It does the pageturning business (The Business - Iain Banks)

Member Name: andyroo

Product:	The Business - Iain Banks
Date:	12/06/01 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: interesting, exciting, suspense

Disadvantages: maybe not up to previous writing

Iain Banks novel, The Business seems to have got a bit of a mixed reception here in Dooyoo - I am one of the book's advocates but once you've read my op I'd suggest you look at some others for balance!

"The Business" is a multi-national organisation who's origins predate the Chrisitian Church. It is basically the largest of all capitalist concerns, with fingers in many pies in the form of commercial arrangements some of which ethically speaking may be construed as a little bit dodgy!

The story centres around Kate Telman, a Level Three executive of "The Business" who holds responsibility for high-tech investments.

This is a carefully crafted novel from Banks with many twists and turns throughout the story, together with excellent dialogue and description. Kate Telman's jetset lifestyle lends itself to the portrayal of a variety of locations on the globe, which Banks does with depth and precision, and a feel for the "foreignness" of the setting.

The dialogue is kept concise throughout and the situations our heroine finds herself in over the course range from emotional to amusing. Not laugh out loud stuff but enough to raise a smile.

The story will keep you guessing until the end, I won't give too much away, you'll pick up the clues as you read the book and kick yourself just before the Epilogue.

I wouldn't say that this book in any way steals a march on the classic Wasp Factory but it's certainly a worthy read and you'll be compelled to keep turning the pages.

Fantastic stuff - I'm sure you will enjoy this book - but why not grab a copy and let me know in the comments.

Andy

Summary: