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Money Power Love
Born on three adjacent beds, a mere three seconds apart, our three heroes are united by nature but divided by nurture. As a result of their different upbringings, they spend their lives chasing three very different things: Money, power and love.
This is a human story: A tale about people like ourselves, cajoled by the whimsy of circumstance, who find themselves performing the most beautiful acts as well as the most vulgar.
This is a historical story: A tale set in the early 1800s, which shines a light on how bankers, with the power to create money out of nothing, were able to shape the world we live in today.
And this is a love story: A tale about three men, who fall in love with the same woman, at the very same time…
This is a human story: A tale about people like ourselves, cajoled by the whimsy of circumstance, who find themselves performing the most beautiful acts as well as the most vulgar.
This is a historical story: A tale set in the early 1800s, which shines a light on how bankers, with the power to create money out of nothing, were able to shape the world we live in today.
And this is a love story: A tale about three men, who fall in love with the same woman, at the very same time…
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2017
130 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
About the author
Joss Sheldon
9 books184 followersJoss Sheldon is a scruffy nomad, unchained free-thinker, and post-modernist radical. Born in 1982, he was raised in one of the anonymous suburbs that wrap themselves around London's beating heart. Then he escaped!
With a degree from the London School of Economics to his name, Sheldon had spells selling falafel at music festivals, being a ski-bum, and failing to turn the English Midlands into a haven of rugby league.
Then, in 2013, he stumbled upon McLeod Ganj; an Indian village which is home to thousands of angry monkeys, hundreds of Tibetan refugees, and the Dalai Lama himself. It was there that Sheldon wrote his debut novel, 'Involution & Evolution'.
Eleven years down the line, he's penned eight titles in total, including two works of non-fiction: "DEMOCRACY: A User's Guide", and his latest release, "FREEDOM: The Case For Open Borders".
With a degree from the London School of Economics to his name, Sheldon had spells selling falafel at music festivals, being a ski-bum, and failing to turn the English Midlands into a haven of rugby league.
Then, in 2013, he stumbled upon McLeod Ganj; an Indian village which is home to thousands of angry monkeys, hundreds of Tibetan refugees, and the Dalai Lama himself. It was there that Sheldon wrote his debut novel, 'Involution & Evolution'.
Eleven years down the line, he's penned eight titles in total, including two works of non-fiction: "DEMOCRACY: A User's Guide", and his latest release, "FREEDOM: The Case For Open Borders".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 15, 2018
Nominally set in the 1800s, the author vividly depicts the sights and sounds of the London streets of the time, such as this description of traders taking advantage of the crowd gathered to witness a hanging. ‘Surrounding this scrimmage, costermongers were selling just about anything which could be eaten, to just about anyone who could eat. Their rickety barrows were overflowing with ice-cold oysters and burning hot eels; pies and puddings , crumpets and cough-drops, ginger-beer and gingerbread; pea soup, battered fish, sheep’s trotters, pickled whelks, baked potatoes, ice lollies, cocoa, and peppermint water.’ Characters such as Wilkins (surely the literary doppelganger of the Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist) could have come straight out of Dickens, as could many of the character names: Timothy Tyrrell, Bumble Blumstein. There’s even a sneaky reference to a famous opening line from Dickens: ‘They were the best of times. They were the worst of times.’
Throughout the book, the author’s love of language – at one point a set of steps is described as ‘bodacious’ – and fondness for alliterative pairings is evident (as in the excerpt above). At the same time, some of the language is deliberately anachronistic – fantabulous, mansplaining. Readers will either find this amusing or irritating; I was in the former category most of the time.
All three main characters – Hugo, Archibald and Mayer – have flaws and, despite being friends, their actions don’t always reflect this – especially when it comes to their rivalry for the affections of the same woman. None of the three are especially likeable but then they are really archetypes designed to illustrate the nature versus nurture debate and to demonstrate the consequences of being motivated by love (Hugo), power (Archibald) or money (Mayer).
Arguably, money plays the biggest part in the book as the author explores different forms of exchange that have been used over the centuries: barter, tally sticks, promissory notes. At one point, Mayer muses: “Why, I’ve already heard of a new invention called ‘Cheques’. Those could take off. Maybe one day we’ll create token money, electronic money, or money spent on plastic cards.” When his partner, Mr Bronze, protests that “money doesn’t grow on a magic money tree”, Mayer responds, “It does, Mr Bronze, and we bankers are its gardeners”.
Each chapter features an epigram from figures ranging from Mark Twain, to Confucius, to Banksy. The story moves from Georgian London to Manchester, India, Van Diemen’s Land, China and Africa. Along the way, through the stories of its three main protagonists, the book seeks to shed light on the worst excesses of colonialism and capitalism and to reveal the fragile foundations on which our financial systems are fabricated (note the alliteration please).
The motives of financial institutions and governments are ruthlessly exposed by the author. Here’s Mayer again: “We need charity; it compensates for the worst excesses of capitalism, without challenging the system itself. It’s an investment which pays dividends; protecting capital from civil unreset.” And again: “Wars are only ever fought to open up new markets, control resources and amass wealth. All wars are bankers’ wars.”
Money Power Love is a surreal, satirical romp written with real verve and wit. By turns funny, challenging, inventive, didactic and thought-provoking, it’s quite unlike any other book I’ve read, which did pose some problems when it came to my ‘Try something similar’ recommendation below*.
Now I’ve finished Money Power Love, I don’t know whether to go and eat some trifle, invest in bitcoins, invade a small country, go mudlarking or buy a backscratcher. If that sentence intrigues you, why not pick up a copy of the book using one of the purchase links above.
I received a review copy courtesy of the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Throughout the book, the author’s love of language – at one point a set of steps is described as ‘bodacious’ – and fondness for alliterative pairings is evident (as in the excerpt above). At the same time, some of the language is deliberately anachronistic – fantabulous, mansplaining. Readers will either find this amusing or irritating; I was in the former category most of the time.
All three main characters – Hugo, Archibald and Mayer – have flaws and, despite being friends, their actions don’t always reflect this – especially when it comes to their rivalry for the affections of the same woman. None of the three are especially likeable but then they are really archetypes designed to illustrate the nature versus nurture debate and to demonstrate the consequences of being motivated by love (Hugo), power (Archibald) or money (Mayer).
Arguably, money plays the biggest part in the book as the author explores different forms of exchange that have been used over the centuries: barter, tally sticks, promissory notes. At one point, Mayer muses: “Why, I’ve already heard of a new invention called ‘Cheques’. Those could take off. Maybe one day we’ll create token money, electronic money, or money spent on plastic cards.” When his partner, Mr Bronze, protests that “money doesn’t grow on a magic money tree”, Mayer responds, “It does, Mr Bronze, and we bankers are its gardeners”.
Each chapter features an epigram from figures ranging from Mark Twain, to Confucius, to Banksy. The story moves from Georgian London to Manchester, India, Van Diemen’s Land, China and Africa. Along the way, through the stories of its three main protagonists, the book seeks to shed light on the worst excesses of colonialism and capitalism and to reveal the fragile foundations on which our financial systems are fabricated (note the alliteration please).
The motives of financial institutions and governments are ruthlessly exposed by the author. Here’s Mayer again: “We need charity; it compensates for the worst excesses of capitalism, without challenging the system itself. It’s an investment which pays dividends; protecting capital from civil unreset.” And again: “Wars are only ever fought to open up new markets, control resources and amass wealth. All wars are bankers’ wars.”
Money Power Love is a surreal, satirical romp written with real verve and wit. By turns funny, challenging, inventive, didactic and thought-provoking, it’s quite unlike any other book I’ve read, which did pose some problems when it came to my ‘Try something similar’ recommendation below*.
Now I’ve finished Money Power Love, I don’t know whether to go and eat some trifle, invest in bitcoins, invade a small country, go mudlarking or buy a backscratcher. If that sentence intrigues you, why not pick up a copy of the book using one of the purchase links above.
I received a review copy courtesy of the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
July 1, 2018
On the US site, this is advertised as a 'Critically acclaimed novel'. Two self -published, targeted ads on amazon displayed the headlines 'The New Salman Rushdie is here' and 'Sheldon is a maverick, a rebel, and a genius'. This felt misleading to me. I was put off and although I was not offended, I can see why people might be.
This book contains a lot of interesting material and is a great concept. No doubt it could be developed into an interesting novel, however the writing style felt very young. It is not surprising considering the novel follows three people's entire lives, yet clocks in at around 300 pages. The writing is clean yet feels expository, we are often told what has happened and how a character feels rather than shown through action and dialogue and left to make up our own minds.
What dialogue there was, was often overly phonetically spelt, making it feel forced and wacky.
One could think this is written differently and it goes against the established literary style, and that that does not necessarily mean the writing style is under-developed. However looking through acclaimed books it is clear there is no established literary style, people enjoy them because the writing immerses them in the story. This didn't do that for me!
It is clear this writer has a lot of good concepts, an ambitious vision, and the subject matter was well researched, however based on this book a few more years of learning the craft are needed before the writing really zings. The book is written around an ideology rather than characters, they didn't feel too real, it felt like they were tools to play out a history and demonstrate a political theory.
I hope this writer keeps writing and creating ambitious and unusual works. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for him in future!
This book contains a lot of interesting material and is a great concept. No doubt it could be developed into an interesting novel, however the writing style felt very young. It is not surprising considering the novel follows three people's entire lives, yet clocks in at around 300 pages. The writing is clean yet feels expository, we are often told what has happened and how a character feels rather than shown through action and dialogue and left to make up our own minds.
What dialogue there was, was often overly phonetically spelt, making it feel forced and wacky.
One could think this is written differently and it goes against the established literary style, and that that does not necessarily mean the writing style is under-developed. However looking through acclaimed books it is clear there is no established literary style, people enjoy them because the writing immerses them in the story. This didn't do that for me!
It is clear this writer has a lot of good concepts, an ambitious vision, and the subject matter was well researched, however based on this book a few more years of learning the craft are needed before the writing really zings. The book is written around an ideology rather than characters, they didn't feel too real, it felt like they were tools to play out a history and demonstrate a political theory.
I hope this writer keeps writing and creating ambitious and unusual works. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for him in future!
October 26, 2017
The author provided a copy of the ePub in exchange for an honest review.
Money Power Love by Joss Sheldon is a brilliant read. The author writes with such insight and understanding of the human spirit. Mayer, Hugo and Archibald were born seconds apart and they were tragedy separated at an early age. Their formative years defined them in so many ways. Their quest for success—money, power and love shapes each character. Each journey reveals their individual definition of happiness. The strength of the well-developed characters sets the tone of this novel. The primary and secondary characters have clear and identifiable voices and behaviours. Although the story has many twists and turns the author keeps the plot moving quickly. The author's attention to detail is flawless. The author transports the reader to the 1800s but the lessons shared are certainly relevant today. Joss Sheldon is a must-read author. A perfect novel for a book club discussion.
Money Power Love by Joss Sheldon is a brilliant read. The author writes with such insight and understanding of the human spirit. Mayer, Hugo and Archibald were born seconds apart and they were tragedy separated at an early age. Their formative years defined them in so many ways. Their quest for success—money, power and love shapes each character. Each journey reveals their individual definition of happiness. The strength of the well-developed characters sets the tone of this novel. The primary and secondary characters have clear and identifiable voices and behaviours. Although the story has many twists and turns the author keeps the plot moving quickly. The author's attention to detail is flawless. The author transports the reader to the 1800s but the lessons shared are certainly relevant today. Joss Sheldon is a must-read author. A perfect novel for a book club discussion.
August 4, 2018
Money Power Love is a tale of humans. Oh yes! It is a story of three heroes - Archibald, Mayer, and Hugo who are born around the same time with a difference of 3 seconds. They are best buddies, they have spent their little childhood together and a mishap took away their innocence all of a sudden. They are drawn in different directions but their destinies keep rebounding and bringing them back together. Strangely, they fall in love with the same lady, Lola, and surprisingly, at the same time. This particular instance was interesting. And this simultaneous upsurge of love upheavals their lives bringing them to the same crossroads over and over again.
The human behavior has been brought alive and elucidated very well. Not to forget, I particularly liked Hugo's passion, Mayer's obsession, and Archibald's frustration. To get rid of his weakness, to earn more power; the hungry beast Archibald chase women. He resorts to taking any and every woman he finds to bed. With the help of fierce and frequent sexual intercourses, he commands respect, of himself. He feels powerful but not satisfied. An emptiness gnaws him within until he pins Lola down to make love to her. Immediately after this act, realization dawns upon him and he sets himself free. He accepts his homosexuality, finally, after all that he has been chasing in life. Mayer looks forward to making more money and gets richer. Money means everything to him and he finds different ways and deploys tricks to earn it. Hugo is devoid of love and goes through an extended period of transcendence to absolve himself of his guilt, shame, and deceit. Once his heart is satisfied, when it has lived enough, he dies peacefully.
The narrative is mesmerizingly unputdownable. Once you finish off one chapter, you want more because curiosity dominates your senses. It is remarkable how the author designed a narrative that is fiction but contains immense reality. You hop from one life to another and nowhere you find the link broken. The coherence in the plot keeps you sane and hooked to the story. The love seems to be the central theme but I suggest, it is not. Yes, five different forms of love - Philia, Eros, Philautia, Pragma, Storge - have been illustrated in the book but still it is not what captivated me. What intrigued me was the human and his quest for his inner truth. You just flow through the pages and you would know the pain of a suppressed sexuality, the pain of guilt and ignorance, the inability to have your love.
The character development has been extremely meticulous and skillful. All the characters got ample space to contribute to the story that echoes in our hearts as we feel it. The narration is really good because it is able to keep you attached to the book. The plotline itself is riveting. No mundane whimsy stories, just the pure and rebellious truth. It was a delight to read it and come across so many aspects that encircle a human life which we fail to recognize in our daily lives. Spending time with it was truly worth it.
To all the bibliophiles and bookaholics, do add this book to your TBR. It completely deserves it to be there. Let our ugly souls face the harsh beauty of truth through this mirror-like book!
The human behavior has been brought alive and elucidated very well. Not to forget, I particularly liked Hugo's passion, Mayer's obsession, and Archibald's frustration. To get rid of his weakness, to earn more power; the hungry beast Archibald chase women. He resorts to taking any and every woman he finds to bed. With the help of fierce and frequent sexual intercourses, he commands respect, of himself. He feels powerful but not satisfied. An emptiness gnaws him within until he pins Lola down to make love to her. Immediately after this act, realization dawns upon him and he sets himself free. He accepts his homosexuality, finally, after all that he has been chasing in life. Mayer looks forward to making more money and gets richer. Money means everything to him and he finds different ways and deploys tricks to earn it. Hugo is devoid of love and goes through an extended period of transcendence to absolve himself of his guilt, shame, and deceit. Once his heart is satisfied, when it has lived enough, he dies peacefully.
The narrative is mesmerizingly unputdownable. Once you finish off one chapter, you want more because curiosity dominates your senses. It is remarkable how the author designed a narrative that is fiction but contains immense reality. You hop from one life to another and nowhere you find the link broken. The coherence in the plot keeps you sane and hooked to the story. The love seems to be the central theme but I suggest, it is not. Yes, five different forms of love - Philia, Eros, Philautia, Pragma, Storge - have been illustrated in the book but still it is not what captivated me. What intrigued me was the human and his quest for his inner truth. You just flow through the pages and you would know the pain of a suppressed sexuality, the pain of guilt and ignorance, the inability to have your love.
The character development has been extremely meticulous and skillful. All the characters got ample space to contribute to the story that echoes in our hearts as we feel it. The narration is really good because it is able to keep you attached to the book. The plotline itself is riveting. No mundane whimsy stories, just the pure and rebellious truth. It was a delight to read it and come across so many aspects that encircle a human life which we fail to recognize in our daily lives. Spending time with it was truly worth it.
To all the bibliophiles and bookaholics, do add this book to your TBR. It completely deserves it to be there. Let our ugly souls face the harsh beauty of truth through this mirror-like book!
November 5, 2017
Money Power Love by Joss Sheldon
A few years ago, when I tried to find a publisher for my first novel, Birdbrain, besides being told all sorts of things like one should not combine real science with "real fiction", I was told literary fiction in America is dead. Basically the book was too weird and experimental for the 'marketing categories' of the book world (which by the way, have expanded significantly over the past few years). This was in the height of the Twilight vampire and fantasy fad, you know, vampires riding unicorns and all that? And while I completely understand the need for fantasy, especially under the Trump error, er, era, the idea that no other type of book was in demand during this time was hard to take. Thus, my jumping in and publishing my first novel on my own, warts and all.
So it was with delight I reviewed Joss Sheldon's complex nature versus nurture allegorical literary fiction book, Money Power Love (no commas in his title). When I first agreed to review it I thought, "oh boy, another self-help book." In this way the title belies the book--allegory combined with history that includes the development of capitalism, in all its brutal forms, including colonialism that we all know requires exploitation of land and the locals, environmental destruction, rape, slavery, etc. It is not a self-help book only in the sense that if you want more of any of the three, you can see, by how this book traces the history of the development of capitalism, you have been programmed to feel you never 'have enough'.
The style is Dickensian and is set in the same time period, the Industrial Revolution, that nasty period when farming, self-reliance was replaced by industrial production; when human relationships, barter and trust, were tossed over for the human primate's primitive side--greed and with this, the development of currency, then the development of an entire industry to manage that currency, in other words, the capitalistic system we see today, a beast now intent on feeding itself, so large, so entrenched, that even when it collapsed in the latest "Great Recession", capital and money was shoveled back into its mouth to keep it alive, like feeding a monster you know will eventually eat and kill you but you feed it anyway. You have to. Since capitalism aligns perfectly with the human primate's primitive evolutionary state, it's a monster that will likely be around another thousand or so years with the remote possibility the human primate will 'evolve' out of it, or until the human primate kills itself off, the latter far more likely than the former.
The story is about three men, born on the same day, in the same environment, orphaned from the same fire, "all bore a striking resemblance to Hugo's father", leaving you wondering. They find homes but are raised under very different circumstances.
"But whilst their looks united them, their upbringings divided them. Their different relationships with power an love had caused their lives to diverge." They are reunited which is where things get interesting.
The three men are all haunted by their childhood's that include tragedy, moral dilemmas, deprivations. This creates in each of them, a gnawing void they spend the rest of their lives trying to fill--Mayer with money, Hugo with love, Archibald with power. They also all fall in love with the same woman--paper swans.
"Hugo, as he had done for years, went to protect a group of protestors; Archibald, considering a job in the local infantry, went to protect the town; and Mayer went to protect his investments." They are set against one another, both by conscience, occupation, and one woman, the climax of the story based on this.
Mayer becomes a banker, bankster, learning in so many ways that he can make money from nothing, by duping the "customer" to pay HIM to hold on to THEIR money, the beginning of the predatory financial industry, the same one that thrives today. It makes you want to run down to your bank and pull all your money out, if you have any that is.
Some excerpts:
"Less, less, less. Less of everything. Less heart, less soul, less spirit. Everything seemed watered down. Everything seemed hollow."
"The lines between commerce and conquest, money and power, had long since blurred."
"...until 1793, when he became the City Remambrancer. It is the Remembrancer's job to sit in parliament and whisper in the ears of politicians; encouraging them to pass laws which serve the interests of the nation's financial institutions." (Ah, the first professional lobbyists).
"And, if we can fuel more industry, by issuing more notes, then we have a duty to do so...we're on a righteous crusade!"
"...no gold to pay them! The state would have to bail us out..."
"...it's us, with nothing more than our quills, who hold the real power."
"To create an impersonal economy, in which strangers could trade using money, Mayer realized he was going to have to bypass those bonds of love...use power, the occupying army, but first he tried to go it alone."
"People will start to pay our taxes, use our money, and follow our rules. Before you know it, they'll forget there was another way."
"Tell them to ignore their elders."
"Mayer realized that for markets to exist in that land, and for businesses to thrive, he was going to have to create demand for things people did not want or need. It was not good enough for a community to share a knife; everyone had to want their own knife...ah yes, then we will have to sell them drawers!"
Hugo pursues love, giving, giving, and giving, becoming a doctor, a philanthropist. What burns within him is the "flame of anger against injustice, and the flame of hope for a better world." Yeah. Yeah. We all know the type. There's one in every crowd, poor slobs. Of course, he ends up with the girl, Lola, perhaps symbolizing the collective consciousness of society that tries to put side boards on all these things, moderation being the key and all that. Mayer and Archibald covet Lola throughout their lives, this coveting greatly influencing their behavior, much of it immoral. The book includes a little too much reference to sex, the exploitation of women, but let's face it, in this sense, Sheldon is just being accurate since, well, Helen of Troy? Back to our primitive behavior I guess. Still, I felt it became too much of a driving force of the plot.
Lola seems to be the author's outlet for whimsy, the proper era or not because she uses the word "mansplain" that we know didn't exit in the late 17-early 1800's. She also has the rather hilarious need to eat things with interesting names after any semi-real conversation. "And now, hubby (Hugo), I'd like to eat a treacle tart." Hubby: "we're out of treacle tarts."
Archibald's albatross is power and he pursues it with a viciousness that includes a lot of killing, enslaving, rape but it just 'isn't enough', even as he pursues it to ridiculous psychopathic extremes.
