Welcome to Litsy!

This email made me laugh. In the endlessly quotable words of Neil Gaiman, “Truth is, there aren‘t any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.”

I‘ve been meaning to read this #epistolary novel for awhile and finally did for a library discussion.

This book gets 5 stars for the number of times it made me laugh out loud. I needed that. It‘s short and witty, with a sarcastic humor I love.

Poor Jason Fitger. Doomed to be in the underfunded creative writing department of the aptly named Payne University, he spends his days writing letters of recommendation for students new and old. While his own literary career has tanked, he tries to get funding for his last graduate student who is rewriting Bartleby set in a bordello. Not to mention his failed romantic entanglements.

I loved the #audiobook of this 💯 epistolary novel! ⬇️

I don't know how to describe how I feel after reading this. #JoyousJanuary @Andrew65

A quick and witty read (truly, a must for any academic—current or recovering). Also, surprisingly touching.

Anyone familiar with academia will get a kick out of this sardonic, epistolary novel comprised of a series of rather forthcoming recommendation letters from a jaded professor.

A quick read, with a few twists I didn't expect. I preferred the first half over the last few letters though. #quarantinereads

After spending many years in a collegiate English department, I found this humorous little tome all too familiar—and quite enjoyable because of it. 😉😂🤓

Still an enjoyable epistolary novel. LORs from a cantankerous English/creative writing professor. I started my second reading before my procedure and finished up with the audiobook tonight. This would be especially hilarious for anyone in academia. 4⭐️

#bfc #bfcr2 #bookfitnesschallenge book 12/12 upping my goal to 28! It‘s a stretch, but we‘ll see. #goteam

A lot of times I don't like satirical books but this was very entertaining, especially if you've worked in an academic setting. The author did a great job of moving the story along through all the main character's letters of recommendation. This was another pick on @LazyLimaLife 's list for #NewYearWhoDis

Reading this pick from the #NewYearWhoDis list I got from @LazyLimaLife and my cat Pippa is keeping me company. #catsoflitsy

An epistolary novel, I found the beginning humorous. By the middle I found the narrator/writer so annoying it was hard to motivate myself to pick up the book again, but by the end it had found it's charm again. Not the best of it's form nor the best of the topic of academe. But a clever and timely premise that might carry more pointed identification with those dealing with college students of today. I have been out of that life for 18 years.

After four days of wanting to read but not wanting to read, I‘ve finally decided to put this aside for now, which is hard for me (especially as it‘s a library ebook). It is clever and engaging but really not what my reading self needs right now. Hopefully I‘ll remember to go back to it and finish some other time.

As the reviews say about this book, it "puts the pissed in epistolary." It's written as a series of hilarious letters of recommendation that a professor of creative writing at a small liberal arts college in the Midwest is endlessly called upon by his students and colleagues to produce. Each letter is droll, amusing, and fairly passive-aggressive. Laugh-out-loud funny.

Day 16: #adventrecommends

This book is, so far, irreverent, witty, and how I feel most days working in higher ed. Written as a series of short letters/emails/correspondence makes for a quick read as well.

This fully epistolary novel (yay!) follows an acerbic curmudgeonly professor as he writes letters of recommendation for various students and colleagues. It is hilarious!

He has a number of interactions with an ex-wife and ex-girlfriend in different departments that are especially funny. And hearing about students‘ creative writing workshop projects cracked me up! 4⭐️

Sharply witty, hilarious, endearing. Loved it all.

Enjoying this recent recommendation from the #readingenvy #podcast. I think autumn is finally here!

The epistolary format in this isn‘t my favorite. I think I enjoy atmospheric and setting descriptions, and feeling immersed in a place, more. Given that, the LORs were quite good at filling in most of those details. Yes, I‘ve worked in academia, and yes, this is good for many chuckles and winces. As cynical and dry as the professor is, it didn‘t get unbearable. Very well-balanced. Done quite well, but I won‘t return to it.

A fun & fast read - especially for anyone who spent time in academia. I think I heard about this one on NPR and I was expecting something totally different. It‘s epistolary and manages to be both hysterical and poignant. Definitely recommend👍🏾

I‘ve seen this book dismissed as slight and not that original, but, having been a teaching assistant, a research assistant, and an adjunct faculty member in a couple of higher ed English departments, I totally related to this book. There were several laugh out loud moments, but the ending was surprisingly bittersweet.

I‘m all over the place with my reading — I‘ve got several going on at once. Since I‘m too angry to sleep, I‘m reading this to get some laughs.

I think I‘ve narrowed it down to these 4 books plus my kindle for our ill-timed trip to Hawaii (we leave next Wednesday morning). Depending upon the weather forecast I may add more books closer to our departure date.

I love this epistolary novel. It is original and a pithy and leads to bouts of snickering in public places. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The people at the next table at the swim school turned to look at me snickering at this book. Expect more snickering, fellow swim school parents! For there will be plenty more.

If you‘ve ever worked at a university English department, you‘ll relate so much that you may wonder if you were introduced to Julie and forgot. Pretty comical, easy read.

I work in an academic division in a community college so it was funny to see that things are alike all over. It was also a little sad to see that some of the more frustrating things about academia are alike all over. I found myself chuckling on one page and wincing the next.

Newly loaned #librarybooks
The Simsion's had to be 'extended' since there are many current reads demanding my limited attention 😅 😅

The sun finally came out! Rose and reading on the deck. #august #summerreading #roseallday

Just started this funny little novel told in the form of letters of recommendation.

This was a fun read and very funny perspective of academia! Great way to end the #24in48 readathon!

I've been in English department meetings like this one! This book is bringing back memories, and not good ones. Not old ones either. This could have been my department last semester.

Lolololol, this book is providing the laughs I need right now.

This book is so funny! The whole thing is letters of rec from a professor of English and is hilarious. Recommend for any English (or other Humanities) major, teacher, or academic. A modern-ish take on the epistolary novel. It's a hoot.

This book is a hoot! If you work in academia or look fondly on your years at university, then you'll enjoy this witty look at the life of an English Department through letters of recommendation. Very clever 📚😍

This book is a hoot! If you work in academia or look fondly on your years at university, then you'll enjoy this witty look at the life of an English Department through letters of recommendation. Very clever 📚😍

Had a lovely time at Village Books in Bellingham, Washington, today as my parents explored the town. Been meaning to read Dear Committee Members for a while now, and this seemed as good a time as any to pick up a copy.

#TBR #loveyourlocal #bookstoretourist #VillageBooks #indiesfirst #independentbookstore #DearCommitteeMembers

A fun read with a surprising amount of depth

A hilarious and snark filled #epistolary novel told through the letters of a disgruntled English professor. #readjanuary

Sitting outside on a warm, windy fall day and wishing I had a book in my hands instead of papers to grade. Shout out to my other teachers and academics out there. It feels like there are hardly any nights when I don't have "homework" to do! #academia #teachersOfLitsy

One more for #funfridayphoto - this time from a professor's point of view. This book is deliciously snarky and wickedly funny.

Finished this during a late-night (and rare) trip to the gym. It's a hilarious compilation of letters from a (fictional) English professor. Through his irreverent and often inappropriate letters of recommendation, departmental memos, funding requests, etc., you piece together his personality and life events. At times it was laugh out loud funny. I read it in small chunks while reading other more plot-driven books. Be ready to laugh!

Finished this during a late-night (and rare) trip to the gym. It's a hilarious compilation of letters from a (fictional) English professor. Through his irreverent and often inappropriate letters of recommendation, departmental memos, funding requests, etc., you piece together his personality and life events. At times it was laugh out loud funny. I read it in small chunks while reading other more plot-driven books. Be ready to laugh!

#funny books - I pulled some funny fiction from my shelves for today's photo. #augustofpages #bookphotochallenge #augustphotochallenge

Being an adult= leaving your 3 in-progress books that you really want to keep reading at home while you instead drive into the office to catch up on work. Ugh.

Selected on a whim from my overdrive 'available now' list, this was a surprisingly enjoyable read! Here are 4 reasons why:
1. Academic setting. 2. Epistolary format 3. Humor... the passive-aggressive kind. 4. It's short... under 200 pages It will also change the way you think about Letters of Recommendation😉 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4🌟 This book is really funny! The novel consists entirely of letters that a cantankerous professor writes, including recommendations and departmental correspondence, all with an eye to the sarcastic. At 180 short pages, it may be good for the #7in7readathon. My favorite letters were the student recommendations. Who knew so many students wrote about serial killers, vampires, and cannibals?

Zipping through this little book during night 8 million of insomnia. It is so funny. Trying to keep the laughter to a minimum so as not to make others!

This looks like a short, and hopefully humorous, read for the train home.