Fiction_L Archives Unemployed and Middle-Aged Men Dates: 2/5/02,6:38 PM  through  2/6/02,2:02 PM  (9 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to February 2002 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: "Chapple Langemack" <[removed]@kcls.org>
REC'D: 2/5/02, 6:38 PM

Hi all,

I have a patron who is searching for novels that deal with men in his
situation - age 56 and unemployed. He wants literary value he says and
maybe some inspiration. He cited "Coming Up for Air" by George Orwell as
being similar to what he had in mind. He has also read "Mr. Phillips" by
John Lancaster, and enjoyed it but thought it not quite as meaty as he'd
like.

I have a sneaking hunch we've done a similar thread, but wasn't able to find
it in the archives.

Thanks for your help.

Chapple

Chapple Langemack
Reader's Services Coordinator
King County Library System
960 Newport Way NW
Issaquah, WA 98027
425.369.3318
[removed]@kcls.org
www.kcls.org

FROM: julie connoley <[removed]@dpls.lib.or.us>
REC'D: 2/5/02, 8:46 PM

_Human Stain_ by Philip Roth might fit the bill

Julie

-----Original Message-----
From: Chapple Langemack [[removed]@kcls.org]
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 4:38 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Unemployed and Middle-Aged Men


Hi all,

I have a patron who is searching for novels that deal with men in his
situation - age 56 and unemployed. He wants literary value he says and
maybe some inspiration. He cited "Coming Up for Air" by George Orwell as
being similar to what he had in mind. He has also read "Mr. Phillips" by
John Lancaster, and enjoyed it but thought it not quite as meaty as he'd
like.

I have a sneaking hunch we've done a similar thread, but wasn't able to find
it in the archives.

Thanks for your help.

Chapple

Chapple Langemack
Reader's Services Coordinator
King County Library System
960 Newport Way NW
Issaquah, WA 98027
425.369.3318
[removed]@kcls.org
www.kcls.org

FROM: "Helene Golden" <[removed]@sols.org>
REC'D: 2/6/02, 9:06 AM

How about the under-employed? Or the nearly unemployed? Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool comes to mind - very good writing, looking at odd characters with a lot of compassion.

>>> [removed]@kcls.org 02/05/02 07:38PM >>>
Hi all,

I have a patron who is searching for novels that deal with men in his
situation - age 56 and unemployed. He wants literary value he says and
maybe some inspiration. He cited "Coming Up for Air" by George Orwell as
being similar to what he had in mind. He has also read "Mr. Phillips" by
John Lancaster, and enjoyed it but thought it not quite as meaty as he'd
like.

I have a sneaking hunch we've done a similar thread, but wasn't able to find
it in the archives.

Thanks for your help.

Chapple

Chapple Langemack
Reader's Services Coordinator
King County Library System
960 Newport Way NW
Issaquah, WA 98027
425.369.3318
[removed]@kcls.org
www.kcls.org

FROM: Viccy Kemp <[removed]@cityofcarrollton.com>
REC'D: 2/6/02, 11:21 AM

Hello list mates,
In response to Chappie's request, I would like to offer a plea for help
remembering a book which came out within the last two years about a man
(newspaper writer?) who loses his job and begins working as a construction
jockey. Actually, the answer would fulfill two requests: this one and the
recent query about house building (I second the mention of Folly). This book
is non-fiction, but reads like a novel with lots of introspection. Our
patrons like it quite a bit.
TIA
Viccy Kemp
The opinions are my own; the library wouldn't want 'em!

-----Original Message-----
From: Chapple Langemack [[removed]@kcls.org]
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 6:38 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Unemployed and Middle-Aged Men


Hi all,

I have a patron who is searching for novels that deal with men in his
situation - age 56 and unemployed. He wants literary value he says and
maybe some inspiration. He cited "Coming Up for Air" by George Orwell as
being similar to what he had in mind. He has also read "Mr. Phillips" by
John Lancaster, and enjoyed it but thought it not quite as meaty as he'd
like.