Each chapter starts with a quote, many of which I wrote down for further reference. The book includes words from this time period which is always fun, not to mention some words are invented. This gives the book a bit of whimsy which is quite fun. Examples of words, phrases, descriptions I liked included words like nattering, mudlarks, jellied eels, morbs, Zebedee ("more bread than man"), skilamalinks, gazumped, an honest lie, mimsy, slantindicular, zeezee plants (had to look that one up and I'm a botanist), fug, costermonger, fudding, fusty.
The imagery is detailed, zippy, sometimes fun. References to cinnamon and mince warmed me up and I swear I could smell it.
"...wearing a shirt which had been dabbed with sherry vinegar, creased with cigar ash, and made cruddy by long since evaporated tears."
"...he waited between a peperomia and a dracaena."
"As if he had snorted seawater..."
"The world does not turn for a person who suffers in silence."
"Their toes, which jiggled; and their hair, which fizzed with static energy."
"Like a star which had fallen from heaven, she flashed with transitionary splendor and faded with spontaneous indifference."
Sometimes I think authors should write the end of their stories first because as with so many ambitious literary works, the ending seemed abrupt and inadequate, considering it was such a rich and detailed story. I did not like the ending at all. It was like hitting a wall after lolling on the water for 300 or so pages. Being an author myself, I understand wanting to finish the damn thing but I do think the book warranted a better and/or more complete ending.
A few years ago, when I tried to find a publisher for my first novel, Birdbrain, besides being told all sorts of things like one should not combine real science with "real fiction", I was told literary fiction in America is dead. Basically the book was too weird and experimental for the 'marketing categories' of the book world (which by the way, have expanded significantly over the past few years). This was in the height of the Twilight vampire and fantasy fad, you know, vampires riding unicorns and all that? And while I completely understand the need for fantasy, especially under the Trump error, er, era, the idea that no other type of book was in demand during this time was hard to take. Thus, my jumping in and publishing my first novel on my own, warts and all.
So it was with delight I reviewed Joss Sheldon's complex nature versus nurture allegorical literary fiction book, Money Power Love (no commas in his title). When I first agreed to review it I thought, "oh boy, another self-help book." In this way the title belies the book--allegory combined with history that includes the development of capitalism, in all its brutal forms, including colonialism that we all know requires exploitation of land and the locals, environmental destruction, rape, slavery, etc. It is not a self-help book only in the sense that if you want more of any of the three, you can see, by how this book traces the history of the development of capitalism, you have been programmed to feel you never 'have enough'.
The style is Dickensian and is set in the same time period, the Industrial Revolution, that nasty period when farming, self-reliance was replaced by industrial production; when human relationships, barter and trust, were tossed over for the human primate's primitive side--greed and with this, the development of currency, then the development of an entire industry to manage that currency, in other words, the capitalistic system we see today, a beast now intent on feeding itself, so large, so entrenched, that even when it collapsed in the latest "Great Recession", capital and money was shoveled back into its mouth to keep it alive, like feeding a monster you know will eventually eat and kill you but you feed it anyway. You have to. Since capitalism aligns perfectly with the human primate's primitive evolutionary state, it's a monster that will likely be around another thousand or so years with the remote possibility the human primate will 'evolve' out of it, or until the human primate kills itself off, the latter far more likely than the former.
The story is about three men, born on the same day, in the same environment, orphaned from the same fire, "all bore a striking resemblance to Hugo's father", leaving you wondering. They find homes but are raised under very different circumstances.
"But whilst their looks united them, their upbringings divided them. Their different relationships with power an love had caused their lives to diverge." They are reunited which is where things get interesting.
The three men are all haunted by their childhood's that include tragedy, moral dilemmas, deprivations. This creates in each of them, a gnawing void they spend the rest of their lives trying to fill--Mayer with money, Hugo with love, Archibald with power. They also all fall in love with the same woman--paper swans.
"Hugo, as he had done for years, went to protect a group of protestors; Archibald, considering a job in the local infantry, went to protect the town; and Mayer went to protect his investments." They are set against one another, both by conscience, occupation, and one woman, the climax of the story based on this.
Mayer becomes a banker, bankster, learning in so many ways that he can make money from nothing, by duping the "customer" to pay HIM to hold on to THEIR money, the beginning of the predatory financial industry, the same one that thrives today. It makes you want to run down to your bank and pull all your money out, if you have any that is.
Some excerpts:
"Less, less, less. Less of everything. Less heart, less soul, less spirit. Everything seemed watered down. Everything seemed hollow."
"The lines between commerce and conquest, money and power, had long since blurred."
"...until 1793, when he became the City Remambrancer. It is the Remembrancer's job to sit in parliament and whisper in the ears of politicians; encouraging them to pass laws which serve the interests of the nation's financial institutions." (Ah, the first professional lobbyists).
"And, if we can fuel more industry, by issuing more notes, then we have a duty to do so...we're on a righteous crusade!"
"...no gold to pay them! The state would have to bail us out..."
"...it's us, with nothing more than our quills, who hold the real power."
"To create an impersonal economy, in which strangers could trade using money, Mayer realized he was going to have to bypass those bonds of love...use power, the occupying army, but first he tried to go it alone."
"People will start to pay our taxes, use our money, and follow our rules. Before you know it, they'll forget there was another way."
"Tell them to ignore their elders."
"Mayer realized that for markets to exist in that land, and for businesses to thrive, he was going to have to create demand for things people did not want or need. It was not good enough for a community to share a knife; everyone had to want their own knife...ah yes, then we will have to sell them drawers!"
Hugo pursues love, giving, giving, and giving, becoming a doctor, a philanthropist. What burns within him is the "flame of anger against injustice, and the flame of hope for a better world." Yeah. Yeah. We all know the type. There's one in every crowd, poor slobs. Of course, he ends up with the girl, Lola, perhaps symbolizing the collective consciousness of society that tries to put side boards on all these things, moderation being the key and all that. Mayer and Archibald covet Lola throughout their lives, this coveting greatly influencing their behavior, much of it immoral. The book includes a little too much reference to sex, the exploitation of women, but let's face it, in this sense, Sheldon is just being accurate since, well, Helen of Troy? Back to our primitive behavior I guess. Still, I felt it became too much of a driving force of the plot.
Lola seems to be the author's outlet for whimsy, the proper era or not because she uses the word "mansplain" that we know didn't exit in the late 17-early 1800's. She also has the rather hilarious need to eat things with interesting names after any semi-real conversation. "And now, hubby (Hugo), I'd like to eat a treacle tart." Hubby: "we're out of treacle tarts."
Archibald's albatross is power and he pursues it with a viciousness that includes a lot of killing, enslaving, rape but it just 'isn't enough', even as he pursues it to ridiculous psychopathic extremes.
Each chapter starts with a quote, many of which I wrote down for further reference. The book includes words from this time period which is always fun, not to mention some words are invented. This gives the book a bit of whimsy which is quite fun. Examples of words, phrases, descriptions I liked included words like nattering, mudlarks, jellied eels, morbs, Zebedee ("more bread than man"), skilamalinks, gazumped, an honest lie, mimsy, slantindicular, zeezee plants (had to look that one up and I'm a botanist), fug, costermonger, fudding, fusty.
The imagery is detailed, zippy, sometimes fun. References to cinnamon and mince warmed me up and I swear I could smell it.
