Pounding the Pavement: A Novel

Chick Lit set in New York City:
When I taught at a university, I told my students that they would have a 40-year career, after graduation, in a changing society. Their employment goals needed to be broad enough and flexible enough so that they could adapt. It is also helpful to be street smart. As I have pointed out to friends, there is a significant difference between being book smart and being street smart. A street smart person will survive in an urban jungle, and avoid being eaten by tigers. It is all very well to have an interest in writing, music, art, or acting, but keep in mind that poets can starve. It is necessary to have enough marketable skills to obtain a day job in order to pay the rent. The heroine of the present novel, Sarah Pelletier, left Brown University with a BA in English and a Phi Beta Kappa key, but not much in the way of survival skills. Universities don't seem to teach that subject. She discovers that employers expect people to have knowledge of things like Powerpoint presentations, financial spreadsheets, and making coffee (it would also help if you could bake cookies for the break room). She does have some useful skills such as knowing how to clear jams from copy machines. After a number of jobs that prove to be temporary, Sarah is unemployed. She could go back to school for an advanced degree, and make herself even more over-qualified (there is no shortage of lawyers and MBAs - I know one MBA who ended up as a payroll clerk). She continues to send out resumes and learns the art and pitfalls of resume writing. Some of her contacts are not that useful, and there is a little back stabbing. She draws her unemployment checks, and keeps trying. She does turn into a bit of a grunge, sleeping in late and dressing down (every day is casual Friday). When you finally find Mr. Right at the same time that you find the Perfect Job, and they are at opposite ends of the known universe, what do you do? The story gets a bit heavy on discussions of motion pictures and music, which is the reason I did not give it five stars. Finally, I would refer you to my pulp fiction short story "Lila" in the March 2005 issue of SpinningS Magazine (an e-zine) for a story about outsourcing, pink slips and, well, other things.

Out of work? Might as well read this...:
This book is a very easy breezy read (took me an evening at best). I liked the fact that the main character (Sarah) wasn't desperate for boyfriend (a typical chick lit theme). Sarah's problem ceneters more on not having a job and really not willing to settle too much when it comes finding one. She'll make do and pay her bills but she doesn't really compromise who she is and I found that to be very refreshing. I wouldn't say Sarah has the best set of priorities out there - she whine alot about the 12 on her metro card, not having and money, etc... but she goes out an awful lot for someone who is living lean! I was out of work for 6 months right after Sept. 11th so I could really identify with the whole job search aspect of this read. It wasn't heavy reading - rather enjoyable for an evening read or rainy day read. I wouldn't purchase it though...

Entertaining and fun!:
Jennifer Van Der Kwast's "Pounding the Pavement," centered around Sarah, who was unemployed for six months after getting fired from her job as a Content Development Assistant. Sarah wanted to get a job in publishing but unfortunately she was stucked doing various temp jobs which she hated. However, in one of her temp jobs, she met Jake, who was also a movie fanatic like herself. Unfortunately, Jake seemed to be still carrying a torch for his ex-girlfriend. At the same time, Sarah's parents were breathing down her neck to get a job or go to law school which they would pay for. I enjoy this book as I can relate to Sarah's situation as I have been there myself. I think many twenty-something females would be able to relate to the character. It was funny and very real when the author wrote about how temp agencies considered Sarah to be overqualified if she used her previous title, "Content Development Assistant" and should instead used "Administrative Assistant." This is highly recommended for those who has ever been unemployed or currently unemployed, still seeking for the right job.

An Awesome Read:
I read this book in 2 hours, I could not put it down. We have all been there, done that in terms of the job world. I empathized with the fact that Sarah did not want the administrative jobs. I gave it four stars because the ending was not really an ending at all...I felt that I had invested enough time in the character to deserve to know how she ended up.

A Really Good Writer Can Bring the Simplest Story to Life!:
I would liken this book to the TV show Seinfeld. It was said that Seinfeld was the show about "nothing" but, oh, it was so good! This book is basically a story without much of a plot but, oh, surprisingly, it was so very good. Only a gifted writer could make me enjoy every page of a book about finding a job, of all things. Jennifer van der Kwast's writing is witty without being trite and her descriptions make you feel like you're right in New York with her. It will be interesting to follow her writing as she grows older - hopefully there will be more books.