The Pamela Papers

by Nancy McCabe

210 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2024

Reviews

[Myrtle D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally fun look at the frustrations and ridiculousness that can plague academic bureaucracy. Pamela is a well meaning, tenured writing professor trying to do right by her students who seem to get themselves in predicaments of their own devising and expect her to bail them out. But soon the department and then the whole school is in a mess caused by a new, mysterious administrator. Only Pamela and two sane colleagues can figure out the university president’s diabolical plans. Laugh out loud silly. Much gentle humor directed at Pamela’s earnest but goofy creative work. Told almost entirely through emails, this is a fast and funny read. Highly recommend.

[Harriet Squier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, this is a fun book. If you’ve ever had a brush with academia you will recognize the inanity of the academic bureaucracy and will laugh out loud at McCabe’s rendering of it. Pamela is an idealistic professor who believes in the importance of writing all the while trying to advocate for her students. McCabe pokes gentle fun at Pamela and the entire premise of academic creative writing while raising the curtain on the administration’s scheme to put money ahead of everything else. A fast read that comes to a satisfying, funny, and chaotic ending.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Funny, real, wise. I could relate to a lot in this book: teaching creative writing and the politics of academia, especially in the midst of the pandemic. Great satire--and I love how the various forms (email exchanges, lists, reports) really make the story come alive. Read this in one day. Quite a page-turner!

[Janelle Fila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is hilarious! If you've ever yelled at your computer after receiving an email from your boss or laughed out loud at a student request, this book is for you. I wanted to give it 5 stars, but the ending was a little strange for me. Overall, though, a very fast, easy, and entertaining read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zany outrageous academic satire that felt a little to close to home for this veteran college administrator. Took a twist that I did not see coming.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who's a part of a dysfunctional workplace that deteriorated even further during pandemic distancing and virtual work.  Told in a series of emails between Pamela,  her coworkers,  and the academic administration,  the story unfolds with twists and turns. In the end,  the heroine and her friends triumph over evil,  returning their workplace to one where they can all succeed.