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Precious Objects: A Story of Diamonds, Family, and a Way of Life Audiobook
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(3.02) - 130 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In the middle of New York City lies a neighborhood where all secrets are valuable, all assets are liquid, and all deals are sealed with a blessing rather than a contract. Welcome to the diamond district. Ninety percent of all diamonds that enter America pass through these few blocks, but the inner workings of this mysterious world are known only to the people who inhabit it. Alicia Oltuski, daughter and granddaughter of diamond dealers, seamlessly blends family narrative with literary reportage to reveal the fascinating secrets of the diamond industry and its madcap characters, including her own eccentric father. Entertaining and illuminating, Precious Objects offers an insider's look at the history, business, and society behind one of the world's most coveted natural resources.
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"Have you ever wondered about the journey of a diamond from the mines to jewelry stores? I've read books about the "blood diamonds" so I knew something of that part, but I never really knew (or thought much about) the diamond merchants and their families. This is the story of Alicia Oltuski, a woman in the family of the very secretive diamond merchants. Makes you look at your diamonds in a whole new sparkle."
— Jeanne (4 out of 5 stars)
Precious Objects Listener Reviews
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" I picked up this book because the cover looked interesting and entered into a world I knew nothing about. Alicia Oltuski really gave me a sense of being part of a very unique world. "
— Barbara, 2/11/2014 -
" I learned so much from this book! It is part memoir - part biography (of diamonds). It reads as a narrative and flows quickly enough to keep a reader-of-fiction like me interested all the way to the end. I felt like I really know Oltuski's family well, too. "
— Kristen, 2/8/2014 -
" Fascinating look into the diamond industry. Needs a tighter organization of topics. I enjoyed. "
— Ali, 1/3/2014 -
" Interesting topic, writing and depth could be stronger. Quick read. "
— Lesley, 12/31/2013 -
" This was a pretty good read. Oltuski is adept at bringing the characters who inhabit the world she writes about to life. The book raised many questions for me; I am looking forward to posing them when she comes to speak at our local book festival in a few weeks! :) "
— Allyson, 12/27/2013 -
" I give it a 3.5. I enjoyed it, learned a lot about the diamond culture in NYC, but I read it as vignettes which made up for the lack of flow between chapters "
— Gabrielle, 12/20/2013 -
" Interesting background on the insular culture of the diamond trade, but with little insight or depth. The lack of a real narrative is also problematic. The writing is sometimes quite clean and readable, but other times a little overwrought and 'workshopy'. "
— Dara, 12/11/2013 -
" Even if you have no interest in diamonds or the diamond district, this book is captivating and gets better and better as you read. Oltuski is an exquisite writer, and she deftly blends her insider's knowledge of the business with an outsider's fascination of the diamond business's mysteries. "
— Jessica, 12/3/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book. Finally a subject that is new. You feel as if you are being invited into a secrect world and it's really fasinating. "
— Lorie, 11/27/2013 -
" Was very disappointed. Interesting facts and culture behind the diamond industry; a perfect backdrop to a great story, but there was no story. "
— Sharon, 11/4/2013 -
" This book was kind of hard for me to get into, but it did have some very interesting facts and a story behind it. Kudos to the reader. "
— Rachel, 9/22/2013 -
" Fascinating look at the family diamond business (and by extension, the entire culture of the diamond trade) from a journalist daughter. "
— Batsheva, 3/4/2013 -
" A fascinating story about a business I knew little about. "
— Robin, 11/10/2012 -
" An enjoyable audio book for commuting to work. Interesting enough to keep you listening. "
— Steve, 3/28/2012 -
" Interesting tid-bits, but an oddly organized book. It was never a 'story', just bits an pieces of autobiography and diamond information. "
— Vivian, 3/9/2012 -
" Interesting. I listened to it on a long car drive. Something I never would have picked up but I learned about something I knew nothing about. "
— Janeal, 12/24/2011