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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Interesting, but not extremely engaging. Yes, the plot twists. However, took me 3 months to listen to in CD form in the car (18 discs), meaning that it didn't compel me to avidly continue listening. The 2nd of the three narrators was quite dull to listen to.
"Money is merely another term for people, a representation of their desires and personalities. If you do not understand one, you cannot hope to understand the one. Take the matter of giving inducement to win a contract. This is frowned on, called bribery, and in some cases is even considered criminal. But it is an area in which rational calculation and emotional empathy are the most perfectly fused. It is an art form: a Russian expects and envelope full of money; an English civil servant would be outraged at the idea, but is no less corrupt or greedy. He desires employment for his nephew--which is often a more generous gift. It is diplomacy carried over to the world of affairs, and both require delicacy and judgement."
La belle dame sans merci.
"Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown."
"Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown."
The novel consists of three separate narratives which are only superficially related one to another. The final one is also the dullest one. As for the 'shocker' ending — while admittedly effective, it reminds one of the cheapest soap opera.
Hardboiled misogynistic descriptions of woman
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Rich complex read with lots of twists and interesting characters. Remarkable book
OMG! Wilkie Collins for the 21st century. This book has everything, and I mean everything. I did guess the central situation a couple of hundred pages before its revelation. It's still a fascinating handling of time and place with lots of intriguing interweaving of technology, high finance, and political history with several dramatically inventive plots that outdo Ford Madox Ford.