли - отличное чтение для отпуска.
Увлекательная история, которая вполне могла произойти на самом деле (и Бизнес тоже мог бы вполне существовать в наше время). Не сильно закрученный почти детективный сюжет, привлекательные герои, интересные мысли - отличное чтение для отпуска.
jeremyhornik's review against another edition
3.0
Woman who works for a massive and secret business that controls much of the world's wealth gets into buying a company, while investigating some corporate shenanigans and being mildly sad about her empty love life (but vigorous sex life). The whole book is sort of about compromise. The prose style is unfortunately in that sort of benignly clever British thing that starts (brilliantly) with P.G. Wodehouse... but has the effect of draining the tension from thrillers in jokey asides.
marcatili's review against another edition
3.0
The Business promises intrigue but it doesn't quite deliver.
It's about Kate, a woman in her late 30s and successful in The Business – a secretive organisation that's been around longer than the Catholic Church. While on sabbatical she manages to get embroiled in a seemingly complex series of events, moved around the globe like a pawn piece in schemes beyond her knowledge.
My assumption going into this book was that it would be a high-stakes psychological drama with Banks' characteristic wit. And the writing style was very accessible, I found myself moving through the book much quicker than expected. Plus, the protagonist is a strong-willed, cheeky, sometimes almost intimidating female character, and the book as a whole is full of colourful, (mostly) well-realised characters.
But... there was something never quite consistent about Kate as a character. As though Banks was trying to make her too much. Her style of narration often did not mesh with her dialogue, and it seemed to me like she'd occasionally say random things that seemed out of character the rest of the time.
Also, the novel seemed to pad itself out, meandering a bit until the end, where there was a suggestion that all the things she'd experienced were tied together, without them really being so at all.
All in all, not an amazing read. But fairly enjoyable.
It's about Kate, a woman in her late 30s and successful in The Business – a secretive organisation that's been around longer than the Catholic Church. While on sabbatical she manages to get embroiled in a seemingly complex series of events, moved around the globe like a pawn piece in schemes beyond her knowledge.
My assumption going into this book was that it would be a high-stakes psychological drama with Banks' characteristic wit. And the writing style was very accessible, I found myself moving through the book much quicker than expected. Plus, the protagonist is a strong-willed, cheeky, sometimes almost intimidating female character, and the book as a whole is full of colourful, (mostly) well-realised characters.
But... there was something never quite consistent about Kate as a character. As though Banks was trying to make her too much. Her style of narration often did not mesh with her dialogue, and it seemed to me like she'd occasionally say random things that seemed out of character the rest of the time.
Also, the novel seemed to pad itself out, meandering a bit until the end, where there was a suggestion that all the things she'd experienced were tied together, without them really being so at all.
All in all, not an amazing read. But fairly enjoyable.
olliegee02's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25