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Jobless Recovery
Dave Griffin drives a blood-colored Behemoth model SUV and has all the toys that go with middle class life in America. He's a poster boy for the American consumer. Then his employer replaces American computer programmers with cheaper imported labor in order to increase company profits. Now Dave is out on the street. But he still believes in the system. All he has to do is bring the problem to the attention of the media and the people in Washington to get results, right? Wrong. Very wrong.
Can an unemployed computer jockey manage to keep his friend Joe-and himself--out of jail? Or will the oddly-shaped bundle in the back of Joe's truck mean time in the slammer for both of them?
Can an unemployed computer jockey manage to keep his friend Joe-and himself--out of jail? Or will the oddly-shaped bundle in the back of Joe's truck mean time in the slammer for both of them?
232 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2005
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 9, 2008
Computer program Dave Griffin thought he had it all: a great-paying job, nice home, cool car, and hot girlfriend. And then one morning his employer announces that the company will be outsourcing a couple of hundred jobs. To make things worse, Dave’s forced to train his replacement who’s been bought over from India. Within weeks, he’s lost his home, car, girlfriend, and self-esteem.
In another part of town, Joe Tremaine also struggles to survive. He’s a disabled, brain-damaged former FBI agent who’s been dumped by his employer and is having a hard time making ends meet. His daughter, Lark, works two jobs to help, but Joe’s doctor wants him to try an expensive new medication. What does he do? How far will he go to survive?
This is the compelling question in L.C. Evans’ story of job loss during a time where hundreds of people line up to apply for work at a fast-food restaurant. Jobless Recovery was published in 2005, but the story’s so timely it could have been published last week. Evans does a great job of showing us increasingly stressed and desperate people whose lives are spiraling out of control. The book’s realistic, gut-wrenching story of the characters’ anguish disturbed me more than any horror novel ever could. But it also made Jobless Recovery an unforgettable read.
In another part of town, Joe Tremaine also struggles to survive. He’s a disabled, brain-damaged former FBI agent who’s been dumped by his employer and is having a hard time making ends meet. His daughter, Lark, works two jobs to help, but Joe’s doctor wants him to try an expensive new medication. What does he do? How far will he go to survive?
This is the compelling question in L.C. Evans’ story of job loss during a time where hundreds of people line up to apply for work at a fast-food restaurant. Jobless Recovery was published in 2005, but the story’s so timely it could have been published last week. Evans does a great job of showing us increasingly stressed and desperate people whose lives are spiraling out of control. The book’s realistic, gut-wrenching story of the characters’ anguish disturbed me more than any horror novel ever could. But it also made Jobless Recovery an unforgettable read.
November 6, 2010
Jobless Recovery – Second Addition – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
Dear David R. Griffin:
By now you are aware of the unprecedented opportunity Markham-Hook Conglomerate has encountered. I am sure you rejoice at our good fortune and wish us every success in our leap forward into the global future.
Unfortunately, David R. Griffin, you have not been selected to continue the journey with Markham-Hook Conglomerate. Your position with the company has been eliminated and will terminate on May 1st of this year. As part of your duties before you depart, you will be required to engage in knowledge transfer, making sure your replacement from India knows how to perform your job in a satisfactory manner. In addition, you must successfully complete all projects on your current work list.
Can you imagine receiving a letter like this, or maybe you have or know someone who has. The letter is clearly a form letter with the name of the recipient inserted. And the company has the audacity to inform David that he must train his replacement before leaving. As I read Jobless Recovery I started recognizing things that I really had taken for granted. I knew that whenever I needed tech support for my computer, phone or just about anything electronic I would end up talking to someone who I assumed was from a foreign country, not really knowing if the help was actually being processed here in the US or from another country. As the story of David and later Joe and Lark continued I started wondering how much of this was based on facts so I contacted the Author. Below is the answers to my questions to her.
Martha,
The part in the book about American tech workers losing their jobs to cheaper tech workers imported from India is absolutely true. Have Americans had to train their replacements? Absolutely true. Are the imported workers paid less than the Americans? Absolutely. Outsourcing is bad--jobs go to other countries, or wherever. But insourcing, bringing workers to the United States on work visas to undercut wages and take jobs from Americans right in this country, is far worse. It is absolutely true that this is happening. I have firsthand experience and I can promise you it's the truth.
Please go here for all the facts, statistics, and information you may need. I can vouch for this site as being honest and telling the facts. It's a real eye-opener:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/
I have called Washington (many times) and I was told this is legal and there's nothing I can do about it. I even have it in writing from the U.S. Department of Labor that the H-1B law is full of loopholes and there are no protections whatsoever for American workers. The worker importation laws were signed into law by President Clinton. Since then, you can see what's happened to the economy. I have called senators and representatives, the White House, The U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. I received absurd answers very much like those given to my main character in the book. The line where a staffer tells Dave that since workers have their money in the stock market, anything corporations do to increase profits is good for workers even if they lose their jobs was actually said to me by someone at the U.S. Dept. of Commerce. I've paraphrased and that isn't an exact quote, but it's pretty close.
For so many years Americans have been expected to drive the world economy with consumerism, but how are we to do this without jobs? Every company wants the benefits of doing business in the U.S. with its stable government and relatively affluent consumer base, but they don't want to hire Americans and pay American wages and adhere to American labor laws. At the same time they expect Americans to fight and die in the U.S. military to protect their interests. First they told us we didn't want service jobs, so when those went away we were told to upgrade our skills and get manufacturing jobs. When those went away, they told us to get an education and get tech jobs. Now those are gone to outsourcing and insourcing and we're told that it's globalization and we are supposed to "deal with it." Anyone with half a brain can see that we've been lied to you and thrown by the wayside. It's all due to the sickness of greed. Time for Americans to wake up, get mad, and vote out the people who have sold us out.
Jobless Recovery is another well written book by Author L. C. Evans. She has added humor to help us process the truth behind the fiction in the story of David, Joe and Lark, but at the same time she opened my eyes to what is really going on in our country as well as other countries, with most of us being totally unaware. Jobless Recovery is a book that I highly recommend we all read.
2010
ISBN 9781453792711
226 pages
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
Dear David R. Griffin:
By now you are aware of the unprecedented opportunity Markham-Hook Conglomerate has encountered. I am sure you rejoice at our good fortune and wish us every success in our leap forward into the global future.
Unfortunately, David R. Griffin, you have not been selected to continue the journey with Markham-Hook Conglomerate. Your position with the company has been eliminated and will terminate on May 1st of this year. As part of your duties before you depart, you will be required to engage in knowledge transfer, making sure your replacement from India knows how to perform your job in a satisfactory manner. In addition, you must successfully complete all projects on your current work list.
Can you imagine receiving a letter like this, or maybe you have or know someone who has. The letter is clearly a form letter with the name of the recipient inserted. And the company has the audacity to inform David that he must train his replacement before leaving. As I read Jobless Recovery I started recognizing things that I really had taken for granted. I knew that whenever I needed tech support for my computer, phone or just about anything electronic I would end up talking to someone who I assumed was from a foreign country, not really knowing if the help was actually being processed here in the US or from another country. As the story of David and later Joe and Lark continued I started wondering how much of this was based on facts so I contacted the Author. Below is the answers to my questions to her.
Martha,
The part in the book about American tech workers losing their jobs to cheaper tech workers imported from India is absolutely true. Have Americans had to train their replacements? Absolutely true. Are the imported workers paid less than the Americans? Absolutely. Outsourcing is bad--jobs go to other countries, or wherever. But insourcing, bringing workers to the United States on work visas to undercut wages and take jobs from Americans right in this country, is far worse. It is absolutely true that this is happening. I have firsthand experience and I can promise you it's the truth.
Please go here for all the facts, statistics, and information you may need. I can vouch for this site as being honest and telling the facts. It's a real eye-opener:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/
I have called Washington (many times) and I was told this is legal and there's nothing I can do about it. I even have it in writing from the U.S. Department of Labor that the H-1B law is full of loopholes and there are no protections whatsoever for American workers. The worker importation laws were signed into law by President Clinton. Since then, you can see what's happened to the economy. I have called senators and representatives, the White House, The U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. I received absurd answers very much like those given to my main character in the book. The line where a staffer tells Dave that since workers have their money in the stock market, anything corporations do to increase profits is good for workers even if they lose their jobs was actually said to me by someone at the U.S. Dept. of Commerce. I've paraphrased and that isn't an exact quote, but it's pretty close.
For so many years Americans have been expected to drive the world economy with consumerism, but how are we to do this without jobs? Every company wants the benefits of doing business in the U.S. with its stable government and relatively affluent consumer base, but they don't want to hire Americans and pay American wages and adhere to American labor laws. At the same time they expect Americans to fight and die in the U.S. military to protect their interests. First they told us we didn't want service jobs, so when those went away we were told to upgrade our skills and get manufacturing jobs. When those went away, they told us to get an education and get tech jobs. Now those are gone to outsourcing and insourcing and we're told that it's globalization and we are supposed to "deal with it." Anyone with half a brain can see that we've been lied to you and thrown by the wayside. It's all due to the sickness of greed. Time for Americans to wake up, get mad, and vote out the people who have sold us out.
Jobless Recovery is another well written book by Author L. C. Evans. She has added humor to help us process the truth behind the fiction in the story of David, Joe and Lark, but at the same time she opened my eyes to what is really going on in our country as well as other countries, with most of us being totally unaware. Jobless Recovery is a book that I highly recommend we all read.
2010
ISBN 9781453792711
226 pages
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
December 14, 2010
Even if you haven't lost your job or have a close friend or family member who has, you'll probably still experience the anguish that main characters Dave and Joe go through in this "ripped from the headlines" novel of American ingenuity. It didn't take me long to root for these two down-and-outers--both so different, and yet both so alike. Dave is the corporate cover boy--great job, super car, and beautiful girl friend. He assumes his priviledged life will continue without interruption. Joe knows better; he's been dealing with a broken system since his accident cost him his health and his job. When Dave suddenly loses his plush position as a computer programmer due to "down-sizing" and is forced to train his replacement, he is catapulted into a new dimension of "government dole" and it's a place he doesn't like. When the two men are brought together by the luminous Lark, a grudging relationship forms and the pair realize that they might be able to help each other.
The three main characters--Dave, Joe, and Lark, and wonderfully brought to life. I was totally involved in their predicament and was rooting for them all the way. More than this, however, what made this novel stand out for me, was the deft touch author Evans has with contemporary social commentary. I really kept expecting some hard-handed political diatribe at every turn, but she manages to serve up biting, humorous social satire (witness the riotous phone calls that Dave makes to clueless government officials at the unemployment office) without seeming to take a political position. She skewers big business as much as big government. I dare you to guess her political persuasion.
The only thing I don't like about "Jobless Recovery" is the title. I almost didn't read this little gem because I thought it was a treatise on economic policy. It's fiction, folks! Except, of course, for the fact that the country does seem to be in a "jobless recovery."
The three main characters--Dave, Joe, and Lark, and wonderfully brought to life. I was totally involved in their predicament and was rooting for them all the way. More than this, however, what made this novel stand out for me, was the deft touch author Evans has with contemporary social commentary. I really kept expecting some hard-handed political diatribe at every turn, but she manages to serve up biting, humorous social satire (witness the riotous phone calls that Dave makes to clueless government officials at the unemployment office) without seeming to take a political position. She skewers big business as much as big government. I dare you to guess her political persuasion.
The only thing I don't like about "Jobless Recovery" is the title. I almost didn't read this little gem because I thought it was a treatise on economic policy. It's fiction, folks! Except, of course, for the fact that the country does seem to be in a "jobless recovery."
March 21, 2011
Jobless Recovery was an interesting read. Evans’ deft hand weaves the lives of her characters together, and twists the plot in ways that renders it entirely unpredictable. Which leaves me in a conundrum. Evans’ plotlines do not spiral up toward a cinematic peak of heroism or cowardice where plans come together with a bang or fall apart with a thud. Rather, they happen much in the way of real life — the thread gets lost, people do other things, stuff is unplanned in a messy, natural sort of way. In this sense, the book walks life’s shades of gray quite well. But this contrasts with the characters, who seem to belong to one group, all good (the main characters); or the other, all bad (politicians, doctors, higher level corporate workers).
Plot: Recently laid off computer programmer Dave, fired-for-being-disabled ex-government agent Joe, and Joe’s daughter Lark are all battling with the current economic climate. Joe suffers from a brain injury and has come up with some pretty interesting plans to get his financial situation back online.
Setting: Avalon, a city in North Carolina. Beautifully conceptualized; I feel that I can picture it in its manicured beauty. I can also picture its outskirts quite well.
Characters: Dave was immensely likable, and when Evans switches into different characters’ heads, the transition is smooth and it feels very real. I loved especially getting the characters’ impressions of each other, because it helped to give me a more rounded view of them. I would have liked to see characters be a bit more gray — particularly in terms of characters in power. I would have enjoyed a character who would throw off the book’s set expectations a bit.
Style: This was the best edited independent book I’ve read so far. Absolutely typo-free. Smooth reading, nothing jarring.
Overall Impression: Four stars. An interesting read for anyone dealing with the current economic climate, which, I suppose, means pretty much everyone. Perhaps it ties up a bit too well, and the characters are a bit too much made out of their qualities, vs. their qualities coming together to create them. But Evans’ passion comes through clearly in the writing. She means it. And at the end of the day that counts for a whole heck of a lot.
Plot: Recently laid off computer programmer Dave, fired-for-being-disabled ex-government agent Joe, and Joe’s daughter Lark are all battling with the current economic climate. Joe suffers from a brain injury and has come up with some pretty interesting plans to get his financial situation back online.
Setting: Avalon, a city in North Carolina. Beautifully conceptualized; I feel that I can picture it in its manicured beauty. I can also picture its outskirts quite well.
Characters: Dave was immensely likable, and when Evans switches into different characters’ heads, the transition is smooth and it feels very real. I loved especially getting the characters’ impressions of each other, because it helped to give me a more rounded view of them. I would have liked to see characters be a bit more gray — particularly in terms of characters in power. I would have enjoyed a character who would throw off the book’s set expectations a bit.
Style: This was the best edited independent book I’ve read so far. Absolutely typo-free. Smooth reading, nothing jarring.
Overall Impression: Four stars. An interesting read for anyone dealing with the current economic climate, which, I suppose, means pretty much everyone. Perhaps it ties up a bit too well, and the characters are a bit too much made out of their qualities, vs. their qualities coming together to create them. But Evans’ passion comes through clearly in the writing. She means it. And at the end of the day that counts for a whole heck of a lot.
March 23, 2011
In Jobless Recovery, L.C. Evans creates a living picture of the recession. As the headline suggests, this novel has "ripped from the headlines" feel, yet it is infused with humor and personal touches.
Dave Griffin is a young computer programmer who drives an SUV and dates a pretty girl. Until Markham-Hook Conglomerate announces a restructuring that gives Dave's job to a foreign programmer at a fraction of his salary and the world as he knows it falls apart.
Across town, Joe Tremain is in worse shape. He lost his government job because he suffered a head injury. Now, he's also lost his health care and can't afford medicine to treat his seizures. His daughter Lark works for a caterer to support them, while acting with a group of street performers is her true pleasure.
Dave is forced into further humiliation by having to train his replacement. He walks out of the job, losing unemployment benefits. He further upsets the Markham-Hook executives by going to Washington highlight the problems with a trade bill that cost American jobs. The senator's response that Americans just need more education was priceless.
This novel presented a fresh look at the white-collar job losses of recent years. I, for one, could relate to much of this book and I'm sure others will be able to, as well. It took awhile for the different characters to come together, which was unfortunate, because that was the best part of the story as they started interacting. The author does a good job of creating a mood of despair, sometimes too good as the beginning seemed rather heavy. The ending, however, was filled with unexpected turns and an upbeat finish made this a good read.
Dave Griffin is a young computer programmer who drives an SUV and dates a pretty girl. Until Markham-Hook Conglomerate announces a restructuring that gives Dave's job to a foreign programmer at a fraction of his salary and the world as he knows it falls apart.
Across town, Joe Tremain is in worse shape. He lost his government job because he suffered a head injury. Now, he's also lost his health care and can't afford medicine to treat his seizures. His daughter Lark works for a caterer to support them, while acting with a group of street performers is her true pleasure.
Dave is forced into further humiliation by having to train his replacement. He walks out of the job, losing unemployment benefits. He further upsets the Markham-Hook executives by going to Washington highlight the problems with a trade bill that cost American jobs. The senator's response that Americans just need more education was priceless.
This novel presented a fresh look at the white-collar job losses of recent years. I, for one, could relate to much of this book and I'm sure others will be able to, as well. It took awhile for the different characters to come together, which was unfortunate, because that was the best part of the story as they started interacting. The author does a good job of creating a mood of despair, sometimes too good as the beginning seemed rather heavy. The ending, however, was filled with unexpected turns and an upbeat finish made this a good read.
March 23, 2011
In Jobless Recovery, L.C. Evans creates a living picture of the recession. As the title suggests, this novel has "ripped from the headlines" feel, yet it is infused with humor and personal touches.
Dave Griffin is a young computer programmer who drives an SUV and dates a pretty girl. Until Markham-Hook Conglomerate announces a restructuring that gives Dave's job to a foreign programmer at a fraction of his salary and the world as he knows it falls apart.
Across town, Joe Tremain is in worse shape. He lost his government job because he suffered a head injury. Now, he's also lost his health care and can't afford medicine to treat his seizures. His daughter Lark works for a caterer to support them, while acting with a group of street performers is her true pleasure.
Dave is forced into further humiliation by having to train his replacement. He walks out of the job, losing unemployment benefits. He further upsets the Markham-Hook executives by going to Washington highlight the problems with a trade bill that cost American jobs. The senator's response that Americans just need more education was priceless.
This novel presented a fresh look at the white-collar job losses of recent years. I, for one, could relate to much of this book and I'm sure others will be able to, as well. It took awhile for the different characters to come together, which was unfortunate, because that was the best part of the story as they started interacting. The author does a good job of creating a mood of despair, sometimes too good as the beginning seemed rather heavy. The ending, however, was filled with unexpected turns and an upbeat finish made this a good read.
Dave Griffin is a young computer programmer who drives an SUV and dates a pretty girl. Until Markham-Hook Conglomerate announces a restructuring that gives Dave's job to a foreign programmer at a fraction of his salary and the world as he knows it falls apart.
Across town, Joe Tremain is in worse shape. He lost his government job because he suffered a head injury. Now, he's also lost his health care and can't afford medicine to treat his seizures. His daughter Lark works for a caterer to support them, while acting with a group of street performers is her true pleasure.
Dave is forced into further humiliation by having to train his replacement. He walks out of the job, losing unemployment benefits. He further upsets the Markham-Hook executives by going to Washington highlight the problems with a trade bill that cost American jobs. The senator's response that Americans just need more education was priceless.
This novel presented a fresh look at the white-collar job losses of recent years. I, for one, could relate to much of this book and I'm sure others will be able to, as well. It took awhile for the different characters to come together, which was unfortunate, because that was the best part of the story as they started interacting. The author does a good job of creating a mood of despair, sometimes too good as the beginning seemed rather heavy. The ending, however, was filled with unexpected turns and an upbeat finish made this a good read.
January 23, 2011
I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
This book is about three people who are down on their luck due to circumstances outside of their control. It supports the old saying that life isn’t fair. Dave, who has grown up believing in the “American Dream”, has his world turned upside down when he gets laid off from his job as a computer programmer when his company decides to outsource his job. He can’t believe that his own government is sitting by and knowingly allowing this to happen, and he tries to fight back because he believes this is unfair. Dave quickly realizes is that he is fighting a losing battle. After losing his girlfriend, his car, his house, and his self esteem, Dave meets and moves in with Joe and his daughter Lark. Joe is a former FBI agent who, because of a head injury he sustained, was laid off and had his pension cut. Joe and Lark work odd jobs to try and make ends meet.
Jobless Recovery is a book that will hit close to home for many people. I have friends who have been downsized and are struggling to get by while looking to find new jobs that just don’t seem to be out there. This story was gut-wrenching and I felt so bad for the characters. It was a very eye opening book, and while it is a work of fiction, it felt so real, as it is a struggle that many Americans are facing today.
This book is about three people who are down on their luck due to circumstances outside of their control. It supports the old saying that life isn’t fair. Dave, who has grown up believing in the “American Dream”, has his world turned upside down when he gets laid off from his job as a computer programmer when his company decides to outsource his job. He can’t believe that his own government is sitting by and knowingly allowing this to happen, and he tries to fight back because he believes this is unfair. Dave quickly realizes is that he is fighting a losing battle. After losing his girlfriend, his car, his house, and his self esteem, Dave meets and moves in with Joe and his daughter Lark. Joe is a former FBI agent who, because of a head injury he sustained, was laid off and had his pension cut. Joe and Lark work odd jobs to try and make ends meet.
Jobless Recovery is a book that will hit close to home for many people. I have friends who have been downsized and are struggling to get by while looking to find new jobs that just don’t seem to be out there. This story was gut-wrenching and I felt so bad for the characters. It was a very eye opening book, and while it is a work of fiction, it felt so real, as it is a struggle that many Americans are facing today.
January 30, 2012
"Jobless Recovery" reminded me of M.P. McDonald’s book "No Good Deed" (the first of her Mark Taylor series). This comparison isn’t because these books are the same or the authors writing style are similar (neither is true), but that both stories are thrillers with a strong political message buried in the story. Each puts the reader in a position that they hope to never experience and by doing so forces them to consider the issues from a different point of view.
Beyond that, any comparison falls apart. The position the characters in "Jobless Recovery" find they are in is much more likely. Chances are you know someone who has suddenly found themselves unable to work like Joe Tremaine or someone who worked for a company that outsourced their job to an offshore company, like Dave Griffin. Maybe it has happened to you.
"Jobless Recovery" is a entertaining, fast-paced thriller. Read it for the entertainment value, but when you’re done reading think about the picture it paints and what is wrong with this picture. Then do what you can to change it.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
Beyond that, any comparison falls apart. The position the characters in "Jobless Recovery" find they are in is much more likely. Chances are you know someone who has suddenly found themselves unable to work like Joe Tremaine or someone who worked for a company that outsourced their job to an offshore company, like Dave Griffin. Maybe it has happened to you.
"Jobless Recovery" is a entertaining, fast-paced thriller. Read it for the entertainment value, but when you’re done reading think about the picture it paints and what is wrong with this picture. Then do what you can to change it.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
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