Wages.

Description

213 pages
$21.00
ISBN 978-1-55420-029-0
DDC C818'.603

Publisher

Year

2007

Contributor

Reviewed by Janet Arnett

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

 

Review

Armstrong uses the structure of a memoir of his spotty employment history as a frame from which to hang his anger, sarcasm, vulgarity, obsession with sex, and extensive scatological vocabulary. He recalls jobs he held, from age 14 to early retirement in his 40s, describing the unpleasant aspects of each, the stupidity of his supervisors, and the opportunities he found to exploit his employers. Along the way he includes accounts of his skill in abusing unemployment insurance and welfare assistance, as well as drugs and alcohol. In describing each of his jobs, he brings in graphic descriptions of sexual activity and is often offensive toward the disabled, the elderly, immigrants, Christians, and women.

Citation

Armstrong, John., “Wages.,” Canadian Book Review Annual Online, accessed October 11, 2024, https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/26810.