On December 11, author Kathleen Jones hosted “Surviving the Corporate Jungle: The War on Sarah Morris,” an event at S. Walter Stewart Public Library in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Kathleen read the first chapter of her novel The War on Sarah Morris and talked about the troubling social trends dealt with in the book: precarious jobs, contract and gig work, age discrimination, sexism, income inequality, bullying on the job by bosses, heavy workloads, and unpaid overtime.
The reading was followed by a question and answer session and by a book signing.
Special thanks to librarian Tara Stadius, who helped make this event possible.
Kathleen Jones’ novel, “The War on Sarah Morris,” is now available at 14 Toronto Little Free Libraries! If you enjoyed this book, please consider posting a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Find copies at:
Kathleen Jones writes a true to life tale with The War on Sarah Morris
In The War on Sarah Morris, the reader is introduced to Sarah Morris, the titular character. She’s an editor that has been working for years at this prominent publishing company, and then, it strikes. I am a fan of Kathleen Jones and want read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. One minute you’re a devoted employee, and the next minute, you’re reassigned, essentially demoted. Anyone who has ever been in this position, can understand what Sarah is going through, and how sometimes you just give up and give in because you need the paycheck. It’s either demotion or head out the door, willingly or not. Sarah discovers what is actually happening, and how a freelancer is doing her job, and now, all she is doing is tagging books. Of course, the company is cutting back, but as many do, they do not look at the loyal employees, they look at their salary and where they cut costs. They look for people who will not fight back, however, Sarah, though she seems like the world is against her, pushing her into a corner she doesn’t like, they are not prepared for Sarah’s strength and gumption. Sarah is a very relatable character, and her new nemesis, is just a typical person, also wanting to get recognition and the paycheck. The new favorite employee is only there until the next favorite employee. Kathleen Jones not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. It’s a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. The characters are so real, it’s like being with them within the story. The War on Sarah Morris is a definite recommendation by Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book also write a review.
#Fiction #Drama #ABSR #storytelling #reviews
About the Book:
ONE DAY, YOU’RE A VALUED EMPLOYEE OF THE COMPANY … THE NEXT DAY, YOU’RE BEING PUSHED OUT THE DOOR.
What happens when your secure corporate job suddenly becomes precarious? Book editor Sarah Morris finds herself in this predicament when the company she has served for twenty-one years is reorganized. Sarah’s boss gives all the company’s book editing projects to freelancers and a pet employee, unofficially demoting Sarah, who must spend her days tagging documents. And when Sarah’s boss starts bullying her, she realizes that she’s been pigeonholed into a dead-end job.
Review posted by Glenn Perrett on Metroland Media’s 20 plus news sites on October 29, 2024.
The War on Sarah Morris” is a sobering look at how many corporate jobs have changed.
By Legacy Book Press photo
Kathleen Jones
Legacy Book Press
2024, 237 pages
ISBN: 9798987482346
Sarah Morris is a middle-aged, experienced editor for the book publisher Quill Pen Press and she has been for more than 20 years. When her company is reorganized in an attempt to deal with a poor economy, Sarah’s job changes considerably. While she still has her job title and salary, she no longer edits books. That rewarding, satisfying responsibility has been given mostly to freelance editors.
For Sarah, losing her editing work is a big blow, but it is made even worse when her former editing responsibilities are replaced with “mind-numbing work” — and lots of it. In fact, Sarah is now doing the work of three people and she is not paid for the considerable overtime she has to do to meet her unreasonable workload.
Having her reasonable amount of satisfying work replaced by an unreasonable amount of boring, tedious assignments is not Sarah’s only problem. Sarah’s bosses are now bullying her. And the terrible treatment that she receives is not unique to her situation as older, loyal colleagues are losing their jobs to younger, less expensive employees. And this is also happening throughout the corporate world making getting a new job for an older, experienced person very difficult. Outsourcing work to freelancers who aren’t provided with pensions, dental plans and other benefits is another corporate strategy to increase revenue.
“The War on Sarah Morris” is not only a sobering look at how many corporate jobs have changed — and not for the better — but it is also an entertaining novel where you find yourself cheering for Sarah whose career has been decimated by corporate greed and bullies disguised as managers.
“The War on Sarah Morris” is a thought-provoking and an ultimately hopeful novel that I recommend.
“The War on Sarah Morris” is a fictional satire about a dystopian workplace named Quill Pen Press and the effect it has on Sarah Morris, a woman in her 50s. Imagine what a bad employer might look like, multiply that by 10x, and you’ll get Quill Pen Press.
“The War on Sarah Morris” is not always a pretty novel to read. It’s rather bleak. I feel that my empathy skills have improved after reading the novel, because I felt Sarah Morris’ pain. I feel that this novel is a page-turner, because I wanted to know how it ends.
The novel provides a great springboard for a philosophical discussion. I found myself wondering about the following questions: -Why do we work? -In what ways do you identify with Sarah Morris? -What would you do differently than Sarah Morris? -How could companies do better?
“The War on Sarah Morris” is a thought-provoking and an ultimately hopeful novel that I recommend.
Kathleen Jones, The Quirky Novelist 