Working Class Zero

By Rob Payne

Office politics and misguided lust collide in Rob Payne's hilarious newnovel Praise for Rob Payne: "Think Nick Hornby or even Roddy Doyle…adds a much-needed rebel yellto…CanLit." ¾ Eye Magazine "What a hoot! Quirky and original…" ¾ Will Ferguson, author of Happiness "…a surprisingly heartfelt book." ¾ Quill & Quire My Life is ticking away one subway token at a time… Thus begins 30-year old Jay Thompson's tale of life in Corporate Purgatory.From the individual production modules (a.k.a. cubicles), KGB-stylereceptionists, and inept bosses with Rod Stewart hair, life has never been easyat HMS Trust's head office. Things are about to get a lot worse. Thanks to his "high accuracy" assessment (which took the employmentagency all of one hour to complete), Jay lands the biggestpromotion-with-out-pay in his life - as the reluctant head of a chaotic callcentre full of temps, at peak season. Enter young Samantha, a temp with more flirtatious energy than Helena BonhamCarter. And of course Jan, Jay's longtime live-in girlfriend (a second-yeardoctoral student majoring in English Literature/Antisocial Neglect of Her LifePartner); best friend Tyler (dispenser of suspect advice, part-timeRingo Starr impersonator); brother Sheldon (armed with a major life-changingannouncement); and psychotic parents Jim and Sharon, who take bitterrecrimination to all-star levels. What we get is an honest, wickedly funny and ruthlessly disenchanting look atlife, love, and middle management in the Age of the Corporation.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0006392466
• ISBN13: 9780006392460
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 263 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 0.8" x 5.6"

Customer Reviews

Working Class Zero

Hillarious!! Its a quick read and lots of laughs. I can relate all to well to the cubicle world that the lead character, Jay Thompson finds himself in. I love the description of the corporate world and especially his co-workers - Sport Guy and the management staff. I like the way the story weaves in his personal life , so you get a view of his live-in girlfriend, wacky friends and family. I see a lot of myself and my friends in the characters described in the book. My only criticism is that the book is too short - its a quick read and I miss the characters! I'm ordering Live By Request today. Thanks Rob, I look forward to your next book!