Rating: 
Summary: This book was disappointing to me
Review: I really tried with this one, I gave The Coffee Trader nearly 200 pages, but it just wasn't grabbing me. I can appreciate the other reviewers' comments that work was effective, educational and finely nuanced, but for me the story just didn't work. I feel that Liss's style is far too simplistic to carry an epic, complex story of historical fiction, and for me his characters just lacked depth. In order for historical fiction to work effectively, you must not only place the characters firmly in the period, but you must also spend a lot of time "recreating" the period in an enormous amount of residual detail, in order to make us truly believe that we are really there. I never once got the feeling that I was actually in Amsterdam in 1659. While reading the Coffee Trader I kept thinking of the fabulous Jeannette Winterson novel "The Passion" - a work of astounding literary achievement, which was much more effective at firmly rooting you in a particular time period. On the positive side, I did find the subject matter of the origin of coffee to the west somewhat interesting. And I also thought that the descriptions of the stock market and futures trading were very enlightening, but I certainly wasn't interested enough Miguel and his petty scheming to finish the story. I think this story would probably make a better film - with perhaps Colin Firth playing the role of Miguel. Just a thought! Michael
Rating: 
Summary: Suspense with a bitter taste
Review: I started to read this book with such enthusiasm and I have to admit that the author continued to trigger my interest throughout the book. This book is like a movie that you watch with the expectation that it will turn out to be a great movie at any moment but it never really does. It does capture your attention and though it is difficult to understand it at times, you want to continue reading it till the end. I was disappointed because I was always waiting for that perfect moment when the book will make a turn around, I will have a better grasp of the interaction of the characters and the excitement would go fullspeed. The plot does not unravel until the very end. Unless you like to wait until the very end to make sense of a book, I cannot recommend it!
Rating: 
Summary: A genre all his own
Review: I picked up "A Conspiracy of Paper" because I was intrigued by the cover, and then the subject matter. I thoroughly enjoyed it - one of those rare books that keeps you guessing, educates (without knowing it), and entertains - all simultaneously. "The Coffee Trader" is even better - the characters are richer, more fully nuanced, and the story is just as intriguing, if not more so.
Rating:
Summary: An Important Writer
Review: Liss is exploring writing by finding his own style in a voice that takes one slightly back, but is in itself intellectually stimulating. I believe that his reputation will grow stronger with each book and the sum of his work will be thought of as an important body of work.
Rating:
Summary: Good summer read....
Review: THE COFFEE TRADER is not an intellectually challenging book, although it is somewhat informative and a mildly inviting "summer" read. The setting is Amsterdam in the mid-17th Century. If you love all things Dutch you will probably enjoy the book more than if you do not. On the other hand, if want to know more about the Netherlands during the age of Rembrandt and don't want to engage in the taxing business of reading history, this little book may suit. The main character, a Portuguese Jew name Miguel Lienzo, has escaped the Inquisition in his native country and is living in Amsterdam in the midst of a community of Jewish refugees. Although the author refers to him as a merchant, Miguel is really an early version of the Wall Street trader, whose fortunes are won and lost via buying and selling commodities-commodities he may not even possess. Commodities exchange is a zero sum game-someone only wins if someone else loses. If you eschew this type of business venture, you may not sympathize with the protagonist. At the beginning of the book, Miguel, a reasonably devout Jew, has lost his way financially through a series of missteps associated with a failed sugar deal. In addition, his trading has affected the welfare of several others who now view him as an enemy. Miguel is about to embark on a new enterprise involving coffee that he hopes will remake his fortune. In the meantime, while he waits to recoup his fortune, he lives in the wet basement of a canal house owned by his brother Daniel who is described as a "merchant." In addition to Daniel and Miguel, the house is occupied by Hannah, Daniel's wife (a closet Catholic), and Annetje a Dutch housemaid. Other Jewish and Dutch characters populate the book, and many of them including Miguel's business partner, a mysterious Dutch widow, elicit some interest. The first three hundred pages of the book were well enough written that I finished the book in spite of finding the last 50 pages less than satisfying. There are too many characters, and some of the most important are not well developed. Although the plot shows some promise, I think the author failed to deliver the goods because the plot fizzles and the loose ends are clumsily handled. Everything that happens could have happened, but much of it is not plausible given the foreshadowing. It's almost as if the author became tired of his creation and decided to finish it when it was half-done.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting on some levels; difficult on others
Review: I love historical fiction and this was no exception; however, I found it more difficult to read than Conspiracy of Paper. The convoluted scheme of Miguel is hard to follow for someone who is not a follower of the stock market. I found myself going back to reread sections in order to understand what was really taking place. I loved the cultural background. Having just read a wonderful book, The Last Jew by Noah Gordon, this was a perfect followup about the conversos and the Spanish Inquistion -- Miguel being in Amsterdam because of the Inquistion in Spain. I found that aspect of the book more interesting than futures, calls, and puts.
Rating:
Summary: The Stock Exchange - circa 1659
Review: David Liss historically recreates Amsterdam in 1659 in his intriguing novel The Coffee Trader. The Netherlands in the mid 1600's has become a haven for Inquisition persecuted Jews who have fled their Iberian roots. In Amsterdam under the direction of the Ma'amad, the law giving Jewish ruling council, Jews were permitted to openly practice their religion. The story revolves around Miguel Lienzo, a transplanted Portuguese Jew who is a trader of some note on the Dutch commodities exchange. Lienzo has seen his fortunes take a tumble in the sugar market. He is in debt and in forced to take up residence with his scornful brother Daniel and his pregnant wife Hannah. Lienzo has been recruited by an attractive Dutch widow, Geertruid Damhuis to be a broker in a coffee buying deal in which he will be an equal partner. Coffee at this time in Europe is a very speculative commodity and not as of yet popular as a beverage. The potential for the deal to be extremely profitable strongly exists if Lienzo can bring it all together. The story proceeds to document the hardships Lienzo encounters while endeavoring to make the deal happen. The most difficult stumbling block is one Solomon Parido, a wealthy merchant and parnass or powerful member of the Ma'amad. Parido believes he has been slighted by Lienzo in an impending arranged marriage between Parido's daughter and Miguel. Parido is using all his power to try to destroy the coffee deal and seek revenge on Lienzo. Davis Liss is a gifted wordsmith as he paints a wonderfully descriptive picture of Amsterdam in the 1650's. His story expertly navigates it's way through the highs and lows encountered by Lienzo in his dealings to consumate the coffee deal.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Surprise
Review: I would never have picked up this book except that I saw a local coffee shop was starting a book club and this was the first book. What a fantastic surprise! I loved the book and found it hard to put down. The main character is fascinating as he plots and schemes in his head how to get out of debt, maintain outwardly respectible appearances, stay true to friends and his religion and much more. I gave this book to my sister in law and she loved it as well. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Stopped reading after 30 pages
Review: I stopped reading this book after 30 pages. The story seemed very compelling when I bought the book, but it was a big disappointment. Contains endless details about the inquisition of the Jewish community and fails to grab my interest. A major bummer.........
Rating:
Summary: Commodity Trading in the 17th Century
Review: A brilliant second effort by David Liss, author of A Conspiracy of Paper. This takes place in 17th century Holland where coffee is a new drink. The main character is a jewish commodity trader and the story is about his efforts to corner the "new" coffee market in Europe. Liss has an amazing knowledge of economic history and is an excellent writer. I would read this book BEFORE Conspiracy of Paper because the time frame is earlier.
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