Rick Goeld

This is a Reading Good Books review.

I honestly don’t know what to make of it. I enjoyed it, yes. I breezed through it; it was a very enjoyable read. But I’m not really sure what the author wants to say. Is this a cautionary tale about soy? Is this book anti-genetically modified food? Or is it a metaphor for some other food or vice?

The story was easy enough to understand. As the title says — sex, lies, and the soybean industry. Manipulation is the name of the game. The Blackburn family manipulated by a group of people whose ulterior motive was to persuade Victoria to vote in favor of the Soy Bill. Food manipulated by technology. William manipulated with the use of sex. It was a little bit cliche, come to think of it. But Goeld’s writing is very good. I could not stop, I had to know what happened next.

The parts where the bad effects of too much soy were displayed were interesting. A little bit creepy even. The image “new technology” was great as well. Implanted communication devices? It’s not far from reality, now that RFID tags are available. It’s like as we progress, our world becomes smaller and smaller. I imagined if this happened in real life, I would feel very boxed in, like I’m being watched or something.

Overall, it was really entertaining. Very well-written and the characters are all interesting. I think I need a reread in order for me to understand it further. Yeah, I’ll definitely give this another go.

Rating: 4/5.

Recommendation: It’s a rather strange and offbeat story. I’m not so sure. If you want a light and quick read or a diversion, check this out. It is very, very interesting.… (mehr)

This is a love story is set in the future where the food choices have dwindled to manufactured food, and the soybean due to changes that are explained in the beginning of the story. In a political power play the Soy Industry plots against the main characters sister to control her vote. The main nemesis' both illustrate the extreme ends of which their diet is effected by their food choices. This story is full of flawed, but human characters. The author's message of chasing the latest and newest trends which borders on obsession can lead individuals down a dangerous road. The loved the others references to music throughout the story, since I love music as well. It was an easy read and an enjoyable diversion. Thank you for selecting me as a LibraryThing Member Review.… (mehr)

Blurb: Food animals had not fared well. New strains of bird flu, mad cow disease, swine syndrome, and red tide had decimated anything that flew, bellowed, grunted, or swam. Soy, rich in protein and easy to grow, became the undisputed king of food and...
The Soy Industry became the world's most powerful food consortium. Their long-term goal: dominate the worldwide food market with genetically-engineered synthetic food made with 100% soy. Their interim goal: saturate the American fast-food market. Texas becomes their first target. If they could conquer the influential state of Texas, the other states would fall like dominoes.
But Victoria Blackburn, Chairman of the Texas State Senate's Food and Drug Committee, was blocking key Soy-Industry-sponsored legislation. Soy Industry lobbyists' attempts to influence her were unsuccessful, so Plan B was devised: penetrate her family and twist a few arms -- or worse -- to change the Senator's mind.

What Stephanie Thought: Sex, Lies, and Soybeans is a novel about manipulation. Manipulation of humans by technology, genetically-enhanced food, and of course, sex. Set in a quasi-dystopian era where meat is scarce as a hen's tooth and paper is unheard of (that frighteningly doesn't seem too far from today), Rick Goeld uses human deception and error to convey an important message about risky fast-food choices.
Charles Ray is just a soy advocate. He wants soy to dominate, and he wants it bad. He's screwing his assistant, "Manta Ray" (haha, pun intended) who characters are led into thinking is his sister (yeah, ew), who's screwing uber-nerd, Blackie. Then there is the roadblock in Charles's ambitions: Victoria Blackburn, Blackie's older sister, who coincidentally is also screwing her assistant...as well as Manta (obviously, there's no penetration). So as you can tell, there is a lot of sex, sex at night, sex standing up, sex between women in a senator's office, going on. Charles thinks he can manipulate Victoria by kidnapping her, because after all, it's her vetoing vote that counts. But his plan does not go so swell because Blackie is clever enough to figure out his ploys before Victoria is severely harmed (though practically raped, would be another story).
The plot is weak and far-fetched, but the Goeld's writing style is easy. And his hidden, well-portrayed message is clear; human obsession to have the latest and the trendiest can lead to demise. The soybeans (that eventually kill Charles) could represent trans fats. Aspartame. Palm oils.
I'm having a really hard time giving this book a definite rating. I enjoyed it as a quick read; it took me only about an hour and a half to complete. But I'm not sure if I would recommend it. I liked it, but it wasn't particularly good. Does that even make sense? I want to give it ♥♥♥♥ because it is undeliverable (in terms of sharing with friends or commending as a novel), but I also want to give it ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ because of how well I read it. I can't even compromise because NO I wouldn't recommend it, and YES I would mind re-reading. I'm just giving it ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ but it actually means ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ which is really really weird and does not mean fifteen hearts (dear God no).
In essence, Sex, Lies, and Soybeans is a love story. An extremely sexified (is that a word? Well, it is now) love story that warns the reader of what we has flawed human beings, will go to just to have our ways.

Stephanie Loves: "How can you mend a broken heart?
The words, the title of a song by the Bee Gees, had been looping through Blackie's consciousness for days. He'd been wandering up and down sidewalks, staring at strangers, searching for -- no point denying it -- the face of his girlfriend. Or ex-girlfriend."

Where Stephanie Got It: LibraryThing for review.

Radical Rating: 7 hearts- A few flaws here and there, but wouldn’t mind rereading. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

http://thestephanieloves.blogspot.com/2011/02/sex-lies-and-soybeans-by-rick-goel...… (mehr)