"...wearing a shirt which had been dabbed with sherry vinegar, creased with cigar ash, and made cruddy by long since evaporated tears."
"...he waited between a peperomia and a dracaena."
"As if he had snorted seawater..."
"The world does not turn for a person who suffers in silence."
"Their toes, which jiggled; and their hair, which fizzed with static energy."
"Like a star which had fallen from heaven, she flashed with transitionary splendor and faded with spontaneous indifference."
Sometimes I think authors should write the end of their stories first because as with so many ambitious literary works, the ending seemed abrupt and inadequate, considering it was such a rich and detailed story. I did not like the ending at all. It was like hitting a wall after lolling on the water for 300 or so pages. Being an author myself, I understand wanting to finish the damn thing but I do think the book warranted a better and/or more complete ending.
September 25, 2017
Imagine, three close brothers who lose their family at a very young age. They are suddenly adrift, at the mercy of an unmerciful world. They can either rely upon the kindness of strangers or their own wits and skills. Author Sheldon’s novel, Money. Power. Love., is an almost Dickensian telling of their story. It put me right into the hearts of these three boys growing into men who fate has driven apart, into the hard times at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in England. Each must find his own way, and each survives, calling upon his own understanding of what is most important to secure the life he desires. Through sometimes angry, rollicking or sometimes outright depressing chains of events, the three are exposed utterly. Their motivations, their longings, their failings. They grow buffeted by the whims of others and the realities of the times. Also revealed are the true power structures behind the social and cultural traditions of the day and the Empire. What exactly do any of us know of the true nature of money, or love, or power itself? We are tossed here and there by each of these, but at whose control do they operate? Who is served? Who benefits? Joss Sheldon’s story telling is remarkable and vivid. Occasional anachronisms and ethnic remarks sprinkled throughout reminded me that this is a story being told in the present by a storyteller on a mission. I was engaged from page one, and learned a great deal about the growth of early banking and the shaping of the monetary system we take for granted today. Appearances, I realized are often contrary to observation… on so many levels.
October 9, 2017
Money Power Love
In “Money Power Love” the master of metaphor Joss Sheldon paints a complex and exciting picture of the human condition.
His story features three boys - born on the same day, on 3 adjacent beds, a few seconds apart. A deep connection exists between the three characters but as the author puts it - united by nature, they are divided by nurture. Their lives develop in three different ways as they choose one of the 3 paths – the ones of money, power and love.
The story is set in early 19th century Britain and provides a lot of information on how bankers, having the power to create money “out of nothing”, have shaped the world we live in today. It goes without saying that the author has done extensive research in order to present a vivid and believable picture of the then British empire with its way of life in the growing urban areas, at home and abroad.
Every chapter of the book starts with a quotation, linking the work of Mr. Sheldon with the works of other writers and thinkers before him, thus placing the novel in the context of a wide span of human thought – from Greek philosophers to contemporary authors.
Though “Money Power Love” gives a philosophical perspective on human existence, it is also a very human story: a tale about ordinary people, who, when placed under certain circumstances react in different ways. Reading through the novel we see how the actions of the characters influence not only their way of life and future but also the reactions of the people around them.
And, of course, “Money Power Love” is also a love story, telling about the feelings of the three men for the same woman.
It was real pleasure to read “Money Power Love”! I am happy to have discovered for myself an author whose work I would not want to miss in the future. I do recommend the book to other readers – it was an engaging and enjoyable journey!
In “Money Power Love” the master of metaphor Joss Sheldon paints a complex and exciting picture of the human condition.
His story features three boys - born on the same day, on 3 adjacent beds, a few seconds apart. A deep connection exists between the three characters but as the author puts it - united by nature, they are divided by nurture. Their lives develop in three different ways as they choose one of the 3 paths – the ones of money, power and love.
The story is set in early 19th century Britain and provides a lot of information on how bankers, having the power to create money “out of nothing”, have shaped the world we live in today. It goes without saying that the author has done extensive research in order to present a vivid and believable picture of the then British empire with its way of life in the growing urban areas, at home and abroad.
Every chapter of the book starts with a quotation, linking the work of Mr. Sheldon with the works of other writers and thinkers before him, thus placing the novel in the context of a wide span of human thought – from Greek philosophers to contemporary authors.
Though “Money Power Love” gives a philosophical perspective on human existence, it is also a very human story: a tale about ordinary people, who, when placed under certain circumstances react in different ways. Reading through the novel we see how the actions of the characters influence not only their way of life and future but also the reactions of the people around them.
And, of course, “Money Power Love” is also a love story, telling about the feelings of the three men for the same woman.
It was real pleasure to read “Money Power Love”! I am happy to have discovered for myself an author whose work I would not want to miss in the future. I do recommend the book to other readers – it was an engaging and enjoyable journey!
October 24, 2017
Joss Sheldon has written a fabulously fanciful farcical fictional fable firmly founded upon fact. His story, set in the late 18th and early 19th century England, takes you on a wild ride through every social strata and situation imaginable. At times, the author's always active alliteration approaches abusive absurdity but just when you've had enough he turns it around and makes you shake your head, sigh and smile! The point of the story was sometimes elusive, yet the author's voice is so unique he keeps you intrigued and caring about these three young men born three seconds apart on three adjacent beds. Throughout their long lives, the three men are inexplicably connected...somewhat like money and power and love...and always aware of each other even though separated and united again and again. Hugo, Mayer and Archibald are believable characters in unbelievable circumstances. This reader was kept speculating who was the hero and who the scoundrel, cheering and condemning each in turn.
This story, although set in the past proves that human nature has not changed a whit: ...he was going to have to create demand for things people did not want or need. It was not good enough for a community to share a knife; everyone had to want their own knife, even if it spent most of its time, unused, in a drawer: ‘Ah yes, we’ll have to sell them drawers! We’ll spread fear of knife crime. Then we’ll tell them they need knives to protect themselves, leather pouches to protect their knives, and belts on which to clip those pouches.
I highly recommend this raucously rambunctious ride on a tall tale of truth.
This story, although set in the past proves that human nature has not changed a whit: ...he was going to have to create demand for things people did not want or need. It was not good enough for a community to share a knife; everyone had to want their own knife, even if it spent most of its time, unused, in a drawer: ‘Ah yes, we’ll have to sell them drawers! We’ll spread fear of knife crime. Then we’ll tell them they need knives to protect themselves, leather pouches to protect their knives, and belts on which to clip those pouches.
I highly recommend this raucously rambunctious ride on a tall tale of truth.
October 26, 2017
This book was very frustrating to me.
I really wanted to like it. It was clear that a lot of thought and effort had gone into this book, and that it was written to be enjoyed. Yet, I found that I couldn't enjoy it as I had hoped I would.
The writing was too artificial. Extremely many cliches are used, both in the literary style and the story itself. While there were some attempts at being unique, the attempts seemed forced. Parts of the story did not fit in at all; the use of words such as "frenemy" and "electronic currency" really affected how well the reader could get into the story - the story taking place centuries ago.
That being said, incorporating economic history in a book such as this one was an interesting move. While the writing was not very good per se, it was different from many other styles I have read. While there definitely is room for improvement, I dare say that the writer does have potential.
Summarizing my feelings about this book is best done by saying that I did not find it great, but I did not find it terrible either. After debating the amount of stars to give this book, being torn between two and three stars out of five, I decided to go with two stars because it says exactly what I mean to convey: It was ok.
