1 out of 4 stars
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The world of work has been changing and becoming more complex in some aspects. For instance, as technology paves the way for faster speeds, more efficiency, increased productivity, and greater outputs, the need for workers to exert more effort to keep up becomes more pronounced. But some could not help but lag behind. We all have our own unique set of abilities as well as limitations. Nikolay N Bey’s Why Me: Trash Collector, Mental Issues highlights the same predicament. It is about a young man named Jason, who has become unlucky enough to be plagued with more employment struggles than usual. Although having a job is important to him, he finds it difficult to keep one. He then finds himself a garbage collection role, which he tries to retain as he also sorts out his psychological struggles along the way.
Although this piece has been classified as a crime, mystery, thriller, and horror book in our club’s Bookshelves, it is listed under the action and adventure genre elsewhere. It is definitely not the latter. It could be the former but only because of how mentally challenging it is for a reader to fully appreciate its value. I had to fully disregard all the technical definitions of what a good book should be, for instance. I also had to discover and grasp significance and meaning that could exist but are not obviously implied by its 122 pages.
On an ordinary day, I wouldn’t have chosen this book, but I still did because of its author-provided description. I always root for the underdog’s tale that the blurb made it seem to be about. I am also inspired by stories of survival against great odds. With all of such in mind, there should be less reason for my disappointment. Firstly, Jason’s resilience is quite admirable. Day in and day out, he falters. Yet he also gets up and does whatever he can. Also, noteworthy is this piece’s emphasis on love and family. One can’t readily say that Jason is the usual heroic protagonist with the stereotypical good looks, strength, talent, wealth, stature or other abilities. In fact, his lack of such qualities may even be more pronounced. However, even with “warts and all” albeit in a figurative sense, Jessica still loves him as much as he loves her. His parents’ love, understanding, and support for him have been greatly evident and quite overwhelming, too. They are always there, especially when he needs them most. Further, I’d choose a decent job over dishonest ones even if it isn’t as popular as the others. I appreciate Jason’s decision to be productive through possible means instead of living a life of dependence or lethargy.
As poignant and compelling as the theme is the sad fact that the composition really failed in meeting acceptable writing standards that I am currently aware of. It has more areas for improvement than any other material that I’ve encountered before. The manuscript needs not only one but all levels of editing and proofreading possible. The text on the cover page looks fine; all the rest of the book, though, has formatting issues with one letter per row as a normal occurrence in more than 90% of its pages. Punctuation, capitalization, spelling, subject-verb agreement, and all other basic grammar rules are defied more often than not. Thoughts and scenes are too repetitive that it is easier to stop real reading and start skimming through. The following appears on the first page of its main text: “Jason Kendall apartment brunch room, Jason exit the washroom to the brunch room, in the…” It is not a surprise to find similar sentences in almost (if not totally) all of its remaining pages. To be honest, there could even be other flaws and shortcomings that critical reviewers may find aside from what I already cited. Thus, with the prospective usual audience’s possible expectations and all other considerations in mind, it is with a heavy heart that I give this book 1 out of 4 stars.
Nonetheless, if you also have a propensity for giving everything and everyone a “fair go” despite what’s initially apparent, you may still wish to give this one a chance. If you are looking for a challenge, then this one is for you as well. Above all else, the author accomplished something not every one of us has dared to do – getting his work published. That is not only a good start but also a truly awesome feat worth gleaning.
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Why Me: Trash Collector, Mental Issues
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