Welcome to Litsy!

Adelle Waldman is so very clever. She lures the reader in with a story that seems to be a bit of a madcap workplace comedy in a big box store. And once she has you hooked, she reveals that it‘s actually a critique of modern American capitalism and how badly it hurts people and communities. This is fantastic. #TOBlonglist

This book was like every job I‘ve ever had in which we had a. A common enemy (boss), B. A plot to band together to promote/fire someone…seemingly like we had control but not really, and C. a bonding of unlikely colleagues who talk deeply at work then just fade away after that job ends. Loved it.

It was billed to be funny like the tv show Superstore but it made me feel more sad than I wanted. I did skim the ending to see what happened but just couldn't get past how depressing it seemed. Also there was a weird sort of POV shifting with the narration.

Taking advantage of a brief respite from the heat to do some porch/sideyard reading. Rolo approves.

A fellow Rioter compared this book to Superstore, and it's an appropriate comp for this compelling read. A group of warehouse logistics employees (now referred to as "movement") scheme when they learn highers ups are interviewing them to potentially promote their incompetent manager. The insights into their circumstances and reasons for wanting to see her promoted are intricately untagled. Slice of life corporate capitalism, if that's a thing.

As someone who has been a retail slave of the big box discount stores, this fictionalized novel of struggling employees dealing with corporate greed, wage survival, difficult managers, and a changing consumer base will trigger and connect with readers. The similarities between the TV show Superstore is uncanny, but this is a more realistic and sad portrayal of the poverty and working class who rely heavily on these companies.