“Boiled down to its essentials, finance always does the same thing: it takes monCui Bono? Or The Butler did it?
If I don't do it, somebody else will."
“Boiled down to its essentials, finance always does the same thing: it takes money from people who have it but don’t need it, and gives it to people who need it and don’t have it, and earns a fee for its trouble. Governments try to regulate this process, to direct the funding toward the causes they care about, and financial institutions try to avoid those rules so they can direct the funding toward the causes that will pay the largest fees. That is financial innovation, which is simply an artificial way of exploiting artificial rules governing the artificial thing we call money, and normally involves finding mismatches between regulations in different countries. It’s clever, but it adds nothing to the sum of human achievement.”
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A thoroughly fascinating, sobering and depressing read/listen and I'm awarding it the full 5 stars, even though I'm not sure I'll ever forgive Oliver Bullough for destroying or at least serioysly souring my Jeeves-Bertie image.
I understand why he did it -and oh boy, does it throw a punch!- but I'm very unhappy about it all the same. Drawing a comparison between one of my favourite literary duo and Britain's -or rather "the City of London's- financial shenanigans makes sense, but it hurts all the same (obviously, Bullough wants it to hurt, the more painful the punch, the stronger the underlying message).
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Recommended for those, who'd like a clear picture and a historical overview of the murky waters and shady deals of super rich tax dodgers, cleptocrats, corrupt politicians, financial bigwigs, offshore shell companies and other "valuable" members of our society (not only those in Britain, obviously) who blithely ignore the infinite damage & suffering the rest of the world has to put up with in the wake of their despicable actions, while governments (mostly) turn a blind or even a benevolent eye to it all.
Unsurprisingly, Hungary and the guy we have the extremely, tragically bad luck to call our prime minister, Viktor Orban also feature in the story. While OB simply calls him cleptocrat-adjacent, unfortunately we know better or worse: he's turned into a cleptocrat himself and turned Hungary into a political butler to Russia & China for his own gains to the infinite detriment of our country. (Excuse me while I'll go away to vomit discreetly.)
WARNING for fans of Jeeves! Treat with caution and read at your peril!!
Audiobook very well narrated by the author himself.
(And now I need to find a Wodehouse book to read to balance this all.)...more
Leaving the book without rating as I hated the narration so much that I could hardly wait to finish it. The story was kind of ok, I think, but I simplLeaving the book without rating as I hated the narration so much that I could hardly wait to finish it. The story was kind of ok, I think, but I simply could not detach it from the fake, breathy, high-pitched, saccharine voice that sounded like the narrator was speaking through her nose and that made me want to gauge my eyes out.
Trying to find sth positive about it: the cover is cute, it's currently included for free in the Audible(com) Plus catalogue....more
I am leaving it without rating as I am not a fan of the cosy mystery genre and when I decide to read a book, I always approaching it with caution and I am leaving it without rating as I am not a fan of the cosy mystery genre and when I decide to read a book, I always approaching it with caution and low expectations and I guess a biased attitude.
I'm only human, after all.
Anyways, considering all the above, I think it was an OK read and I liked the paranormal aspect as well as the fact that the crime was committed in the 1920s, which added an almost enjoyable atmosphere to the whole. Although I was a bit disgusted by the fact(view spoiler)[that the male ghost, who's supposed to be a perfect, old-fashioned gentleman was turning up at the female MC's bedroom all the time and kept remarking that he's watching her as she changes clothes. Yuck. (hide spoiler)] Currently the audiobook is included in the Audible Plus catalogue and the kindle edition is free on amazoncom.
However, I am not in the least tempted to go on with the series. ...more
A thoroughly depressing book, which is no surprise given the subject - Maria Callas must have been one of the loneliest, saddest people on Earth.
The bA thoroughly depressing book, which is no surprise given the subject - Maria Callas must have been one of the loneliest, saddest people on Earth.
The book is not bad and the narrative kind of urges you on to read (listen to) it, though I occasionally detested the trite, tabloid style of writing and the author's thorough focus on everything negative. Surely Callas (both the artist and the woman) would have deserved more!
Also, I had no idea (view spoiler)[Aristotle Onassis was such an abusive psychopath or that Jackie K.O. was such a cool gold digger. (hide spoiler)]
More thoughts to come.
The audiobook is currently included in the Plus Catalogue. Good narration by Emily Ellet....more
Molly Harper is a trusted author if I need a little fix for light, paranormal romance: she almost always delivers on likeable characters & a plot besiMolly Harper is a trusted author if I need a little fix for light, paranormal romance: she almost always delivers on likeable characters & a plot besides the love story.
Enjoyable & good narration by Amanda Ronconi....more
Currently this title is included in the Audible Plus catalogue for free and I recommend it to those who -like me- have only a basic knowledVery good.
Currently this title is included in the Audible Plus catalogue for free and I recommend it to those who -like me- have only a basic knowledge about Spanish history, but would like to know more.
The lecturer, Joyce E. Salisbury, took on quite a challenge with these series of lectures: giving an interesting, intriguing & thought-provoking summary of any country's history just in 12 hours (24 lectures, each 30-minutes long) is no easy feat, but I think she managed it very well. I went through them quickly and easily and was always anticipating what was still coming.
As mentioned before, this is an overview (with accompaniment pdf material - very helpful), not a finely detailed narrative, but I felt that all the major events/persons/issues were touched upon and all aspects (historical, political, social, religious, artistic) were presented analytically, objectively and in context. It can also serve as a solid starting point if you decide to try and find more books on Spanish history.
Recommended.
List of lectures: 1. From Stones to Bronze: Prehistoric Spain 2. Celtic, Phoenician and Greek Colonists 3. Rome Conquers the Iberian Peninsula 4. Christianity Comes to Hispania 5. Barbarian Tribes Divide the Peninsula 6. The Visigoths Unite Spain 7. Islam: The New Religion 8. Conflict with Islam 9. The Moors and the Glory of al-Andalus 10. The Christian Reconquista 11. Medieval Spanish Culture 12. The Sephardim: Iberian Judaism 13. Gypsy Influences on Spain 14. The Growth of the Catholic Religious Passion 15. Columbus and the New World 16. Conquistadors and Missionaries 17. The Spanish Main: Trade Convoys and Piracy 18. The Golden Age of the Spanish Habsburgs 19. Religious Wars on Muslims and Protestants 20. The 18th Century Bourbon Kings of Spain 21. Spain Loses its Empire 22. 20th Century Spanish Modernism 23. The Spanish Civil War and Franco's Reign 24. Modern Spain: still on a Crossroad...more
This book was like the African continent where it was mostly set: MAGNIFICENT, MERCILESS, INTRIGUING, KIND AND CRUEL.
Come on Book Traveler a4,5 stars
This book was like the African continent where it was mostly set: MAGNIFICENT, MERCILESS, INTRIGUING, KIND AND CRUEL.
Come on Book Traveler and let Dorothy Dunnett take you through space and time. From 1464 to 1468. From Venice & Murano via Ceuta, the Pillars of Hercules, Lagos, Madeira to Gambia and Timbuktu. From there through the Sahara to the salt mines of Tghaza (Mali) to Tlemcen and the shores of Oran (Algeria) back to Venice and finally Bruges.
Come and trade with Niccolo vander Poele for gold and ancient scripts and secrets and intrigue.
Once again: all the details -the historical, the geographical, the human, the inhuman- and the awesome writing are overwhelming to one's senses.
And then DD goes and pulls the plug at the end...
Narrator, John Banks, rises to the occasion as always.
-------------- Some personal notes:
Despite the ending worth the fake melodrama and jumping-the-shark monents of 4 soap operas put together and despite the fact that Gelis made me threw up in my mouth a little, this was still an amazing read.
And I thought Katelina van Borselen was an exhausting, exasperating and self-destructive character without any credible cause or excuse. Now of course I realise that she was not a patch on her younger sister.
And I just knew that either one of the characters I cared about the most would die in the end. But that's Dunnett for you: resplendent and unappeasable and.... that ending was just cheap!...more
“Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-“Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry.” ― Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time
Catastrophe tourism by proxy
An intriguing, sobering, very well-written and narrated book, currently included for free in the Plus Catalogue at audible.com .
