Scan barcode
palliem's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a really interesting look at the diamond trade in the United States. I was hoping for more of a personal bent to the stories, and while she certainly included some, the book was more journalistic than I originally expected. Her explanations of the diamond trade were easy to follow and interesting, though, so I can't really complain.
The only thing I was truly disappointed in was the way she treated the issue of conflict diamonds. Maybe it's to be expected from someone whose family makes its living in the diamond trade, but I felt Oltuski put the blame for the exploitation firmly on the shoulders of people within the country of the diamond's origin and exonerated anyone in the diamond industry, including DeBeers. While I understand her point, I couldn't help but think it unfair the way she portrayed the issues around conflict diamonds as the fault of those within the country; as if those foreign companies operating mines in places like Africa are paying $10 an hour and are the bastions of human rights employers. I appreciated her opinion, but ultimately was disappointed in what I percieved as a defensive explanation of these conflict stones.
The only thing I was truly disappointed in was the way she treated the issue of conflict diamonds. Maybe it's to be expected from someone whose family makes its living in the diamond trade, but I felt Oltuski put the blame for the exploitation firmly on the shoulders of people within the country of the diamond's origin and exonerated anyone in the diamond industry, including DeBeers. While I understand her point, I couldn't help but think it unfair the way she portrayed the issues around conflict diamonds as the fault of those within the country; as if those foreign companies operating mines in places like Africa are paying $10 an hour and are the bastions of human rights employers. I appreciated her opinion, but ultimately was disappointed in what I percieved as a defensive explanation of these conflict stones.
dannb's review against another edition
3.0
Includes great information about both the history of diamond mining and the international diamond industry, especially how it impacts the author's family.
The writing is a little "all over the place," and she makes sure we know that her father knows she wasn't destined for working in the industry by telling us a number of times.
The writing is a little "all over the place," and she makes sure we know that her father knows she wasn't destined for working in the industry by telling us a number of times.
allysonjacob's review against another edition
3.0
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! :)
More...