![Molly's Game [Movie Tie-in]: The True Story of the 26-Year-Old Woman Behind the Most Exclusive, High-Stakes Underground Poker Game in the World](https://nationalbookswap.com/pbs/l/82/8582/9780062838582.jpg "View a larger cover image of \"Molly's Game [Movie Tie-in]: The True Story of the 26-Year-Old Woman Behind the Most Exclusive, High-Stakes Underground Poker Game in the World\" by Molly Bloom")
Jeanne G. (IlliniAlum83) -
Loved this book I read for my ladies' monthly bookclub. Not a selection we would normally have picked, but one member had seen the movie and really liked it so she picked it to host this month.
Molly seems to have every going for her......a skiing star from Colorado whose family excels in all they do, she doesn't know what to do for a career. She drops out of the US ski team and heads to LA where she lands a waitressing gig she is not cut out for. She quickly hops to another waitress job in a club where she is 'discovered' and made the manager's assistant. But, a new task is assigned to her.......and
She seems to quickly soar to the top as a hostess for wealthy poker players. Her attention to detail makes her game 'the one' to play in. She is wily and learns to carefully select the players to continue infusing the games with new money.
While Molly would appear to be an abhorrent person with her almost criminal behavior as she sets up 'whales' (what we would call a patsy) so her buddies and lovers can keep winning, I never felt negatively towards her, though I did regret her separation from her family as her shame keeps her from sharing details of her life-- is it glamorous or sordid?
I highly recommend this entertaining book though there is nothing redeeming in the end.Though I expected to learn some poker strategy, there is nothing in the book that teaches you the different games or how to play a hand. I will leave out the spoilers of how her life turns out.
Molly seems to have every going for her......a skiing star from Colorado whose family excels in all they do, she doesn't know what to do for a career. She drops out of the US ski team and heads to LA where she lands a waitressing gig she is not cut out for. She quickly hops to another waitress job in a club where she is 'discovered' and made the manager's assistant. But, a new task is assigned to her.......and
She seems to quickly soar to the top as a hostess for wealthy poker players. Her attention to detail makes her game 'the one' to play in. She is wily and learns to carefully select the players to continue infusing the games with new money.
While Molly would appear to be an abhorrent person with her almost criminal behavior as she sets up 'whales' (what we would call a patsy) so her buddies and lovers can keep winning, I never felt negatively towards her, though I did regret her separation from her family as her shame keeps her from sharing details of her life-- is it glamorous or sordid?
I highly recommend this entertaining book though there is nothing redeeming in the end.Though I expected to learn some poker strategy, there is nothing in the book that teaches you the different games or how to play a hand. I will leave out the spoilers of how her life turns out.
Cheryl (boomerbooklover) -
Fascinating tale of a girl from an over-achieving family who takes a different path. Moving to California, she starts as a waitress, and evolves into a personal assistant/office manager for her well-connected boss. With exposure to wealthy businessmen and celebrities, she manages local high-stakes poker games and eventually starts her own series of games for the rich and famous in California and New York. I'm not sure if I believe the author was as naïve as she implies, and wonder why she didn't heed early indicators of how this highly lucrative all consuming 'career' could come to a crashing end. Didn't see the movie but will definitely watch for it on TV.
