3 out of 4 stars
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Rideshares, Wrecks, and Sex; Confessions of a Convicted Uber Driver by Joe F. N. Schmo is a recollection of some of the author’s actual and most memorable encounters and conversations with his clientele, put within the context of fiction. Schmo’s experiences take place in the Phoenix area in Arizona, during his one-year covert work as an Uber driver while on probation. Why he was on probation is to be found while reading the book!
I must admit that I was intrigued by the title of the book and by the premise that I got from the synopsis. Rideshares, Wrecks, and Sex is divided into 38 chapters, each covering a short story, and spanning three main territories, as the title implies. The clientele’s stories come as a natural response to their query about Schmo’s craziest story while on the job. Schmo’s book lives up to the title, for it touches on a wide range of topics like alcohol, partying, prostitution, drugs, swinging, and breaking the law!
The author uses the first person narrative to deliver his stories in a clear, concise, and humorous writing style. He does not shy away from expressing his sexual thoughts candidly. You can, therefore, anticipate foul language and profanity.
However, it is not to be understood that the book is superficial. The explicit content and the humor do not take away from the pieces of wisdom intertwined within the text. Schmo says, “Psychology is strange. It’s always easier to point a finger at someone that we hardly know, make a simple observation, and issue an accurate assessment. Meanwhile, it’s nearly impossible to critique ourselves from an objective viewpoint.”
On a related note, Schmo’s customers are diverse and come from all walks of life. Particularly amusing were the arguments between Schwartz and Vito. These opposing twins are two imaginary characters that talk to Joe and admonish him. They could as well represent his inner dialogue, his conscience, or his instincts. They add such a light heart and wit to the dialogue.
I was enthralled by the prose and the dialogue which cultivate the readers’ inner sarcasm. Here’s a sneak peek, “Then, Hank notices my Uber phone. He curses, snags it from its cradle, and hurls it out of the window. I swear I can hear Siri screaming, ‘NOOOOO!’”
Furthermore, I reveled in the description of downtown Scottsdale, Arizona. It felt like a riveting tour. Schmo also provided an interesting insider’s look into Arizona’s driving and drinking regulations.
Hard-pressed to state what I liked the least, I would choose the swinging details, which were at certain instances a bit too much for my taste. However, to do Schmo justice, he had issued a clear warning to readers who are squeamish to the details of swinging to skip chapters 27 through 30 and resume at chapter 31, without having the flow of reading or the events affected.
I enjoyed this book immensely, and I found it fast-paced, entertaining as well as thought-provoking.
Unfortunately, the seventeen mistakes I came across throughout the book, keep me from giving it the maximum score. These were predominantly spelling and grammatical errors. Thus, it is with a heavy heart that I give this book 3 out of 4 stars. A polishing round of proofreading and editing would notch it up to the perfect score.
I think Rideshares, Wrecks, and Sex would appeal to readers who appreciate an unconventional and a candid read. I also recommend it to those who appreciate an adventurous and humorous content. This, however, comes with a clear warning and exclusivity for a mature audience. If you’re offended by intimate details and foul language, you’d better steer clear of this one.
On a final note, who would’ve thought that some of the deepest conversations and the most authentic self-reflection could take place while “Ubering” and between strangers? Joe F. N. Schmo obviously did!
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Rideshares, Wrecks, and Sex
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