Book Review
Jan. 29th, 2004 01:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lillibetLast night I finally finished Richard Powers' Gain. It was recommended to me by a friend, who basically forced me to finish it when I wanted to give up. I guess I'm glad he did--it was less harrowing than I was afraid it would be--even if the main character did end up dying of cancer.
Most of the book is the fictional story of the development of a corporation from 18th century trading family to 21st century multinational along the lines of Proctor & Gamble--soaps, solvents, foods, fertilizers, etc. On the one hand, it's an interesting story, but on reflection, it's a little cheap--the company never makes anything but ethical decisions, albeit ones informed by the desire to continue to grow and make money. In the end, it doesn't matter, they've probably caused the death by cancer of a woman unconnected to the firm, except for living in a town where one of their divisions has its headquarters and using many of their products.
I had read one of Powers' earlier novels, Galatea 2.2, and like that one, this is very well written, but missing something essential. His prose carries me along, but leaves me unsatisfied. I will not read The Time of Our Singing, which the same friend described to me as "the saddest book ever." I don't think I need that.
Most of the book is the fictional story of the development of a corporation from 18th century trading family to 21st century multinational along the lines of Proctor & Gamble--soaps, solvents, foods, fertilizers, etc. On the one hand, it's an interesting story, but on reflection, it's a little cheap--the company never makes anything but ethical decisions, albeit ones informed by the desire to continue to grow and make money. In the end, it doesn't matter, they've probably caused the death by cancer of a woman unconnected to the firm, except for living in a town where one of their divisions has its headquarters and using many of their products.
I had read one of Powers' earlier novels, Galatea 2.2, and like that one, this is very well written, but missing something essential. His prose carries me along, but leaves me unsatisfied. I will not read The Time of Our Singing, which the same friend described to me as "the saddest book ever." I don't think I need that.
