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The Pajama Game
When Moxie Brecker chose her kicky nickname back in college, it suited her perfectly. But now she feels it's one big misnomer. After graduation, she set out to command her own seventh-grade science class and was stunned to find the job too challenging. She didn't have the energy necessary to get a roomful of pre-teens excited about atoms, and she never felt like herself, so she handed in her chalk and lesson plans. Stumped about where to turn next, she followed the advice of her best friend Gerard and took a job folding underthings at the chain lingerie store in the mall. She's got plenty at home to distract her, including her neighbor, Steven Tyler (no, not that Stephen Tyler) and the kindly septuagenarian Joe, who runs the joke shop downstairs, but she spends her days languishing in the store. Though she feels tired and just out of it physically, she still gets bored steaming peignoir sets, protecting the thong table from shoplifters, and readjusting bras straps for hours on end. Maybe that's why, when a handsome guy named Allan starts hanging around the store for little chats, Moxie sees hope on the horizon. Maybe, just maybe, her employee discount won't go to waste for much longer…
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
5 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Eugénie Seifer Olson
5 books1 followerEugénie Seifer Olson is an American-born author of three books. Raised in Verona, New Jersey, Eugénie has lived in several locations on the Eastern Seaboard including Princeton, Philadelphia and Boston. She currently lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her husband David, their two cats, Kiddun and Loki, and their fish, Lulu.
Eugénie's first book, Babe in Toyland released in March 2004 from Avon, follows Toby Morris, a twenty-five-year-old working in a toy company who falls for her handsome weatherman, J.P. Cody. Her second, The Pajama Game, was released a year later in March, 2005 (Avon). The Pajama Game is a story about Moxie Brecker, an ex-science teacher gone lingerie store employee who is bored with her job and just about everything else. Moxie deals with an attractive repeat customer, disappointment, and depression, although the story remains humorous and enjoyable. Her third and most recent book, Love in the Time of Tafetta (Avon, March 2006) is about Iley Gilbert, a struggling photographer, and her encounter with her married boss, William.
Eugénie's first book, Babe in Toyland released in March 2004 from Avon, follows Toby Morris, a twenty-five-year-old working in a toy company who falls for her handsome weatherman, J.P. Cody. Her second, The Pajama Game, was released a year later in March, 2005 (Avon). The Pajama Game is a story about Moxie Brecker, an ex-science teacher gone lingerie store employee who is bored with her job and just about everything else. Moxie deals with an attractive repeat customer, disappointment, and depression, although the story remains humorous and enjoyable. Her third and most recent book, Love in the Time of Tafetta (Avon, March 2006) is about Iley Gilbert, a struggling photographer, and her encounter with her married boss, William.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 3, 2020
I've been reading some older books that I've had on my shelves. This was just ok for me so I couldn't give it a better rating. Not all books are for everyone and others may enjoy this.
March 17, 2012
When I picked up this novel I expected it to be some light, chick lit reading. It was light, it was quick, but there was an underlying plot that the author did not want to giveaway and therefore the mystery of what the point of the novel was remained a mystery until about 80% through, though the reader (me) knew there was something going on.
Plot: Former teacher Moxie leaves because she’s depressed and starts peddling panties, hence the title of the book. She really could have worked anywhere, but I supposed lingerie was more fun.
Characters: Throughout this Moxie deals with her gay best friend, Gerard, because every sassy woman needs a gay male best friend. The man who lives in an apartment building with the unfortunate name of Steven Tyler, Joe who owns the joke shop, Sue who works at the aquarium Moxie frequents, Mary Alice, her co-worker, and Allan, her crush. Olson works hard to give each character their own subplot that for the most part doesn’t go anywhere.
Throughout the whole story you know there is something wrong with Moxie. All of the subplots seem to be thrown in to distract Moxie so that she won’t think of what is going wrong with her body. She is not depressed, she is sick, and it’s frustrating to see her not that worried about it. She brushes it off, goes through her day-to-day, and the whole time it’s obvious to the reader (me!) that she’s sick but she just lets it go. Of course the title of this novel, the blurb on the back, and the general feel do not give away that this book is actually about a woman suffering through a disease, which is the huge reason it is dropped down. It’s downplayed so much the character doesn’t realize it. It would have been better to find out sooner and have her fighting to deal with it, then find out and suddenly have everything wrapped up in nice, tiny bows. I am glad there is a happy ending, but I was not happy about how this book brought us to this contrived conclusion that made it seem her disease just gave Olson a reason to tell the story on her mind.
