written by Kamrynw153 on 20/04/2023
I’m so glad to see on here I’m not the only one to find this book mind numbingly BORING !! I struggle to believe this has been written by Martina Cole ! I usually can’t put her books down but this is the same rubbish on every page and I’m really finding it hard going to pick it up and read it . So disappointed ????
written by on 27/08/2010
after being a fan for many years finding her last few books disappointing thought best one ever was goodnight lady
written by on 16/08/2010
I agree with all the other comments about this book. It does not deserve the title. None of the charactors came alive for me like her other books did. Full of repetitive, continuous narrative with very little dialogue. I would only give this book a 1/2 rating, but the option was not offered....I do not recommend that you buy or borrow this book!
written by Loiny1985 on 22/07/2010
I thought i was the only who was going CRAZY reading this book, so repetive I was actually getting angry at reading it. The only reason I am reading till the end is to find out the BIG secret, but how big is going to be. Also Its taken me nearly a week now, I normally read a book in two days, but this is just so hard, as mentioned like a chore. Very poor
written by melbert on 05/05/2010
Three quarters of the way through this novel and thought as I have been struggling to finish it I would check to see other readers thoughts.
I too am an avid Martina Cole fan, but have found this to be very repetitive and has no real plot or substance to it. Paragraph after paragraph describing the characters in such depth, it really does become a bit of a chore to read. It has certainly worked it sending me off to sleep at night.
Sorry Ms Cole but it really just doesnt 'cut' it on this occasion!!
written by on 25/03/2010
I have loved Martina Coles work from when I first read Two Women. Since I borrowed that book years ago from a friend I have bought all her work and read them many times over, always enjoying them. Her last 3 books, Faces, The Business and Hard Girls have been nowhere near as good and I wonder if pressure is being put on Ms Cole to churn new books out for her fans. I will stil buy her future work in the hope that the next one will be a 'blinder' but will probbaly wait until it is released in paper back. Hard Girls was the most disappointing of all her work, no substance to the characters and what has happened to Kate, the most disliked of them all!!
written by on 07/10/2009
story went no where , was very boring
written by sal b on 05/08/2009
I am hugely relieved to find that I am not the only one who is massively disappointed with The Business by Martina Cole. What on earth has happened to her writing? The worst aspect of the writing is the endless repetition; page after page after page, offering the same description, paraphrased in different mind-numbing ways. It even seems as if at times Martina writes a page, then completely forgets what she has written and then repeats it! I felt committed to finishing the book but I am afraid I am crawling towards the end, still waiting for the writing to improve. It shows a lazy attempt by an established writer to churn out a money-spinner, without thought for the loyal reader. I will not be reading any more Cole unfortunately, which is a shame as I have really enjoyed her books in the past. Cynically I cannot help wondering whether she is now just producing a formulaeic tome, but maybe her apathy will backfire. What a boring read!
written by NeonShade on 04/08/2009
Martina Cole has written some of the best fiction I have read, but, unfortunately, "The Business" is an absolute horrible read.
In fairness; the plot could have gone on to be something great, but all she does is ramble on about her characters, what they do, and did, in the past, there is a very small amount of dialogue in the book. Before I made the purchase of this book, I honestly wished somebody had warned me how bad this really is. I'm a hardcore Martina Cole fan, but I felt greatly let down by this book.
It could of been great, pity it was not.
Martina, get whatever made your fiction so great back, and use it!
written by on 20/07/2009
I have always loved Martina Cole books BUT she let herself down badly with this one. The story line wasnt great and it wasnt as gritty as her other books very disapointed and found the book very repetative in parts. Please please try harder Martina your losing your touch x
written by Melanie88 on 11/06/2009
I am a huge fan of Martina cole & have read all her books except Faces, but the Business is shockingly BAD, I felt the need to bang my head against a brick wall following mind numbing repetative character descriptions. The worst of it was the story line had huge potential to be good, but it felt like Martina thought up an outline for it & that is all she used the rest of the book was padded out with REPETATIVE CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS. She introduced big characters who then just dissapeared with no mention again. The very worst of it is it ended up making no sense - once i finished the book (which was an achievement in itself) i had to read & re-read the prologue so many times to see if I were mis-reading something as it made no sense. Cannot believe this was even published. Did none of her publishers take the time to read her book. I think Martina was a Master at what she done - now though I think maybe she should have hung her hat whilst she was at the top.
written by jeorge on 31/01/2009
The Business by Martina Cole was boring, boring boring. No storyline to speak of. Just repetitive. Almost 500 pages about Imeldas' wicked character. A total waste of money spent. Thought Faces was bad, but maybe was just a one off but this is written in the same vein.
written by jozola on 11/01/2009
The business by Martina Cole has no plot, extremely repetative and i struggled to finish it, but did in case anything happened to get your teeth in to, however, nothing unpredictable did. Got The Take last year for Christmas and again was extremely disappointed, so repetative. Used to love Martina Cole's books. Up until the last 2, her books were fantastic. I think Martina Cole should stop writing books if she cant come up with books like she used to. It is quite an insult to her avid book readers and she is spoiling her reputation.
written by wavy123 on 05/01/2009
I'm so glad I realised that I'm not the only person to have wasted hours of my life on The Business by Martina Cole. I once liked Martina Cole and read a couple of her excellent early books, The Jump in particular, and thoroughly enjoyed them. What on earth has happened to her;
This is without a doubt the most boring, repetitive and actionless 500 pages I've ever have the misfortune of reading.
written by niff on 31/12/2008
Cole's first books were great but The Business has no real plot. Nothing to get your teeth into :-(. If you like repetition then you are going to love this book. The only point in its favour is that it is very easy to put down.
written by on 13/11/2008
The Business was boring, no storyline at all, what is Martina Cole doing? at one time she was very good and i could not wait till her new book, but the last two books have been a let down.
written by on 11/11/2008
Hardly any good points. Gone are the strong likeable women, I thought it was a terrible read, I think she is no longer doing it for the love of writing but for the money. I would not waste my money on it.
written by on 06/11/2008
The Business seems to have lost the grip factor all Martina Cole's previous books, felt Faces was the same. Repetative, constant going over character characteristics not much of a storyline, always involves same format. Lost her touch.
written by Shenze on 28/10/2008
Complete and utter boring rubbish, how she is allowed to get away with producing a book like this is beyond me. Just read the first paragraph, which doesn't make sense at all and thats it right through the book.
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As rated by our community of reviewers
Jordanne's Response to jozola's Review
Written on: 13/05/2009
I agree with this review because...I have read all of Martina Coles book. The Business is the worst she has ever written! Shockingly bad.
<br/>I have been a huge fan of Martinas for years now, but her last couple of book have been dissapointing. The repetitiveness was so bad I almost threw the book across the room. Just how many times did we need to be told that Imelda was a bad person? That 'Kenny Boy ' was a feared and well respected face at the tender age of 14 was laughable. Also, just as a character got interesting ( Michael Hanlon, Jimmy Bailey) they disappeared! Its like she just didnt know what to do with this book.
<br/>This book had no substance. What has happened to her? I hope she sorts herself out and gives us the quality reads again like Dangerous Lady, Mauras game, two women, Lady killer and broken. Or does she think that because of her success she no longer has to try?