About the Book
In the last column of a job application, there's that tricky question:
Reason for Leaving. John Manderino has apparently had to puzzle over that
one often and long. His answers are collected here in this hilarious novel-in-stories
tracing the history of a guy trying to grow up job by job. Delivery boy,
altar boy, busboy, teacher, cotton picker, umpire, Zen monk--Manderino's
protagonist tries on one hat after another, from Chicago to Arizona to
a South Dakota reservation where he longs to be given an Indian name, "something
like Many Roads, or Many Jobs." A funny, moving portrait of a man's
journey of becoming. But becoming what? The answer lies behind all the
reasons for leaving.
From Kirkus Reviews
"…
Manderino is a funny writer…"
From Cambridge Book Review
"…so perceptive at detailing the emotional component
of just about everybody's job experiences. You will recognize
yourself
in these funny, moving pages."
From Monica Wood, author of Any Bitter Thing
"…contains
the funniest, sharpest dialogue I’ve read
in years. I love this guy’s prose—clean,
clean, clean with a musical flow…"
From The Baltimore
Sun
"…funny…surprisingly poignant, highlighting
just how intricately the identities of American men are tied
to the work they do."
From USA Today
"…an earnest and humorous look at the milestones
in life…"
Reason for
Leaving: Job Stories A Novel