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samstillreading's review against another edition
4.0
Light book about how the GFC affects a group of friends- a futures trader, banker, architect, politician, businessman etc. Jumps back and forth from the present to the rich times before the GFC. The ending is a bit unbelievable (so many coincidences) but it's worth a read. I found it a little confusing when it jumps in time (maybe the past could have been in a different font) and some of the arguments about the excesses of the financial sector I found a bit boring. But hey, it's topical and feelgood!
balthazarlawson's review against another edition
2.0
When you learn to cook a new dish you will usually follow the receipe very closly. The more confident one gets the more one will begin to expiriment with the ingredients, add a bit more of this, cutting out that and substituting one ingredient for another. However, after a while what you end up with is far from the original receipe.
That's what this book was like to me.
I've read a few books by Ben Elton and this one, although it seems to follow the receipe, misses the mark. There seems to be too much effort applied to make it fit a certain style and ultimately fails. The timing is all out and after a while you don't know if you are in the present of the past. The ending is too smug and at the same time lacking any real depth.
That's what this book was like to me.
I've read a few books by Ben Elton and this one, although it seems to follow the receipe, misses the mark. There seems to be too much effort applied to make it fit a certain style and ultimately fails. The timing is all out and after a while you don't know if you are in the present of the past. The ending is too smug and at the same time lacking any real depth.
nereads's review against another edition
4.0
Incredibly appropriate, amazingly funny, and still impeccably witty.
beccaalvey's review against another edition
2.0
It was a simple read, a little bit too political for my taste and I didn't find it funny.
zansho's review against another edition
3.0
Still a good book, but not up to the level of Ben Elton's other work.
carolinerd's review
funny
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I always appreciate Ben Elton's satire and dry humour and this was no exception. A very readable story about the impact of the financial crash and recession on a bunch of friends, in particular city trader, Jimmy and his wife. Its greatest strength is it takes a bunch of unlikeable, super-rich high flyers and develops their characters in such a way that the reader ends up feeling a level of sympathy and even respect towards them. The narrative goes back and forth, covering events in the past and present, showing how these university friends became successful and how their lives change. It's a neat plot and it ties everyone's story together well.
dotvicky's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely the least 'fantastical' book I've read by Ben Elton but also the most 'human'. It took me a while to get into it as it seemed to be missing a beginning, middle and end initially but the pace soon settled and I really enjoyed it.
Good to look at the financial crisis through a (probably not-so) fictionalised view and Elton's political polemics are always very satisfying to read.
Would definitely recommend.
Good to look at the financial crisis through a (probably not-so) fictionalised view and Elton's political polemics are always very satisfying to read.
Would definitely recommend.
mazaatee's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed the novel but felt a bit slow and dragging it's feet at times.
confessions_of_a_bookaholic's review
4.0
Jimmy Corby is living in the golden age. As a city trader there is no limit to the money he can earn betting on the stock market. Jimmy, his wife Monica and their friends are living the dream, untouchable and infallible, until the global financial crisis hits and it all comes crashing down. Suddenly everything Jimmy has is under threat, including his freedom.
This was actually a re-read, but from many moons ago and long before my blog existed. So long ago that I didn't really remember the story, so I fgured I'd write a review this time.
At the start of the book Jimmy and his friends epitomised everything I dislike about the people I have always held responsible for the financial crash - all they cared about was making more money for themselves, with no regard for right and wrong or what it would cost other people along the way. It makes them very unlikeable.
As the book progresses though Jimmy and Monica began to grow on me (unfortunately a lot of their friends didn't!) I appreciated Jimmy and Monica's efforts to acknowledge their part in what happened, and to do the right thing.
As always with Ben Elton this is heavily laced with satire and political commentary. It's a very British take on the financial crisis, so may not resonate with everyone. I particularly enjoyed it though and thought Elton did a great job of capturing the thoughts of a lot of people as this was going on.
This was actually a re-read, but from many moons ago and long before my blog existed. So long ago that I didn't really remember the story, so I fgured I'd write a review this time.
At the start of the book Jimmy and his friends epitomised everything I dislike about the people I have always held responsible for the financial crash - all they cared about was making more money for themselves, with no regard for right and wrong or what it would cost other people along the way. It makes them very unlikeable.
As the book progresses though Jimmy and Monica began to grow on me (unfortunately a lot of their friends didn't!) I appreciated Jimmy and Monica's efforts to acknowledge their part in what happened, and to do the right thing.
As always with Ben Elton this is heavily laced with satire and political commentary. It's a very British take on the financial crisis, so may not resonate with everyone. I particularly enjoyed it though and thought Elton did a great job of capturing the thoughts of a lot of people as this was going on.