Resignation

by David Colin

A sympathetic recent college graduate naively pursues what he believes will be a meaningful vocation in the field of human service provision. Almost immediately, he faces a challenging descent of hardship and struggle as the multiple political and societal protests that surround him destroy his resolve. The protagonist’s only salvation is found in an enigmatic confidant, who lives in solitude with inner trauma, yet still selflessly provides his companion with the only source of compassion and reason that the pensive idealist will ever be allowed to recognize as a result of the ill-fated pursuit that he was hardly prepared for.

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2021

Reviews

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Resignation” by David Colin is a dark psychological drama about a slow descent by a human being—from hope and optimism to despair and disillusionment. It follows an idealistic college grad ready to launch himself into a career in human services. But he discovers there is much more to the job than he bargained for. He wrestles against politics, society, and the way things in life just are when it comes to morals and beliefs. But he finds solace in a mysterious mentor who offers the dreamer a respite of sorts.

If you like books about social issues and aren’t easily triggered, this tale is for you. I like the POV of the young case manager; I was instantly drawn into his world and his drama. The subject matter can be a little tough at times, but it’s well-paced and delivered with unique, gray overtones. When the main character is faced with difficulty, he tries his absolute best to deal with it, and readers will grow to care for him and what happens to him as the story moves forward. The caseworker has a conscience, goals, dreams, and desires. He wants the best and wants to help, so his unraveling is palpable and extremely heartfelt.

I like the original feel of the book, and the unflinching way the author manages the spectrum of emotions in the story. It’s a brief read, but I think that’s a good call, given the heavy, somber themes. Even if you haven’t worked in human services, you can still get a good idea of what the character is going through and the arc the author is taking. The message is valuable and the story is entertaining, even though it is on the bleaker side of fiction. There are some mature themes going on, but if you like angst and drama, you’ve come to the right place. David Colin doesn’t mind reaching into depressing corners and pulling out subjects that most people don’t want to see or think about.

As a former social worker, I found this book highly entertaining. If you like human stories that pull back the curtain to expose genuine issues and real emotion, “Resignation” is a definite “must-read.”

[Literary Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Colin’s Resignation tells a story that young professionals sadly know all too well. We follow a fresh grad who has just started working in human service provision with dreams of changing the world – or at least shine a little light in reality’s cruel darkness. Very swiftly (on his first day on the job, in fact) he learns that there are political and societal forces at hand that can break his resolve. Luckily, he finds a true friend that lends a helping hand that can keep him on his journey.

Resignation describes the many horrors of working in a challenging and thankless job. Whatever your profession is, it is easy to relate to the unnamed protagonist and main character of this novel. While the specific subject matter can be alien to most readers who will pick up this book, they can surely empathize with scenes where the protagonist “slowly rested my head upon the desk before me, and languished, distracted by weakness and discouragement.” Personally, I can’t even count the number of times I’ve done that at some of my jobs.

And speaking of horror, this novel about human services with strong political criticism almost reads like one. I can easily picture Grady Hendrix telling the same story but with a large dash of satire.

The narration is fast-paced and densely written, like you are being dragged into a cold dark place where unspeakable events occur. What is almost comical, though, are the scenes where it seems like the office-place atrocities seem exaggerated. Of course, that is just what the uninitiated would think, because as someone who has held a desk job for quite some time, I can assure anyone that it is all true. Whether intentional or not, Colin may have just scared an entire generation from working a 9-to-5.

Having said that, it’s certainly not an easy beach-side read – unless, of course, you like pondering on the dark side of humanity and society with waves crashing in the background. Wherever you choose to read David Colin’s Resignation, don’t say I didn’t warn you: it’s going to stick with you for days afterward.

Resignation is a riveting psychological thriller that is high in social commentary and entertainment value.