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Mudflap #2
Mudflap: The Gloves Come Off
The gloves come off. Local tree cutting mogul Jay "Mudflap" Bailey tells it as it is and takes shots at many of the issues facing us today.
268 pages, Unknown Binding
Published October 1, 2020
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58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 26, 2021
Loved it- love people who aren't afraid to tell it like it is and I do not tolerate liars in my life either. Circle gets smaller all the time.
February 16, 2022
3 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑
We’re surrounded by bullies everywhere we look. It can be at work, on the internet, in social interactions, or even in political leadership positions. There are times when you can ignore or forgive them, leaving karma to do its job, and there are times when you need to stand tall and face them — like Mudflap.
In Jay Alden Bailey’s second installment — 𝑴𝒖𝒅𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒑: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑶𝒇𝒇 — Mudflap’s character colors his personal experiences with brutal honesty and dry humor. His non-fiction story will lead you through the burning flames that a debut author endures when trying to enter the literary world. Mudflap withstands discrimination from unsupportive librarians, harsh judgments based on his dress and lack of professional writing experience, and rejection from deceitful self-publishing companies.
Throughout the narrative, Mudflap recounts an assortment of bullying circumstances that come at him from all directions and are cloaked in different guises. He richly describes these experiences — from the bureaucratic costumes of indifferent politicians, the starched uniforms of mocking healthcare providers, and to the religious robes of the churches that banish divorced members.
Mudflap is “the voice of the common working man” with a moral responsibility to defend the weak and those in need — along with his own life principles. In the first part of the book, he wears emotional armor and, fearlessly, casts a spotlight on all those who have deceived him for their own personal advantage. On other occasions, he fights fire with fire, giving back what he received.
Some of the book’s scenes, such as deriding a ghostwriter journalist who stated: “I can say anything I want and don’t have to put up with criticism. I can put out my views and not have to answer to the opposition” may trigger odium and controversial interpretation from fellow writers of the fine literary circles. There is a subjective, thin line between dry humor and a juvenile prank which can be perceived as payback or resentment when closing a collaboration deal with people who seem to have a toxic attitude and share negative feedback on the present book. Several details mentioned in the first installment — 𝑴𝒖𝒅𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒑: 𝑨 𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚… 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒕 — might cause a reconsideration of Mudflap’s reactions and judgments.
But this book is not for everyone. A certain target audience may resonate with Mudflap’s transformational path from traditional conservatism, based on the simplicity of country life, to embracing his free-spirit and advocating for adaptation and progress through political, economic, and social change.
The author’s razor-sharp writing style reveals his philosophical insights. The book might appeal most to the working middle class, debut authors whose books face constant rejection, open-minded baby boomers, people dedicated to a cause, and anyone who places another’s interest above their own. At times, Mudflap embodies seemingly contradictory personality traits. On the outside, he appears a courageous warrior capable of speaking the ugly truths about life. But he also reveals a certain naivete and vulnerability. It’s with that blend of qualities that he views the world, believing that we should strive to support and care for one another.
Be prepared to “stay focused on your goals regardless of how others try to discourage you,” and to “embrace the positive-energy people in your life and continue to attract more like them.”
We’re surrounded by bullies everywhere we look. It can be at work, on the internet, in social interactions, or even in political leadership positions. There are times when you can ignore or forgive them, leaving karma to do its job, and there are times when you need to stand tall and face them — like Mudflap.
In Jay Alden Bailey’s second installment — 𝑴𝒖𝒅𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒑: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑶𝒇𝒇 — Mudflap’s character colors his personal experiences with brutal honesty and dry humor. His non-fiction story will lead you through the burning flames that a debut author endures when trying to enter the literary world. Mudflap withstands discrimination from unsupportive librarians, harsh judgments based on his dress and lack of professional writing experience, and rejection from deceitful self-publishing companies.
Throughout the narrative, Mudflap recounts an assortment of bullying circumstances that come at him from all directions and are cloaked in different guises. He richly describes these experiences — from the bureaucratic costumes of indifferent politicians, the starched uniforms of mocking healthcare providers, and to the religious robes of the churches that banish divorced members.
Mudflap is “the voice of the common working man” with a moral responsibility to defend the weak and those in need — along with his own life principles. In the first part of the book, he wears emotional armor and, fearlessly, casts a spotlight on all those who have deceived him for their own personal advantage. On other occasions, he fights fire with fire, giving back what he received.
Some of the book’s scenes, such as deriding a ghostwriter journalist who stated: “I can say anything I want and don’t have to put up with criticism. I can put out my views and not have to answer to the opposition” may trigger odium and controversial interpretation from fellow writers of the fine literary circles. There is a subjective, thin line between dry humor and a juvenile prank which can be perceived as payback or resentment when closing a collaboration deal with people who seem to have a toxic attitude and share negative feedback on the present book. Several details mentioned in the first installment — 𝑴𝒖𝒅𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒑: 𝑨 𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚… 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒕 — might cause a reconsideration of Mudflap’s reactions and judgments.
But this book is not for everyone. A certain target audience may resonate with Mudflap’s transformational path from traditional conservatism, based on the simplicity of country life, to embracing his free-spirit and advocating for adaptation and progress through political, economic, and social change.
The author’s razor-sharp writing style reveals his philosophical insights. The book might appeal most to the working middle class, debut authors whose books face constant rejection, open-minded baby boomers, people dedicated to a cause, and anyone who places another’s interest above their own. At times, Mudflap embodies seemingly contradictory personality traits. On the outside, he appears a courageous warrior capable of speaking the ugly truths about life. But he also reveals a certain naivete and vulnerability. It’s with that blend of qualities that he views the world, believing that we should strive to support and care for one another.
Be prepared to “stay focused on your goals regardless of how others try to discourage you,” and to “embrace the positive-energy people in your life and continue to attract more like them.”
February 16, 2021
In his first book, Mudflap, I appreciated and immediately related the author’s vision, philosophy in approaching life’s challenges. I really liked the guy. So by book two, Mudflap: The Gloves Come Off, not only was I genuinely entertained, but I found myself cheering him on, in his unconventional approach to life’s challenges just as I would for a good friend. There are lessons in this book for all of us.
November 9, 2020
A great commentary on the many issues plaguing us today. A book that anyone can pick up, read and get a few insights and laughs.
January 7, 2021
Mudflap: The Gloves Come Off is a funny and powerful satire that is entertaining and will inspire your thoughts. Bailey hits the mark on a variety of subjects. A great read.
February 18, 2024
I could write a book to review this book. It’s so full of golden gems I can’t do it justice. Jay Bailey, known as “Mudflap,” takes on the most irritating people and events without pulling a punch, and gives us wisdom to fight back without going to jail.
Who among us has not met up with doctors who left us wounded, lawyers who left us in debt, politicians who spoke in so many spirals we felt like slinkies going down the stairs, family and neighbors who made us feel like the crazy ones, or customer service people who made our heads spin and our computers spit smoke.
I thought so. We encounter these people every day and wonder how they ever got hired. Well, Mudflap will show you how to toss those kid gloves or slap someone’s face to challenge them to a duel. He can turn red tape into pink shreds and drape it all over city hall.
According to General Systems Theory, the more complex a system, the more dysfunctional it is. There are reasons for that, but we don’t have to accept it.
In a writing style that is sort of stream of consciousness revised, expanded on and edited along the way, Mudflap’s creative mind takes us on a ride through his life’s daily encounters with the bullies we encounter every day. He showed me how to avoid being tossed under the bus, without inflicting the same on another. Standing up for yourself is not bullying.
Take doctors. If you are late for an appointment, you may not be seen. Well MF says to realize YOUR time is also valuable, so it’s not okay for them to keep you waiting for unlimited times. It’s also not okay for a doctor to do procedures on you without asking or warning you, and to leave you with a whole new problem without solving the first one. I’d love to tell you what poor MF suffered, but I’m not a spoiler. Plus, it was painful to read it, so that’s up to you.
