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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A middling effort by Elton,
By
This review is from: Meltdown (Hardcover)
This book describes the fate of a group of university friends who graduate in the early 1990s, find success in finance, architecture, catering, and politics, and then all come undone in the economic crash of 2008/2009. Much of the text is devoted to the ironic downfall of 'Jimmy,' who owns an entire street in London but has borrowed so much money that he is desperately poor. Anybody who is raising children, owns real estate, and has a lot of debt, may find this book to be difficult reading. We know these are difficult days and don't need Elton's fictionalization to demonstrate the point.
The book is less comic than most of Elton's previous efforts. He makes fun of some aspects of English banker culture, celebrity culture, and child-rearing culture, but the tale is generally told straight. Some of the exposition is turgid, with backstories introduced via completely unbelievable reminiscences by other characters. "Jimmy said 'Well, wasn't it funny the way he met his later wife, Lizzy. We needed another roommate so we could make our rent, so we stuck up an ad. First that awkward guy responded but then we kicked him out and luckily for us, she applied.'" Lots of recent British political and financial scandals play their role in the story, including the Parliament expense scandal, cash-for-honors, the nationalization of Northern Rock. Bernie Madoff appears as well. Some of the material in the book is believable, other parts less so. It's pointless to quibble over details though, the book just isn't very good.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Kind of predictable but a fun and easy read,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Meltdown (Kindle Edition)
I like Ben Elton's books and while this is no Stark, it is still good and has that combination of an up to date theme and observational comedy that Ben Elton is so good at.
5.0 out of 5 stars
meltdown,
By gary edwards (adelaide - south australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Meltdown (Kindle Edition)
This is all about a total wanker plus, who gets bought up living the dream and all it's all a bed of roses and he is making loads of money as a stockbroker - and then it all falls down. It's a fabulous insight into a bloke who comes across as what would be a nice bloke, good to his mates and wife, but just circumstances have been tooo good for him and he has everything, even a full time maid and then he loses everything but has to survive for his missus and kids. It aptly says how its not how you manage when things are good but how you manage when it all turns pear shaped. How he gets out of it is great reading and very enjoyable. I loved it. 9/10
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