A book with a protagonist that has your occupation (see also The Jobs Folder)

[Kirsten]

I don't know. I remember reading a series where a woman runs a grant or raise money for charity. It was by Nancy Pickard

[Jane]

I'm a university student (history and film theory) but I'm also an actor who makes money teaching dance so I guess there's lots of options. Any suggestions?

[Nadine in NY]

Jane wrote: "I'm a university student (history and film theory) but I'm also an actor who makes money teaching dance so I guess there's lots of options. Any suggestions?"

Many of the characters in Station Eleven are actors (and I LOVED this book this year!).

And three books I did not love (but everyone loves different things, so maybe one of these will do it for you):
* Fates and Furies - starts off with Lancelot & Mathilde meeting in college (well, it really starts before college for Lancelot), Lancelot acts in a college production of Hamlet, and then Lancelot (tries to) become an actor, and then later he becomes a successful playwright.
* The Diviners - paranormal YA set in 1920s NYC, one of the characters is a dancer in a Ziegfeld Follies type group
* Wondrous Strange - paranormal (fairies) YA set in modern-day NYC, the protagonist (as well as several other main characters) is acting in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream

And another book I loved that has only a weak link to dance instructor: In the Woods - the murder victim was a young ballet student, her ballet instructor is interviewed briefly. But really all the main characters are police investigators and archaeologists.

[Fannie]

I'm gonna ask for some suggestions too. I work in a college as a lab technician.

[Nadine in NY]

Fannie wrote: "I'm gonna ask for some suggestions too. I work in a college as a lab technician."

What kind of lab? This one is a reach, but it is written by a Cornell physics professor, a sci-fi / murder mystery about a murdered Cornell professor, and has scenes in a bio lab (the story revolves - haha, spirals! - around fungi): Spiral - I read it long ago and can't remember if Jake or Maggie were lab techs for the murdered professor, but I remember they search his lab for clues at one point.

[Fannie]

Nadine wrote: "Fannie wrote: "I'm gonna ask for some suggestions too. I work in a college as a lab technician."

What kind of lab? This one is a reach, but it is written by a Cornell physics professor, a sci-fi /..."

Wow! Thanks a lot. I work in a chemistry lab, but I used to work in bio so I guess that'll work.

[Claire]

I'm looking for suggestions too. I work in finance in the energy sector - specifically renewable's and energy efficiency. But I'm not having much luck finding books for either the finance side or the energy side. (Bonus if the book isn't a monster in size - I read sloooow)

[Ronni]

Fannie wrote: "I'm gonna ask for some suggestions too. I work in a college as a lab technician."

If you work in a chemistry lab, I think the Flavia deLuce series (first book: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie) by Alan Bradley could work. She may just be a kid, but she has quite the lab.

[Ronni]

Luisa wrote: "Nadine wrote: "I found an engineer book!! (Just in case someone else needs one, too.) I mentioned the Challenge to some coworkers, and one immediately said "The Engineer Trilogy!" (and with a name ..."

Hmm ... it's not exactly the same, but for computing work, you could read the graphic novel The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer. I haven't read it - I got the rec from the graphic novel thread!

[Lindsay]

I'm going to ask for help, too..

Any suggestions for books that have a barista as the protagonist? :)

[Nadine in NY]

Lindsay wrote: "I'm going to ask for help, too..

Any suggestions for books that have a barista as the protagonist? :)"

I didn't particularly love this book, but YES, the male protagonist is a barista!! Free to Fall He's really more of a supporting role, the main character is the young woman, and he (the barista) is sort of a sidekick/love interest. This is a YA dystopian set in a world in which everyone is tethered to their smartphones, and apps tell you what choices to make about everything, and of course the heroine discovers nefarious intent behind this app.

[Tara]

Nadine that dystopia sounds all too familiar

[Megan]

There is a barista in A Little Something Different

[Amy]

Sara wrote: "Or a Chemist!! I'm hoping to find a cozy mystery with a nerdy chemist as the protagonist who stumbles across things a la Murder She Wrote!!"

Have you read the Flavia de Luce series of books? She is a child, but she loves chemistry and uses it to solve mysteries. They are not children's books--maybe YA, and I've been enjoying them.

[Amy]

I'm a non-profit director, missionary, orphanage director, teacher, and mother. Any ideas for me?? LOL

[Juanita]

Sandra: I think President Carter and Rosalynn Carter wrote a book about Habitat for Humanity years ago.

[Monica]

Amy, how about a book about either Albert Schweitzer or Mother Teresa?

[Alice]

I'm a dental student! Any ideas of books whose protagonist is a dentist?

An option I'm considering is Joshua Ferris - To Rise Again at a Decent Hour :)

[Nadine in NY]

Amy wrote: "I'm a non-profit director, missionary, orphanage director, teacher, and mother. Any ideas for me?? LOL"

The Poisonwood Bible is the first thing that springs to mind for missionaries. Also At Play in the Fields of the Lord.

Not sure how you feel about romance novels ... there are A LOT of historical romances that have protagonists running orphanages. Look at the Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt (Wicked Intentions)

[Rachel]

This one's really hard for me. Officially, I have a psychology degree and I am trained as a Child and Youth Worker. I'm currently working in a day program with young adults who have special needs. My role is similar enough to teaching or even social work, so I'd be open to either of those as well.

The closest book I could find was The Miracle Worker, but I would love to find another book about a teacher for children/adults with special needs. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be happy to check them out.

[Tara]

Torey Hayden writes wonderful books about her experiences as a psychologist/teacher working with children with more mental/psychological than physical issues but they are amazing. Ghost Girl is a personal favourite

[Rachel]

Tara wrote: "Torey Hayden writes wonderful books about her experiences as a psychologist/teacher working with children with more mental/psychological than physical issues but they are amazing. Ghost Girl is a p..."

Thanks, I'll take a look. Many of the participants in my program have anxiety disorders, etc. so it definitely relates. I always thought Torey Hayden's books were mostly about foster kids/abuse.

[Tara]

Many of them are abused/foster children. And I haven't read all of her books so maybe more are "about" that. And definitely a lot of her kids' issues stem from abuse (ghost girl and another one are about selective mutism and others have anxiety and/or behaviour problems stemming from abuse, neglect and/or abandonment issues. But the crux of the ones I've read was her teaching/ treating them.

[Tara]

Also her students tend to be younger, so I don't think you'd find any about adults.

[Kitty]

A book about a waitress? I'm sure they must be out there, but I am drawing blanks. I used to be a barista, and for that you can read the 'How Starbucks saved my life'book by Michael Gates Gill, as it is about a Starbucks barista. But I already read that so I don't want to read it again.

[Mindy]

Rachel -- Circle of Children by McCracken would be a great choice.

Kitty -- It's a YA but a good one: Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

[Mindy]

I work in a library as a cataloger, but I'm not a librarian. I'm going to read The Borrower by Makkai, nonetheless. People think everybody who works in a library is a librarian anyway. haha

[Laura]

Looking for a book for my occupation: a buyer at an aerospace company. I'm going to say there is little to no chance of finding an exact fit. I'd be happy to find a book about a business woman!

[Anniina]

I'm a doctor. I was thinking about reading The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande, although it's more like a hospital administration book written by a physician, so not sure if it counts? Any other good doctor-books out there?

Kitty -- Sookie Stackhouse is a waitress/barmaid, if you're interested in the genre.

[Nadine in NY]

Alice wrote: "I'm a dental student! Any ideas of books whose protagonist is a dentist?

An option I'm considering is Joshua Ferris - To Rise Again at a Decent Hour :)"

My cousin is a dentist, too, so I thought I'd poke around a bit to see what I could find. There are some weird books about dentists!

The one that got the most hits was the one you mentioned: To Rise Again at a Decent Hour

Other books that popped up:
McTeague (this one looks dark and wrenching)
Prostho Plus (Piers Anthony - dentist captured by aliens)
Demon Dentist (kid's book)
Death of a Dentist (in this case the dentist is a murder victim)
Death Sits in the Dentist's Chair (this one is really short, and the dental patient is the one who dies)
The Dentist of Auschwitz: A Memoir
Blood Memory (a mystery featuring a forensic odontologist who has to get her life in order)

and, finally, the only book I've actually read on this list, the classic children's stories by William Steig: Doctor De Soto and the harder to find sequel Doctor De Soto Goes to Africa Book and Tape They're pretty short and probably not what you want, but no list of dental stories can be complete without Doctor DeSoto :-)

[Tara]

Not a protagonist but there is a dentist (orthodontist) character in Handle With Care by Jodie Picoult

[Jana]

Anniina wrote: "I'm a doctor. I was thinking about reading The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande, although it's more like a hospital administration book written by a physician, so not sure if it counts? Any othe..."

I would recommend A Country Doctor's Notebook

[Tara]

I didn't actually like it lol but cutting for stone is about a doctor :)

[Katie]

Laura, I also work for an aerospace company! I do configuration management, so I know I'm not going to find a book for that. I'm struggling with figuring out how to interpret it so I can find a book that fits. Maybe anything where the person works in aerospace (without being an astronaut)?

[Rachel]

Kristin wrote: "I currently work in elder care, but my background is in mental health and I will be going back to school for nursing. Any suggestions for elder care? If not, I'll go with mental health or nursing."

I haven't read it yet, but there's a book called Life After Life that talks about the staff and residents in a nursing home.

[Tara]

There's a book called swimming lessons about a former Olympic swimmer who teaches a friend to swim

[Tara]

http://www.seahiker.com/5-swimming-bo...

A couple of these might also work :)

[Alice]

Nadine wrote: "Alice wrote: "I'm a dental student! Any ideas of books whose protagonist is a dentist?

An option I'm considering is Joshua Ferris - To Rise Again at a Decent Hour :)"

My cousin is a dentist, too,..."

Thankyou so much! :)

[Tara]

There are a few suggestions further back in this thread and a thread open in the jobs folder :)

[Nadine in NY]

Monkiecat wrote: "I think I must be the last housewife left on the planet... anyone have a suggestion for a novel about a kickass stay-at-home mom? lol" In A Bad Day for Pretty (which is the sequel to A Bad Day for Sorry), which is a sort of askew murder mystery featuring a fantastically kickass 40-something woman, her investigating partner is a stay at home mom with a little boy. (in the first book, the little boy is kidnapped as part of the plot)

[Amy]

Nadine wrote: "Amy wrote: "I'm a non-profit director, missionary, orphanage director, teacher, and mother. Any ideas for me?? LOL"

The Poisonwood Bible is the first thing that springs to mind for mis..."

I've read The Poisonwood Bible. As I am also the daughter of a missionary that was a particularly tough read.

I'll check on At Play in the Fields of the Lord. That looks intriguing. Taking a hard look at what we do and the impact it has on the world is always a good thing.

Thanks!

[Sara]

Amy wrote: "Have you read the Flavia de Luce series of books? She is a child, but she loves chemistry and uses it to solve mysteries. They are not children's books--maybe YA, and I've been enjoying them. "

I had heard of them, but I didn't know what they were about. Thanks Amy! I think I will use this instead for my book :)

[Elke]

Katie wrote: "Laura, I also work for an aerospace company! I do configuration management, so I know I'm not going to find a book for that."

Is configuration management like a kind of project management? That would give you a wider field.
And heck yeah, aerospace! And why not an astronaut?

I am also thinking about how to creatively interpret my current job that is somewhere between Quality Assurance and Customer Support, so I am looking for things my job has in common with other jobs.

[Elke]

Kitty wrote: "A book about a waitress? I'm sure they must be out there, but I am drawing blanks."

I did a Google search for "book waitress" and found several titles that sound good. Oh look, and Goodreads even has a whole shelf for "waitress":
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

[Elke]

Fannie wrote: "I'm gonna ask for some suggestions too. I work in a college as a lab technician."

How about The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis? It's a time-travel story, where the protagonists work in a time-travel lab at Oxford:
www.goodreads.com/book/show/24983.Doo...
This also lets you check off the sci-fi category :-)

[Woond]

Megan wrote: "Looking for suggestions for a character that is a secretary...I feel like this should be easy but I'm drawing a blank."

Megan wrote: "Looking for suggestions for a character that is a secretary...I feel like this should be easy but I'm drawing a blank."j

Well, that sounds pretty easy although I know that sometimes we can get a little fussy when we're looking for a good book to read (I really know it, I do it myself ;-) ) I myself can highly recommend you Storm and Silence by Rob Thier, It's kind of unusual, I guess, because it's a wattpad book and it's not already published (even though i think it's gonna be published this year, hope so) and some people are not into that ''reading online'' bussiness but it's a really enthralling book with a lot of fun and cliffhangers you just won't be able to stop reading. It's a really refreshing book in comparison with the ones that are published this times and, although I can't promise you will get out safe from it (It's really catching!!!) I would give it a try. Good luck!!!

[Woond]

Dentistry xD sorry but I don't think I'll remotely find that. Any idea? Please?

[Nadine in NY]

Monica scroll up a bit, there were some dentist books mentioned! Have fun picking one. :-)

[Solana]

How about Waiting: The True Confessions of a Waitress. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... It's like the Kitchen Confidential version of waiting tables. Katherine wrote: "My current job is a bartender (server/busser would work, too, though), but I just graduated this year with my MA in counseling, so a therapist would work, as well. Any suggestions?"

[Nicole]

I'm having a hard time finding a book with a school counselor as a protagonist. Please help, I'm open to anything! Thanks! :)