I have a sneaking hunch we've done a similar thread, but wasn't able to find
it in the archives.

Thanks for your help.

Chapple

Chapple Langemack
Reader's Services Coordinator
King County Library System
960 Newport Way NW
Issaquah, WA 98027
425.369.3318
[removed]@kcls.org
www.kcls.org

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 2/6/02, 12:15 PM

I believe this is Cliff Walk: a memoir of a job lost and a life found by Don J. Snyder. I think he was an English instructor at Colgate before moving to Maine and working construction.
Second the recommendation.
Betsy White
Saratoga Library
Saratoga, CA

FROM: "Helene Golden" <[removed]@sols.org>
REC'D: 2/6/02, 1:09 PM

Another title comes to mind, but again, not exactly what was requested. The author is William Least Heat Moon, and the book is Blue Highways. Although much younger than the patron at the time, he loses his teaching position and travels the blue highways of the US. A wonderful book.

>>> [removed]@kcls.org 02/05/02 07:38PM >>>
Hi all,

I have a patron who is searching for novels that deal with men in his
situation - age 56 and unemployed. He wants literary value he says and
maybe some inspiration. He cited "Coming Up for Air" by George Orwell as
being similar to what he had in mind. He has also read "Mr. Phillips" by
John Lancaster, and enjoyed it but thought it not quite as meaty as he'd
like.

I have a sneaking hunch we've done a similar thread, but wasn't able to find
it in the archives.

Thanks for your help.

Chapple

Chapple Langemack
Reader's Services Coordinator
King County Library System
960 Newport Way NW
Issaquah, WA 98027
425.369.3318
[removed]@kcls.org
www.kcls.org

FROM: "Cynthia Baskin" <[removed]@verizon.net>
REC'D: 2/6/02, 1:20 PM

How about Captain Saturday by Robert Inman?

Cynthia Baskin

FROM: Suzanne Booker <[removed]@monroe.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 2/6/02, 1:31 PM

Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow

FROM: David Wright <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 2/6/02, 2:02 PM

Along the same lines as the Russo book is Anne
Tyler's "A Patchwork Planet". No, he's not
exactly unemployed, and he's in his thirties, but
it is such a nice, reassuring book about an
average guy whose life isn't adding up to what
everyone else seems to think it should.

I can think of lots of books that AREN'T
uplifting on the subject, like John Lanchester's
"Mr. Phillips," and the wonderfully gritty "Red
Baker," by Robert Ward, about a laid-off
steelworker. Actually, the latter isn't too
depressing, in the same way that Walter Mosley's
books about homeless ex-con Socrates Fortlow
("Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned" and
"Walking the Dog") are harshly realistic but
ultimately postitive.

David Wright
Seattle Public Library


--- Helene Golden <[removed]@sols.org> wrote:
> How about the under-employed? Or the nearly
> unemployed? Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool comes
> to mind - very good writing, looking at odd
> characters with a lot of compassion.
>
> >>> [removed]@kcls.org 02/05/02 07:38PM >>>
> Hi all,
>
> I have a patron who is searching for novels
> that deal with men in his
> situation - age 56 and unemployed. He wants
> literary value he says and
> maybe some inspiration. He cited "Coming Up
> for Air" by George Orwell as
> being similar to what he had in mind. He has
> also read "Mr. Phillips" by
> John Lancaster, and enjoyed it but thought it
> not quite as meaty as he'd
> like.
>
> I have a sneaking hunch we've done a similar
> thread, but wasn't able to find
> it in the archives.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Chapple
>
> Chapple Langemack
> Reader's Services Coordinator
> King County Library System
> 960 Newport Way NW
> Issaquah, WA 98027
> 425.369.3318
> [removed]@kcls.org
> www.kcls.org
>
>
>
>
......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the
> archives?
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>
>
>
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> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the
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