- Hardcover: 375 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (Sep 2 2004)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0002005875
- ISBN-13: 978-0002005876
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 16 x 4.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 635 g
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Tensions, lies and hypocrisy lurk beneath the cool exteriors of Totten Crossing, Conn., in this fine new novel of suburbia from Amidon (The New City; Subdivision). In an effort to keep up with the Joneses, fading real estate broker Drew Hagel sinks all his money into a hedge fund that goes bust. Meanwhile, his second wife, psychologist Ronnie, is pregnant with twins, and his teenage daughter, Shannon, is experiencing first love with Ian, one of Ronnie's young patients, whose mother died of cancer when he was 14, leaving him a large sum of insurance money that he will inherit when he turns 18. Ian's uncle, David, a decent man with few prospects, plans on using the inheritance to fulfill his dream of owning a bar in North Carolina. Finally, Carrie Manning has grown restless and uncomfortable with her broker husband's wealth and embarks on a brief affair. All these lives collide on one fateful night when Ian accidentally strikes and kills a bicyclist while driving home from an end-of-year high school party; the vehicle belongs to Jamie, Carrie's hard-drinking teenage son. It all sounds a bit like Peyton Place, but Amidon's intentions are far more serious. Writing with a sociologist's insight, he crafts a sharp page-turner mined with moments of dark satire. Amidon's previous novels had moments of profundity, but this exceptional novel delves deeper and more passionately into the fractured lives of people whose lives revolve around money. Its impact lingers long after the final credits roll.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Within a complex narrative taut with suspense, Amidon (The New City, 2000) offers a rip-roaring portrait of contemporary class warfare. Drew Hagel has only the best intentions, but he has allowed the family real-estate business to steadily deteriorate. When his much-loved, levelheaded daughter, Shannon, becomes involved with wealthy, troubled Jamie Manning, Drew sees it as a way into the good graces of Jamie's father, the steely manager of a secretive hedge fund. Investing money he can't afford to lose, Drew becomes desperate when the fund tanks. Trading on his daughter's personal relationships, he sees a way to recoup his losses, and he ruthlessly pursues it. Like Colin Harrison in The Havana Room [BKL O 15 03], Amidon has an unerring instinct for portraying the peculiar tensions of modern society. He turns fear of failure, greed, and therapy sessions into the stuff of compelling fiction. He also juggles multiple incisive portraits, from the dilettante suburban mom with hidden depths to the down-on-his-luck limo driver with small but unreachable goals. Showing both how the rich always emerge from trouble unscathed and how the pursuit of money can taint even the most loving relationships, this is gripping but disturbing fiction that cuts close to the bone. Joanne Wilkinson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.6 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An insightful, beautifuly written novel., Oct 6 2004
By E. Thomas "Emily" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: HUMAN CAPITAL (Hardcover)
I happened upon Human Capital and the first thing I was intrigued by was it's colorful, sensual cover. Believe me, this book does not dissapoint. Amidon's prose is direct and yet very artistic, able to convey a range of human emotions. Not only does this book provide the reader with an amazing story and several beautifully written character studies, but it is also real food for thought, an amazing commentary on our society.I highly recommend this book, especially for more intelligent readers.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fell in love with the characters..., Dec 9 2004
By Keira S. - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: HUMAN CAPITAL (Hardcover)
Absolutely loved all of the characters in this book. I became so involved with them! I was laughing, crying and everything else, right along with them. I couldn't even say who my favorite character was, but each one was so complex and human.The story and writing were very good as well, but the main thing that really stuck out to me about this book is how vivid Stephen Amidon's characters are.
I am looking forward to more from him.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining, heartbreaking and thought-provoking, Dec 8 2004
By DonO - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: HUMAN CAPITAL (Hardcover)
Talk about a book you cannot put down!Part social comment, part mystery and flawlessly written,
it is a novel you will not soon forget.
I never heard of Stephen Amidon before, but I am going to check out his previous novels.
The characters are all too believable, and you really cannot anticipate the ending.
This is one of those rare books you can't put down, but sorry when it has to end.
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