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The Auctioneers
When LA social worker Anabel Medina sees a heavily armed gunman open fire at a shopping mall in Malibu, she almost snickers at the cruelly ironic fact that, after everything she’s managed to survive throughout her violent childhood in El Salvador, she's now about to die. Here. In Malibu.
Soon thereafter, while being interviewed on live TV—and asked how she was able to subdue the shooter with such unfazed bravery, as has been seen by millions on a viral video—Anabel demurs. She doesn’t want to talk about how she had spent her adolescence fleeing from marauding death squads in the Salvadoran hinterlands, and how a childhood in such constant close proximity to death begets a kind of callousness that’s difficult to grasp for people from the North. The hero worship fluff piece she’s expected to partake in comes entirely undone when Anabel—instead of giving some redundant play-by-play of the ordeal, or leaving it at yet another feckless argument for stricter gun control—opts to speak about the deeper reasons for the ceaseless stream of violence in, and from, America while giving an articulate assessment of a western system rife with corporate greed, extreme iniquity, perpetual wars, and smoldering rage.
Days later, Chris Heller, a disenchanted war photographer who’s visiting his hometown of Los Angeles, meets a woman by the name of Anabel who, as it turns out, has recently made waves in Malibu. Two damaged souls begin to bond and for the first time in god-knows-how-long, feel close to someone else.
When Anabel faces calls to use the platform she's unwittingly achieved, Chris, afire with a newfound sense of purpose in her wake, encourages her to run for office as an independent candidate. What follows is an unrelenting media smear campaign against the former ‘Heroine of Malibu’ who, through her enormous popularity, rises to become a threat to the establishment.
Soon thereafter, while being interviewed on live TV—and asked how she was able to subdue the shooter with such unfazed bravery, as has been seen by millions on a viral video—Anabel demurs. She doesn’t want to talk about how she had spent her adolescence fleeing from marauding death squads in the Salvadoran hinterlands, and how a childhood in such constant close proximity to death begets a kind of callousness that’s difficult to grasp for people from the North. The hero worship fluff piece she’s expected to partake in comes entirely undone when Anabel—instead of giving some redundant play-by-play of the ordeal, or leaving it at yet another feckless argument for stricter gun control—opts to speak about the deeper reasons for the ceaseless stream of violence in, and from, America while giving an articulate assessment of a western system rife with corporate greed, extreme iniquity, perpetual wars, and smoldering rage.
Days later, Chris Heller, a disenchanted war photographer who’s visiting his hometown of Los Angeles, meets a woman by the name of Anabel who, as it turns out, has recently made waves in Malibu. Two damaged souls begin to bond and for the first time in god-knows-how-long, feel close to someone else.
When Anabel faces calls to use the platform she's unwittingly achieved, Chris, afire with a newfound sense of purpose in her wake, encourages her to run for office as an independent candidate. What follows is an unrelenting media smear campaign against the former ‘Heroine of Malibu’ who, through her enormous popularity, rises to become a threat to the establishment.
208 pages, ebook
First published May 19, 2020
About the author
Florian Schneider
3 books28 followersBorn and raised in Germany, Florian Schneider is a former small-time photo journalist turned marginally less small-time advertising photographer. He lives in Southern California with his unbelievably impressive Mexican-American wife.
His latest novel, The Auctioneers, was featured on Reedsy's Best New Book list with a five star-review in December 2020. In January 2021, Manybooks(dot)net featured The Auctioneers as Best Literary Fiction book of the month. In January 2022, his second novel, The Sins of Others, was named Best Literary Fiction book of the month by Manybooks(dot)net.
His latest novel, The Auctioneers, was featured on Reedsy's Best New Book list with a five star-review in December 2020. In January 2021, Manybooks(dot)net featured The Auctioneers as Best Literary Fiction book of the month. In January 2022, his second novel, The Sins of Others, was named Best Literary Fiction book of the month by Manybooks(dot)net.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 15, 2021
A decent read The Auctioneers is a novel about Anabel Medina Salvadoran immigrant and social worker in LA.
The story moves into political issues and Anabel receives recognition as a hero. She parleys that recognition in to the political realm to run for office.
Story has very strong caring descriptions for the characters.
The book is written well and the story develops nicely. Doesn’t depend on many shockers or twists.
.
I recommend this book
The story moves into political issues and Anabel receives recognition as a hero. She parleys that recognition in to the political realm to run for office.
Story has very strong caring descriptions for the characters.
The book is written well and the story develops nicely. Doesn’t depend on many shockers or twists.
.
I recommend this book
December 22, 2021
Looking at the title and the cover I questioned reading this book. It was dumb to question because I ended up loving it. What kind of a person do you want to be is the big question. Are you on the right side of history? Who does the media work for and what are they saying and hiding? How do we treat our veterans, our working poor, and those that have lost hope? This book brought my hope back. Chris and Anabel are dynamic and flawed characters through their unchosen and chosen experiences. I could identify with both, but maybe that is a bond of those of us that have survived tragedies. My favorite book of 2021.
How did I find this book? I won a Kindle copy through Goodreads Giveaways.
How did I find this book? I won a Kindle copy through Goodreads Giveaways.
August 13, 2020
Goodreads Kindle Copy Win
A LA social worker witnesses a heavily armed gunman going on a shooting rampage in a Malibu mall. She never expects this to happen despite living through a dangerous childhood in El Salvador. She becomes a hero of sorts when she manages to subdue the gunman.
She gets unwanted attention with her hero status. When interviewed she refuses to talk about her past and instead focuses on the deeper cause of violence.
Days later a war photographer will end up meeting her, as the two lost souls will bond.
He will encourage her to run for office as they will face smear tactics as she becomes a threat to the establishment.
It was an average read. Somehow I was not quite connected to the main characters.
A LA social worker witnesses a heavily armed gunman going on a shooting rampage in a Malibu mall. She never expects this to happen despite living through a dangerous childhood in El Salvador. She becomes a hero of sorts when she manages to subdue the gunman.
She gets unwanted attention with her hero status. When interviewed she refuses to talk about her past and instead focuses on the deeper cause of violence.
Days later a war photographer will end up meeting her, as the two lost souls will bond.
He will encourage her to run for office as they will face smear tactics as she becomes a threat to the establishment.
It was an average read. Somehow I was not quite connected to the main characters.
August 21, 2020
I received this as a Goodreads GiveAway. Wake up America should b the title.
January 7, 2022
An Honest Politican?
A story that meanders from the nouveau riche shores of Malibu to the down & out, fowl smells of Slab City on the Salton Sea, bringing us a heroine for our times! My CREDO of a democratic society is stated here.
Characters are strongly developed. The storyline does wander occassionally, yet is woven together convincingly.
Bravo Florian Schneider, I intend to get your previous books!!!
A story that meanders from the nouveau riche shores of Malibu to the down & out, fowl smells of Slab City on the Salton Sea, bringing us a heroine for our times! My CREDO of a democratic society is stated here.
Characters are strongly developed. The storyline does wander occassionally, yet is woven together convincingly.
Bravo Florian Schneider, I intend to get your previous books!!!
November 2, 2022
Wonderfully written and so true to the times
This book struck every cord I'm feeling with the world is right now. I think this author hit all his points true and I felt if in my soul. If we could just see that we shouldn't be fighting with each other and take down the ones pulling all the strings because they have all the money, we would be so much better off. This was a wonderful story and read beautifully. I loved it!
This book struck every cord I'm feeling with the world is right now. I think this author hit all his points true and I felt if in my soul. If we could just see that we shouldn't be fighting with each other and take down the ones pulling all the strings because they have all the money, we would be so much better off. This was a wonderful story and read beautifully. I loved it!
January 7, 2022
What a powerful read! I was skeptical about reading it when I saw the cover but OMG! I’m so happy I did. I was enthralled and captivated on every page. A must read
October 25, 2020
A Must Read!!!
Everyone getting ready to vote needs to read this book. Many people feel as I do, that there are no longer any worthy candidates who listen to and uphold the values of the majority of their constituents. They are not driven by morality or ethics but greed and power. The middle class is feeling disenfranchised and continue to fall from from a comfortable living level to a life of living from paycheck to paycheck. The politicians of today need to start listening or there will indeed be a revolt. As said in this book, it's not strictly socialism or capitalism that we need but some of both.