I really wanted to like it. It was clear that a lot of thought and effort had gone into this book, and that it was written to be enjoyed. Yet, I found that I couldn't enjoy it as I had hoped I would.
The writing was too artificial. Extremely many cliches are used, both in the literary style and the story itself. While there were some attempts at being unique, the attempts seemed forced. Parts of the story did not fit in at all; the use of words such as "frenemy" and "electronic currency" really affected how well the reader could get into the story - the story taking place centuries ago.
That being said, incorporating economic history in a book such as this one was an interesting move. While the writing was not very good per se, it was different from many other styles I have read. While there definitely is room for improvement, I dare say that the writer does have potential.
Summarizing my feelings about this book is best done by saying that I did not find it great, but I did not find it terrible either. After debating the amount of stars to give this book, being torn between two and three stars out of five, I decided to go with two stars because it says exactly what I mean to convey: It was ok.
April 18, 2018
While not what I would typically read, I truly enjoyed this book, and devoured it in a day.
The premise is fantastic and the travel through the characters lives is fast paced and well structured. A delight to read.
The premise is fantastic and the travel through the characters lives is fast paced and well structured. A delight to read.
October 16, 2017
I got this book on behalf of Book Tasters on Twitter. This book tells the story of three guys, Mayer, Archibald, and Hugo, and their lives. They all three fall in love with Lola and all three try to woo her. Then based on what the outcome of this, they end up getting their destinies written. One follows money, another follows power, and another follows love. The main thing though, is that in reality, they all follow love as in they all are constantly thinking about Lola and what she would like as they live. One ended up getting her, however, he did so through manipulation. I liked a quote that Lola says after she found out that he landed her through manipulation. She said, "All love is a violation; a violation of rationality, a violation of perspective, and a violation of good manners." Then because of this, she forgave Hugo.
This book is a VERY good book and I learned quite a bit as it teaches you how the banks were created and how money was created as well. The chapters start with very awesome quotes about money, power, or about love. I really enjoyed the quotes and how the author writes. He's a very good author and I really had fun reading this book. It had everything that I love when I read.
I love to learn new things as I read, I love little quotes about the topic, and the story is amazing! I got to know the characters, their flaws, and how they justify what they're doing. I have to put another quote that I found in the book, "There are very few people who look in the mirror and say, 'That person I see is a savage monster.' Instead, they make up some construction that justifies what they do." (Noam Chomsky).
This is true, I believe that we all have our reasons to justify what we're doing. No one goes around thinking that they are a monster. I also liked how the book ended in which what the guy did, he also tried to justify himself.
I really liked this story and how it unfolds. I've read good books, but I haven't picked one up in a while in which I really got into the book. It got harder and harder to put this one down. This is a great book if you like to read stories about people as they grow up and mature.
This book is a VERY good book and I learned quite a bit as it teaches you how the banks were created and how money was created as well. The chapters start with very awesome quotes about money, power, or about love. I really enjoyed the quotes and how the author writes. He's a very good author and I really had fun reading this book. It had everything that I love when I read.
I love to learn new things as I read, I love little quotes about the topic, and the story is amazing! I got to know the characters, their flaws, and how they justify what they're doing. I have to put another quote that I found in the book, "There are very few people who look in the mirror and say, 'That person I see is a savage monster.' Instead, they make up some construction that justifies what they do." (Noam Chomsky).
This is true, I believe that we all have our reasons to justify what we're doing. No one goes around thinking that they are a monster. I also liked how the book ended in which what the guy did, he also tried to justify himself.
I really liked this story and how it unfolds. I've read good books, but I haven't picked one up in a while in which I really got into the book. It got harder and harder to put this one down. This is a great book if you like to read stories about people as they grow up and mature.
October 18, 2017
I love this book! Joss Sheldon’s Money Power Love is—to use one of his own words—amazetastic! A parable, this is a tale of three men, born in three adjacent beds a few minutes apart who pursue the same woman throughout their lives. One becomes a banker, one an activist, and one a soldier, but the bonding feature is that they are all in love with Lola, one of the funniest characters I’ve encountered in modern literature. Sheldon sets his novel in the late eighteenth century, mostly in England, but this isn’t some stuffy historical novel. He fills the book with anachronistic language, using words that are quite decidedly modern, many of which are his own, like the aforementioned “amazetastic” and others like “vomitrocious” and “swapportunity” and a host of other delicious contrivances. And often the historical context is skewed. For example, at one point, he has a character say that money will one day be put on plastic cards. I’m pretty sure that eighteenth century Englishmen had no idea what plastic was! But that is what is so appealing about this book. It constantly makes its readers wonder what will happen next and whether said happening will fit the historical context or not. And it made me do something I don’t often do when reading silently: I laughed, raucously and loudly. And at one point, my laughter was so prolonged that I choked. Money Power Love is one incredible piece of writing, and Joss Sheldon is one masterful, quirky storyteller.
September 20, 2017
If you are a fan of Joss Sheldon's works like I am, then you're definitely waiting for this book to be released!
After reading too many economic research papers, Money. Power. Love came as a fresh air and a really good read. As a big fan of historical novels, I couldn't not enjoy the setting of 19th century, with Sheldon telling a story of politics and finance in his writing style, that just makes you get more curious about it and then find out more asap.
However, if you think that this is your another politics book, you'll be gravely mistaken. It's a love story, and a very interesting love story at that. At one point it reminded me of one Remarque's Three Friends, but the setting and characters are absolutely different here.
Meet our characters - Mayer, Hugo and Archibald. Three men, who were born seconds apart, but who chase different dreams. You will find yourself in all of them, and I believe it was what Sheldon tried to tell with this book, that there is a Mayer, Hugo and Archibald living in all of us. But who will achieve his dreams? Whose path will we choose?
After reading too many economic research papers, Money. Power. Love came as a fresh air and a really good read. As a big fan of historical novels, I couldn't not enjoy the setting of 19th century, with Sheldon telling a story of politics and finance in his writing style, that just makes you get more curious about it and then find out more asap.
However, if you think that this is your another politics book, you'll be gravely mistaken. It's a love story, and a very interesting love story at that. At one point it reminded me of one Remarque's Three Friends, but the setting and characters are absolutely different here.
Meet our characters - Mayer, Hugo and Archibald. Three men, who were born seconds apart, but who chase different dreams. You will find yourself in all of them, and I believe it was what Sheldon tried to tell with this book, that there is a Mayer, Hugo and Archibald living in all of us. But who will achieve his dreams? Whose path will we choose?
September 25, 2017
A historical fiction novel with a contemporary and timeless literary reflection, Money Power Love is on par with the author’s previous work, The Little Voice. The prose is poetic and thought provoking, weaving a social debate through the narrative in a readable and engaging way. We follow three different main character who take three very different paths in life. I like how each character contrasts the next, offering wider explorations of the novels themes. I thought it would be a little cliché that all three main characters Mayer, Hugo and Archibald all fell in love with the same woman, but it was well written and evoked a reflective thought process about the attractions and longevity of money power and love. Overall it was a really interesting read and I enjoyed it just as much as, if not more, than The Little Voice.
March 14, 2018
My favorite book is Candide by Voltaire. The moment I started reading Money Power Love I was shocked at how much it reminded me of Candide. Quirrky, yet Classic. The story is intriguing from the start. Three families wiped out by a fire, leaving three orphans, sounds less than appealing, but the manner in which the plot is delivered is anything but sad. You are forced to turn just one more page, and one more page, and just three more chapters...
First book I've read from Joss Sheldon but now I am hungry for more!
First book I've read from Joss Sheldon but now I am hungry for more!
January 5, 2018
This is a truly remarkable book. I really enjoyed it. It is a Dickensian story about three men , from their birth to their old age. While one reads about them , one learns about London at the end of 16 th century and beginning of 17th Century, the birth of capitalism, banking and the implementation of imperialism. It's also about love and obsession. And all this with a style which makes you smile. I highly recommend it.
December 4, 2017
"Money Power Love" is one of those books that comes once in a while when you do not know what to expect, but it ends up surprising you so pleasantly! This historical fiction novel is a lovely juxtaposition of three mutually interwoven stories that make you think and feel at the same time. A story of love, friendship, struggle, pain and life in general, "Money Power Love" is a book that will have you hooked up from the first to the last page. The writing style is so effortless, yet so touching and effective. The story is so well constructed that you end up not only understanding, but also somehow correlating with all of the three main characters.
On a deeper level, "Money Power Love", in my opinion, is a novel about the history of economics and how we ended up in this highly twisted capitalistic society. The book is not some dull economics text book, but a wonderful merging of creativity and facts via the creation of the three main characters who in a way are metaphors for Money, Power and Love. Thus, this literary portrayal is a critique of our society, but at the same time a source of entrainment. It makes you sad a bit when you read it and realize that hard work does not always equal success or money or ending up where you hoped you would end, but rather that sometimes it matters more in which social circles you move and which people you get to know. To me, it also somehow had a bit of a "The Great Gatsby" note, not surprisingly - still applicable to our time.
I would recommend this book to anyone who was or is interested in thought-provoking historical fiction, but also to readers who like to picture sceneries in their minds as they read. The author does an exquisite job when it comes to describing the details of the people, the surroundings and all locations through the book. In conclusion: with its great story, writing style and ending message, "Money Power Love" is definitely a book worth your time.
On a deeper level, "Money Power Love", in my opinion, is a novel about the history of economics and how we ended up in this highly twisted capitalistic society. The book is not some dull economics text book, but a wonderful merging of creativity and facts via the creation of the three main characters who in a way are metaphors for Money, Power and Love. Thus, this literary portrayal is a critique of our society, but at the same time a source of entrainment. It makes you sad a bit when you read it and realize that hard work does not always equal success or money or ending up where you hoped you would end, but rather that sometimes it matters more in which social circles you move and which people you get to know. To me, it also somehow had a bit of a "The Great Gatsby" note, not surprisingly - still applicable to our time.
I would recommend this book to anyone who was or is interested in thought-provoking historical fiction, but also to readers who like to picture sceneries in their minds as they read. The author does an exquisite job when it comes to describing the details of the people, the surroundings and all locations through the book. In conclusion: with its great story, writing style and ending message, "Money Power Love" is definitely a book worth your time.
September 22, 2017
This book, set in the late 1700s and early 1800s, is a breathtaking romp through history, packed full with excellent character development and plenty of lessons which are still relevant today.
I found the bits on the history of money particularly interesting – I never knew about the things people used to use instead of money! Britain must have been very fraudulent back then.
The first two sections were mainly set up – throwing three similar orphans into different worlds, where their adopted parents turned them into very different people. When they are reunited, they fall in love with the same girl, but try to court her in very different ways.
Events in this section really moved me, especially those involving Hugo: having to wade through a sewer and dead matter just to survive. The scenes involving Archibald were a little ridiculous.
But isn’t love evil? It is in this book! The two characters who fail to get the girl go mad with longing. In an attempt to impress her, one goes wild for power, and the other goes wild for money. They become tyrants! This is where the book really gets going – giving us a social history of how bankers and soldiers took over the world.
It all goes back to the three being united, separated, and reunited in an enthralling finale. It’s often unpleasant, uncomfortable even, but love reigns supreme – even in death. This is what make this book one of the greatest love story I have read – reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet.
Highly recommended!
I found the bits on the history of money particularly interesting – I never knew about the things people used to use instead of money! Britain must have been very fraudulent back then.
The first two sections were mainly set up – throwing three similar orphans into different worlds, where their adopted parents turned them into very different people. When they are reunited, they fall in love with the same girl, but try to court her in very different ways.
Events in this section really moved me, especially those involving Hugo: having to wade through a sewer and dead matter just to survive. The scenes involving Archibald were a little ridiculous.
But isn’t love evil? It is in this book! The two characters who fail to get the girl go mad with longing. In an attempt to impress her, one goes wild for power, and the other goes wild for money. They become tyrants! This is where the book really gets going – giving us a social history of how bankers and soldiers took over the world.
It all goes back to the three being united, separated, and reunited in an enthralling finale. It’s often unpleasant, uncomfortable even, but love reigns supreme – even in death. This is what make this book one of the greatest love story I have read – reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet.
Highly recommended!
December 25, 2018
Set in 1800’s this book traces the story of three friends born within seconds of each other in neighbouring homes separated by tragedy and reunited again later and how they help each other . The three pursue different goals – money, power and love to be happy and this shapes their character. They are good or evil as their destinies lead them or circumstances force them. It is only when they accept their true self that they become satisfied and happy. This being the central theme, the story is interwoven through real historical events and beautifully blended. The rise of materialism, financial institutions / banking, the manipulations of the simple folk and fall of brotherhood and neighbourly interactions leading to the chaos that the world is in today.
The story also chases the rise of colonialism and destruction of native culture and how to create greed where there is no sign of it. Though there are some stereotypes and clichés which could have been avoided (hence have given 3 stars otherwise this books deserves more) , still it is a great story if read as a satire. Once started reading could not put down and was a good read from the word go. Would recommend it certainly
The story also chases the rise of colonialism and destruction of native culture and how to create greed where there is no sign of it. Though there are some stereotypes and clichés which could have been avoided (hence have given 3 stars otherwise this books deserves more) , still it is a great story if read as a satire. Once started reading could not put down and was a good read from the word go. Would recommend it certainly
February 26, 2019
February 24, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
What a great book! The story tells of how Money Power and Love influence 3 boys as they grow into men beginning in England during the late 1700s Entwined in this story is, or course, a woman. All three men have known and been under the influence of Lola in some way throughout their lives. The story of Lola didn't take control of the whole tale where desire for money, at times, power, at other times, and love coursed throughout the veins of the story.
To quote the author," These three men were once three toddlers, who lived in three adjacent houses, which were each three metres wide. Each house had three windown. All three families shared a single latrine." " Yet nurture has triumphed over nature. Cast adrift by the whimsy of circumstance, our three heroes have been shaped b three very different sets of events and three very different sets of people." "As a result, they have spent their loves chasing three very different goals."
Well written with wonderfully descriptive language, Mr. Sheldon tells the story. At times the three are in different parts of the world, but the writing was woven in such a way that I never found myself confused about who or where I was in reading. It must have been a labor of love as the history certainly took much research.
I wholeheartedly recommend Money Power Love!!