Reasons to read this novel:
Interesting Characters
A lot of insight into the world of retail
Quick Read
Reasons not to read this novel:
Pointless, unresolved subplots
The disease is the reason for the story, and it is downplayed
Plot: Former teacher Moxie leaves because she’s depressed and starts peddling panties, hence the title of the book. She really could have worked anywhere, but I supposed lingerie was more fun.
Characters: Throughout this Moxie deals with her gay best friend, Gerard, because every sassy woman needs a gay male best friend. The man who lives in an apartment building with the unfortunate name of Steven Tyler, Joe who owns the joke shop, Sue who works at the aquarium Moxie frequents, Mary Alice, her co-worker, and Allan, her crush. Olson works hard to give each character their own subplot that for the most part doesn’t go anywhere.
Throughout the whole story you know there is something wrong with Moxie. All of the subplots seem to be thrown in to distract Moxie so that she won’t think of what is going wrong with her body. She is not depressed, she is sick, and it’s frustrating to see her not that worried about it. She brushes it off, goes through her day-to-day, and the whole time it’s obvious to the reader (me!) that she’s sick but she just lets it go. Of course the title of this novel, the blurb on the back, and the general feel do not give away that this book is actually about a woman suffering through a disease, which is the huge reason it is dropped down. It’s downplayed so much the character doesn’t realize it. It would have been better to find out sooner and have her fighting to deal with it, then find out and suddenly have everything wrapped up in nice, tiny bows. I am glad there is a happy ending, but I was not happy about how this book brought us to this contrived conclusion that made it seem her disease just gave Olson a reason to tell the story on her mind.
Reasons to read this novel:
Interesting Characters
A lot of insight into the world of retail
Quick Read
Reasons not to read this novel:
Pointless, unresolved subplots
The disease is the reason for the story, and it is downplayed
February 27, 2013
This book is a snooze-fest. The first ever book that took me so long to finish.
It was really, really boring (no offense to the author). INCREDIBLY BOOOOORING! It is the kind of book that will make you sleep and when you wake up, you will not be able to remember what's it about. Although the cover and the chapter names are cute but it doesn't make up for the dull story. It is pointless. There is not even a climactic part. It is not even a comedy or a humorous book. I don't really get the point of the story. It is like the author wants to put everything together, like that weird illness, this girl who was a science teacher before but now works in a lingerie store, the married guy, etc. Nothing is happening. It was not an organize book for me. If you want to read this, it is not worth your money. Might as well borrow it from the library or a friend.
One of the books, that I might say, has a very deceiving cover.
Read more HERE
It was really, really boring (no offense to the author). INCREDIBLY BOOOOORING! It is the kind of book that will make you sleep and when you wake up, you will not be able to remember what's it about. Although the cover and the chapter names are cute but it doesn't make up for the dull story. It is pointless. There is not even a climactic part. It is not even a comedy or a humorous book. I don't really get the point of the story. It is like the author wants to put everything together, like that weird illness, this girl who was a science teacher before but now works in a lingerie store, the married guy, etc. Nothing is happening. It was not an organize book for me. If you want to read this, it is not worth your money. Might as well borrow it from the library or a friend.
One of the books, that I might say, has a very deceiving cover.
Read more HERE
February 11, 2012
Rebecca Brecker alias Becky alias Bex memang suka gonta-ganti nama. Tapi saat melihat iklan minuman Moxie, ia tahu itulah nama yang tepat. "Moxie" mengesankan sosok yang energik dan percaya diri persis seperti yang Moxie butuhkan. Hidup pun berjalan lancar, atau setidaknya begitu untuk sementara. Lalu segalanya berantakan.
Tanpa alasan, Moxie tiba-tiba merasa cepat lelah dan mudah sedih. Ia pun memutuskan berganti pekerjaan, menjadi pramuniaga toko lingerie. Di antara tugas menyortir dan melipat pakaian dalam, Moxie butuh tantangan baru. Lalu masuklah Allan ke tokonya, dan Moxie tahu ia mendapatkan kembali "moxie"-nya.
