The Coffee Trader (Abridged): A Novel Audiobook

" The premise is great, but it's so. slow. "

" This just didn't grab my attention, so I stopped reading it. "

" I found this book in a "book swap" shelf at a hotel in the Cook Islands. It is a well written novel set in Amsterdam in 1659 and the tale surrounds the introduction of coffee to this shipping port. This is a fun, light read - great for a vacation! "

" This was a random book I picked up at the library for my trip to Colorado and I really enjoyed it. I was surprised at how long ago the "stock market" was utilized. I now want to read other books by this author. "

" This was my first David Liss and I must say that I was intrigued by the idea of a novel about commodities trading. Add in coffee, the Inquisition, Amsterdam, the East India Company, the Portugese Jews, a mad Dutchman, intrigues and schemes every page and even woman's rights and you have a fine story. I would have enjoyed more of the coffee house lore and a more information about the Exchange and I would change to 5 stars! On to the next Liss! "

" Loved the historical detail, and enjoyed the end with all the "who's taking advantage of who" and the twists it took, but it took me a while to get into it and I wasn't really enjoying it, but the last 100 pages saved it for me. "

" I just finished this excellent historical novel. The book is set in the commodities markets of 17th century Amsterdam and features a hero who is a member of the Portuguese Jewish community there. I still don't understand the commodities market very well, but I feel like a learned a lot about Amsterdam of that era. "

" I really couldn't put this down. It wasn't my usual kind of book but I was living overseas and this was the only English book I found. The story is full of plot twists and all the characters are so closely entwined. Loved it. "

" I really did not enjoy this book as I found it lacking in substance and repetitive. I longed for the story to go deeper and for the characters to develop but it did not happen. "

" well done. The Coffee Trader weaves history into fiction. this is not a deep book and yet the story pulls you in and as soon as you think that you know which way things will unfold, the plot turns. "

" This is the first book I've read by Liss but it's abundantly apparent that he is wonderful writer. The story was not exactly my cup of joe (har har) and the whole commodities trading thing I found less than thrilling but the story telling was fantastic. "

" Enjoyed the history, but found the book boring. I read it as a book club title. So for that much, it was fun to learn about and discuss the early history of speculative markets, trade, and Amsterdam. "

" I enjoyed this intriguing historical novel set in 17th century Amsterdam. "

" Wonderful plot and character development. Excellent novel. "

" I found this a fascinating look, not just at the 16th century Sephardic Jews exiled by the Inquisition living in Amsterdam, but also a interesting window on the birth of the stock market. "

" Double-dealing, skulduggery, and the stock market in 17th century Holland - what's not to like? Ripping good yarn. "

" Well researched, fun for the depiction of old Amsterdam, and interesting for the glimpse into early market mechanisms. The plot is just a vehicle for all the history, and while it carries the story along, it is somewhat predictable. It is a quick read, and fine for the beach. "

" I found it hard to get into at the beginning, but then once I did I couldn't put it down. "

" Not a likeable character in the book. The suspense was not suspenseful (if that makes sense) and the characters had no chemistry. Sad to say, but I finished it only because it's for a book club. "

" Great read. Very interesting the characterization of Old Amsterdam. "

" This was not my favorite book by David Liss but it was still a good book by one of my favorite authors. "

" Although nicely written and intricately plotted, I found many of the technical explanations of trading and the stock market confusing and unsatisfying. "

" I have a weakness for historical fiction and enjoy David Liss as an author. He manages to create an exciting tale, but allow the reader to get into the understand the psyche of the historical characters without writing prose that feels like expose. "

" Slightly more interesting than you'd imagine a book about trading coffee would be. "

" Fictional study of the infiltration of coffee into the Western world and a nice follow-up to Conspiracy of Paper. "

" An interesting setup ruined by thoroughly uninteresting characters. "

" I really like David Liss, I'm no financial guru but he somehow makes trading understandable and also interesting. There were a lot of twists and turns in this and the main character plays the fool throughout, but is generally likeable all the same. "

" Good book. Interesting how commodiites were traded in early 1600's in Amsterdam. "

" Early 17th century Holland had not yet embraced the true wonder of coffee, so the mystery and intrigue of this book revolving around the early days of market trade and coffee shares is interesting. "

" The characters are flawed and not too likable. Interesting view of the early commodity exchanges. "

" Truly enjoyed this introduction to the history of coffee and its introduction into Europe. "

" Sorry just did not like this book...coffee, stock market, and lies...just not my cup o'tea...haha "

" The historical setting of this book was interesting, but not something I was familiar with. I found that the plot kind of lagged until I got to the middle, and then it went too quickly. Otherwise, I thought the descriptions of a trader's life (including the ups and downs) were very interesting. "

" This story was different. My library had it listed as a mystery. However, it seemed more like a story of intrigue and deceit. Good guys that weren't all that good, and bad guys that turned out to be good. <br/>Maybe I shouldn't be surprised because it's a story about the world of trading. "

" I liked A Conspiracy of Paper better. "

" Since I love drinking coffee and lived in Amsterdam for two years, this book had my attention. It's fascinating to read of the origins of drinking coffee, since we think a cup has always been around. "