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amandap716's review against another edition
1.0
I had a hard time even getting through this. Too much financial jargon, and not enough story.
lurdesabruscato's review against another edition
5.0
India Palmer is a semi-successful writer, struggling to keep her artist husband and active daughters afloat while desperate to enjoy the same indulgences of her more successful New York counterparts. When she accepts a friend's bet--to become a trader of mortgage-backed securities--will her endless cravings finally be satisfied? A great play on the term "dear money" (money that is hard to obtain because of abnormally high interest rates), this is a scathing look at high finance, haves and have nots, and the illusions of living as an artist.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a mess but it is a very entertaining mess. It’s basically The Big Short filtered through the lens of a needy, greedy Manhattan mom.
Perhaps because of my enduring love for Manhattan, I never seem to tire of New York City tales. Even ones that are as bleak and insufferable as this one. I found myself relating to India more than I would have liked. Sure, she has everything one could reasonably want: handsome husband, two kids, writing books, living in an uptown Manhattan apartment. But like a lot of us, she lives above her means and yet she craves more. More money, more prestige, more comfort, more sophistication.
This book was published in 2010, on the heels of the subprime mortgage crisis. It takes place right before the bubble bursts. McPhee does a great job of capturing the moment in finance. A lot of it felt familiar to me in an awful way. As India ascends to her perch as a “mistress of the universe”, the country devolves around her and her desire to want more, no matter who she has to step on.
But as I said in the beginning, the book is a mess. The narrative is scattered, with random, inexplicable time jumps. The characters are thin, especially the husband Theodor and financial patron Win. And again, the lead is absolutely insufferable. It’s a lot to sit through if you have no curiosity in the subject. But if you, are intrigued by the premise of the book, I think it’s worth your time.
Perhaps because of my enduring love for Manhattan, I never seem to tire of New York City tales. Even ones that are as bleak and insufferable as this one. I found myself relating to India more than I would have liked. Sure, she has everything one could reasonably want: handsome husband, two kids, writing books, living in an uptown Manhattan apartment. But like a lot of us, she lives above her means and yet she craves more. More money, more prestige, more comfort, more sophistication.
This book was published in 2010, on the heels of the subprime mortgage crisis. It takes place right before the bubble bursts. McPhee does a great job of capturing the moment in finance. A lot of it felt familiar to me in an awful way. As India ascends to her perch as a “mistress of the universe”, the country devolves around her and her desire to want more, no matter who she has to step on.
But as I said in the beginning, the book is a mess. The narrative is scattered, with random, inexplicable time jumps. The characters are thin, especially the husband Theodor and financial patron Win. And again, the lead is absolutely insufferable. It’s a lot to sit through if you have no curiosity in the subject. But if you, are intrigued by the premise of the book, I think it’s worth your time.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a mess but it is a very entertaining mess. It’s basically The Big Short filtered through the lens of a needy, greedy Manhattan mom.
Perhaps because of my enduring love for Manhattan, I never seem to tire of New York City tales. Even ones that are as bleak and insufferable as this one. I found myself relating to India more than I would have liked. Sure, she has everything one could reasonably want: handsome husband, two kids, writing books, living in an uptown Manhattan apartment. But like a lot of us, she lives above her means and yet she craves more. More money, more prestige, more comfort, more sophistication.
This book was published in 2010, on the heels of the subprime mortgage crisis. It takes place right before the bubble bursts. McPhee does a great job of capturing the moment in finance. A lot of it felt familiar to me in an awful way. As India ascends to her perch as a “mistress of the universe”, the country devolves around her and her desire to want more, no matter who she has to step on.
But as I said in the beginning, the book is a mess. The narrative is scattered, with random, inexplicable time jumps. The characters are thin, especially the husband Theodor and financial patron Win. And again, the lead is absolutely insufferable. It’s a lot to sit through if you have no curiosity in the subject. But if you, are intrigued by the premise of the book, I think it’s worth your time.
Perhaps because of my enduring love for Manhattan, I never seem to tire of New York City tales. Even ones that are as bleak and insufferable as this one. I found myself relating to India more than I would have liked. Sure, she has everything one could reasonably want: handsome husband, two kids, writing books, living in an uptown Manhattan apartment. But like a lot of us, she lives above her means and yet she craves more. More money, more prestige, more comfort, more sophistication.
This book was published in 2010, on the heels of the subprime mortgage crisis. It takes place right before the bubble bursts. McPhee does a great job of capturing the moment in finance. A lot of it felt familiar to me in an awful way. As India ascends to her perch as a “mistress of the universe”, the country devolves around her and her desire to want more, no matter who she has to step on.
But as I said in the beginning, the book is a mess. The narrative is scattered, with random, inexplicable time jumps. The characters are thin, especially the husband Theodor and financial patron Win. And again, the lead is absolutely insufferable. It’s a lot to sit through if you have no curiosity in the subject. But if you, are intrigued by the premise of the book, I think it’s worth your time.
maybehannahsmith's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ish stars- I had a fun time with this one. It was pitched as “a satirical plunge into the world of deluded, money-obsessed mini-Machiavellis” which is a niche of books that I am a little obsessed with. At times I got lost and thought it could have been edited down a bit, but overall it was a good time.
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