Bobby Clark is just sixteen when he drops out of school to follow his big brother, Jim, into the jewelry business. Bobby idolizes Jim and is in awe of Jim?s girlfriend, Lisa, the best saleswoman at the Fort Worth Deluxe Diamond Exchange. What follows is the story of a young man?s education in two of the oldest human passions, love and money. Through a dark, sharp lens, Clancy Martin captures the luxury business in all its exquisite vulgarity and outrageous fraud, finding in the diamond-and-watch trade a metaphor for the American soul at work.
This is a great read. I love this book and could not put it down once I started reading. Clancy Martin is a great story teller and it makes me wonder what percentage of the book is fact and which percentage is fiction. On the inside cover of the book, he mentions that he was in the jewelery business for some time. I like to think that this book is 80% Fact and 20% fiction, but I suppose I shall never know for certain. My fiancee is starting to read it now and she seems to like it quite a bit as well. I would highly recommend this book to anyone thinking about reading it. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE: THE ENDING!
A Page Turner of Quality
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
Quality fiction with a gritty "true to life" feel, most likely reflecting the author's unusual backgound as a Ph.D. philosopher in academia and a prior history as a young "hustler" in the urban retail jewelry trade. Very suspenseful, moving and entertaining. On the downside, the arcane jargon of the jewelry business was tedious at times and difficult to grasp. Nonetheless--highly recommended !
Whoa!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
Great first novel from Philosopher / Jeweler / Canadian - Texas Clancy Martin. An eye-raising tale of the sordid underworld of high stakes Jewelry business in a rough, but touching coming of age story. A quick, easy read that leaves you wishing for more sooner than you'd hoped. Hopefully more to come from this promising new author.
Summer's hot jam
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this and loved every page. Powerful prose and a compelling story. Who doesn't love drugs, sex, diamonds and lies? Read this now before everyone else on your block does.
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