A quick read that perfectly captures the allure of a first job that is your hearts desire and what Alex Garreet, and many women I know (including my younger self) are willing to do for money, cache, and the desire to get the job done. The boss who teaches you lessons the hard way, the men (both executive and colleagues) who can make work a minefield, the women who you don't or can't connect with, the steep learning curves that come with being thrown in to things to see how you do, the pride and satisfaction that comes with wins and the stress, fear, and utter dismay when you fail or worry that you will -- it's all captured here. I found myself rooting for her, saw some of my own experiences in hers, recognized the mistakes and errors in judgement made, and though the end is not a surprise, that's OK. It's another 'can she swim with the sharks' story - Working Girl or THe Devil Wears Prada. I liked that the Wall Street/Bond Trading workplace is dispassionately described - not value judgement, just information about how this place functions from someone who worked there. Sharp, clear writing. This book gave me an unpleasant kind of whiplash. Duffy is striving to deliver her narrative with some snark, some humor, and some practical bluntness - and usually, she succeeds. But sometimes, as when she is discussing her early upbringing and awareness of her privilege, it falls very flat. There are also asides which put me off her as a person and made her hard to relate to - one in particular about how she pities any woman over 40 who isn't married. Her worldview clearly doesn't align with mine. This was a problem for me later in the book, when she began to describe her dating and love life, about which I did not care in the least. Boring. The cover of the book should absolutely be taken as a token and sneak peek into what's inside. If you are looking for a book which discusses the intricacies of the bond and trading/banking world on Wall Street, and how women function in that world, this isn't it. This book is about a smart, pretty girl combating extreme sexism - interesting, but diminished by all her discussion of her high heels, tight skirts, and dudes she dated. There's some irony in the combination.
What do You think about Tot De Laatste Cent (2012)?
I really liked Alex , she is a tough cookie. And the guys were asshole, at least most of them.
—Caitlinhd
Enjoyed this. It wasn't what I expected and not my usual genre.
—marvin012
Funny take on life on wall street for a young female
—harvey