Format: Kindle Edition
What a great book! The story tells of how Money Power and Love influence 3 boys as they grow into men beginning in England during the late 1700s Entwined in this story is, or course, a woman. All three men have known and been under the influence of Lola in some way throughout their lives. The story of Lola didn't take control of the whole tale where desire for money, at times, power, at other times, and love coursed throughout the veins of the story.
To quote the author," These three men were once three toddlers, who lived in three adjacent houses, which were each three metres wide. Each house had three windown. All three families shared a single latrine." " Yet nurture has triumphed over nature. Cast adrift by the whimsy of circumstance, our three heroes have been shaped b three very different sets of events and three very different sets of people." "As a result, they have spent their loves chasing three very different goals."
Well written with wonderfully descriptive language, Mr. Sheldon tells the story. At times the three are in different parts of the world, but the writing was woven in such a way that I never found myself confused about who or where I was in reading. It must have been a labor of love as the history certainly took much research.
I wholeheartedly recommend Money Power Love!!
September 19, 2017
Money. Power. Love by Joss Sheldon is a tale of three men; born seconds apart, but divided by tragedy, Mayer, Hugo, and Archibald share thoughts and desires, and fall in love with the same woman, at the same time, but, though united by nature, they are divided by their different upbringings.
Written in Sheldon’s somewhat disjointed style, this is a historical tale; the story of how bankers controlled the world’s economy in the 19th century, forcing the government and military to do their bidding in the quest for even greater profits; and a love story; of how three men, alike, but at the same time, vastly different, deal with their desire for the same woman.
Flowing back and forth in their disparate lives, the reader is taken on a ‘fantabulous’ journey into the past through the eyes of characters right out of a Dickens’ tale. A unique take on world history that will delight.
I received a free copy of this book, and I give it four stars. If you like your fiction light, but at the same time, profound, get a copy as soon as it’s released.
Written in Sheldon’s somewhat disjointed style, this is a historical tale; the story of how bankers controlled the world’s economy in the 19th century, forcing the government and military to do their bidding in the quest for even greater profits; and a love story; of how three men, alike, but at the same time, vastly different, deal with their desire for the same woman.
Flowing back and forth in their disparate lives, the reader is taken on a ‘fantabulous’ journey into the past through the eyes of characters right out of a Dickens’ tale. A unique take on world history that will delight.
I received a free copy of this book, and I give it four stars. If you like your fiction light, but at the same time, profound, get a copy as soon as it’s released.
November 13, 2017
Mr. Sheldon, you've done it again....made me think! This story, so full of human foibles, risking throughout the possibility of falling off the ledge, while keeping the reader engaged with thoughtful prose and wonderful deep expressions like: "Maybe one day I can have a reunion with myself." Sebastian Bach Or....There's never been anything as deadly as simple men with an abundance of good intentions.
This book helps one understand the world of banking, the world of "the Con", the world of "honest deceit" better than reading Economics 101, or Zero Hedge. It's the truth, disguised as fiction. It's simple history waiting for a population to wake up. The reader, if honest, finds a portion of themselves embedded in each character. Few authors achieve this much in one book. Kudos to you,
Joss Sheldon.
This book helps one understand the world of banking, the world of "the Con", the world of "honest deceit" better than reading Economics 101, or Zero Hedge. It's the truth, disguised as fiction. It's simple history waiting for a population to wake up. The reader, if honest, finds a portion of themselves embedded in each character. Few authors achieve this much in one book. Kudos to you,
Joss Sheldon.
September 28, 2017
Money Power Love by Joss Sheldon is a well-planned book that subtly teaches the banking and economic systems through the lives of three childhood friends. They grow up together and move toward adulthood as each takes a separate life path. The one thing that binds them through the years is their mutual love for a young woman named Lola.
Yet, life moves on and one attains a reasonable amount of power; another is lucky in love but the third finds great wealth.
Sheldon is a great storyteller and the reader will continually turn the page or scroll to the next screen to travel through these three adventurous lives.. But the House of Cards tumbles down with many surprise endings as these three search for true happiness. Read this amazing book to see how each one fares!
Yet, life moves on and one attains a reasonable amount of power; another is lucky in love but the third finds great wealth.
Sheldon is a great storyteller and the reader will continually turn the page or scroll to the next screen to travel through these three adventurous lives.. But the House of Cards tumbles down with many surprise endings as these three search for true happiness. Read this amazing book to see how each one fares!
May 14, 2018
I picked up this book thinking it was mostly going to be about money. A character called Mayer, the quote on the opening pages... I was quite excited to read about the founding fathers of the banking world. For anyone who might make the same mistake: the clue is in the title. While the story does revolve around money and currency, it is truly a tale about balance, society and personality. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable read, and there was plenty about fractional reserve banking and debt too. Now I'm off to find a doughnut.
January 20, 2018
A very quotable book - not only the quotes at the start of each chapter but also within the book itself. Thought-provoking, interesting and a clever way to explain complex ideas and how they came about. Some parts were horrific - especially the parts about power, some parts were very sweet.
It took a while to get into but was worth persevering with. Even if it has left me with many unanswered questions and more frustrations with the system we all live in.
It took a while to get into but was worth persevering with. Even if it has left me with many unanswered questions and more frustrations with the system we all live in.
July 23, 2018
Took me completely by surprise!
I would never normally have picked this up, but luckily I was bought it as a gift. The cover doesn't scream out anything special, and the font of the book looks almost amateur, but the writing itself is absolutely beautiful.
Never before have I been so taken by the style and the techniques used by the author, particularly R's alliteration.
I would recommend this to anyone, and will be looking to read more of Sheldon's work!
I would never normally have picked this up, but luckily I was bought it as a gift. The cover doesn't scream out anything special, and the font of the book looks almost amateur, but the writing itself is absolutely beautiful.
Never before have I been so taken by the style and the techniques used by the author, particularly R's alliteration.
I would recommend this to anyone, and will be looking to read more of Sheldon's work!
February 9, 2019
Excellent Read
Joss Sheldon is becoming my favorite new author. He is a master story teller. Love, power and money is written with a wonderful rhythm. The story and characters are very well developed and they set the backdrop for important information that establishes the creation of our current reality. Read Joss’s books and enjoy a wonderfully crafted story while learning about the world around you.
Joss Sheldon is becoming my favorite new author. He is a master story teller. Love, power and money is written with a wonderful rhythm. The story and characters are very well developed and they set the backdrop for important information that establishes the creation of our current reality. Read Joss’s books and enjoy a wonderfully crafted story while learning about the world around you.
August 17, 2018
I love the voice in this novel. It has a Dickens feel to it, or maybe it's Lemony Snicket. It tells the story of 3 boys, born seconds apart and living next door to each other until tragedy strikes. That's when our 3 boys are separated and go down very different paths. I enjoyed this and would like to read more by Sheldon. He's a wonderful storyteller.
November 4, 2017
I'm in awe of Joss Sheldon's prose! It's quirky and stunning and critical all at the same time. I love the thinking behind this book. I wish there was more authors like this. Amazing story and characters too. Thanks Joss :-)
January 18, 2018
Very interesting book, especially about the invention of money and the history and development of banking. Clever writing, funny and whimsical. Also an eye opener about the British Empire. I will definitely read his other books.
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