[READ: December 2022] The Other Ones
The premise of this book sounded really interesting and potentially very funny. A story about the people who did NOT participate when the office pool won the lottery.
It sounds funny but as you think of it, you realize just how sad of a story it’s going to be.
The other ones are Yoder, Lawson, Chastain, Craver, Roberson, Russell and Gibbons. On the first page, these names are listed like a cast of characters–each in a different font that I suppose characterizes each person.
Each subsequent chapter is about that person (in third person).
The book opens with Yoder jumping off of the roof of their building. He can’t believe al of those horrible people–the people he has zero respect for–could have won millions of dollars. But when his next chapter comes up, we discover that Yoder is a ghost and he is kind of the overarching narrator of the story because he comments on all of the winners (in his highly disgusted manner): Mowery (Toby Keith shirt, MAGA hat), Cowens (who goes on a Kiss Kruise), Pappas (expensive virtual reality system), Czuba, Fitzgerald and Garner (Garner is the worst because not only doesn’t he splurge, he intends to keep going to work).
Yoder wakes first in that asshole Cowen’s house. The next day he wakes up in Pappas’ house and tries to plunge a knife into his own heart–it does nothing. Then it’s that asshole Mowery. When he wakes up in Mancus’ house he hears the guy playing a terrible song “chew tobacco chew tobacco chew tobacco Spit!” (I had no idea it was a real song).
Next is Lawson. Lawson has no idea that they won when he pulls into the parking lot. he decides to go to a writing workshop–to pursue a life he’s actually interested in.
Chastain (her last name) isn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. She owes almost $30,000 in student loans. (more…)
