Pulpy and Midge

by Jessica Westhead

Brian Lembeck Pulpy takes life slow and steady. He likes his office job, and he likes his gentle, figurine-collecting boss, Al. He even likes the bitter receptionist, though he s the only one who does. He likes his wife, Midge, too, and their ice-dancing lessons. Midge works as a candle-party hostess she quit her office job when Al s dog ate her pet pigeon and Al promised Pulpy a promotion.But when Al retires and the tyrannical Dan takes over, the promotion vanishes. And then Dan s oversexed wife, Beatrice, takes a shine to Pulpy, and Dan starts to think Midge is one hot tamale. Soon, the receptionist is smitten with Pulpy, Midge can t get rid of Dan and Beatrice, and Pulpy s job is in jeopardy. For once, Pulpy just might have to take a stand."

Genres: Canada, Fiction

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2004

About the author

JESSICA WESTHEAD is a Toronto writer and editor, and one of the short-story-loving masterminds behind YOSS (Year of the Short Story). Her fiction has appeared in major literary journals in Canada and the United States, including Geist, The New Quarterly, and Indiana Review. Her novel Pulpy & Midge was published in 2007 by Coach House Books. Her short story collection And Also Sharks, published by Cormorant Books in 2011, was on the Globe and Mail’s Globe 100 list of the best books of 2011 and was a finalist for the 2012 Danuta Gleed Literary Award. She was shortlisted for the 2009 CBC Literary Awards, and one of her stories was selected for the 2011 Journey Prize anthology.

Reviews

[Robin Spano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The writing is alive - the details are funny and warm and I could relate to every wacky, wry observation about human interaction. I loved watching Pulpy grow from this timid man who was afraid to express his ambitions into someone who knew himself, who could ask for - demand - what he wanted. The relationship between Pulpy & Midge (his wife) was beautiful - it made me want to curl up with my husband at every opportunity.

The plot moves slowly - I normally read books with more action - but the pace never feels slow, because every line of dialogue is original, and the internal lives of the characters are moving quite rapidly. Wacky details bring the book to life, and made me feel like I was living inside - things as silly as a gum wrapper on top of a pay phone, or a coffee mug with a duck on it that represents the worst in office politics. I loved the difficult receptionist - especially when she ranted about "FN numbers" - that's "file number number!" - making me think of every arrogant boss who thinks they know better because they're in a higher position.

If I was a creative writing teacher, I would use Pulpy & Midge as a textbook - as a writer, I seriously admire Jessica Westhead's writing skills & her scathing - yet caring - observations of the human condition.

I want her to write another book soon.

[Meagan Houle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulpy and Midge are an undeniably eccentric pair, but you simply can't resist falling in love with them, feeling their triumph as they grow as a couple and hold their own against the "bad guys." The writing is so fascinating, so breezily readable and intriguing, that my fiance started listening in to the audio version I was reading, truly invested in their unpredictable adventures. If you enjoy lovable characters who get themselves into the most hopelessly tangled of webs, you'll appreciate this book, no question. As an added bonus, Westhead pokes fun at corporate culture with a shrewd but deeply humane eye. The whole package is hard to put down and impossible to forget.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christ, I almost died of Miranda July zaniness.

[Jessica Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! I read it in two days with such fascination. As soon as I started, I was drawn in to the characters and the lives they lived that I knew were about to be uprooted. I was giddy while reading the entire book, giggling at the awkward scenes, feeling empathetic to the innocent couple and annoyance at the not-so-innocent couple. Jessica's writing just feels so effortless; it flows so smoothly, showing off the right details, the right cues from characters and their dialogue. She leaves enough out that there are things we can fill in ourselves, and I like that. I also like how the text is broken up into sections - each one feels like its own short story. I could go on and on about this book. Basically, a very cute, innocent and in-love couple must go through some tests of reality in, let's face it, one of life's more boring environments - the office space. The love between Pulpy and Midge will get you places.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A smart, funny and spot-on survey of office politics, with a startling real look at how a perfectly stable relationship can almost fall apart. These characters are expertly drawn and engaging throughout. The only negative for me was the pacing. While the story generally moved with a good rhythm, the book's big climax came crashing down very quickly within the last few pages with no time for a truly satisfying resolution. I would've liked to see a bit more of Pulpy and Midge dealing with their problems after they came to a head.

[Vicki Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captures the challenging nature of office culture with both humour and heartfelt emotion. The naturally subdued Pulpy gets caught up in a whirlwind of change and social pressures at the office, spilling over into his personal life with Midge. Throughout the book I was rooting for things to work out for Pulpy, and curious how far the chaos would build between the characters. It's a fun read for those who've experienced the corporate world, and all the silly situations that arise within these job settings.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Office and Office Space. I was so reminded of these two movies as I read through this novel. Such a train wreck of a relationship Pulpy has with just about everyone in this book. He is still very much in love with his wife and will do just about anything to keep her by his side. And he'll do just about anything for his new boss, too. Unfortunately, the two relationships mesh together like oil and vinegar. To be honest, I would have strangled that boss early in the book which would have made for a very short tale. An enjoyable read which almost any office dweeb/minion would enjoy.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hated the characters, I hated how mundane the plot was, and how it was so awkward that I probably would have chewed my fingernails off were I a nail biter... in all these things it was perfect. Jessica excels at creating awkward story lines and characters you can't stand yet somehow you can't stop reading! Whenever I'm in a reading slump and I read her work I get excited about reading again. I don't even know what it is about it that does it, but I like it.

[Debbie Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful exploration of the existential and often absurd realities of modern corporate life. With a deadpan sense of humour that will have you laughing on the outside and crying on the inside, this book is refreshingly different and surprisingly profound.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute read. The characters reminded me a lot of the IT Crowd :)