Rate this book

Dear Money (2010)

by Martha McPhee(Favorite Author)

3.12 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0151011656 (ISBN13: 9780151011650)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

review 1: In 2003 India Palmer, a middling novelist, and her family are struggling financially. India and her husband (a gifted but slow-working and methodical artist) live in New York City with their two daughters and valiantly try to "keep up with the Joneses," in this case the well-to-do Chapmans. India knows that life would be easier if they downsized, moved to a small town in Vermont, sent the girls to public school, and so forth. But she loves New York, and she loves associating with (and pretending to be part of) the wealthy class. Then India meets a Wall Street star who makes her a deal: he'll turn her into a world-class trader in 18 months. Out of desperation, she takes him up on it, and succeeds beyond her wildest dreams. So, what is this book about? Poverty vs. ric... morehes? Needs vs. wants? Expectations vs. reality? Who we think we are vs. who we are capable of becoming? This book is mildly interesting, but unfortunately McPhee fails to clearly identify her theme and purpose. The contrast between India's family and the Chapmans, which appears to be the principal plot device at the book's beginning, disappears partway through (aside from a chapter confusingly told from Emma Chapman's point of view)--only to take on huge importance at the end. India's writing adventures and insights are far more interesting than her Wall Street activities. McPhee repeatedly refers to the upcoming financial crash but it doesn't impact India at all; she's turned into a selfish, entitled, businesswoman who neglects her children. The book is a little too long, a little too repetitious, a little too pretentious (and India too unappealing) to merit more than two stars.
review 2: Interesting story regarding a published novelist turned bond trader so that she could make enough money to support her family and live the life style she chose. I struggled with whether to give it 3 or 4 stars because at times you were engrossed with the story and didn't want to put it down and at other times I found myself skimming the details because they seemed trivial. However, the themes of the story continued to stick with me after I finished the book which is always a sign to me that it was well written. less

Download links for: Dear Money

Advertising