Bank: A Novel (Paperback)

by David Bledin (Author)
Key Phrases: precedent transactions, bid card, investor presentation, Defeated One, Postal Boy, Prodigal Son (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Bledin's debut, a survey of rookie investment bankers struggling to survive the Street, is a sometimes successful menagerie of toady, loathsome bosses, wry observations from the Starbucks queue and sophomoric pranks. Narrator Mumbles and his friends—Clyde (who "just doesn't give a damn"), Postal Boy (whose twitching eye and high-strung disposition has everyone "convinced he's going to lose it one day") and the Defeated One (who endures the 100-hour workweeks to support his girlfriend and his coke habit)—endeavor to master the art of the spreadsheet and maintain their ever-diminishing relationship with the outside world while keeping their shirts starched, their bloodstream caffeinated and their imaginations greased with fantasies of flight or revenge. A veteran of the finance sector, Bledin knows his turf, and though he brings little new to the office lit picnic, his tale of cubicle rancor and awkward romances is well-paced, humorous and endearing. (May 1)
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Product Description
Every July, a fresh crop of college graduates clad in spiffy new suits fills the offices of investment banking firms, each newly minted analyst longing for big money while sacrificing anything that resembles a normal life.


In this enormously entertaining first novel, a lovable, stressed-out guy nicknamed Mumbles tells the story of how he and his cohorts not only struggle to survive corporate purgatory, but also find satisfying ways to strike back at the system. Fueled by a constant flow of Starbucks coffee, Mumbles and his friends take on such tasks as secretly filming a despised colleague's boardroom romp with an assistant, creating footage they plan to broadcast at the company's holiday party. But true gratification comes only when they actually start standing up to the bank's evil minions, those who have no qualms about piling on a weekend's worth of work on a Friday afternoon.


With sharp comedy, episodes of inspired hijinks, and its glimpse into a world of fleeting elevator romances and not-so-infrequent nervous breakdowns, BANK is a touching and lively novel that is, at its heart, about figuring out what really matters in life.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 294 pages
• Publisher: Back Bay Books (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031601673X
• ISBN-13: 978-0316016735
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #136,395 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laugh out loud, May 4, 2007

By	Kyla Epstein (Vancouver, BC, Cda) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have realized lately that life is not as full of 'laugh out loud' moments as it should be. Reading BANK is an exception. I laughed out loud numerous times. BANK is witty, funny and insightful. I have never worked in a bank and I sure wouldn't want to now. In addition to many laughs BANK also made me think about what I do for a career and why it is important to me. Any book that makes me laugh and think deserves full five stars. I'll be buying this book as a gift for many people I know and I encourage everyone to do the same (after reading it themselves of course)! I also think this would be a great book for a reading club and will recommend it to the group I participate in.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars truth or fiction?, May 15, 2007

By	JH (NY) - See all my reviews

Anyone who works for an investment bank has heard the analyst horror stories. Why anyone would sacrifice the majority of their prime years to go work "white-collar slavery" hours, is beyond the ability of most people to rationalize. "Bank" gives you a bit more perspective into what is going through the minds of these 20-somethings as they work relentless 110+ hour weeks, sacrifice every relationship, and absorb ridiculous amounts of abuse from their superiors. Oh -- and then there's the money. The money is good, but its interesting to note how the characters in Bank aren't as preoccupied with money as they are with simply getting through the week alive.

Bank has a cast of characters whose traits are obviously exaggerated, but to a very amusing effect. We have Postal Boy, Clyde, The Defeated One and Mumbles (the narrator). Postal Boy is expected to explode and "go postal" at any moment. He has a facial twitch which he claims is caused by working at the bank. The Defeated One is defeated in spirit, yet most of the plotting pranks and planning revenge on coworkers seems to originate from him. He also has a trophy girlfriend who drains his bank account, and a coke habit. Mumbles, the narrator, deals with the day-to-day stresses by focusing on the finish-line: 2 years. He just wants to make it 2-years as an investment banking analyst. After his stint is over, he pictures himself doing almost anything but what he's doing now.

Admidst the jokes and hilarious narrative, the author drives home his educated view that the investment banking trade is a largely vapid existence, devoid of fairness, intellectual stimulation (he's basically a spreadsheet jockey) or any semblence of a balanced lifestyle. While many might agree, there are still droves of freshly minted MBA's applying for bulge-bracket firms Analyst/Associate programs every year, so nothing is going to change anytime soon.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tongue-in-cheek novel, April 29, 2007

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (4/07)

"Bank," David Bledin's tongue-in-cheek first novel, takes a look at the world of investment banking through the eyes of young college graduates desperate to receive an offer from an investment banking firm. So desperate that they will work long hours and neglect their own lives, so desperate that they put up with detestable bosses that offer them no respect. David Bledin offers a look into the life of Mumbles, Clyde, Postal Boy and the Defeated One.

Mumbles is the narrator in this novel. He's a good guy but he's overworked. Clyde is beyond caring about anything. "He doesn't give a damn." Postal Boy has a nervous twitch in his eye and is expected to go postal at any moment -- "The Columbine of the banking world." The Defeated One has a drug problem and a girlfriend with a drug problem. He will work any amount of hours to support his habit. These characters are attempting to achieve their goal of a permanent position in the banking industry. They must learn to deal with #REF, evil bosses, and deleting the wrong sheets.

Their method of coping is to play pranks on their bosses. One of their pranks is against the Prodigal Son. The Defeated One saw him having sex with Unadulterated Sex. The plan is to tape the two having sex at the office and then to broadcast it for all to see at a company party.

"Bank" by David Bledin is a humorous look at the world of investment banking. The characters act or react in a sophomoric manner. But demon bosses that demand long hours drive them to their actions. The scene where Mumbles is in a meeting with a client and he's desperate to go to the bathroom is exceptionally funny. We've all been in a similar situation at one time or another. The cover of this book is a hand with the middle finder sticking up. It speaks to what the reader will find inside. However, many will look at the cover and pass this book up missing the funny tale that awaits them. David Bledin is an extremely talented author. This is a book that will appeal to young adults.