Last summer, I read a NEWSWEEK article which recommended a variety of books. THE WAY WE LIVE NOW was the NUMBER ONE recommendation. Having seen a portion of the story in a Masterpiece Theatre film on PBS, I was more than intrigued.
Still, my finite mind could not wrap around the reason this, of all books, would be touted as THE book the modern human being could not miss.
And then, I read it.
OH...MY...GOODNESS.
Entertaining: it was.
Effective Prose: certainly.
But, what fascinated me the most ( apart from the SEVERAL love stories which stirred within ---and I am such a romantic at heart) were the parallels which could be drawn between the horrid, wicked, heartless, financier, Melmotte ( sounds like a species of rodent, right?) and the infamous Bernie Madoff ( as in made-off with millions). In addition, but no less compelling were the inner workings of mid-19th century British aristocracy and stock exchange boards. What a hoot! Our current financial institution troubles are a hopeless mirror.
In short, this was a satisfactory novel to the core.