No Tears: Tales from the Square Mile - Books (David Charters, Paperback)

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Customer Reviews of No Tears: Tales from the Square Mile

Nomad in Caledonia
Scotland
25th October 2008

Excellent book
I really enjoyed reading and re-reading this book:
- it reads well
- the plots of the stories and characters are very believable and highly entertaining
- it's nice expose of human weaknesses, specifically: egomania, greed and excessive risk taking, which contributed so much to the ongoing economic trouble.

Paul Hanratty
Tyne and Wear
4th October 2008

Lots of Tears
I've just finished this excellent collection of short stories as the world's financial markets are collasping and causing misery for millions. Much criticism has been levelled at the city and the alleged greed of those who make their living out of gambling with other people's money. Am I sorry for them? I don't think so thanks to Mr Charter's portrayal of the utter depravity and lack of any moral fibre of those who ruthlessly pursue the big bonus. Maybe I read this book at the wrong time and therefore won't be shedding a tear for those wealthy bankers and traders who might just be feeling a little uneasy today. Enough of the rant. I actually enjoyed the book and looked forward to the twist in each tale. I will read more from this author.

Sara
UK
12th August 2008

Predictable and cliched
These short stories are mostly predictable and full of cliches. The characters are unoriginal and again utterly predictable: the playboy manager, the young juniors who ape the boss etc. It's a quick read, but the characters in the various stories never have time to come alive. The stories themselves are in no way a fair reflection of what goes on day to day in the City - the back of the book says they are based on real events, but they are all extreme cases. If you are looking for a witty portrayal of the City that vaguely resembles reality, then look elsewhere!

footballist

3rd December 2007

amateur hour
None of the stories ring true, the characters are clumsy caricatures of the tabloid journalist's "city fat cat" or "wide boy trader" and the punchlines can be seen a mile off. Nobody who really worked in a front office environment for any length of time should be reduced to writing such dross - the reality is that traders are interesting people, sometimes crass, sometimes sophisticated, who work in a unique environment which brings out some extremes of human behaviour. The worst crime of any writer is to make his subject matter less entertaining that it is in actuality, and of this, Charters is guilty. Skip this and read the classics of the genre, Liar's Poker, Ugly Americans etc.

S. A. Richmond
London, UK
4th November 2007

Shocking
I don't know why I was so shocked at the end of each story, but without exception each tale had a fantastic ending where you'd think "jeezz". Very well written in an entertaining and engaging way. I'd certinely read more from this author.