Ginger Mayerson

In her novel Electricland Ms. Mayerson has a character ask, “can any of you remember any of the middle-aged women you have met recently well enough to describe her and identify her?” The answer is of course no. This provides the stealth technology for the world’s most effective violence for hire group.

In the events described they seem to be working for an unnamed organization that is interested in keeping the US just slightly destabilized in this wonderful dystopian near future tale. show more The situation has been complicated in this case by a “romantic error” that required a lot of footwork and a staggering body count to correct.

If you can imagine a somewhat brighter Tom Clancy gone to the dark side writing in a Larry Niven gamer world you will have a good idea of just how much fun Ms. Mayerson had with this book. It is a "ultra-violence" chronology of the post 9/11 landscape. Written with nihilistic delight the story has a nice subtext of interaction between the players with a soupcon of eclectic eroticism for the adult reader.

Like all of Ms. Mayerson’s novels it can be read on many levels but first and foremost it is a thumping good read that I enjoyed hugely. show less

I was enthralled by this book. After hitting the bottom of the first page I never looked back. I was pulled into the world of Dr. Hackenbush and her endeavors to deal with life on her own terms. Forced by the untimely death of the transmission of her Karmann-Ghia and the destruction of her baritone ukulele to return to the world of industry, she takes a job with a temporary agency. Complications ensue.

In the course of acquiring the funds to repair the damage she encounters many obstacles show more some human, some otherwise. But throughout she remains one of the most delightful characters that I have encountered since Mole met Ratty. She also provides one of the best insights I have read of an artist attempting to cope with the commercial world and still remain an artist. And did I mention that it is laugh out loud funny.

At this point Ms. Mayerson seems to have only written one book about the most interesting doctor. I am contacting her publisher to demand that she quite wasting her time eating and sleeping and spend full time writing many more books. I must know what comes next. Write, Ms. Mayerson, write!

A copy of this book was provided free for the purposes of this review. show less

This quick pleasure reads like a detective novel.. but without the crime. Dr. Hackenbush is a sarcastic, pessimistic-optimistic, competent, talented 30-something who, at the beginning of the story, loses her ukulele and, as a result, her income. Needing an expensive car repair at the same time, Hackenbush finds herself at a corporate temp agency and is assigned to a difficult law firm to raise enough cash to fix her ukulele and her car.

As someone who has been a temp in a big city, someone show more who has a love for and a background with music, and someone who has worked as staff in a law firm and, now, as a lawyer... I was impressed with Mayerson's portrayal of the many worlds and the people therein.

The book is set in the 80s and, of course, some things have changed in the past 30 years, but it is still a current tale, highlighting some of the struggles and tensions between artists and the business world, between men and women, and even among people of the same social groups.

The story reads very quickly and the plot is interesting enough, but it is the characters that really move the reader. Hackenbush herself is moderately endearing, and you do care what happens to her. However, I found myself caring more about some of the more peripheral characters - feeling disgust, hope, confusion, and even attachment.

I recommend to anyone who is looking for a light quick read with perhaps a few lessons along the way... show less

Ginger Mayerson has once again produced an epic little jewel of a novel. She continues to chronicle the live of Mabel Hackenbush part time temp and full time leader of Dr. Hackenbush and her Orchestra. This is the second book in this series and it is fully as enjoyable as the first. Ms. Mayerson manages to combine a good deal of social commentary, with humor and an insight into being an artist living in a commercial world. She tops that with being drop dead funny and tells a fine and moving show more story in the process.

This is a good deal to accomplish in 167 pages of a trade paperback but it is done well and completely. Through the course of the book she struggles with many of the major questions of life; what are the responsibilities of someone with a communicable disease and do gimlets go with tuna casserole.

My only complaint is that the author is obviously wasting time doing other things other than writing books. I expect to see the next book out in a more timely fashion. The story of the fabulous Dr. Hackenbush must be told. show less