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gabbyenoaktown's review against another edition
3.0
I give it a 3.5. I enjoyed it, learned a lot about the diamond culture in NYC, but I read it as vignettes which made up for the lack of flow between chapters
ashley729's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting book about something I know literally nothing about. It was fascinating learning about the wild world that is the 47th street diamond market in New York. Family and relationships are super important in the industry and I enjoyed hearing about the personal deals her father and his friends made. It’s not a traditional story so it is easy to put down and pick up again as long as you finish the chapter you are on. I do wish she spoke more about the blood diamonds and the fact that they are tearing up countries but there was a smattering of the history behind where diamonds come from. Definitely a unique peek into the exclusive world of diamonds and what the industry looks like outside of major retailers.
cyclingarchivist's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. It is a long story how I ended up reading this, but it was enjoyable. I liked Alicia Oltuski's writing style and was drawn to the parts about her family history and the history of the diamond trade. But I'm not big into jewelry and got a little lost in the details about diamonds. I also had to skim through some of the final chapters since the book was due at the library. Certainly I had heard of the diamond district, but previously knew nothing about it. Good to learn a few new things. :)
barbiern84's review against another edition
5.0
The book was definitely more than meets the eye. It combines the history of the diamond business, the history of the diamonds themselves, and family history into one elegant novel. I felt as if I myself was walking through the diamond district in NYC and encountering all of the people that appeared in the book. Wonderful read and one that I will definitely be suggesting to others.
palliem's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a really interesting look at the diamond trade in the United States. I was hoping for more of a personal bent to the stories, and while she certainly included some, the book was more journalistic than I originally expected. Her explanations of the diamond trade were easy to follow and interesting, though, so I can't really complain.
The only thing I was truly disappointed in was the way she treated the issue of conflict diamonds. Maybe it's to be expected from someone whose family makes its living in the diamond trade, but I felt Oltuski put the blame for the exploitation firmly on the shoulders of people within the country of the diamond's origin and exonerated anyone in the diamond industry, including DeBeers. While I understand her point, I couldn't help but think it unfair the way she portrayed the issues around conflict diamonds as the fault of those within the country; as if those foreign companies operating mines in places like Africa are paying $10 an hour and are the bastions of human rights employers. I appreciated her opinion, but ultimately was disappointed in what I percieved as a defensive explanation of these conflict stones.
The only thing I was truly disappointed in was the way she treated the issue of conflict diamonds. Maybe it's to be expected from someone whose family makes its living in the diamond trade, but I felt Oltuski put the blame for the exploitation firmly on the shoulders of people within the country of the diamond's origin and exonerated anyone in the diamond industry, including DeBeers. While I understand her point, I couldn't help but think it unfair the way she portrayed the issues around conflict diamonds as the fault of those within the country; as if those foreign companies operating mines in places like Africa are paying $10 an hour and are the bastions of human rights employers. I appreciated her opinion, but ultimately was disappointed in what I percieved as a defensive explanation of these conflict stones.
dannb's review against another edition
3.0
Includes great information about both the history of diamond mining and the international diamond industry, especially how it impacts the author's family.
The writing is a little "all over the place," and she makes sure we know that her father knows she wasn't destined for working in the industry by telling us a number of times.
The writing is a little "all over the place," and she makes sure we know that her father knows she wasn't destined for working in the industry by telling us a number of times.
allysonjacob's review against another edition
3.0
This was a pretty good read. Oltuski is adept at bringing the characters who inhabit the world she writes about to life. The book raised many questions for me; I am looking forward to posing them when she comes to speak at our local book festival in a few weeks! :)