Climbers handbook

Not even a chuckle. I couldn't decide if the author hated the wealthy elite she was writing about or was jealous of them. I also thought there was a lack of creativity at some points, h 2 stars feels generous, but I did finish it. You're an author, be creative, make up a name. Things like that really took away from the story in my opinion. It's any ARC, so perhaps those details will change in the final version, but if you're looking for a fun comedy read, this isn't it.

Apr 26, Darcia Helle rated it liked it Shelves: review-copies , fiction , suspense-thriller-mystery , contemporary-fiction.

This novel is a satirical look at the elite social class, right when our financial world was on the brink of collapse. Daisy has always been twisted and now she's rich. She decides that killing is a much better alternative to losing her money and social status.

I chuckled through the first third of the book. The characters and the way their situations were portrayed kept me amused. I found the second murder far too convenient and easy and none of the characters were even remotely likable. I had This novel is a satirical look at the elite social class, right when our financial world was on the brink of collapse.

I had a hard time caring what happened to these people. For me, the humor lost its edge because there just wasn't enough substance to the story to keep me engaged. Jul 22, Becky Levin rated it did not like it.

This book has been on my to-read list for several years and I really wish I could remember the source of the recommendation so that I can never trust it again. This was one of the worst books I have ever read. The characters are unlikeable and not in an interesting way , the plot makes no sense, and the writing is awful. Sep 01, Pamfrommd rated it liked it. This was a first for me.

I read this novel because I follow the author on Twitter. She's entertaining in that Twitter kind of way. The plot centered around the buildup to the Great Recession as viewed by Daisy, married to Dick, a Manhattan Master of the Universe who can see the recession coming, and her unusual twin daughters who This was a first for me.

The plot centered around the buildup to the Great Recession as viewed by Daisy, married to Dick, a Manhattan Master of the Universe who can see the recession coming, and her unusual twin daughters who are 8. Lots of rich people problems arise, including multiple murders and adulteries.

A beach read. Jul 21, JM rated it did not like it. During the pandemic, I'm going through books I put off reading in Kindle. I'd read a small percent of this one, so I decided to give it another go. I soon learned why I'd quit reading it before.

I'm sure that the author has experience in dealing with all the types of people and businesses she describes, but I want a book that intrigues, not a boring day to day account of SSDD. Did not like. A writer is supposed to tell a story that others not in a particular 'world' can relate to, and this is on During the pandemic, I'm going through books I put off reading in Kindle.

A writer is supposed to tell a story that others not in a particular 'world' can relate to, and this is one only someone who is in her 'world' could probably enjoy. Jul 06, Michael Fredette rated it really liked it. A black comedy about a wealthy Upper East Side couple--Daisy and Dick Greenbaum, set in on the eve of the banking crisis.

Dick has a sense of foreboding about the impending economic collapse, while Daisy murders anyone Dick's boss and mistresses who threaten their precarious happiness. Nov 05, Renee rated it did not like it. Very disappointing novel. I feel like she maybe aspires to be a Sophie Kinsella, but this is a poor example.

The writing is weak and unfortunately falls flat! As a New Yorker, born and raised, I always love to read about the city. That is why it got 1 star. This story takes place in when the crap was ready to hit the fan on Wall Street.

Daisy Greenbaum's husband is a financial mogul for "The Bank" and he probably knows more about the collapse about to happen than he should and he starts to find away around the impending doom, but his boss shuts him down quite quickly.

He needs to keep his mouth shut if he wants to keep his job. Daisy is as a socialite who lunches and who throws parties and she starts to realize that the life she has become quit This story takes place in when the crap was ready to hit the fan on Wall Street. Daisy is as a socialite who lunches and who throws parties and she starts to realize that the life she has become quite accustomed to may disappear and that her husband's past mistress may not be as far in the past as her husband has led her to believe.

Daisy decides she must take her family's future into her own hands to protect them. She will stop at nothing, even murder to protect the one's she loves. This is a very dark comedic look at the people most of us already hate because of the economic collapse and the huge bonuses still paid to the people in the banking industry. It was well-written and a fast read. I think with this book the author can stop referring to herself as the daughter of Erica Jong and stand on her own as an author.

Her husband works in the financial industry so he was able to provide her with a good insight. I had two problems with the book. Not one character in the book was remotely likable even the Greenbaum's twin daughters. The other was that one daughter was clearly favored over the other. Other than that this book had some unexpected turns and was entertaining. It is definitely not a mystery novel and not really chick-lit either.

I would definitely put this into some sort of "noir" category. It was with a doubt an interesting story. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Picked this up expecting a campy book. I was surprised by moments of insight into the inner life of the truly rich. Or what I consider truly rich. One of the points of this book is that there is always someone richer than you - even the "rich" feel like they are struggling to fit in in some way.

For that reason, I gave it 4 stars and I'd recommend it to my Junior League friends. However, I was annoyed that characters, who often seem completely detached from reality, magically "sense" or dream k Picked this up expecting a campy book. However, I was annoyed that characters, who often seem completely detached from reality, magically "sense" or dream key pieces of information in the novel that they shouldn't reasonably have knowledge of - like knowing when a murder occurs or learning the details of a financial fraud.

One of his examples: mammograms for woman. I don't even now the going price for a mammogram and I'm a woman. How would a diluted rich man know that? The characters were constantly aware of the prices of items around them and their relative value. It felt like the author was trying to create an environment or make a point with these character thoughts - but the thoughts themselves felt totally unrealistic in terms of the characters. Then again, most of this book felt unrealistic.

You have to read the book with a big grain of salt to enjoy it. Jan 20, Danielle rated it did not like it Shelves: chick-lit , hated-it , set-in-nyc. I was excited to read this book when I read the back cover. I thought it would be a dark humor, funny book about the elite Upper East Side and the last "good" days before the recession hit. I ended up being really let down by it. First of all, it took me over a week to read it and it's only pages. It's really unusual for me to take that long to read a book.

And especially because it's so short. It was hard to get into and stay in because nothing going on in the book hooked me. The character o I was excited to read this book when I read the back cover.

The character of Daisy Greenbaum was really wooden. There was nothing to latch onto with her. I can't tell what the reader is supposed to feel about her.

Are we supposed to feel sorry for her or hate her? I don't know. Why does she decide to murder instead of doing something else to the people that make her angry? Actually, all the characters have a wooden, not really quality to them.

And they're not very likable either. I read the whole book and I still don't have much of a grasp on any of the characters. There were some passages about the stocks and information about the market that I ended up scanning.

I know that it's important to know about how the stock market works but I don't really want to read about it in a novel. There were a few parts that I found amusing but none that I found really funny or entertaining.

I'm a big fan of Meg Cabot but I have to disagree with her back cover blurb of making Molly Jong-Fast "the new queen of comedy". I think Molly may have a ways to go before she can truly claim that title. Good concept but it missed the mark for me. Apr 15, Katherine rated it it was ok Shelves: first-reads , reviewed. Only the second of nine goodreads giveaways that I didn't like though I finished this one, hoping it would improve.

Never laughed, never chuckled, never even smiled. Nothing about this book was even slightly humorous despite the cover quotes "irresistable"--I trudged through it. Not one of the people in this novel have any likeable characteristics--they are greedy,self-absorbed, boring people. If the book were about vampires, ghosts, aliens I could have liked it better for I would have said this is fiction and they aren't real. Well, unfortunately, these people are real--oh, not identified specifically, but everyone of them exists including Daisy,who in real life doesn't actually kill others, that is, deprive them of life, but she deprives them of living which is much the same.

She sucks the animation and joy from those who she sees as a threat. A horrible book about horrible people being passed off as hilarious fictionI wonder, is it a case of laughing at oneself and one's own intimate circle? A sort of inside joke--which will make it all okay and make the lifestyle meaningful? Jun 13, Jay rated it did not like it Shelves: for-review , dnf.

I found this book to be a mostly dark tale with an unsympathetic narrator, set against an inaccessible background. Jong-Fast the benefit of the doubt. It turns out I was too generous—the only time I laughed during this story was at a sentence that, on second glance, I read wrong.

Jong-Fast understands the genesis of this recession; however, her explanations were still quite inaccessible to the casual reader, and ultimately unnecessary for understanding the main plot: a rich woman, threatened by the potential loss of status, begins killing everyone in her path. This is not a protagonist that I want to spend any time with. Apr 15, Laura rated it it was ok Shelves: first-read , chick-lit. Daisy Greenbaum is one of New York City's elite - she has a husband, two daughters, and all of the money that she could want.

Until when her husband because aware of shady dealings at The Bank, the place that he works. He becomes concerned that they will lose everything - his job and their money.

Daisy is not willing to let this happen and will do everything in her power to prevent it. Even stooping to murder. Unfortunately, once she starts she can't stop.

While the premise starts very inter Daisy Greenbaum is one of New York City's elite - she has a husband, two daughters, and all of the money that she could want.

While the premise starts very interesting and entertaining, the book did not live up to my expectations. I was expecting a little more dark humor or something along those lines. While it was amusing at times, it was often hard to follow and the writing was not always clear. None of the characters were particularly likeable but I didn't expect to like them. I was at least hoping to find the story intriguing enough to want to know what happens next.

Daisy and Dick were both self-absorbed. Their young daughters had thier own issues which were largely ignored. I think I would have liked it a little better if the story had stayed focused on Daisy's point of view. While her husband is a central character, I tended to get lost with his discussions of financial dealings and the dream sequences that he would have. Read as part of the Goodreads First Read program. Jan 09, Aislynn added it Shelves: ebook , read-in , dnf. I hate admitting that I couldn't finish or didn't like a book.

I admit I'm picky when it comes to books and it really has to catch my attention for me to pick it up. Unfortunately for this book, despite the great sounding blurb; I just couldn't get into it! The blurb for the story sounded great, something I could potentially love. Daisy is a society wife, nice clothes, lots of money - the best of the best.

Only the best schools for her daughter and designer clothes. Unfortunately, her husband is I hate admitting that I couldn't finish or didn't like a book. Unfortunately, her husband is about to lose his job and put the life she loves in jeopardy.

She decides to take matters into her own hands. The story started out well, we meet Daisy, her husband and their daughter. But I just couldn't get past the first couple of chapters.

I had hoped there would be some funny moments to balance out the financial information, but sadly I was disappointed. This book may appeal to some, but unfortunately for me it didn't work out. Aug 19, Brenda rated it it was amazing. I know!

The names are just too delicious. When Daisy's social position is threatened due to Dick learning of some shady goings-on at The Bank, she decides to take matters into her own hands Molly is a phenomenal writer-- her word play is just fabulous-- and she offers a dark glimpse into the New York City socialite life. I devoured this book in two days. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.

To view it, click here. Not plausible, not funny, not ironic, not worth reading. I'd give it zero stars if that was an option. I was looking for a good beach read--something light after reading a few heavier books. But a serial-killing UES mom and wife, marrried to a philandering Wall Street banker who "knows" his wife is killing off first his boss, then two of his mistresses?

Not believeable and whil Not plausible, not funny, not ironic, not worth reading. Not believeable and while I can suspend disbelief with the best of them, this story doesn't invite disbelief, it just takes short cuts with the narrative as if the author didn't have the energy to work the character through situations that would make sense.

May 11, Lisa Baggerman rated it it was ok. I'm kind of surprised that I made my way all the way through this one. I was initially drawn in by the author's writing and yes, also because the author is Erica Jong's daughter. But the characters were so loathsome--and the fact that they didn't change or evolve at all during the book gave them the depth of reality TV characters.

One of the characters' names is Easton--I suppose a shout out to Bret Easton Ellis and similar books in the loathsome rich NY elite genre? But there's something that I'm kind of surprised that I made my way all the way through this one. But there's something that draws you into Ellis' characters and their lives kind of seducing you into their depravity that was utterly lacking here.

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