Everyone getting ready to vote needs to read this book. Many people feel as I do, that there are no longer any worthy candidates who listen to and uphold the values of the majority of their constituents. They are not driven by morality or ethics but greed and power. The middle class is feeling disenfranchised and continue to fall from from a comfortable living level to a life of living from paycheck to paycheck. The politicians of today need to start listening or there will indeed be a revolt. As said in this book, it's not strictly socialism or capitalism that we need but some of both.
October 26, 2023
A call to legal political action
This book is a call to legal political action for the working and middle classes faced with poverty and extinction. The desertion by the mass media and elected officials, from their respective duties to represent their constituencies, calls for action on the part of the disenfranchised. Term limits for both houses of Congress and limits on corporate political contributions are the first steps in taking back our democracy. This book is a bible for this action.
This book is a call to legal political action for the working and middle classes faced with poverty and extinction. The desertion by the mass media and elected officials, from their respective duties to represent their constituencies, calls for action on the part of the disenfranchised. Term limits for both houses of Congress and limits on corporate political contributions are the first steps in taking back our democracy. This book is a bible for this action.
January 8, 2021
The auctioneers is a fictional story about Anabel Medina, a Salvadoran immigrant and social worker in Los Angeles who, after having famously subdued a rampage shooter on a killing spree in Malibu, rises to become a popular international voice for peace and social equity.
The story treads on political issues and Anabel receives many unwanted attentions for being a hero. She uses the fame to be something, to stand for something and as she befriends, a photographer, Chris induces the confident for her to run for office. As the relationship grows and the connection between them becomes stronger the story takes an interesting turn.
The story is written with a political agenda. The platform Anabel has given isn’t novel but her character and the bond between Chris and her make a sweet story and tells a message.
The literature is written well and the story is straight forward. There aren’t many shockers or foundational storylines that could possibly complicate things. What does exist is a normal paced storyline and a plot that gears to question things in a good way.
I recommend this book to fictional readers and people who like political involved narratives.
The story treads on political issues and Anabel receives many unwanted attentions for being a hero. She uses the fame to be something, to stand for something and as she befriends, a photographer, Chris induces the confident for her to run for office. As the relationship grows and the connection between them becomes stronger the story takes an interesting turn.
The story is written with a political agenda. The platform Anabel has given isn’t novel but her character and the bond between Chris and her make a sweet story and tells a message.
The literature is written well and the story is straight forward. There aren’t many shockers or foundational storylines that could possibly complicate things. What does exist is a normal paced storyline and a plot that gears to question things in a good way.
I recommend this book to fictional readers and people who like political involved narratives.
September 12, 2020
I received this in a Giveaway. I liked the point of the story, however, I didn't really like the characters. The book ended up talking a political turn, and while I agreed with some point, it was too political at times and took away from the story. Also, the writing during some of the part just kept going on and it was like the character was rambling on. A few parts were told in different perspectives, and some of the jumps seems random and thrown in.
February 7, 2021
I felt like this book had a lot of potential to be a good story. And there were good storyline parts in there, but it was overly political and has one too many political “speeches” for me to connect with it. Not because I disagree with the viewpoint but just because I generally read to take a break from the state of our countries politics and this book does anything but that.
Thank you to the publisher for the Goodreads Giveaway Kindle copy.
Thank you to the publisher for the Goodreads Giveaway Kindle copy.
Read
June 6, 2021If you like reading graphically violent, highly political books, this one is for you. However, it was not what I was looking for and has earned the dubious honor of being the first book to make my DNF list. I am only sorry I read over half before giving up....
October 11, 2020
The Auctioneers was captivating. I too felt it got too political and the characters were just okay but the story line was very good. I received this through Book Sirens
I recommend this book !
I recommend this book !
November 23, 2020
Held my attention throughout the storyline
November 7, 2021
Thought-provoking. Story of folks disenchanted with US politics. She ends up running for a congressional seat. Who knows how long it will take to corrupt her?
Did Not Finish
April 12, 2024Didn’t hold my interest. DNF
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews