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"Jason Fitger is a beleaguered professor of creative writing and literature at Payne University, a small and not very distinguished liberal arts college in the Midwest ... His once-promising writing career is in the doldrums, as is his romantic life, in part as the result of his unwise use of his private affairs for his novels ... In short, his life is a tale of woe, and the vehicle this ... novel uses to tell that tale is a series of ... letters of recommendation that Fitger is endlessly called upon by his students and colleagues to produce, each one of which is a small masterpiece of high dudgeon, low spirits, and passive-aggressive strategies"--Amazon.com.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Short, Funny, and Sometimes Annoying submitted by sdunav on June 12, 2015, 1:59pm If you like epistolary novels about academia, then this short work - consisting entirely of letters of recommendation from a middle-aged English professor at a small midwestern college - is for you.

I liked it a lot, but it will definitely not be everyone's cup of tea. Also, it was best read in small doses. A little of the main (somewhat unlikable) character goes a long way.

Couldn't get enough of this submitted by shosh.lenski on August 25, 2015, 9:59pm I laughed harder than I have in a long, long time. Bought copies for all the academics I know, and others. This is a great read-aloud book if your audience can tolerate long breaks to laugh and regain your composure.

And all the while, it has some sad and touching truth to it...

Read in a Day submitted by Judeyblu on September 4, 2015, 8:32pm Open this book for just a moment, then-quick!- look up!
The afternoon is gone and you have laughed and likely quoted this already to someone else.
I'd lift a drink with the English Professor (Jay) that finds himself writing-writing-writing, for everyone in his life.
This is a very good read.

This is why I want to be a teacher submitted by edb.blanchard on August 14, 2018, 7:20pm I love writing recommendation letters, this collection of revealed that it can be a frustrating task, but ultimately enjoyable.

fun, quick read submitted by AGAPHD on June 19, 2020, 6:56pm this is a fun, quick read. made me laugh, even while cringing at recognizable academic types.

Satirical Cringy Professor submitted by emylondon on August 7, 2021, 11:23pm When listening to this, I was not able to realize right away that all the letters were written by one professor.. a man who cares but does not wish to show this, uses sarcasm in the meanest way, and yet still tries to do his job to encourage young writers to shine!

Very funny! submitted by lizgiessner on July 14, 2023, 2:48pm As already stated, this book is a series of letters of recommendation. As such it is an unusual book. It is definitely very funny, probably most so for academics. Schumaker's wry, creative style makes me want to read more by her.