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The Moskowitz Code
Awarded an Honorable Mention for Humor in the 2017 Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Awards Just When You Thought it was Safe to be Healthy… When his doctor mistakenly types the wrong code into his electronic medical record, Myron Moskowitz—Mike, to the entire world except his mother Celia—finds life, or at least the one he's grown used to, suddenly turned tush-over-teakettle. With that single dodgy digital diagnosis, a chain reaction is set in motion leading Mike to lose his job, accidentally get all trace of himself wiped off of every computer in the known universe, and seriously contemplate buying a Harley. And Mike isn't exactly what you'd call a motorcycle kind of Moskowitz. Somehow Mike must find a way to get back on the grid and get his old job back, all without his wife finding out about any of it. Joel Bresler’s writing style can be referred to as literary silliness—the experience of reading the prose is more fun than anything the prose might be leading up to. Stories are all well and good, Bresler believes, but they've all been done already anyway, so why let something as trivial as a plot interfere with a good read? After all, nobody ever bought a P.G. Wodehouse novel just to see if Bertie Wooster gets away with it this time.
- GenresFiction
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2017
21 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Joel Bresler
6 books77 followersJoel Bresler was born and spent most of his life to date in and around Cleveland, Ohio. After earning a degree from Skidmore College, he worked briefly in social services before entering into a niche field of business consulting. His first published work, "Letters to be Read in a Heavily British Accent", established him as a humor writer with a unique voice. "Letters" was quickly followed up by "Sunderwynde Revisited", Sunderwynde Revisited, Again", "The Moskowitz Code" and "Bottomless Cups". In the tradition of such heavyweights as P.G. Wodehouse, Evelyn Waugh and Douglas Adams, Bresler holds his own writing to a very high comedic standard. Which is not to imply that he is above throwing in any moderately-interesting pun that might find its way from pen to paper. He can lately be found deep in the desert Southwest, dodging snakes and cactus spines and "dry" heat.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 5, 2017
Thanks to a slip of his doctor's finger, Myron "Mike" Moskowitz is now "dying" of an extremely rare disease. In anticipation of his imminent demise, he is quietly shuffled out of existence by his insurance company . . . and pretty much everyone else. Mike is now free, free to be whatever he wants to be, but living way, W-A-Y off the grid is not without its drawbacks; just try flying somewhere when you don't "officially" exist. Now Mike must decide if he wants to stay in a sort of No Man's Land, or venture back to life as he once knew it.
Bresler presents a funny and unique look at our modern lifestyle, and its inherent problems full of cell phones, red tape, and coffee-based beverages.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for review purposes.
Bresler presents a funny and unique look at our modern lifestyle, and its inherent problems full of cell phones, red tape, and coffee-based beverages.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for review purposes.
February 8, 2018
The Moskowitz Code was, as per the description about Joel Bresler's work, literary silliness. It was so silly I couldn't help giggling. I loved the references to some of the characters, the head human resources honcho for example, who is only ever known by that or HHRH - never by an actual name. The HHRH's aim and Mike's aim is one and the same....they just don't realise it so it's comical reading about how this plays out....can Mike get back on the grid.? Does he even want to? It's worth reading for the fun!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher with no obligation to review.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher with no obligation to review.
September 8, 2020
Am interesting and intricate sorry
A lot of wit within. Plot is unique and the characters well developed with their own eccentricities fleshed out with parentheticals. (I don't even know if that's a word, it just seemed appropriate.)
A lot of wit within. Plot is unique and the characters well developed with their own eccentricities fleshed out with parentheticals. (I don't even know if that's a word, it just seemed appropriate.)
July 25, 2020
I have read all of the authors books and I truly enjoy his sense of humor. It’s very down to earth, silly but mature too. The cast of characters are a riot. Pick this book up and enjoy the fun!
August 10, 2017
Don't expect to find any workable solutions to the current healthcare debate in “The Moskowitz Code” by Joel Bresler. The hero, Myron, aka “Mike”, isn't even sick—well, he had the sniffles--and he's been erased from computer existence, let alone the insurance market. This is satire at its best, but so funny and outlandish it's reminiscent of Swift's Modest Proposal (you know, where the poor Irish children could become food and perhaps even clothing rather than a burden on their parents).
Bresler has the same earnest tone as he writes such nonsense you're left laughing like a fool. (Not to mention his comedic timing is impeccable.) One of my favorite unforgettable scenes:
“The matrimonial Moskowitzes were seated in opposite corners of their communal living room, each apparently engrossed in a paperback. Mike's nose was buried in a contemporary history of Second World War atrocities in Poland . . .” When asked by his wife [Christine] about a life insurance policy he has discontinued he feigns ignorance, “bury[ing] his nose even deeper into his book. He could guess where the conversation was headed and hoped that a conflagration along the lines of the destruction of downtown Warsaw would soften his own impending artillery attack. . . [However] He had a premonition that not even the rape of the Polish countryside could help him escape what was coming next. . . He flipped through the pages . . . but all those Luftwaffe bombing sorties tended to blend together, rendering the task pretty much a hopeless one. . .[He finally] stopped his own page flipping at the story of the Russians beating the enemy back from the Polish capitol, immersing himself so thoroughly that he would have sworn he could hear rifle shots. It was, however, only the sound of Christine gnashing her teeth.”
Bresler's characters, his sly asides, and his hilarious plot are entertainment at its best. Read slowly so it lasts as long as possible.
Bresler has the same earnest tone as he writes such nonsense you're left laughing like a fool. (Not to mention his comedic timing is impeccable.) One of my favorite unforgettable scenes:
“The matrimonial Moskowitzes were seated in opposite corners of their communal living room, each apparently engrossed in a paperback. Mike's nose was buried in a contemporary history of Second World War atrocities in Poland . . .” When asked by his wife [Christine] about a life insurance policy he has discontinued he feigns ignorance, “bury[ing] his nose even deeper into his book. He could guess where the conversation was headed and hoped that a conflagration along the lines of the destruction of downtown Warsaw would soften his own impending artillery attack. . . [However] He had a premonition that not even the rape of the Polish countryside could help him escape what was coming next. . . He flipped through the pages . . . but all those Luftwaffe bombing sorties tended to blend together, rendering the task pretty much a hopeless one. . .[He finally] stopped his own page flipping at the story of the Russians beating the enemy back from the Polish capitol, immersing himself so thoroughly that he would have sworn he could hear rifle shots. It was, however, only the sound of Christine gnashing her teeth.”
Bresler's characters, his sly asides, and his hilarious plot are entertainment at its best. Read slowly so it lasts as long as possible.
August 6, 2017
Catskills’ Standup As Great Literature
Mike (Myron to his mother) Moskowitz didn't so much have his identity stolen as misplaced. After a wayward keystroke by his doctor harnesses him with a medieval diagnosis, Mike is rendered a nonentity by typo; while the reader is rendered helpless by laughter.
Witty and intelligently snide, Bresler proceeds at “ludicrous speed” to swipe at everything from Jewish mothers, to Starbucks, insurance companies, human resources, cyclists, computer nerds, Roger Moore as Bond, corporate boardrooms, spouses, vacations, and just about anything else you can think of.
Filled with allusions, verbal acrobatics, and references to everything from, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, to the poetry of Robert Burns, to Casablanca (“Mike was surprised that, of all the coffee hangouts in all the towns in all the world, Dan would pick that one…”), Bresler’s uproarious plot careens Mike’s life along like a train wreck full of Keystone Cops.
A wonderful, side-splitting, intelligent must-read.
Mike (Myron to his mother) Moskowitz didn't so much have his identity stolen as misplaced. After a wayward keystroke by his doctor harnesses him with a medieval diagnosis, Mike is rendered a nonentity by typo; while the reader is rendered helpless by laughter.
Witty and intelligently snide, Bresler proceeds at “ludicrous speed” to swipe at everything from Jewish mothers, to Starbucks, insurance companies, human resources, cyclists, computer nerds, Roger Moore as Bond, corporate boardrooms, spouses, vacations, and just about anything else you can think of.
Filled with allusions, verbal acrobatics, and references to everything from, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, to the poetry of Robert Burns, to Casablanca (“Mike was surprised that, of all the coffee hangouts in all the towns in all the world, Dan would pick that one…”), Bresler’s uproarious plot careens Mike’s life along like a train wreck full of Keystone Cops.
A wonderful, side-splitting, intelligent must-read.
July 3, 2018
When your doctor makes a typo, it’s supposed to be no big deal. Everyone makes mistakes, obvious mistakes are easily corrected and life goes on without any fuss and nothing even worth remembering. Except if you happen to be Myron ‘Mike’ Moskowitz.
A simple typo during a doctors visit leads to a series of events that happen to lead to Mike ceasing to exist in all respects but the unimportant being-alive-and-breathing one. Without an identity, Mike finds life rather difficult and he becomes more and more desperate to get himself back on the grid. How fortunate he has help…
There’s a lot of humour in these pages, alongside a gentle dig at how much of our lives depend on other people admitting we are alive, and being a part of a system that we’re born into but can do little to change. There’s some sort of lesson in here about common sense, too, and how devoid of it government can be.
A simple typo during a doctors visit leads to a series of events that happen to lead to Mike ceasing to exist in all respects but the unimportant being-alive-and-breathing one. Without an identity, Mike finds life rather difficult and he becomes more and more desperate to get himself back on the grid. How fortunate he has help…
There’s a lot of humour in these pages, alongside a gentle dig at how much of our lives depend on other people admitting we are alive, and being a part of a system that we’re born into but can do little to change. There’s some sort of lesson in here about common sense, too, and how devoid of it government can be.
August 29, 2017
If Jerry Seinfeld and Douglas Adams made a love baby, it would be named 'The Moskowitz Code'.
Bresler shows his comedic chops in this hilarious, satirical offering. Well timed jokes and some of the most wonderful allusions seem effortless for Bresler, as he takes us through Myron Moskowitz's crisis.
While Bresler's humor is at the forefront, it does not interfere with some great storytelling. The story of Myron losing his digital identity (and therefore, pretty much his entire identity) seems all too plausible in a world where lives can be uprooted by identity theft. Although, in the novel this was entirely accidental, the message is still relevant.
In short, this is a fantastic read for anyone that is looking for a good laugh.
Bresler shows his comedic chops in this hilarious, satirical offering. Well timed jokes and some of the most wonderful allusions seem effortless for Bresler, as he takes us through Myron Moskowitz's crisis.
While Bresler's humor is at the forefront, it does not interfere with some great storytelling. The story of Myron losing his digital identity (and therefore, pretty much his entire identity) seems all too plausible in a world where lives can be uprooted by identity theft. Although, in the novel this was entirely accidental, the message is still relevant.
In short, this is a fantastic read for anyone that is looking for a good laugh.
December 23, 2017
One minor error, really just a typo, and Mike Moskowitz’s life spirals out of control. It would be funny (let’s be honest, it really is) if it wasn’t so scary. (Glad it’s happening to him and not me.) The author does an excellent job of walking that fine line required to get the reader to suspend disbelief in a situation that, while very possible at the start, quickly crosses into the absurd. The story is not only amusing, but there might be a lesson buried in there about being careful what you wish for.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
May 30, 2018
Great story
It's a great story and has that balance of telling a story and giving some humor within the story. A swift error in a keystroke dictates the bad luck of Myron. It's a clever story, and it's interesting that it can be both serious and humorous. I enjoyed this story very much, and will read more of Bresler's work.
It's a great story and has that balance of telling a story and giving some humor within the story. A swift error in a keystroke dictates the bad luck of Myron. It's a clever story, and it's interesting that it can be both serious and humorous. I enjoyed this story very much, and will read more of Bresler's work.
April 19, 2025
This high quality humorous tale is quite the entertaining comedy of errors. I appreciate a good humour book, and this one did not disappoint. Great gift for the intellect and funny person, alike.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews