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Templand #1
Templand
The heroine, Melanie Evers, is a plucky young working-class woman from Akron, Ohio struggling to support herself in Chicago in the post-9-11 economy. TEMPLAND follows Melanie's journey through the temporary employment world from a college student on "just a summer job" to a 28-year-old woman with a lot of intelligence (and a heap of student loan debt to match) through multiple layoffs and a series of ever-more-wacky temp assignments, as she struggles not only to survive, but also to find romance and always remain true to the honest, working-class values instilled in her by her beloved grandfather.
In her long, solitary journey through Templand, Melanie encounters adventure and romance on her search for that always-elusive Permanent Job---which she finally gets, along with her man. TEMPLAND is a highly entertaining, wickedly funny social satire, contemporary romance, and mystery novel all rolled into one.
In her long, solitary journey through Templand, Melanie encounters adventure and romance on her search for that always-elusive Permanent Job---which she finally gets, along with her man. TEMPLAND is a highly entertaining, wickedly funny social satire, contemporary romance, and mystery novel all rolled into one.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 24, 2012
3 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 3, 2017
Templand goes something like this: Girl wants to rise above working class background. Girl goes to prestigious graduate program and receives master’s degree. Girl can’t find work. Girl can’t pay rent. Girl signs up for temp jobs. Girl sleeps with ex-boyfriend and fellow temping coworkers. And repeat.
No work, low pay, cheap apartments, and one night stands get mixed together with disillusionment in this debut novel from Jill Elaine Hughes. Witty dialogue and a lovable grandfather are the plus side but Templand doesn’t give anything more than what is already familiar to most young adults. That too-familiar story is retold here with plenty of profanity, offering nothing new.
www.goodreadingguide.com
No work, low pay, cheap apartments, and one night stands get mixed together with disillusionment in this debut novel from Jill Elaine Hughes. Witty dialogue and a lovable grandfather are the plus side but Templand doesn’t give anything more than what is already familiar to most young adults. That too-familiar story is retold here with plenty of profanity, offering nothing new.
www.goodreadingguide.com
June 6, 2013
Templand is one of those hidden gems where you pick it up and it starts out on way and then goes into a completely different way. This is why I think it is a gem of a red because I have never laughed and scowled at a book so many times than I have with this book. Lord the main character is a riot. Melanie is going from job to job a s a temp looking for the right job that will be come permanent. She is also looking for the right man.
This is Melanie's story of all the temp jobs she has had and what happens in them till she gets the job she wants and it becomes permanent. If you have ever had to temp then you know the nightmare jobs you have to do to get a permanent one then this book will have you laughing because you have been there and done that. If you have never temp in your life thank God everyday for that because it is a nightmare.
This is a must read that takes you on a journey of life, love and finding the right job for you!
This is Melanie's story of all the temp jobs she has had and what happens in them till she gets the job she wants and it becomes permanent. If you have ever had to temp then you know the nightmare jobs you have to do to get a permanent one then this book will have you laughing because you have been there and done that. If you have never temp in your life thank God everyday for that because it is a nightmare.
This is a must read that takes you on a journey of life, love and finding the right job for you!
March 24, 2015
Melanie is witty and honest. I really liked this story and the main character. She was honest about how she got there and what she did. And it was not one of those stories that glorifies the American dream. Yes, I know, the successtories are out there, but it was refreshing to read about someone who struggles and who did not get where she was by stupid choices. By all means Melanie was a hard working, highly educated person. She was someone who adhered to the notion that to get a good job you need to study and work hard, not give up and be true to your morals and beliefs.
Her story also tells about how someone can give up those morals and beliefs, just because everything keeps dragging you down. I am glad Melanie didn’t, but it was more thanks to her beau. Nice story. Even though it was about the bad and the ugly, it is not depressing.
Her story also tells about how someone can give up those morals and beliefs, just because everything keeps dragging you down. I am glad Melanie didn’t, but it was more thanks to her beau. Nice story. Even though it was about the bad and the ugly, it is not depressing.
October 4, 2013
I had a harder time connecting to Melanie but I think that is because the book is set in 2001 and I at that was in Jr High. :) I did like that she is sassy and funny. I could relate to the job hunting portion of it which was quite comical :) it was a pretty easy read that I think people of that generation might appreciate more than I did but al l together a decent book that kept me entertained. ~ Leslie
goodreadingguide-com
November 9, 2014KP to request from netgalley to review for www.GoodReadingGuide.com
June 21, 2013
I try hard not to give bad reviews and I'll do the same with this book.
We travel along Melaine Evers life of jobs and her own opinions of the what's happening in the world. She goes from temp job to temp job, striving for a permanent position. It's really lack luster. She has problems paying her bills (some of the letters from Citibank were cute). Her food consisted of potted meat and noodles, yup life was rough.
It really was disheartening with her first impressions of the first plane hitting the trade center on 9/11, I couldn't fathom someone could be so down right HEARTLESS.
She condemned people who worked so hard and thought for sure her education was going to give her the world. After reading some of the rejection letters, it no wonder why they turned her employment down. Wholly Hell. Then in the end she was willing to "sell her soul" to keep her new found temp job. Thank heavens she had Dave.
The whole side story with Phil (the ex) wasn't that interesting. The best part had to be Papaw and Dave.
Papaw was a hard working man with a lot of advice...some which Melanie did take (if maybe a little out of context).
Dave was one character I really enjoyed. I can't see why he was so strongly attracted to Melanie. Then again he did know her before she got out of school. Dave was honest and caring.
If you're into a "I'm better than you" main character, a bunch of filler, a wonderful "Papaw" and a few guys in between then go for it.
We travel along Melaine Evers life of jobs and her own opinions of the what's happening in the world. She goes from temp job to temp job, striving for a permanent position. It's really lack luster. She has problems paying her bills (some of the letters from Citibank were cute). Her food consisted of potted meat and noodles, yup life was rough.
It really was disheartening with her first impressions of the first plane hitting the trade center on 9/11, I couldn't fathom someone could be so down right HEARTLESS.
She condemned people who worked so hard and thought for sure her education was going to give her the world. After reading some of the rejection letters, it no wonder why they turned her employment down. Wholly Hell. Then in the end she was willing to "sell her soul" to keep her new found temp job. Thank heavens she had Dave.
The whole side story with Phil (the ex) wasn't that interesting. The best part had to be Papaw and Dave.
Papaw was a hard working man with a lot of advice...some which Melanie did take (if maybe a little out of context).
Dave was one character I really enjoyed. I can't see why he was so strongly attracted to Melanie. Then again he did know her before she got out of school. Dave was honest and caring.
If you're into a "I'm better than you" main character, a bunch of filler, a wonderful "Papaw" and a few guys in between then go for it.
August 13, 2013
✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
This story was just OK for me. I felt a certain level of disconnect from Melanie. Melanie was a young woman looking for a permanent job and tells her story through the various temp positions she held. I've never been a temp so maybe I didn't get it. While I think Melanie is level headed, smart and deserving of a job she is also selfish, needy, and expects life to just fall into her lap. She was not very in tune to the ways of the world. Her ex didn't do much for me either. Phil should have definitely been an afterthought. Papaw and Dave were great characters and made the story more fun. I just didn't feel strongly about the story.
This story was just OK for me. I felt a certain level of disconnect from Melanie. Melanie was a young woman looking for a permanent job and tells her story through the various temp positions she held. I've never been a temp so maybe I didn't get it. While I think Melanie is level headed, smart and deserving of a job she is also selfish, needy, and expects life to just fall into her lap. She was not very in tune to the ways of the world. Her ex didn't do much for me either. Phil should have definitely been an afterthought. Papaw and Dave were great characters and made the story more fun. I just didn't feel strongly about the story.
January 4, 2013
Full disclosure: this is my book. Readers, enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews