Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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The Coffee Trader
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MARCH 2013 (Group Read 2): The Coffee Trader by David Liss
I may read this one since it's on my tbr and my library has it.
I will be reading this one in March too.My library has a couple copies and I saw one had to stay in the library as it is a 'book club' copy. So it appears the library chose it as one of their book club reads.
Which makes me think it may be a good book for discussion.
Seeing as this one has been on my TBR since June I will read it also. Maybe mid-month.
I can't wait to read this one as it combines two of my passions: coffee and 17th century Dutch history. I'm going to reserve my copy at the library right now.
And are you going to brew some special coffee when we kick off? :)I might buy a nice coffee bean to go with the book!
This arrived today. It's one of those books that's easy to hold, the pages move freely and it just fits right in the hand. Maybe I'm the only one who actually uses this as part of their criticism of a book. Oh, and the font is nice too.
I am all for a nice font and and nice tactile books. It is why reading those C.J. Sansom is always a pleasure. Love the font and stylings, the pages and cover feel. :-) Did you get the edition in the thread title? Or did you get one of the other covers.
My library has this one, which I am disppointed about:
Mine looks like the one in thread title. There was another cover, perhaps the one you've linked, but it was more expensive.
Jealous. :( That cover in the thread title is one of my favourite covers....on any book.There is a new cover that I saw online yesterday. I will check to see if it is on GR. I may have to add it.
Nope, it was there...
Actually, I checked the date on that cover, and that cover came out in 2003.
I have this copy from the library which I have to say is probably the least interesting of the covers.
I prefer that one to the one I have. Which kind of makes me think of a McDonalds Cafe.I think it is the colour, the coffee beans and the scrawling on the cover which, from a distance, at the top looks like an M. :(
I agree, that cover definitely looks like an ad for McCafe's. However, I still say that it is more interesting than a Dutch interior scene with a dog.
But the dog looks like my dog. :) That may be another reason I prefer it to the McCafe.
I already got a copy of the book and can't wait to start in March. It seems like it will be an interesting read.
yes, I think it will too. The reviews on it are hard to go on, but it is a popular book. There must be a reason for that.
I'll be reading this also. Already put it on hold at my library... :)
That reminds me. I have to put my copy on reserve at the library too.
I've read it, twice actually. This is one of my all-time favorites. I'd like to go through it again and follow the discussion. I still have a few points I could never clear up. I promise, no spoilers!
Was able to download this from Audible, so am set!
Okay Terri, lead the charge (in a day or two)! Picked this up from the library this morning. I've got fresh coffee beans to brew...anxious to grind through another read and see what percolates between the pages of this book. Hope it's steeped in mystery.You do realize that there will be many, many bad coffee-related puns during this read! ;-)
Monica wrote: "Okay Terri, lead the charge (in a day or two)! Picked this up from the library this morning. I've got fresh coffee beans to brew...anxious to grind through another read and see what percolates bet..."Oh yes. I know. I am filtering through a few myself.
Sherrie wrote: "Was able to download this from Audible, so am set!"Oh good. Hannibal didn't work out for you, but The Coffee Trader did. :)
Laura wrote: "I've read it, twice actually. This is one of my all-time favorites. I'd like to go through it again and follow the discussion. I still have a few points I could never clear up. I promise, no spoilers!"Yes, please jump into the discussion this month with your feedback Laura. :)
I checked where my edition is at. When I reserved it someone had it out and it was due back March 1. I just checked again and it has changed to 'allocated'.
I have never seen them use that term before. I hope that it means they are about to send it to my library from one of the other libraries.
Usually they don't say 'allocated' when they do that. :
Terri wrote:Oh yes. I know. I am filtering through a few myself. ..."LOL ;-)
I think we have used them all up now. :)
just ordered it online, none of my bookshops had it in stock.
Glad you were able to get a copy though, Mark.
Me too, i am just going to read this one this time, got to much fantasy to catch up on. will read the Ben Kane later.
I will have to read the Ben Kane later too. My schedule for March was full and I could only fit in one group read this month. The Coffee Trader. Will have to look for everyone's Hannibal reviews and if they are predominantly good, I will try to read it in April.
I'm in. Bought my copy from B&N just now.
Good, Linda. :)
I'm ready. Have my copy from the library here now!
Terri will be very happy to have more people joining in this read.
Vivek wrote: "hi"Hi :)
Janet wrote: "I'm ready. Have my copy from the library here now!"Yay, Janet.
Dawn wrote: "Terri will be very happy to have more people joining in this read."I am! Lots of people to chat with about the book. :D
I love coffee too! Will start it when I finish my current (and very small novel set in Nigeria) book - probably start this week-end. Looking forward to it - not familiar with this author.
I agree with you, Ani. I've read the first 5 chapters and although it has definitely kept my interest, I'm not "rushing home" to pick it up and see what's next. I do find the author's use of "revealing memoirs" short passages interspersed throughout the book to be an added richness to the story.
I am still waiting for my edition to come into the library. It is the weekend here so maybe it will come in on Monday or Tuesday.Remember everyone, use spoilers when talking about anything that gives up too much of the story. :)
Either mark it like this
************Spoiler up to page 100 (NB* or whatever page you are on) *************
That way anyone who hasn't made it to page 100 shouldn't read the spoiler.
Or use the Spoiler html.
You can find directions on how to do that here:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7...
Ani wrote: "Greetings - first post by me; this is my first Goodreads book club. I downloaded Coffee Trader to my Kobo Arc, and read it by Friday - I found it kept my interest, but have reservations about the ..."Welcome to the group, Ani and welcome to your first group read.
Glad you found us. :)
Hi Vivek, join us in the book discussion.Terri, a very good book choice for the group! The next 5 chapters are read and now I'm intrigued (up to chapter 10). I checked the author's background thinking surely he had experience in commodities/futures trading, but find nothing to back this up. I do have a finance background and have been to the New York Stock Exchange so the author's understanding of the financial trade industry was of interest to me. Well done...I also like his writing style.
I'll share my other observations when more people join in...the coffee aspect ;-)
I like the "revealing memoirs" too.
Just start it, 20 pages in. The introductory chapter able to maintain my interest. Very promising. Now I just need to get a cup of cappuccino....
I am very jealous that you guys have been able to start. I only have to wait a few more days......
I am nearly halfway through. There are plenty of separate yet interacting issues.
So, gambling with future price of a commodity is not a 20th century invention afterall.
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
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The Coffee Trader (other topics)
The Coffee Trader (other topics)
Nanyang (other topics)
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The Coffee Trader
The Edgar Award–winning novel A Conspiracy of Paper was one of the most acclaimed debuts of 2000. In his richly suspenseful second novel, author David Liss once again travels back in time to a crucial moment in cultural and financial history. His destination: Amsterdam, 1659 — a mysterious world of trade populated by schemers and rogues, where deception rules the day.
On the world’s first commodities exchange, fortunes are won and lost in an instant. Miguel Lienzo, a sharp-witted trader in the city's close-knit community of Portuguese Jews, knows this only too well. Once among the city’s most envied merchants, Miguel has lost everything in a sudden shift in the sugar markets. Now, impoverished and humiliated, living on the charity of his petty younger brother, Miguel must find a way to restore his wealth and reputation.
Miguel enters into a partnership with a seductive Dutchwoman who offers him one last chance at success — a daring plot to corner the market of an astonishing new commodity called "coffee." To succeed, Miguel must risk everything he values and test the limits of his commercial guile, facing not only the chaos of the markets and the greed of his competitors, but also a powerful enemy who will stop at nothing to see him ruined. Miguel will learn that among Amsterdam’s ruthless businessmen, betrayal lurks everywhere, and even friends hide secret agendas.
With humor, imagination, and mystery, David Liss depicts a world of subterfuge, danger, and repressed longing, where religious and cultural traditions clash with the demands of a new and exciting way of doing business. Readers of historical suspense and lovers of coffee (even decaf) will be up all night with this beguiling novel.