I was, mistakenly as it turns out, under the impression that this book was an actual account with real people, of the part reckless casino type wheeling-and-dealing on the back of idiocy in the mortgage markets, had on inflicting mayhem and meltdown to the global financial markets. I soon discovered it wasn't and fictitious names had been given to all mentioned on the grounds of avoiding embarrassment to those involved.
There have been many good and not so good books covering this shameful debacle in the past few years in which just about every character involved, (and their every dastardly, slipshod and negligent business practice exposed, discussed and analysed almost endlessly), has been named and in many cases shamed. So why the coyness here? Why was this attempt made to give anonymity to a selected bunch of friends and colleagues? I am not aware of any other serious commentator on this subject matter having granted anonymity to those involved. I find that 'some part' fact and 'some part' fiction not conducive to credibility.
And what is the generic name of this hybrid of 'actuality' and 'opus of imagination'? 'FacFic', 'FicFac' or ''Fac'n'Fic", perhaps, but all best said slowly. And, in which book list would it appear under, 'Fiction', 'Non-Fiction' or a new classification 'Non-Fiction-Fiction'?
I am afraid that as soon as I realised that Mr Ishikawa (if that is actually his name) was on an 'anonymity kick' my interest waned very quickly although I did read some of the authors explanation of derivative forms and found them to be as well and even better explained than attempts in some other books and for that alone I arrive at a 2 star rating.
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