Novel based on Sidwell coming out in summer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how she’s an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer but drops the “adjunct” in all her bios. The defining word of that title is in fact adjunct

+1

Though all institutions should make something like "lecturer" follow adjunct, because in most situations, they are light years away from being anything resembling "professor."

I mean, "professorial lecturer" to me implies that it's an adjunct style position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just returned it on Audible. It was completely unreadable (in-listenable).

The narrator (aka author’s obvious proxy) is so full of contempt for everyone and everything that the book exudes misery. She hates her colleagues, she hates school parents, she hates her mother, she hates her own DAUGHTER. No thanks.

There’s no dirt or secret insight here. I say this as someone who’s a big fan of Roman a clefs and the sub-sub-genre of “novels about famous schools”. This one does not bring the goods.

The author sure tried, but the effect is laughable. Representative example overreach:

“The curriculum is fine,” said Mrs X. Ms. Narrator knew that this is private school parent speak for ‘Don’t change anything.’

Private school parent speak, lol! Who knew we were all conversing in it and that it sounds exactly like vernacular English?!

Looking forward to your "novels about famous schools" suggestions.

My favorite is Dorothy Sayers's "Gaudy Night".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how she’s an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer but drops the “adjunct” in all her bios. The defining word of that title is in fact adjunct

+1

Though all institutions should make something like "lecturer" follow adjunct, because in most situations, they are light years away from being anything resembling "professor."

I mean, "professorial lecturer" to me implies that it's an adjunct style position.

That's my point. Many places say "adjunct professor" instead of lecturer or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I know someone who works at the publisher and apparently multiple news articles forthcoming about the novel and how racist and petty the reaction from local parents have been….also  aren’t you all just proving her point?!

I am Asian, I thought the book was horrible.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I know someone who works at the publisher and apparently multiple news articles forthcoming about the novel and how racist and petty the reaction from local parents have been….also  aren’t you all just proving her point?!

The only person who consistently comes across as petty is the author. It’s embarrassing. We come from a similar background and she’s truly insufferable. I think it comes from deep personality flaws and insecurities.

[Anonymous]

If you’re an Adjunct but you consistently drop Adjunct from your signature and LinkedIn etc. you have a massive chip on your shoulder and are looking to deceive.

There are Adjuncts all over this area, many of them in top professional roles. None of them bill themselves “Professor” instead of “Adjunct” or “Adjunct Professor”. It’s really embarrassing

I have no doubt there’s an issue here, I just don’t understand why? The others have provided her with a very privileged lifestyle her entire life? Why not enjoy it but instead tend to a garden or resentments and repeatedly try to self-aggrandize?

[Anonymous]

Maybe next book is about a divorce

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how she’s an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer but drops the “adjunct” in all her bios. The defining word of that title is in fact adjunct

+1

Though all institutions should make something like "lecturer" follow adjunct, because in most situations, they are light years away from being anything resembling "professor."

I mean, "professorial lecturer" to me implies that it's an adjunct style position.

Of course it does. But she repeatedly drops it 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I know someone who works at the publisher and apparently multiple news articles forthcoming about the novel and how racist and petty the reaction from local parents have been….also  aren’t you all just proving her point?!

If I were the publisher I’d be all over this type of a manufactured controversy. That’s why the venerable “Alcove Press” published it in the first place. Instead of clutching their pearls they should buy some proofreading software and - gasp - try to edit a book before publishing it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how she’s an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer but drops the “adjunct” in all her bios. The defining word of that title is in fact adjunct

+1

Though all institutions should make something like "lecturer" follow adjunct, because in most situations, they are light years away from being anything resembling "professor."

I mean, "professorial lecturer" to me implies that it's an adjunct style position.

That's my point. Many places say "adjunct professor" instead of lecturer or whatever.

The title at AU is “Adjunct Professorial Lecturer” while elsewhere it’s “Adjunct Professor”

If I drop the “Adjunct” it’s because I’m trying to imply I’m of a higher academic grade than I am or that I’m an academic when I’m not. Drop “Adjunct” and you’re implying you’re a Professor. That’s the only intent there could be. It’s not like she’s shortening the title (Adjunct is the most accurate and would suffice)

There are many overeducated community members teaching a seminar at the local universities. None of them that I’ve seen try to deceive by dropping a part of their title. This woman is a very unsympathetic character

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just returned it on Audible. It was completely unreadable (in-listenable).

The narrator (aka author’s obvious proxy) is so full of contempt for everyone and everything that the book exudes misery. She hates her colleagues, she hates school parents, she hates her mother, she hates her own DAUGHTER. No thanks.

There’s no dirt or secret insight here. I say this as someone who’s a big fan of Roman a clefs and the sub-sub-genre of “novels about famous schools”. This one does not bring the goods.

The author sure tried, but the effect is laughable. Representative example overreach:

“The curriculum is fine,” said Mrs X. Ms. Narrator knew that this is private school parent speak for ‘Don’t change anything.’

Private school parent speak, lol! Who knew we were all conversing in it and that it sounds exactly like vernacular English?!

Looking forward to your "novels about famous schools" suggestions.

My favorite is Dorothy Sayers's "Gaudy Night".

John Knowles - A Separate Peace

John Irving - A Prayer for Owen Meany and The World According to Garp

Also Prep, Skippy Dies, Stand Before Your God

Several about Sidwell, including
Children of Power published by Macmillan
The Mother Daughter Show profiled in WaPo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how she’s an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer but drops the “adjunct” in all her bios. The defining word of that title is in fact adjunct

lol. Dropping that one word says so much!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“I realized that the last time I felt this type of anger and embarrassment was when I was in high school at Sidwell Friends”

Funny, she (presumably) reported her own medium piece about a Lululemon racist incident that wasn’t

We read it for fun (Asian family) and no one thought a frazzled salesperson repeating distancing rules sounded racist. There’s racism for sure and some behaved inexcusably during Covid but this ain’t it

Yet somehow the “professorial lecturer and writer” as it’s signed by her, worked her old school into it. Mind boggles.

[Anonymous]

What also struck me is how she calls the store 5 times and then calls the HQ and then still unsatisfied writes an article about it. Whoa whoa whoa indeed.

Now she’s unhappy about the snarky comments on this platform which she monetizes for herself through her book. So she’s presumably contacted the website and will now publish some articles

Reminds me of the Baby Reindeer. I’m a bit uneasy writing this lest I invite a Martha into our midst. Let’s live on the edge and break out some popcorn. I predict a “coming out” article (like no one doesn’t know and anyone cares) and more whining

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“I realized that the last time I felt this type of anger and embarrassment was when I was in high school at Sidwell Friends”

This woman is in her 50s. She needs therapy so she can release this anger. The multi-decade grudge she has carried against Sidwell reminds me of that old quote, “resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” The only person suffering is the author of this mediocre book.

There’s something to this - I think she’s seething not suffering though