An epistolary novel about a disgruntled faculty member, Jason/Jay Fitger, who is writing an endless stream of Letters of Recommendation for students and faculty. It is funny in some cases, and in others, it is a venting of frustrations - with the faculty, with the office space, with people not responding, with former flames.
It is a quick read. Just OK in my opinion. ( )

Hilarious yet sobering view of the world of secondary education, as told in a series of letters of recommendation by an English professor from a small liberal arts college. I’ve never come across this form of storytelling, and it works. I’ve known for some time that certain institutions have a culture that is all their own, and universities are no exception. Schumacher, herself a college professor, reaches back into her experience to illuminate the craziness of her world, and writes the LOR that I’m sure most academics would have loved to write themselves, but of course couldn’t. The book specifically addresses the dying liberal arts in the era of STEM majors, and the scant options for, in particular, English majors (often having to accept jobs well below their skill sets). There is a tragic element to the book, as the author of the LORs, Jason Fitger, tries to promote his last mentee. This book is so well written - it’s compulsively readable - and should be required reading for anyone teaching at the college level. ( )

Funny enough to pass a two hour flight, and I can see why loads of people inside the bubble like it, but obviously pretty limited. ( )

My hangover prevents me from trying to be witty in this review, so I'll just list why I liked - LOVED - this book.

1. It is really funny. Actual laughing out loud happened when I read it.
2. The format is interesting. At times I had to go back and find the first letter that mentions someone to get the context, but that small inconvenience was balanced by the pleasure I got from the way the format allowed things to unfold.
3. Jay is mad at/resigned to the stupidity of our modern culture, especially the damn kids these days. I too am mad about this.
4. The English Department is being slowly killed off in favor of the sciences, and Jay is fighting the good fight to preserve literature at his school. Some of the funniest passages in the book.
5. The writing is smart, never shying away from a big word or a slyly-cutting turn of phrase. I wish I spoke like this book.

Verdict: fantastic. Easily one of my favorite books that I have read this year. ( )

The idea is very good, the humour is often really spot-on but all in all the structure itself of the book - a series of epistolary exchanges - is its biggest constraint and makes the read very soon boring. ( )