The Snow Job: The Great Game by Jenni Ferchenko

The Snow Job:
The Great Game
by Jenni Ferchenko

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
BookExcerpt
Website

Just released: February 1, 2018
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Russia
Paperback: 340
Rating: 3

First sentence(s):
There is nothing which you might not hear.

When young associate Katya Kuznetsova loses her job at Lehman Brothers in London, she takes up a new investment banking role in Moscow, Russia. Determined to succeed, Katya finds herself trapped by her lifestyle.

At the same time she tries to prove her self-worth but subconsciously engages in self-punishment, including ever more destructive sex, alcohol and drug abuse.

Eventually, things get out of control, leading to the dreadful consequences Katya is trying to fix, humiltating herself and losing everything she owns; but she finds something, which was always there, she just couldn't see it, something priceless...

PeekAbook:



My two-bits:

I found this to be a convoluted story with shady dealings, financial doings and steamy sex scenes.

The characters were varied, they felt flat which made them unlikable. But there is some character growth which pulled me along.

~*~
* review copy courtesy of book tour

Excerpt: The Snow Job: The Great Game by Jenni Ferchenko

The Snow Job:
The Great Game
by Jenni Ferchenko
-Contemporary, Russia
Release date: February 1, 2018
Amazon | Website
When young associate Katya Kuznetsova loses her job at Lehman Brothers in London, she takes up a new investment banking role in Moscow, Russia. Determined to succeed, Katya finds herself trapped by her lifestyle.

At the same time she tries to prove her self-worth but subconsciously engages in self-punishment, including ever more destructive sex, alcohol and drug abuse.

Eventually, things get out of control, leading to the dreadful consequences Katya is trying to fix, humiltating herself and losing everything she owns; but she finds something, which was always there, she just couldn't see it, something priceless...

Excerpt:
First chapter where Katya is returning to her desk at Lehman Brothers in London after having sex with her boss.

The familiar smell of money is everywhere.

I put on my tried-and-tested professional smile and pass by the senior management’s glass offices, where the smell is the most intense, but all the offices are empty this morning. I let my smile take on a naughty shade as the thoughts of Alex restricting my breathing … covering my mouth and nose, so I could feel his fingers with my gums … inflame a shiver. Our little secret … a soundless elation we never see here on the production line.

Tugging my skirt down, I rapidly proceed to my desk, right in the middle of the beehive.

‘Katya, are you working a half day?’ an intimidating senior German colleague remarks. She theatrically taps on her Cartier, showing me it is 7.15 a.m. ‘Half day, half pay.’ She pronounces every word in sharp staccato, in the manner of a concentration camp guard, with her gelled brown hair scraped into an immaculate bun and angry makeup-free face contributing to the image.

‘Mm, I was here earlier. I just went out to grab a coffee,’ I lie, defending myself against the frigid grouch, who’ll never even get close to the fifth floor showers. She truly deserves her nickname – Virgin Mary.

‘You seem to like a lot of milk with it,’ smirks the slutty Polish blonde next to her. ‘Don’t forget to wipe the mustache off,’ she titters, drinking her cappuccino.

‘You have a bit of … ’ I point at the cappuccino foam on her upper lip.

Without saying a word, she rapidly wipes it off and looks very busy reading the morning paper.


About the author:

After growing up under Communist rule in the Ukraine Jenni Ferchenko established a career in the finance sector after achieving an internship with Lehman’s Brothers, London back in 2006. Her years within the sector working between London and Moscow has provided the inspiration behind her debut novel. Today Jenni Ferchenko lives in an undisclosed location enjoying a quieter life as a singer-songwriter and author. She has also written original songs to accompany the release of her debut novel.

~*~
* courtesy of book tour

Lovely Books and Things - 1.27.18

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update
Linking up with:
Stacking the Shelves (details)
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

~*~
Happy things:

1. Announcement of the Oscar 2018 film nominations. I am caught up and have seen the nine Best Picture picks. I plan to see at least 20 more on the nomination list.

2. iisuperwomanii instagram pics. This week featured Sailor Moon and her crew all portrayed by Lilly. Cute.

3. Greg Sestero and Tommy Wiseau (from film: The Room)

If a lot of people loved each other, the world would be a better place to live.
-what Tommy Wiseau would have said at the Golden Globe Awards 2018 per Entertainment Weekly


~*~
For Review:

Happyland:
A Fairy Tale in Two Parts
by Tes Mekonnen
illustrated by Anthony Resto
-Fantasy
courtesy of author -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

The Snow Job:
The Great Game
by Jenni Ferchenko
-Contemporary, Russia
courtesy of Authoright -Thanks!
Amazon | Website

UNBOXING:

From Owlcrate package (details & signup):
OwlCrate is a subscription service that sends you magical monthly boxes tailored to a chosen theme. Each OwlCrate will contain one new Young Adult novel, as well as 3-5 other bookish treats to help you get your nerd on. @owlcrate

JANUARY Box includes:
theme: Fearsome Fairy Tales

-The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (OwlCrate edition)
-Letter and sticker from author
-Booklet with author Q&A
-Spireside Candles with OwlCrate designed ceramic burner
-Rapunzel themed bracelet from Authored Adornments
-Sleeping Beauty themed pillowcase from Stella's Bookish Art
-Little Red Riding Hood themed art print by Anne Lambelet

The Cruel Prince
(The Folk of the Air #1)
by Holly Black
-Fantasy, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him--and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.


AND watched: in theatre

Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Screenplay: James Ivory
Based on book by: André Aciman
Starring: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg
-Drama, Romance, LTBTQ | imdb | my rating: 5
Oscar 2018 nominee
In Northern Italy in 1983, seventeen year-old Elio begins a relationship with visiting Oliver, his father's research assistant, with whom he bonds over his emerging sexuality, their Jewish heritage, and the beguiling Italian landscape.

ABSOLUTELY LOVED this beautiful love story. The location, soundtrack and characters were perfect.

The Room (2003)
Director/Writer: Tommy Wiseau
Stars: Tommy Wiseau, Greg Sestero, Juliette Danielle |
-Drama | imdb | my rating: 3
Johnny is a successful banker who lives happily in a San Francisco townhouse with his fiancée, Lisa. One day, inexplicably, she gets bored with him and decides to seduce his best friend, Mark. From there, nothing will be the same again.

I went into this cold and wanted to watch it before watching The Disaster Artist. Within the first 30 minutes I was hesitant to continue. But kept on going to satisfy my curiosity. When I got to the end I was meh. But since then and since reading the book and watching the movie, The Disaster Artist, I GOT it. I got the appeal and essence of it to the point of setting a date to re-watch it at one of the late night audience interactive screenings.

The Disaster Artist (2017)
Director: James Franco
Screenplay: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Based on book by: Greg Sestero, Tom Bissell
Stars: James Franco, Dave Franco, Ari Graynor
-Biography, Comedy, Drama | imdb | my rating: 4
Oscar 2018 nominee
When Greg Sestero, an aspiring film actor, meets the weird and mysterious Tommy Wiseau in an acting class, they form a unique friendship and travel to Hollywood to make their dreams come true.

AFTER hearing James Franco plug this film, I knew I wanted to check it out. It does well in retelling the book version, but changed certain things and condensed things for film version purposes. There are lots of cameo appearances which were a hoot. I especially loved seeing both Greg and Tommy. Make sure to stick around for all of the end credits for special treats.


AND watched: on DVD

Retro Puppet Master (1999)
Director: David DeCoteau
Screenplay: Neal Marshall Stevens
Based on story by: Charles Band
Stars: Greg Sestero, Brigitta Dau, Stephen Blackehart
-Adventure, Fantasy, Horror | imdb | my rating: 3
In the late nineteenth century, an Ancient Egyptian sorcerer discovers the art of transferring the souls of the dead into inanimate objects.

WATCHED this for Greg who has lots of lovely face screen time. This is not a film I would normally watch but I was pleasantly surprised. It got me curious to try the rest of the puppet master series. The killer puppets were intriguing.

The Walking Dead (2016-17)
tv series, season 7
Creator: Frank Darabont
Based on graphic novel by: Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard
Stars: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride
-Drama, Horror, Thriller | imdb | my rating: 5
Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to learn the world is in ruins, and must lead a group of survivors to stay alive.

PLAYING catch up with my favorite zombie survivors.

~*~
* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

:-)

Blog All About It: Winter

THINGS to do this winter...

The Snow Job:
The Great Game
by Jenni Ferchenko
-Contemporary, Russia
Release date: February 1, 2018
Amazon | Website
READ: This review copy came in just in time for my winter reading pile.

I, Tonya (2017)
Director: Craig Gillespie
Writer: Steven Rogers
Stars: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney
-Biography, Comedy, Drama | imdb
Oscar 2018 nominee
WATCH: With the Winter Olympics coming and my love of ice figure skating this one is sure to please.

LISTEN: Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens was nominated for the Oscar's Best Song category. Coincidentally, when I was on his site, I found that he released a song that he wrote for Tonya Harding (here). He said that it is not related to the biopic. But, it certainly was timely. Interesting to note that he said that Tonya was not interested in hearing his song.

CRAFT: I am working on crocheting an infinity scarf to wear next month.


~*~
* part of the Blog All About It Challenge (here)

Happy Release: The Snow Job: The Great Game by Jenni Ferchenko

The Snow Job:
The Great Game
by Jenni Ferchenko
-Contemporary, Russia
Release date: February 1, 2018
Amazon
When young associate Katya Kuznetsova loses her job at Lehman Brothers in London, she takes up a new investment banking role in Moscow, Russia. Determined to succeed, Katya finds herself trapped by her lifestyle.

At the same time she tries to prove her self-worth but subconsciously engages in self-punishment, including ever more destructive sex, alcohol and drug abuse.

Eventually, things get out of control, leading to the dreadful consequences Katya is trying to fix, humiltating herself and losing everything she owns; but she finds something, which was always there, she just couldn't see it, something priceless...