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    A Harvest of Thorns
    A Harvest of Thorns
    A Harvest of Thorns
    Audiobook14 hours

    A Harvest of Thorns

    Written by Corban Addison

    Narrated by Firdous Bamji

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Corbin Addison explores the human stories behind global labor sourcing in the international fashion industry in this thrilling, shocking and compelling tale. A beloved American corporation with an explosive secret. A disgraced former journalist looking for redemption. A corporate executive with nothing left to lose. In Dhaka, Bangladesh, a garment factory burns to the ground, claiming the lives of hundreds of workers, mostly young women. Amid the rubble, a bystander captures a heart-stopping image-a teenage girl lying in the dirt, her body broken by a multi-story fall, and over her mouth a mask of fabric bearing the label of one of America's largest retailers, Presto Omnishops Corporation. When the photo goes viral, it fans the flames of a decades old controversy about sweatshops, labor rights, and the ethics of globalization. A year later, in Washington, D.C., Joshua Griswold, a disgraced former journalist for the Washington Post, receives an anonymous summons from a corporate whistleblower promising information about Presto. There, to Griswold's astonishment, he meets Cameron Alexander, Presto's long-time general counsel. Alexander, who has secrets of his own, offers Griswold confidential information about Presto's apparel supply chain. For Griswold, the challenge of exposing Presto's willful negligence is irresistible, as is the chance, however slight, at redemption. Deploying his old journalistic skills, he builds a historic case against Presto, setting the stage for a war in the courtroom and in the media that Griswold is determined to win-both to salvage his reputation and to provoke a revolution of conscience in Presto's boardroom that could change the course of the fashion industry across the globe.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJan 24, 2017
    ISBN9781501938412
    Author

    Corban Addison

    Corban Addison is the international bestselling author of A Walk Across the Sun, The Garden of Burning Sand, and The Tears of Dark Water,which won the 2016 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Award. His novels have been published in over 25 countries. An attorney, activist, and world traveler, he is a supporter of humanitarian and social justice causes around the world. He lives with his wife and children in Virginia. Learn more at his website corbanaddison.com Facebook: CorbanAddison Twitter: @CorbanAddison    

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    Reviews for A Harvest of Thorns

    4.5/5

    24 ratings5 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Novel sheds a light on where our clothes come from. Inspired by the fire in Bangladesh in 1997, In Dhaka, Bangladesh, a garment factory burns to the ground, claiming the lives of hundreds of workers, mostly young women. Amid the rubble, a bystander captures a heart-stopping photograph—a teenage girl lying in the dirt, her body broken by a multi-story fall, and over her mouth a mask of fabric bearing the label of one of America’s largest retailers, Presto Omnishops Corporation.Eight thousand miles away, at Presto’s headquarters in Virginia, Cameron Alexander, the company’s long-time general counsel, watches the media coverage of the fire in horror, wondering if the damage can be contained. When the photo goes viral, fanning the flames of a decades old controversy about sweatshops, labor rights, and the ethics of globalization, he launches an investigation into the disaster that will reach farther than he could ever imagine - and threaten everything he has left in the world.A year later, in Washington, D.C., Joshua Griswold, a disgraced former journalist from the Washington Post, receives an anonymous summons from a corporate whistleblower who offers him confidential information about Presto and the fire. For Griswold, the challenge of exposing Presto’s culpability is irresistible, as is the chance, however slight, at redemption. Deploying his old journalistic skills, he builds a historic case against Presto, setting the stage for a war in the courtroom and in the media that Griswold is determined to win—both to salvage his reputation and to provoke a revolution of conscience in Presto’s boardroom that could transform the fashion industry across the globe. (less)
    • 5/5
      A LOOK AT THE WORKING CONDITIONS IN SOME OF THE COUNTRIES THAT MANUFACTURE CLOTHING FOR THE US. SOME VERY DEPLORABLE SITUATIONS EXIST AND THIS BOOK SHEDS LIGHT ON SOME OF THE PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WHO ARE CAUGHT IN THE NEED TO MAKE A LIVING FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. MANY PEOPLE ARE HURT AND KILLED DUE TO WORKING CONDITIONS.
    • 5/5
      With a powerful beginning I knew this book was going to be an emotionally charged story. It is gritty and messy with details that can shock people at times. We know things go on in factories all over the world that are unfair , yet we turn the other way and refuse to address it. That is until the world is stunned by a picture that captures the utter inhumane treatment of workers in a factory far from the United Stated. I loved this book because the author is not afraid to tackle a subject that is deplorable and sickening to see. Is it worth buying clothes from a company at the cost of a human life? With every big company comes power and sometimes greed. Some of the bigwigs ignore the rules in order to make more money. When Cameron was first introduced I wasn't sure if I liked him or not. Would he do the right thing and make workers feel safe? The horrors that take place in one of the company's factories made me cry. To think that a young woman must do the unthinkable to keep her job is so disheartening. From the back streets there is human trafficking, rape and so much underhanded money deals that makes the story jump off the pages. Perhaps some of the language was a bit unsettling but I think for this type of story it was a realistic view of what really goes on. I appreciate that the author doesn't sugarcoat anything, but goes full force into the world of big corporation vs the deplorable treatment of humans. Josh is a journalist who has a story that can take down many people , but can he do it without putting himself in danger? In the courtroom the story will put that fear on some and others will scream for justice. Who will win? Will the real traitor stand up and take punishment? Can the judicial system give the plaintiffs cause to celebrate? The writing is aggressive and takes us all over the world to expose the men and women who are greedy enough to sacrifice lives to get ahead. What will be the final verdict? Grab a copy and find out who will be the victor in this action packed thriller. I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my honest opinion.
    • 5/5
      On November 24, 2012, a fire broke out on the ground floor of the Tazreen Fashions factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The eight-story building had no fire escapes, no emergency exits. According to official reports, at least 117 workers perished that night, and over 200 were injured. The way large western brands like Walmart, Zara, Gap, C&A, etc. have their clothes produced and the aftermath of this 2012 fire inspired Corban Addison to develop the novel A Harvest of Thorns.Presto is the Walmart like multi-billion brand at stake. In a complex supply chain, the internal Code of Conduct is worthless. Presto's Cameron Alexander travels to Bangladesh to discover the dilemmas local factory managers are facing. HIs choice to cover up this practice for the C-suite at Presto, yet providing a lead to journalist Josh, is a costly one.Joshua Griswold, together with fast fashion specialist Rana Jahil, succeed in finding the girls that are victims of the Dhaka fire and reveal frequent rapes, trafficking, and other symptoms of modern slavery. They submit their file to court to sue Presto. The novel follows the legal hearings, the difficulties of applying U.S. law to cross-border supply chains. Both Josh and Cameron have bruised private relationships, and while Presto's stock price is plummeting, outside the box thinking is needed to survive as a business, avoid being exposed as a traitor in court, and do more to the plaintiffs.Addison's is on spot with this contemporary theme mixed with love, attempts to escape from danger, and social responsibility of a for-profit firm.
    • 4/5
      STORY-LINE A HARVEST OF THORNS:A Harvest of Thorns is an intense drama set in several countries. Following the deaths of hundreds in a garment factory fire in Bangladesh, the author Corban Addison, gives the reader a look into the terrible trade of human suffering; in bondage to the mighty dollar.One photograph of a young woman, sprawled on the ground with a brand name pair of pants around her head, gains international notice. An intense investigation by the Presto company in America follows. Cameron Alexander, general counsel, heads the investigation. Secrets and terrible procedures are revealed as Cameron ferrets out the horrible truths. Truths which will turn the reader's stomach.Joshua Griswold, former journalist, disgraced and reviled, receives information which will blow Presto sky-high. Contacted by a whistle-blower, Joshua sets out on journey and the story of a life time. Joshua sees this story has his last chance to redeem his reputation and his soul.Come along with Joshua and Cameron as they uncover the underbelly of the foreign and domestic garment industry with all their dirty laundry. My contemporary suspense fiction novel review of A Harvest of Thorns follows.CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:Where do I start with this review? What an intensely thought-provoking story of greed at its finest. A Harvest of Thorns is intense, compelling, and will invoke your conscience and question what we are willing to accept for the lowest price garment. Our hunger for cheap material things has created a monster of greed, slavery, inhuman treatment, rape, child labor and much more. Author Addison skillfully reveals the criminal intent and inhumane treatment involved in this industry. Although written as fiction it is obvious the author has done his research into this subject. I found the author's notes at the end of the book informative and enlightening.Addison wove many threads together to form a solid complete novel in A Harvest of Thorns. The pace spot on and his character development skillful, we follow Joshua and Cameron in their intense journey of discovery. With twists and turns, revelations galore, this book will invoke intense emotion in the reader. Are we as a nation and world willing to sacrifice humans for the almighty dollar and the best product at a rock bottom price? Demonstrating the depths we have fallen, Addison skillfully brings the readers conscience to the forefront. Some things are more important than money.Finally, in concluding my contemporary suspense fiction novel review of A Harvest Of Thorns, I found a solid story; intense, drama filled, and thought-provoking. Everyone who shops should read this book and consider the ultimate cost of the product they just brought. The next time you pick up a $3.00 shirt in the big store, think about who made it; and what they had to sacrifice for you to get the item for $3.00 instead of $10.00. A HARVEST OF THORNS RECOMMENDATION: STARS: 4I would not hesitate to buy this book for my self or a friend.FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE:Additionally, I received this book from the author and chose to voluntarily review the book with an honest contemporary suspense fiction novel review. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinions. In addition, the ARC did not affect my voluntary contemporary suspense fiction novel review.