Julius Julius

Stewart de Pena provides great insight into the world of marketing, selling and the place of self in a fictional advertising agency Julius Julius. The book is a fanciful ride and a sharp commentary on the 20th and 21st century process of manufactured wants becoming needs. I enjoyed the three narrators and their lives shared. (Ghosts appear in abundance BTW)

However I felt the satire and commentary was a bit like feeling a 2x4 piece of lumber (see Lumber Board content within the novel!) smacked across my forehead multiple times. Enough already! I get the message. The third teller of her tale (The Future Leader -Intern) shares a poignant story of exploitation and misogyny writ large. The intern is exploited, ignored and worse. As time passes her care and skill is rewarded in a good way. I am sure the story is true for so many interns, unpaid and worked to within an inch of a weiner dogs tail. That piece cannot salvage what could have been a good novel that remains a fairly well written novel.

I must say this novel could have been better. Read at your own risk.