Good Faith

by Jane Smiley | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 1402536356 Global Overview for this book
Registered by BigJohnLefty of Des Moines, Iowa USA on 2/20/2011
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9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by BigJohnLefty from Des Moines, Iowa USA on Sunday, February 20, 2011
Okay, I can't remember how I acquired this - I don't recall buying it, nor do I often received unregistered books in bookboxes (though it has happened a couple times).
I do like this author very much (and not just because she taught for many years at nearby Iows State University) and have read three or four of her books and liked them a lot.

Plan to listen to soon......

Journal Entry 2 by BigJohnLefty at Des Moines, Iowa USA on Sunday, February 20, 2011
I absolutely loved this book! As I indicated, I've read this author before and really like her stuff....
The culture of greed, especially as it existed in the 1980's, is skillfully portrayed here, as it relates to the world of high finance and real estate.
I particularly related to it even more because I just found a buyer for a house I'm trying to sell, and, having dealt with a myriad of realtors over the past couple of years, found myself nodding my head a lot over the antics of some of the characters in this book.
My father (whose primary business was insurance but also held a real estate license) would be rolling in his grave over some of the shady deals in this book..... though I definitely applaud the protagonist for staying honest all the way.

this will go in the next audiobookbox that comes my way....

Journal Entry 3 by BigJohnLefty at Audio Bookbox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (3/22/2011 UTC) at Audio Bookbox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

It's time to set this one free -- enjoy! Putting this into indygo88's CD-only audiobookbox.

Journal Entry 4 by JudySlump612 at Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Taken from Indygo88's audio book box.

BJL, I too like this author, especially since I grew up in Ames, so thank you for contributing this book!

Journal Entry 5 by JudySlump612 at Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Thursday, October 27, 2011
I loved this book too. I'd read it before, and hearing it gave me a chance to pick up some subtleties of plot and character I'd missed earlier. The details of real estate were fascinating - can't help wondering if Smiley was ever a realtor, or how she did her research. About one little thing I disagree with BigJohn: the protagonist staying honest. He was getting pretty loosey-goosey by the end, although he was being more led by Marcus than thinking of his own fiddles.

The reason I bring this up is that almost everyone in the book seemed to be on a bit of a slippery slope, playing footsie with honesty but not willing to settle down and commit. Joe is a nice guy, but by the first disk he's starting an affair with a married woman. I don't think I've ever seen an author draw such a clear parallel between marital fidelity and financial honesty as parts of good faith.

Another thing that happens at the beginning is that Smiley introduces a character, one of Gordon's daughters, whose role is instructing Joe on what to do - in casual ways, such as what to wear. Then she dies. The message I see is that nobody left in Joe's circle of friends is able either to determine or to enforce proper standards. But I had the advantage of knowing where Smiley was heading with this book. She's very deft - she doesn't plant a lot of obvious signals, but lets you work things out for yourself.

The reader, Richard Poe, was quite good. His voice was well suited to Joe's essentially straightforward, maybe even a little naive, personality. And in a book lasting through thirteen disks, I didn't catch him in a single mispronunciation. High marks!

This book is unabridged.

Journal Entry 6 by JudySlump612 at by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Released 12 yrs ago (3/21/2012 UTC) at by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to Paul'sBooks for iwillrejoice's audio VBB

Journal Entry 7 by tostle at Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
I received this book today! Thanks for sharing!

Journal Entry 8 by tostle at Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Monday, October 29, 2012
Brent enjoyed reading this book! Thanks for sharing it.

Journal Entry 9 by tostle at Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Monday, October 29, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (10/29/2012 UTC) at Salt Lake City, Utah USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is going into booklady331's CD ONLY Audio Book Box. Happy travels!



Journal Entry 10 by rebekkila at Lansing, Michigan USA on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I pulled this from booklady331's audio bookbox.

Journal Entry 11 by rebekkila at Kirkland, Washington USA on Sunday, April 21, 2013

Released 10 yrs ago (4/22/2013 UTC) at Kirkland, Washington USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I put this in BigJohnLefty's audio bookbox.

Journal Entry 12 by wingbooklady331wing at Cape Coral, Florida USA on Tuesday, May 28, 2013
This book has made a short stop at my house. It will continue on its journey until it finds its new home.

Journal Entry 13 by k00kaburra at San Jose, California USA on Monday, January 6, 2014
This book enjoyed a brief stop in San Jose, CA before continuing its journey in the Audio Bookbox!

Journal Entry 14 by dabercro at Clinton, Utah USA on Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Chose from Big John Lefty's First CD audiobookbox

Journal Entry 15 by dabercro at Clinton, Utah USA on Tuesday, October 7, 2014
As previous readers, I did enjoy listening to this book. The greed and dishonesty were appalling. I didn't trust Marcus from the beginning and wondered what he was up to. Marcus was a slick talker and was able to gain others' trust.

Journal Entry 16 by dabercro at Clinton, Utah USA on Tuesday, October 7, 2014
As previous readers, I did enjoy listening to this book. The greed and dishonesty were appalling. I didn't trust Marcus from the beginning and wondered what he was up to. Marcus was a slick talker and was able to gain others' trust.

Journal Entry 17 by dabercro at A Fellow BookCrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Friday, November 21, 2014

Released 9 yrs ago (11/22/2014 UTC) at A Fellow BookCrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Passing on to Aberpeter when I see her this weekend.

Journal Entry 18 by Aberpeter at Kirkland, Washington USA on Monday, November 24, 2014
Thanks dabercro

Journal Entry 19 by Aberpeter at Kirkland, Washington USA on Sunday, April 12, 2015
Greed and dishonesty were running rampant as everyone seem to be looking for ways to get-rich-quick.

I had a hard time getting into the story - I suspect my commute just wasn't long enough to do the story justice. It seemed like every time I got in the car I had to reacquaint myself with the characters and where I was in the story. By the time I got to my destination I was just starting to get into the story and had to shut my car off. This disruption in the flow of the story telling made this a difficult novel for me to follow.

Journal Entry 20 by Aberpeter at Kirkland, Washington USA on Saturday, June 6, 2015
reserving for booklady331's virtual CD only bookbox

Journal Entry 21 by Aberpeter at Kirkland, Washington USA on Thursday, June 18, 2015

Released 8 yrs ago (6/18/2015 UTC) at Kirkland, Washington USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

sending to indygo88

Journal Entry 22 by indygo88 at Lafayette, Indiana USA on Tuesday, June 23, 2015
That was fast -- thanks, Aberpeter!

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