07 - A book where the main character works at your current or dream job

[Natalia]

Any books about plant store owners?

[Fannie]

I think I'm going with astronaut with that one. That was my dream job between 7 and 17 years old.

[Tara]

I am a university professor, so anyone know a fiction book for me?

[Teri]

Emma wrote: "Any ideas for books about music or musicians? Singers, choirmasters, anything like that. I teach music (which is my dream job), so I'm after something music-related for this prompt!"

If you like mysteries, Gerald Elias has a series about a blind violin teacher that is quite good.

[Robin H-R]

Natalia wrote: "Any books about plant store owners?"

Weekend Warriors

One of the main characters owns a flower shop

[Teri]

Fannie wrote: "I think I'm going with astronaut with that one. That was my dream job between 7 and 17 years old."

I recommend The Calculating Stars.

[Robin H-R]

Tara wrote: "I am a university professor, so anyone know a fiction book for me?"

If you like historical fiction, try
A Plague on Both Your Houses

It is set at medieval Cambridge and the main character teaches medicine. Very Good!

[Teri]

Tara wrote: "I am a university professor, so anyone know a fiction book for me?"

A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood
Angels & Demons or any of the other Robert Langdon books by Dan Brown

Can't think of anything current.

[Robin H-R]

Victoria wrote: "My current job is boring, my dream job is working in a stable or at a zoo."

Try this one:
That Bear Ate My Pants: A Hilarious Travel Memoir... with Teeth and Claws!

The author volunteered at an animal rescue in Ecuador and it's great.

[Alicja]

Alex wrote: "My current (and dream) job is so specific, I'm afraid I might not find a book with an MC that holds that same title! I'm a UX designer, and I'm not sure a book featuring that job even exists.

My o..."

Mr. Penumbra's is good!

[Alicja]

Samantha wrote: "I work in a hotel so I think I'm going with Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality"

I used to work at a hotel and I enjoyed this book!

[Alicja]

Samantha wrote: "Anyone have any recommendations where the main character is a school counselor? Every time I do a search, I just come across children's books - helpful for my job, not helpful for this challenge. :..."
I saw Ordinary People mentioned when I was looking for books about counselors (I'm in a niche field too - voc rehab counselor.) Have not read this book, but it seems like the main character kid went to therapy.

[Alicja]

Natalia wrote: "Any books about plant store owners?"

If you don't mind romance Bed of Roses

[Irene]

I would really have loved to be a spinning instructor (SoulCycle, Peloton, that sort of work). I can’t seem to find books - I know it’s very particular.
Anyone has a suggestion?

[Heather L]

Natalia wrote: "Any books about plant store owners?"

There’s a cozy mystery series by Kate Collins that features a florist. First book is Mum's the Word.

[Liz]

I remember one of the main characters in Big Little Lies was a bookkeeper, if that helps anyone.

[Arielle]

Tara wrote: "I am a university professor, so anyone know a fiction book for me?"

I also teach at a college, and found this list. Maybe there will be something on it that you like.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

[Arielle]

Tara wrote: "I am a university professor, so anyone know a fiction book for me?"

I also read this for the 2019 Challenge and it was an interesting:

Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

[Lisa]

Samantha wrote: "Anyone have any recommendations where the main character is a school counselor? Every time I do a search, I just come across children's books - helpful for my job, not helpful for this challenge. :..."

The book I just finished had a main character who wants to be a school counselor and applies for a job as one. Does that count? It's Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis.

[Melody]

Sandra wrote: "I work as a software developer. Does anyone have any suggestions?"

I'm not sure how different the jobs are or if this would qualify, but one of the two protagonists in New Waves by Kevin Nguyen is a programmer.

On a more fantastical note, I believe the protagonist of Ted Chiang's The Lifecycle of Software Objects is a software developer.

[Hillary]

Sandra wrote: "I work as a software developer. Does anyone have any suggestions?"

The main character in The Boyfriend Project is an app developer; I think that's pretty similar

[Hillary]

Some fun dream jobs from recent reads

Queen/Princess - American Royals and the sequel Majesty
Matchmaker - Playing with Matches
Assistant to a pop star - Limelight
Spy - The Alice Network
Antique furniture appraiser - A Paris Apartment
Admissions counselor - Small Admissions
Stylist - The Wedding Party

[Brynn]

Lynn wrote: "For me, a book store owner: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend or The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.

What is your dream job? Or your current job? What book has a co..."
I also chose a bookstore owner, Lydia in American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.