Kehadiran Allan membuat hidup Moxie lebih berwarna. Tapi terkadang kita hanya melihat apa yang ingin kita lihat. Dan selalu ada sisi lain yang tidak kita ketahui. Saat kebenaran menampakkan wujud aslinya, Moxie tahu ia tak perlu jauh-jauh mencari kebahagiaan.
Review oleh Gramedia.
Tanpa alasan, Moxie tiba-tiba merasa cepat lelah dan mudah sedih. Ia pun memutuskan berganti pekerjaan, menjadi pramuniaga toko lingerie. Di antara tugas menyortir dan melipat pakaian dalam, Moxie butuh tantangan baru. Lalu masuklah Allan ke tokonya, dan Moxie tahu ia mendapatkan kembali "moxie"-nya.
Kehadiran Allan membuat hidup Moxie lebih berwarna. Tapi terkadang kita hanya melihat apa yang ingin kita lihat. Dan selalu ada sisi lain yang tidak kita ketahui. Saat kebenaran menampakkan wujud aslinya, Moxie tahu ia tak perlu jauh-jauh mencari kebahagiaan.
Review oleh Gramedia.
June 24, 2009
Moxie Brecker semula seorang guru, tapi ngerasa ga mampu membimbing muridnya, karena dy jadi sering capek, ngerasa tertekan, lemah lesu dll.
Akhirnya memutuskan bekerja di tempat yang ga butuh "otak", sebagai asisten manajer di toko lingerie.
Meskipun begitu, tetep aja dy ga merasa bahagia, dan konsultasi ke psikiater tetep ga membantu.
Makin lama kondisi Moxie tambah parah, sendinya sering sakit, jari2 bengkak, sering demam. Psikiaternya nganggap Moxie depresi berat dan meminta meminum obat2an yang ditolak.
Ternyata bukan depresi sodara-sodara.. setelah penyakit Moxie yang sebenarnya ketahuan, barulah Moxie bisa menata hidupnya..
Endingnya sih agak ngegampangin, Moxie dapet rejeki nomplok, jadi ga mesti kerja nyari duit lagi.
Yah namanya juga chiklit.. harus hepi ending kan yaa
Akhirnya memutuskan bekerja di tempat yang ga butuh "otak", sebagai asisten manajer di toko lingerie.
Meskipun begitu, tetep aja dy ga merasa bahagia, dan konsultasi ke psikiater tetep ga membantu.
Makin lama kondisi Moxie tambah parah, sendinya sering sakit, jari2 bengkak, sering demam. Psikiaternya nganggap Moxie depresi berat dan meminta meminum obat2an yang ditolak.
Ternyata bukan depresi sodara-sodara.. setelah penyakit Moxie yang sebenarnya ketahuan, barulah Moxie bisa menata hidupnya..
Endingnya sih agak ngegampangin, Moxie dapet rejeki nomplok, jadi ga mesti kerja nyari duit lagi.
Yah namanya juga chiklit.. harus hepi ending kan yaa
December 22, 2010
The story was entertaining, but the writing style was difficult for me to appreciate at times. Particularly at the beginning, it seemed like the author was going overboard describing everything with tons of adjectives and other qualifiers, but I think it got better by the end. Either that, or I just got used to it.
Read
July 7, 2021This is not chick lit. This is almost chick lit, but not a tale about a woman working in the publishing world or a woman in New York trying to find love. Instead, this book takes a piece of the retail industry and a piece of medical malady and combines it for a fun and sometimes serious story, woven together skillfully and interestingly.
July 11, 2007
Cute and girly read a friend picked up on a discount shelf. Definitely not the best book I ever read but easy to get through.
June 10, 2008
i really didn't like this book. the pacing was too slow and the romance part was what i was waiting for, and it didn't come until the last chapters of the book.
June 9, 2008
Very slow read, and not that entertaining.
April 18, 2009
A litle different than normal chick lit - I liked the fact that the heroine's issues were a bit uncommon and not all guy related. Plus it is always interesting to see Boston captured in fiction.
September 22, 2011
The story is about disease and how to survive through it.
December 27, 2014
483 - 2012
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews