Review of Pandora's Lockbox

[Bertha Jackson]

Nico is a strong woman who lost everything, had to start over, and became successful. Thank you for your review.

[Medina Fedrick]

Nico went through a lot, and I admire her courage and determination to still get back up even after all she went through.

[CHARLES ALOO]

Sure. This, sometimes is our lot. Heart break, sandwiched in the seemingly bleak future and stress, overarches our pathway of life. Nico battles to the end to emerge as a heroine. A great cup of inspiration!

[Hazel Arnaiz]

Today's book is a memoir about the complexities of the 1980s real estate market. Slices of life combine humor and intrigue to inspire and inform readers, especially those in the industry. Congratulations on being chosen as Book of the Day!

[Jack King]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Pandora's Lockbox" by Nico Griffith.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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1982 was a bad year for Nico Griffith. She had just had a miscarriage due to stress; her mortgage company was struggling. After her miscarriage, she signed over her share of the business to her partner. This was followed up by her husband announcing, on his way out the door to his work, that he wanted a divorce. With no child, job, or husband, she had to start over. It was a sluggish economy, and her skills overqualified her for most jobs. Eventually, Nico joined Fakke & Company, selling real estate. Due to her hard work and drive, she managed to become one of the most successful agents in the business. Her book is a compilation of the stories and experiences that she and her fellow agents accumulated through the 1980s and 90s. Many of the tales are humorous, a few of them are sad, some are scandalous, and occasionally the story describes a dangerous situation in which one of the agents was involved. None of them are boring.

Pandora’s Lockbox by Nico Griffith is a 257-page book listed in the non-fiction genre. The story is followed by a quiz titled “So, You Want to be an Agent (Reality Check Quiz).” These are questions, just for fun, that advise you if you possess the personality to succeed if you become an agent. This is followed up with a “Glossary of Real Estate Vocabulary” that is beneficial for those of us not in the business.

Ms. Griffith enjoys a gift for recounting the fascinating tales that these agents experienced. She is very descriptive, quite often humorously so, and her narrative is excellent at conveying various emotions, such as excitement and sadness. I observed myself laughing aloud at times and then crying at other times. It transports those of us who have never been in the business on an intriguing journey into the world of real estate and the difficulties faced there. Ms. Griffith comes across as very friendly with a willingness to assist others. This is demonstrated by the closeness of the relationships that she develops with her clients and the secrets they entrust to her. However, she allows us to know that she is flawed, like every other human being. An example is when one of her clients, on his deathbed, made her promise to look out for his wife. Clearly, she must have developed a great relationship with them in order for him to make that request. However, after a few years of occasionally talking with his wife, she didn’t speak with her again for several years (when the client called Nico to request help in selling her home). Her life seemed to be a disaster. To Nico’s credit, she then stepped up and spent a great deal of time and effort assisting her with her situation.

The importance of friends represents an underlying theme in the story. Nico was abandoned without much support when her husband and, consequently, most of their friends left her. Nico and a group of her close associates through work helped each other through the bad times and celebrated the good times together. Their tales were also included in the book.

Although I enjoyed the book greatly, too many errors were detected for a perfect score. For example, there were no capitalized words for half of page 42 and half of page 43. Another round of editing would help it reach its full potential. Because this was the only thing I didn't like, Pandora’s Lockbox receives a rating of three out of four stars. I think other agents would enjoy this the most as they could relate to the situations, and it would probably evoke their own similar memories. However, other readers can appreciate it as well. The story offers a taste of the difficulties that the agents faced in the 1980s and 90s. Fans who prefer fictional novels with lots of action may not enjoy it as much.

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Pandora's Lockbox
View: on Bookshelves

The title really draws you in, straight away I was wondering where the alligator fitted in!

[Tara D Morgan]

I like that this is a factual book about one woman's struggle from miscarrying, divorce, and losing her business to building her life again. I enjoy a memoir, and this sounds like it also fits with other genres I enjoy murder, crime, and mystery. Thank you for a brilliant review!

[NetMassimo]

This book is quite unusual, as the author tells her sometimes curious stories connected to her activity as a real estate agent. From a difficult time, she rose to a new success passing through strange and funny situations. Thank you for your great review!

[Nasasira Claveri]

I appreciate this book Pandora's Lockbox by Nico Griffith, for recounting her experiences as a successful real estate agent with fascinating and emotional stories. Also includes a quiz and glossary. Although there were some errors, it is an enjoyable read and emphasizes the importance of friends.

[Ruba Sabban]

What a wonderful informative review.
It sounds very interesting and fun. I can't wait to read it

[Khushal_207]

Even though she struggled so much after her company was struggling and her husband divorced her. She started over with her life and Nico was over-qualifying for all the jobs. She was hardworking and ambitious in every kind of work she did.

[Christell Lindeque]

An aspiring tale of Nico Griffith, where she had to start over when her husband asked for a divorce. This non-fiction book tells her story of where she becomes a successful real-estate agent. Great review.

[Abdul-Malik Hassan]

Aside from the errors highlighted, I ought to say that this book seems quite enjoyable. I wish to learn more about Nico and the lessons she learned from her experience.

[Robinlloyd17]

This sounds like an inspiring book. As I was reading your review a friend came to mind who is planning to become an agent and may benefit from this book. Thank you for this review.

[zynnyx_]

Wow, this is my kind of book. Nico is career-driven. The book has funny content, real estate, and all that. Thank you for taking the time to explain this book in your review.

[Elize Vermaak]

Nico is a huge inspiration. She is proof that no matter how difficult life is, or how painful the losses, one can always overcome and conquer. Thank you for the review.