[Ruby]

Current job- middle school teacher. My dream job owning my own cafe/bakery or having an Etsy shop where can sell knitted/sewn items. Suggestions?

Edit: actually I just remembered at some point I also dreamed about being a librarian.

[Hearing_girl]

Hmmm. I work in public health (and love my job!), but after this year, I don't want to read anything pandemic-related. Any nice, soothing books about public-health bureaucrats who do long-term problem-solving mostly from behind a desk?

[Leah]

Any books about a book editor? Believe it or not, that's a hard Google search, haha.

[Beth]

Tara wrote: "I am a university professor, so anyone know a fiction book for me?"

Dan Brown's character Robert Langdon is a professor

[Heather L]

Leah wrote: "Any books about a book editor? Believe it or not, that's a hard Google search, haha."

There’s a cozy series that features a lit agent, would that be close enough? The series is by Lucy Arlington, first book is Buried in a Book.

There’s also a series by Julia Buckley featuring a writer’s apprentice. First book is A Dark and Stormy Murder.

[Heather L]

"Tara wrote: "I am a university professor, so anyone know a fiction book for me?"

* The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

* Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod, first book in the Peter Shandy series

* The Square Root of Murder by Camille Minichino (orig. published under Ada Madison)

[poppy]

Does anyone know any fiction book with filmmakers? Could be anyone who works in the film industry, I haven't found any.

[Drakeryn]

Here's some dramatic dream jobs:

- Assassin: Jhereg
- Cat (being a cat is a GREAT job and these cats take it very seriously): For He Can Creep, Varjak Paw
- Cavalier and/or necromancer: Gideon the Ninth
- Criminal mastermind: Six of Crows, The Gilded Wolves, The Lies of Locke Lamora
- Demon hunter: City of Bones and the rest of the Shadowhunter books
- King: King of Scars (would also work for spy or royal mage)
- Mage: A Darker Shade of Magic (royal mage), The Poppy War (military mage)
- Murderbot: All Systems Red
- Paladin: Paladin's Grace
- Revolutionary: The Final Empire
- Supervillain: Vicious

And some more regular jobs:

- Bookstore owner: Carter & Lovecraft
- Film director: Radiance
- Librarian: Strange the Dreamer
- Linguist: The Library at Mount Char
- Teacher: Senlin Ascends, Permafrost, Confessions

[Drakeryn]

Paula wrote: "Does anyone know any fiction book with filmmakers? Could be anyone who works in the film industry, I haven't found any."

I mentioned this but it might be kinda buried in my post, so: Catherynne Valente's Radiance is about a famous director, Severin, and her father, who is also a director. It's told in document format, so you get excerpts from documentaries, film clips, interviews and journal entries from movie stars, etc.


Kelly wrote: "Can anyone think of books where the character works in a museum?"

If you're into urban fantasy, the main character of Kraken works at London’s Natural History Museum.

[Ellie]

Leah wrote: "Any books about a book editor? Believe it or not, that's a hard Google search, haha."

The Other Black Girl is out next year and the blurb says they are editorial assistants. The main character in The Flatshare works in publishing but I think she's in publicity, I can't remember now.

[poshpenny]

Leah wrote: "Any books about a book editor? Believe it or not, that's a hard Google search, haha."

Magpie Murders
Moonflower Murders
The Eighth Detective

[poshpenny]

Paula wrote: "Does anyone know any fiction book with filmmakers? Could be anyone who works in the film industry, I haven't found any."

Newer
Plain Bad Heroines
Interior Chinatown
The Electric Hotel
The Fade Out: The Complete Collection
Penny Nichols
Design for Dying

Older
The Player
The Last Tycoon
The Day of the Locust
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Moving Pictures

Novelizations of Reality
The Only Woman in the Room
The Girls in the Picture
West of Sunset

Anthony Horowitz is an actual screenwriter (more for TV than movies) who wrote himself in as a sidekick to the detective in these books, which I really enjoyed
The Word Is Murder
The Sentence is Death

[Nancy]

Ellie wrote: "Microserfs' protag is a software tester (Goodreads says he's a dev but pfft), basically the only known novel to have my profession in it! JPod is a bit more modern and about game devs."

Ellie I'm a software tester too! I have Microserfs on my TBR, last time we had this prompt (without the dream job part) I read one with a character who works at a software company. I still haven't decided if I'm doing Microserfs or going with the dream job aspect and reading about a librarian.

[Heather]

Danielle wrote: "If anybody has any reccs for someone that works in the fast food industry then let me know xD"

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's
McDonald's: Behind The Arches

[Heather]

Kelly wrote: "Can anyone think of books where the character works in a museum?"

What about a book about art/precious items theft? There are a ton of options.
Or, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

[poshpenny]

Megan wrote: "Don't forget about our Jobs folder that we have from the 2016 challenge which was Book where the character has your occupation. Still might find some good rec's there!

https://www.goodreads.com/to..."


Ya know, I've had this little, persistant feeling in the back of my mind all year that I should be logging books I read in the jobs and locations folders in case they came up again, but I didn't do it. I'm playing in there now, though! Weeeee!!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

[Agne]

I work at an university as an administrator of studies... no idea what to read....
Maybe something about person who works with students, but isn't a professor?

[Kristy]

Harmke wrote: "I have a great job at a local municipality. Any suggestions on that?"

How about 1984

[Rachel]

Non Fiction

Medical/ Health Care professional
Unnatural Causes: The Life and Many Deaths of Britain's Top Forensic Pathologists by Richard Shepherd
The Prison Doctor by Amanda Brown
Hard Pushed: A Midwife’s Story by Leah Hazard
Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh
Fragile Lives: A Heart Surgeon’s Stories of Life and Death on the Operating Table by Stephen Westaby
Emergency Admissions: Memoirs of an Ambulance Driver by Kit Wharton
Life in His Hands; the True Story of a Neurosurgeon and a Pianist by Susan Wyndham
This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay

Journalist-
Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink
The Angel of Grozny: Orphans of a Forgotten War by Asne Seierstad

Musician
The Pianist: The Extraordinary Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939–45 by Wladyslaw Szpilman

Royalty
My Husband and I: The Inside Story of 70 Years of the Royal Marriage by Ingrid Seward
Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words by Andrew Morton
Queen Victoria: Daughter, Wife, Mother, Widow by Lucy Worsley

Politician
What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Churchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts
Jacinda Ardern: A New Kind of Leader by Madeleine Chapman
Jo Cox: More in Common by Brendan Cox

Fashion designer
The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe by Angela Kelly

Chef
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook by Anthony Bourdain
Spilling the Beans by Clarissa Dickson Wright

Sport/ Athlete
Open by Andre Agassi

Vet
Listening to the Animals: Becoming the Supervet by Noel Fitzpatrick

Lawyer
The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken
In Your Defence: Stories of Life and Law by Sarah Langford
Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee

Police officer
Catching a Serial Killer: My hunt for murderer Christopher Halliwell by Stephen Fulcher
The Secret: A shocking true story of adultery and murder by Deric Henderson

[Ellie]

Nancy wrote: Ellie I'm a software tester too! I have Microserfs on my TBR, last time we had this prompt (without the dream job part) I read one with a character who works at a software company..."

I found it quite dated when I read it in 2009, so I'm not sure if it will have aged well, but it was fun to see a tester in a novel at least. I'm probably going to pick an unrealistic dream job this time round, thankfully someone at PS was listening to those of us with jobs novelists don't like writing about!

[Melissa]

Alison wrote: "Any good books about a photographer or a rock star? Preferably fiction..."

Daisy Jones & The Six! Get the audio version.

[Melissa]

For anyone in fundraising/development, I highly recommend The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. So good.

[Leah]

Heather L wrote: "Leah wrote: "Any books about a book editor? Believe it or not, that's a hard Google search, haha."

There’s a cozy series that features a lit agent, would that be close enough? The series is by Luc..."

Oh a lit agent also sounds fun! Thank you!

[Leah]

poshpenny wrote: "Leah wrote: "Any books about a book editor? Believe it or not, that's a hard Google search, haha."

Magpie Murders
Moonflower Murders
[book:The Eighth Detective|53..."

Oh wow The Eighth Detective sounds awesome. Thank you!

[poshpenny]

Emma wrote: "Any ideas for books about music or musicians? Singers, choirmasters, anything like that. I teach music (which is my dream job), so I'm after something music-related for this prompt!"

Grown
Bel Canto
We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep
A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing
The Subtweet
Echo
I'll Be the One

[gretah]

For this prompt, I need to find a book where the main character is a pharmacist or works in a laboratory specifically manufacturing medicines. Does anyone have any good recommendations?

[Lilia]

Does anyone have know any books where the character is an author? I feel like this shouldn’t be too difficult, since I could possibly read an author’s memoir