Some people involved in a writer’s literary life, including publishers, reviewers, librarians and even other writers, can treat us as inferiors, with their narcissistic self-righteousness. Ask MF about THAT librarian who thinks she owns the library.
I was sickened to see a review of "Gloves Off", written by another writer, who appears to consider herself judge and jury of the literary world, because she has written books, reads books, and reviews books. Does that make her justified in writing a treatise to tear apart every aspect of another writer’s work? It saddened me because Jay Bailey goes out of his way to encourage other writers.
Jay made me realize in Gloves Off that we don’t have to be disrespected by those who hire us, or by those we hire. Some of his answers to these people are hysterical. As serious as the book is, there is a lot of laughing at ourselves and the culture we live in.
Some people boost their own egos by finding fault with others, like the new neighbor who critiques all the other yards, or the out-of-towner at the Town Meeting who comes in deciding to fix the town.
How about the former pauper who becomes rich and now doesn't feel any responsibility to help others, not even the ones who helped him on the way up?
MF has a lot to say about liberals and conservatives who get stuck in their position and never listen to the other side, becoming obstructionists we see in our government. Thank God for the moderates, except when they are impotent.
MF addresses Church and State, environmentalism, revolution, and probably every aspect of human life as we know it. He points out the unfairness and malfunction of humanity, and gives us ways to protect our own self-esteem without damaging that of the unaware. Righteous indignation is not violence.
MF fights battles throughout the book, letting the narcissists have it with strong words and feelings-no physical violence. You will laugh with empathy and cry with frustration when reading this book.
Then, in the last sections you will see that it doesn’t have to be an unending battle. Mudflap shows us how we can turn things around if we pay attention. We are in a state of change, where we must become aware of our mistakes, and work to bring peace and understanding in our nation and the world. If we don’t, we could be done. We need to take it seriously, and change our path while we still can.
MF asks us to look at the danger created by our greed, one-sidedness and inaction. In the quest for money and power we continue to allow fracking, drilling, oil spills, factory meat farming, extravagant travel, and excusing ourselves since we are benefiting in the present moment.
We must change our attitude and listen to others. We must discuss and problem-solve together for a possible long-term. We need to have a common religion of respecting Mother Earth, and begin to heal her if we have not already put ourselves in an irreversible position. Mudflap gives us some good advice on how to work on that.
Who among us has not met up with doctors who left us wounded, lawyers who left us in debt, politicians who spoke in so many spirals we felt like slinkies going down the stairs, family and neighbors who made us feel like the crazy ones, or customer service people who made our heads spin and our computers spit smoke.
I thought so. We encounter these people every day and wonder how they ever got hired. Well, Mudflap will show you how to toss those kid gloves or slap someone’s face to challenge them to a duel. He can turn red tape into pink shreds and drape it all over city hall.
According to General Systems Theory, the more complex a system, the more dysfunctional it is. There are reasons for that, but we don’t have to accept it.
In a writing style that is sort of stream of consciousness revised, expanded on and edited along the way, Mudflap’s creative mind takes us on a ride through his life’s daily encounters with the bullies we encounter every day. He showed me how to avoid being tossed under the bus, without inflicting the same on another. Standing up for yourself is not bullying.
Take doctors. If you are late for an appointment, you may not be seen. Well MF says to realize YOUR time is also valuable, so it’s not okay for them to keep you waiting for unlimited times. It’s also not okay for a doctor to do procedures on you without asking or warning you, and to leave you with a whole new problem without solving the first one. I’d love to tell you what poor MF suffered, but I’m not a spoiler. Plus, it was painful to read it, so that’s up to you.
Some people involved in a writer’s literary life, including publishers, reviewers, librarians and even other writers, can treat us as inferiors, with their narcissistic self-righteousness. Ask MF about THAT librarian who thinks she owns the library.
I was sickened to see a review of "Gloves Off", written by another writer, who appears to consider herself judge and jury of the literary world, because she has written books, reads books, and reviews books. Does that make her justified in writing a treatise to tear apart every aspect of another writer’s work? It saddened me because Jay Bailey goes out of his way to encourage other writers.
Jay made me realize in Gloves Off that we don’t have to be disrespected by those who hire us, or by those we hire. Some of his answers to these people are hysterical. As serious as the book is, there is a lot of laughing at ourselves and the culture we live in.
Some people boost their own egos by finding fault with others, like the new neighbor who critiques all the other yards, or the out-of-towner at the Town Meeting who comes in deciding to fix the town.
How about the former pauper who becomes rich and now doesn't feel any responsibility to help others, not even the ones who helped him on the way up?
MF has a lot to say about liberals and conservatives who get stuck in their position and never listen to the other side, becoming obstructionists we see in our government. Thank God for the moderates, except when they are impotent.
MF addresses Church and State, environmentalism, revolution, and probably every aspect of human life as we know it. He points out the unfairness and malfunction of humanity, and gives us ways to protect our own self-esteem without damaging that of the unaware. Righteous indignation is not violence.
MF fights battles throughout the book, letting the narcissists have it with strong words and feelings-no physical violence. You will laugh with empathy and cry with frustration when reading this book.
Then, in the last sections you will see that it doesn’t have to be an unending battle. Mudflap shows us how we can turn things around if we pay attention. We are in a state of change, where we must become aware of our mistakes, and work to bring peace and understanding in our nation and the world. If we don’t, we could be done. We need to take it seriously, and change our path while we still can.
MF asks us to look at the danger created by our greed, one-sidedness and inaction. In the quest for money and power we continue to allow fracking, drilling, oil spills, factory meat farming, extravagant travel, and excusing ourselves since we are benefiting in the present moment.
We must change our attitude and listen to others. We must discuss and problem-solve together for a possible long-term. We need to have a common religion of respecting Mother Earth, and begin to heal her if we have not already put ourselves in an irreversible position. Mudflap gives us some good advice on how to work on that.
January 7, 2022
This was difficult for me. It is extremely rare that I don't finish a book once I begin reading. I think it's happened perhaps a dozen times in my lifetime. I've always been an equal opportunity reader. Whether fiction or non-fiction, I read carefully and take my time. I try to give each author a fair shake, each book on its own merits… genre, theme, topic, story, character, setting, purpose… you get the picture. My encounter with this book is one of those rare exceptions. I couldn't finish it.
From a craft perspective, the author uses a fictional persona, "Mudflap," to help illustrate his story in third person narrative. Unfortunately, this device is inconsistent. The author frequently switches between personal pronouns (I, me) and back to third person (he, Mudflap), sometimes in alternating paragraphs in the same section or chapter. This inconsistency of narration was very frustrating to read. In addition, I found several grammar, spelling, and formatting mistakes (at least in my ebook version). Also, the "real-time post scripts" at the end of the sections or chapters are enigmatic. Their purpose and function was unclear, aside from acting perhaps as an extension of the author's frustration. This book would have benefited tremendously from professional editing.
The synopsis on the back of the book promises "…a philosophical and satirical humor… with solutions for our rapidly changing world." Unfortunately, I found none of these in the 172 pages I read (about half the book). The marketing for this book indicates it to be anti-bullying, but that's not what I read. Instead, I found a victim who decided that the only way to fight back against the bullies he encountered was to write an angry "tell-all" book. By my read, the author's goal was not to relate experiences so readers could learn and grow. But instead, to shame and blame with retaliation, all while hiding his true intent behind fictitious character names (I'm guessing to avoid a lawsuit or several).
One particular passage that stood out for me relates Mudflap's [the author's] frustration with Mudflap's business clients refusing to buy his book. He called it a "lack of support". He further explains that he "fired" them as clients because they didn't buy his book. In the following passage, he writes about taking great pleasure in this action, actually laughing about it with his crew of helpers afterward. In my opinion, this behavior manifested as bullying his clients into buying the book, and then "getting back at them" when they didn't. This seems to be an inverse of the purpose of the book. It was confusing.
In another passage, he writes about not receiving the treatment he wanted from a town librarian based on his status as a local author. He felt slighted and even angry when the librarian afforded more attention to a more experienced and "not local" author. Later, he engages in a conversation with the other author, belittling his work. In my view, this was bullying the author for his success. Yet, again, this incident seemed counter-productive to what I thought was the book's focus.
Perhaps I misinterpreted the book. Perhaps I don't understand the author's brand of humor. Perhaps all the positive stuff was in the first book, and I made a mistake by reading them out of sequence. Perhaps all is redeemed at the end of the book, and I'll never know because I never got to the last page. Perhaps I'm overly sensitive. But perhaps not.
My opinion of this book is that it is a memoir of the author's life, his frustrations with his community, and his neighbors. He writes about the many bullies Mudflap [the author] encounters with a degree of acrimony I could not continue to read. It was too painful. I found only two instances of positivity in this book, and because of that, I had to stop reading.
It is possible that I'm not giving the work a fair shake by not finishing it. I can allow for that possibility. Perhaps I should have forced myself to suffer through to the last page. Perhaps not.
I believe that reading should be something we enjoy, something we can learn from, something that enriches us emotionally and intellectually. Unfortunately, this book served me in none of these ways, so I put it aside.
This book may have an audience, but I am not it. And that's okay. Not every book is for every reader.
All that having been said, I think it is important to take note that this author's writing is courageous. He emptied a good part of himself onto the page, and for that, he should be commended.
From a craft perspective, the author uses a fictional persona, "Mudflap," to help illustrate his story in third person narrative. Unfortunately, this device is inconsistent. The author frequently switches between personal pronouns (I, me) and back to third person (he, Mudflap), sometimes in alternating paragraphs in the same section or chapter. This inconsistency of narration was very frustrating to read. In addition, I found several grammar, spelling, and formatting mistakes (at least in my ebook version). Also, the "real-time post scripts" at the end of the sections or chapters are enigmatic. Their purpose and function was unclear, aside from acting perhaps as an extension of the author's frustration. This book would have benefited tremendously from professional editing.
The synopsis on the back of the book promises "…a philosophical and satirical humor… with solutions for our rapidly changing world." Unfortunately, I found none of these in the 172 pages I read (about half the book). The marketing for this book indicates it to be anti-bullying, but that's not what I read. Instead, I found a victim who decided that the only way to fight back against the bullies he encountered was to write an angry "tell-all" book. By my read, the author's goal was not to relate experiences so readers could learn and grow. But instead, to shame and blame with retaliation, all while hiding his true intent behind fictitious character names (I'm guessing to avoid a lawsuit or several).
One particular passage that stood out for me relates Mudflap's [the author's] frustration with Mudflap's business clients refusing to buy his book. He called it a "lack of support". He further explains that he "fired" them as clients because they didn't buy his book. In the following passage, he writes about taking great pleasure in this action, actually laughing about it with his crew of helpers afterward. In my opinion, this behavior manifested as bullying his clients into buying the book, and then "getting back at them" when they didn't. This seems to be an inverse of the purpose of the book. It was confusing.
In another passage, he writes about not receiving the treatment he wanted from a town librarian based on his status as a local author. He felt slighted and even angry when the librarian afforded more attention to a more experienced and "not local" author. Later, he engages in a conversation with the other author, belittling his work. In my view, this was bullying the author for his success. Yet, again, this incident seemed counter-productive to what I thought was the book's focus.
Perhaps I misinterpreted the book. Perhaps I don't understand the author's brand of humor. Perhaps all the positive stuff was in the first book, and I made a mistake by reading them out of sequence. Perhaps all is redeemed at the end of the book, and I'll never know because I never got to the last page. Perhaps I'm overly sensitive. But perhaps not.
My opinion of this book is that it is a memoir of the author's life, his frustrations with his community, and his neighbors. He writes about the many bullies Mudflap [the author] encounters with a degree of acrimony I could not continue to read. It was too painful. I found only two instances of positivity in this book, and because of that, I had to stop reading.
It is possible that I'm not giving the work a fair shake by not finishing it. I can allow for that possibility. Perhaps I should have forced myself to suffer through to the last page. Perhaps not.
I believe that reading should be something we enjoy, something we can learn from, something that enriches us emotionally and intellectually. Unfortunately, this book served me in none of these ways, so I put it aside.
This book may have an audience, but I am not it. And that's okay. Not every book is for every reader.
All that having been said, I think it is important to take note that this author's writing is courageous. He emptied a good part of himself onto the page, and for that, he should be commended.
January 29, 2021
The thing to remember when reading Mudflap: The Gloves Come Off (Mudflap #2) by Jay Alden Bailey, or when reading any book actually, is that NO ONE is perfect. I had read Mudflap the first book Bailey wrote and after reading that book I felt sorry for Mudflap due to all the bullying he encountered during his life according to his book. However after reading Mudflap: The Gloves Come Off (Mudflap #2), I find it hard to feel sorry for him now…..
When you begin reading Mudflap: The Gloves Come Off (Mudflap #2) I feel I need to give you this advice…. Don’t stop reading !! You may find in the beginning that Mudflap is being the bully and I should say BULLY….he is quite honest and, well, the gloves in fact do come off and I think he took them and threw that at someone in the beginning of the book.
Bailey does tell us in the title of the book that the gloves come off so readers should be prepared for him being brutally honest and even though he warns us, I was still a bit shocked while reading the beginning of the book. However, he does “calm” down a bit and you are able to find yourself enjoying the rest of the book. Readers have to be strong and power through ! Now I am sure there are readers out there who will like Mudflap’s brutally honest beginning, not the people he mentions or attacks, but that is not for us to judge, we are just here to read his story and take whatever lesson, advice, or what not from it and go on with our lives.
I have to commend Bailey for writing such an honest book and hope that the people that do read it find the enjoyment in it and get to know Mudflap and his writings.
Like I said when I started no one is perfect and I did notice some typo’s and one that was quite major so I know that Mudflap and author Bailey are human and everyone makes mistakes…..we have to be bigger and better and forgive and move on.
When you begin reading Mudflap: The Gloves Come Off (Mudflap #2) I feel I need to give you this advice…. Don’t stop reading !! You may find in the beginning that Mudflap is being the bully and I should say BULLY….he is quite honest and, well, the gloves in fact do come off and I think he took them and threw that at someone in the beginning of the book.
Bailey does tell us in the title of the book that the gloves come off so readers should be prepared for him being brutally honest and even though he warns us, I was still a bit shocked while reading the beginning of the book. However, he does “calm” down a bit and you are able to find yourself enjoying the rest of the book. Readers have to be strong and power through ! Now I am sure there are readers out there who will like Mudflap’s brutally honest beginning, not the people he mentions or attacks, but that is not for us to judge, we are just here to read his story and take whatever lesson, advice, or what not from it and go on with our lives.
I have to commend Bailey for writing such an honest book and hope that the people that do read it find the enjoyment in it and get to know Mudflap and his writings.
Like I said when I started no one is perfect and I did notice some typo’s and one that was quite major so I know that Mudflap and author Bailey are human and everyone makes mistakes…..we have to be bigger and better and forgive and move on.
Currently reading
March 30, 2021I have read both books and enjoyed them equally. The first book sets the stage and background for Mudflaps growing years of family and work. Book II, The Gloves Come Off takes Mudflap's life to the next level of maturity and life's hard knocks. Mr. Bailey includes many thoughtful passages and quotes that will make you pause and think. You may even identify with some of the characters in the book, both good and others not so good. It's a solid read, thoughtfully written and intelligently expressed. Hats off to Mr. Bailey for calling it as it sees it, holding nothing back. Fasten your seat belt and get comfortable.
D. Olivera
D. Olivera
January 8, 2021
Mudflap doesn't shy away and tells it straight. It's funny, gets you to think from different perspectives, serious and entertaining, a real page turner.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews