The Social Climber's Handbook By Molly Jong-Fast Dick and Daisy Greenbaum are a very very very rich couple in NYC. They have two spoiled annoying children that act like they are 25, when they are only 8 yrs old. Dick is an extraordinary math genius with a mediocre background that has climbed his way to the top of The Bank. Daisy is an insecure but outwardly sweet character that never fits in no matter how hard she tries. This drama of affairs, schemes, wealth and ultimately murder is at times funny and well written. It revolves around the current financial collapse and escapades of both banks and investment firms, ultimately showcasing how ridiculous it all has become. It is an easy read but not my cup of tea, my TBR list is just too long! ( )

Generally, I love to read about the super rich and the antics they pull to stay that way, but this was a very painful read. It was not funny, not fun, not even very interesting.

During 2008 Iceland’s banking system and the whole country crashed and much like a row of dominos, so, essentially did ours. This book follows that summer of 2008 with a satirical look at one very rich family that relies on the big banks and brokerage firms to retain the style to which they have grown accustomed. We meet Dick and Daisy Greenbaum, wealthy, entitled, youngish. They have twin daughters and a lovely home on Park Avenue in NYC. The address is very, very important; at least to them. Dick has a very important job with The Bank. Dick will soon realize that truly tough times are coming, and writes a memo to his boss on how to fix the economy. Unfortunately, his boss does not agree with the memo and starts talking about firing Dick. Well Daisy being the excellent planner that she is, realizes that she may have to get her hands a little dirty to keep her and her family in the style that they are entitled too. Why should she worry about s little murder if it’s going to keep her daughters in riding lessons, her husband in mistresses and herself in expensive Birkin purses.

What could have been a funny and thought provoking read, turned into a book that was more than half filled with things that only someone with a strong banking background might find interesting. The rest of the book was a simply sad commentary on the shallowness of the uber privileged. Think “Wallstreet” but with less depth and a much less interesting story. This was quite the most painful read I have experienced in a while.

Daisy does not stop at this first murder…oh no. She finds that it is the perfect way to get rid of hurdles to her family’s happiness. Dick cannot seem to keep “it” on a leash or at least in his pants and instead of being funny or at least interesting, it’s pathetic and very sad.

Overall, while nicely written with lovely prose, the story line was something that was inept and clumsy with too many holes and unanswered questions. Secondary characters were thrown in willy-nilly as if Ms Jong-Fast needed filler to flesh out her treatise on banking. I went into this book hoping for a pleasant, light, relaxing, funny few hours of diversion and came out scratching my head and wondering if somehow I picked up book that was mislabeled. I was also fully expecting not to like these characters or their actions but at least I thought I would have some sympathy for them and their problems or I might have some giggles at their snobbery. But I didn’t.

This book was a depressing, unfunny read that I had to force myself to finish. ( )

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 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. ( )

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