Monthly Group Reads: MARCH 2013 (Group Read 2): The Coffee Trader by David Liss

[Lia]

Patrick wrote: "Read the first chapter last night, hopefully work it through over the next week. So far so good.

And I don't drink coffee. Disagrees with me. :)

@Lia: Commodities have been manipulated since the ..."

That just shows how much I know about economy and business :)
So, this commodity manipulations are as old as humans tendency to gambles and take risks.
I wonder what will these ancient/past traders reaction when they step inside present day exchange floor.

[Darcy]

Lia wrote: "Patrick wrote: "Read the first chapter last night, hopefully work it through over the next week. So far so good.

And I don't drink coffee. Disagrees with me. :)

@Lia: Commodities have been manipu..."

I reckon they would find it has less of that "just carted off boat" scent but just as noisy.

P.S. Lia, I really like your avatar.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Josie wrote: "I'm at chapter 5. So far, I feel sorry for Hannah and am wondering if and when Geertruid will show up again. Liss is introducing quite a lot of characters, I think."


Too many characters do you think, Josie? I sometimes go off books if they have too many characters.

[Lia]

D wrote: "I reckon they would find it has less of that "just carted off boat" scent but just as noisy.
P.S. Lia, I really like your avatar."

Or they pity us because we are using some computer programs, not relying solely on brain and nerves... (Thank you for liking the avatar)

[Linda]

I finished the book on March 3, or there about. I rated it three stars, which is a good rating. The book was an easy read. The exchange was open two hours per day, Monday through Friday. The traders, as well as the market, were always up and down, up and down. It seemed to me that Miguel, the main character, had trouble being a good man and a good trader. As with the market, so were the traders. Their identities were embroiled with the market. I had read Nanyang
by Ian Stewart earlier in the year. A lot of trade history was covered reading these books close together. Readers got a view of the field office, the transportation of goods, including coffee, and the trade exchange.
I liked the author's treatment of the Jews, Catholics and Dutch Reformists. Amsterdam was a liberal city that offered a good degree of safety and opportunity for these groups. Still the Catholics and Jews were paranoid generally about everything.
The author's writing style reflected this paranoia, the power plays, the distrust the traders felt toward one another, and that uncomfortable feeling that nothing was as it appeared.

[Crystal]

Finished! Quite enjoyed it although like many I wasn't rushing home to get back to it. I have some thoughts about Monica's spoiler question, but have no idea how to use the spoiler thingie from my nook.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Crystal, does your Nook allow these < / > ?

If so you can type it in.

This without the spaces.

< spoiler > at the start, then < / Spoiler > At the finish.

Take out all the spaces between arrows, forward slashes and the word spoiler. I have to put a space in otherwise...well..it will work and hide my comment.

[Crystal]

Nope, it doesn't have the 'greater than' or 'less than' symbols on the mini keyboard, darn...

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

IN that case, just mark your spoiler using something and adding the warning.

Like this...something loud and with good warning not to read the spoiler. :)
Use the 'x' if you do not have an asterisks.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxSPOILERxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
do not read unless you have finished the book
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Jarrod]

Finished the book last night; really enjoyed reading it although I found the ending somewhat of a disappointment. (view spoiler)[ I was hoping for something more than Alonzo messing with everyone's life. (hide spoiler)]

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I am still waiting for my copy.

Glad you enjoyed it Jarrod. I won't peek at your spoiler yet. :)

[Jarrod]

Terri wrote: "I am still waiting for my copy."

All these spoiler warnings must be killing you. :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

They are!! I kind of want to read them more because I haven't got the book to read yet! It is like everything is denied me. ;D

[Monica]

Terri wrote: "They are!! I kind of want to read them more because I haven't got the book to read yet! It is like everything is denied me. ;D"

Terri, maybe we're just messing with you and there's nothing behind those spoiler threads! ;-)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

lol! Noooooooo!!!!

[Daniel]

Just picked it up today, looking forward to reading this and others in this group. Hello all.

[Monica]

Daniel wrote: "Just picked it up today, looking forward to reading this and others in this group. Hello all."
Hi Daniel...welcome! Lots of different opinions on this book. We'll be interested in your thoughts on the book as well.

[Crystal]

Everything I want to say is a spoiler! LOL

[Linda]

I am sorry you did not like the book. I don't about you, but I hate to buy a book and not like it.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Don't worry, Linda, I don't think anyone didn't like the book yet. At least they haven't spoken up if they did not like it...lol...please speak up people, even if you didn't like it! :)

I always regard 3 stars as 'liked it'. Not really enjoyed it, but didn't dislike it either.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Daniel wrote: "Just picked it up today, looking forward to reading this and others in this group. Hello all."

Hey there, Daniel! Welcome to the group read.
Hope you enjoy the book, please feel free to let us know what you thought, whether you like, love or hate it. All opinions are welcome. :)

p.s I like your avatar.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Crystal wrote: "Everything I want to say is a spoiler! LOL"

Poor Crystal and her spoiler defying Nook. :)

[Lia]

Terri wrote: "...please speak up people, even if you didn't like it! :) ...."

I do love it, except for one of the character. (view spoiler)[ In my opinion, Hannah was not polished enough. She reminded me of Hollywood script that was hastily written for some famous actress just so said actress could be put on the movie. In my opinion, all the chapters/paragraph that mention her could be easily edited out without sacrificing the story. (hide spoiler)] I was going to give the book 5 stars, but after past the halfway point of the book, this annoyance keep nagging me whenever I encounter the character.

[Crystal]

I liked the flavor of the times the book conveyed. Pun intended.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Another spoiler I won't look at. :)

Can't wait to go through them all when I am finally reading the book. hehe.

[Daniel]

MMM....Coffee. Finished the first chapter and I must say I am intrigued.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I had this plan to drink lots of coffee while I read this book. :)
I will still roll out this plan when the book is eventually in my hands. Although i don't need much of a reason to drink coffee.

[Daniel]

Terri wrote: "I had this plan to drink lots of coffee while I read this book. :)"
That is my plan for every book. :)

[Darcy]

I'm going to be able to carry on with this book now that I've finished the other monthly read.
I'm not a coffee person though I do enjoy the scent of freshly ground beans.

I'll have to read mine with a cuppa instead.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Daniel wrote: "Terri wrote: "I had this plan to drink lots of coffee while I read this book. :)"
That is my plan for every book. :)"

I have to admit. It is kind of mine too. :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

D wrote: "I'm going to be able to carry on with this book now that I've finished the other monthly read.
I'm not a coffee person though I do enjoy the scent of freshly ground beans. ..."

I have some beans ready to rock and roll when I start the book. I am going to brew them and fill the house with coffee smells.
This bloody book better match my enthusiasm for coffee. I expect much coffee talk in the opening chapters. :[

[Crystal]

Just imagine the first time experiencing coffee, as an adult....

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

What can they possibly have thought of it. Surely they would not have said "yum".
I often wonder how we became so enamoured with Cola. I would not imagine it would have tasted nice to those who first tasted it?

[Crystal]

Ah, but those folks, the sweetest thing they'd had was root beer and ginger ale, caramel would have been the bomb and with cocaine added, simply irresistable after the first sip! lol

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Crystal wrote: "caramel would have been the bomb and with cocaine added, simply irresistable after the first sip! lol"

LOL! True!

[Linda]

The coffee 'high' Miguel's sister-in-law got sounded like she was chewing amphetamines instead of coffee beans.

[Josie]

Terri wrote: "Josie wrote: "I'm at chapter 5. So far, I feel sorry for Hannah and am wondering if and when Geertruid will show up again. Liss is introducing quite a lot of characters, I think."


Too many charac..."

So do I, Terri. I can't say if they're too may just yet, but the plot does seem to be taking its time. The family saga of the Alienzos is definitely taking precedence over Miguels' attempts to corner the coffee market. If that really is what he plans to do.

[Josie]

Linda wrote: "The coffee 'high' Miguel's sister-in-law got sounded like she was chewing amphetamines instead of coffee beans."

LOL!

[Darcy]

I don't think I can carry on with this book; at least not at the moment. (view spoiler)[I can't take people messing with other people's lives, threatening each other and all that. There are a couple "good-ish" people in tight spots, but for the most part, there is nothing redeemable about any of them. I also detest when empowered people hold others down. I realise it's just a book, but it gives me agita which just boils, and I get flush at the lack of fair play. I might finish it at a later date, but for now, it's a no go. (hide spoiler)]

[Bryn]

D's spoiler. I'm just keeping a curious eye on the read. I can understand this, and already thought the book's not for me on these grounds. (view spoiler)[I find such stuff depressing, unless there's a light at the end of the tunnel, too, a person who can feed my human optimism -- even if they fail miserably in the plot. (hide spoiler)]

[Darcy]

Bryn wrote: "D's spoiler. I'm just keeping a curious eye on the read. I can understand this, and already thought the book's not for me on these grounds."

I agree with your spoiler, wholeheartedly.

[Linda]

The spoilers signified the likeness between the markets and the characters. What I saw in the trading was the same thing I saw in the people. I don't think 'personification' is the right term, but the style of writing has a name. The characters and the markets stay true to their nature throughout the book, so I cannot tell you to keep reading or that things get better. I just enjoyed seeing that the fickle natures of men and the trades remained fickle.The Coffee Trader

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Hmm...I don't think I am even tempted yet to peek into those spoilers.
Want a fresh mind when I start the book in about a week. :)

[Daniel]

I must say I enjoyed this book. The interesting characters, their struggles, the setting, the intrigue and dynamics of speculative trade...and the coffee...mmm

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Good news, Daniel!! Pleased you enjoyed it.

[Linda]

Initially I thought THE COFFEE TRADER was a simple book. But it has proven to be a book that I have thought about over and over. Even the spoilers were food for thought.

[Marty]

Egad, I just got this book from my library. Don't know why it took so long - no one had it checked out. Hopefully, I can get to it this weekend.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

That's good news for me Marty. Someone will still be reading it (you) when i get my copy.

Mind you...it was due back today an the person who has it did not return it on time. There is every chance that, if they don't return it next week, I won't even get to The Coffee Trader. Because my next Group Reads start April 1.
I am very annoyed at this person who did not return it on time. :(

[Marty]

That is extremely annoying, Terri and that's pretty much what happened to me too!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

So frustrating.
And what is so frustrating is that I was next in line for the book in the beginning of the month and a library person put it on the shelf when it came back in without noticing it was reserved. Then someone checked it out and it still wasn't noticed that it was on reserve. So I have been waiting for that person who accidentally jump the queue to return it.
:[ very annoying.