Steve Olson combined the right amount of history, reportage and human touch for a tense and interesting docu-drama without judgement or pointing the finger which was quite a feat because what went through my head while reading were lots of Terry Pratchett quotes about human stupidity-irresponsibility, political and corporate meanness-carelessness. Like: “Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.” and more along that line.
At the end of the book Olson raises the very valid point of humanity as a whole being self-complacent while merrily going on about their business to ignore dangers and destroy their own planet. So yes, in way we are all people who are standing on the volcano looking on and taking pictures while it is erupting. SIGH....more
Mark Twain's views on who wrote Shakespeare's plays and poems:
- it wasn't Shakespeare - it could have been Francis Bacon,
BUT anyway, who cares when I aMark Twain's views on who wrote Shakespeare's plays and poems:
- it wasn't Shakespeare - it could have been Francis Bacon,
BUT anyway, who cares when I am Mark Twain and have so much more intriguing things to say about myself (and I think he really meant this. He took himself rather seriously). :D ...more
A great read/listen! While on the short side (about 300 pages), so there was not much room to delve into all the nuances of history, religion, politicA great read/listen! While on the short side (about 300 pages), so there was not much room to delve into all the nuances of history, religion, politics and economics, I think Roger Crowley still did a great job, giving us a detailed overview and definitely helping me to put all the events, backdrops, consequences into perspective.
I also found the storytelling nicely balanced, strong points and weaknesses were all listed: the author gave appreciation for both sides when deserved and did not shy away from telling us about the atrocities of all.
The sequence of battles is presented in a very exciting way, with the tactics/strategy and possible mindset of attackers and defenders. There is heroism, cunning, betrayal, determination, fear and petty squabbles. There is cruelty and desperation and awfully high stakes on both sides.
I recommend this short read only to Discworld fans and only after reading Raising Steam as it is connected to it even though loosely.
It was n2,5 stars
I recommend this short read only to Discworld fans and only after reading Raising Steam as it is connected to it even though loosely.
It was not written by Pratchett, but "by" the Discworld Emporium and it shows. It is no more and no less than a Discworld train baedekker, listing touristy-travel info mostly related to the Sto Plains, but despite some humorous references familiar to fans, it is mostly a list and neither original, nor riveting. Learning about the number of dwellers of various cities or which accommodations offer what amenities can hardly be called engaging and there's a limited potential for laughs about the various ways cabbage may be used.
As for the book format, I do recommend the audiobook with Penelope Keith as possibly the best way to wring out as much enjoyment as possible from this not very enjoyable book. ...more
I liked this the least among the 3 books I've read so far from The House of Niccolò series. However, don't let my previoys words mislead you. Dorothy Dunnett at her "worst" (and this book isn't bad at all, on the contrary! It is full of historical-political-economic intrigue, renaissance warfare and human relationships) is still a thousand times better than anybody else (except Hilary Mantel) I've read so far (OK, I still have some authors to discover, of course). Dunnett is in her own very special league. She's like the sun to a bunch of candles among writers of Historical Fiction.
Yet, she severely tried my patience with her complicating the plot of Race of Scorpions to a level where it was just exasperating. Her asking me to believe that her hero, Niccolo was single-handedly managing the geopolitical and economic upheavals of the Levante, Terbizond, Burgundy and Portugal with his devious mind was too big an ask.
For God's sake, Dorothy dear, I just managed to buy into the basic Niccolò package 1.0 (minus the "he's so hawt that everyone gets their renaissance equivalent of underwear/chainmail knickers in a twist over him") and you are already pushing me to purchase an upgrade? - Melinda, while you are at it, can I tempt you to Niccolò 2.5? - No, you can't, my dear, sorry. But I'm totally buying into the secondary cast (Astorre, John Le Grant, Tobie, Crackbene, Loppe and even Fra Ludovico) and your flair for historic details, politics, scenery, atmosphere and the development of Niccolo's company with its trading and banking have me in their thrall.
I was lucky enough to have visited Rhodes & Cyprus a few years ago and was very glad I could relate to the places/events of the book.
Narrator John Banks is fantastic, as always....more
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