Barbara Gregorich who writes fiction and nonfiction for adults and for children has in her writing career deliberately moved from one genre to another writing about the things important in life baseball mystery and social justice Her seminal Women at Play The Story of Women in Baseball won the SABR MacMillan Award and laid the groundwork for other books on the subject A frequent presenter at Illinois libraries Gregorich was appointed a 2013 Roads Scholar by the Illinois Arts Council In 2021 City of Light published The F Words whose story of ICE persecution of immigrants focuses on the resilience of working class teens Exit Velocity features a young working class woman who encounters discrimination in the workplace and assault on the streets As she fights for her rights she is aided by a parrot from another planet. Rowan Pickett is desperate to put her life back together which is why she goes looking for Titus Longshaw leader of a group which seeks to unite Black White and Latino workers Titus can help her get a job Rowan s search for work keeps getting interrupted by Jake Terranova an arrogant podcaster from Boston who insists on interviewing her about a parrot A parrot he suspects is from another planet And by pro fascist Zeb Snoddy whom she has feared since she was a teen She gets the job she so desperately needs and this helps her regain the confidence and courage to demand social justice at rallies and in her workplace She once again becomes active in organizations to end violence against women The job though is not easy and comes with relentless problems Fast paced working conditions and a foreman who has it in for her are just the start But Rowan can handle tough situations Until one dark night as she and her best friend Keisha are walking home Zeb Snoddy is waiting for them Exit Velocity A NovelBarbara Gregorich s latest novel has it all including a chatty thoughtful hilarious parrot named Deeply The story is told through the eyes of a young woman who is trying to make a go of life working in the gig economy loading and unloading delivery trucks for a huge warehouse and the young journalist who accidentally meets her while hot on the trail of Deeply the unusual parrot The plot has lots of twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat In addition to being a fun read it serves to introduce young readers to the power of coming together to do good in this world English Barbara Gregorich s novel Exit Velocity crosses genres and expectations A utopian noir laced with labor propaganda and elements of thriller and sci fi alike this multi first person narrative describes a young woman s realization of self dependence while also relying on her friends and neighbors The book paints a vivid picture of the contemporary Chicago environs in which it takes place with events seemingly ripped and extrapolated from recent headlines It is not a complex story nor are the archetypal characters particularly deep yet the plot is compelling enough to carry this reader toward the exciting if inevitable conclusion The space faring telepathic parrot DeePlea Deeply offers an unexpected omniscient presence which I sincerely hope Gregorich continues to develop in future novels English I adored the book It s a truly captivating tale of loss hope and determination When you are reading the book you know the character these are real people The story is relatable in every aspect except of course for the alien parrot part The inclusion of the parrot was a brilliant touch seamlessly weaving into the narrative From Rowan to Jake to Titus each character adds depth and charm to the story By the halfway point I found it incredibly difficult to put the book down eager to find what happens next Of all the character my personal favorite was Jake witnessing his transformation from an outsider to an integral part of the group. While the story is exceptional and I couldn t wait to finish it its thought provoking nature truly sets this book apart for me We are taught about equality and hard work but does that truly reflect reality for most people This book made me question the societal norms we are raised with as the author aptly points out the bubble in which the middle class resides I might not agree with everything the book says but it made me question my values and beliefs Overall it has a compelling story and a powerful message I hope the story of Deeply his mission continues English Barbara Gregorich MA 65AuthorFrom the author Rowan Pickett s world has gone to hell her sister murdered in a high school shooting her mother leaving and Rowan sitting home and mourning But then reality kicks in Rowan realizes that she wants to survive and in order to survive she needs a job This leads her to Titus Longshaw Black leader of the socialist organization Working Class Control Titus points Rowan to a job at Package Nova a global shipping firm on Chicago s south side. From there things move at the pace of a million packages whizzing by on conveyer belts The foreman has it in for Rowan because she speaks out against sexism Worse yet Zeb Snoddy proclaimed white supremacist also has it in for Rowan because of her politics One dark night Snoddy confronts Rowan and her best friend Keisha Longshaw. Jake Terranova a podcaster from Boston starts out thinking that Rowan has a parrot she has trained to assault and maybe assassinate Zeb Snoddy And then he suspects the unthinkable that the parrot Deeply is from another planet English What do a young revolutionary activist recovering from a deep personal loss and rededicating herself to the struggle a well meaning podcaster videographer a gun toting right wing zealot and a colorful brainy parrot all have in common Well they occupy the pages of this novel which at times left me breathless often provoked and sometimes saying Seriously Alternating between belief and disbelief these characters and a cast of dynamic supporting characters frequently face off in showdowns for who will be the greatest catalyst for fundamental change. The extraordinary parrot loves old movies popcorn and munching on donuts But he loves nothing than the prople we also care about although it may only be passing through for a short but pivotal time in their lives Why is that You won t learn that from me. Their story unfolds against a backdrop of Chicago neighborhoods and landmarks It is told in alternating voices of our protagonists as we learn their deepest fears and yearnings From a grueling workplace to a perch along a rooftop the aromas of eateries and delights of the local zoo the paths of a speeding bicycle or the views of an elevated train we are transported through the narrative We might find ourselves chanting in the center of a massive labor picket line or at a downtown rally surrounded by police in riot gear Then suddenly we re carried aloft to where no earthly creature might go I really enjoyed the ride As a long time political activist and feminist having worked many years in non traditional jobs I found myself identifying with and cheering the characters on but sometimes having questions too Is that OK Yes I remembered that at the heart of political engagement is debate conflict growth and learning testing the limits of our comfort zones This book reflects all that and . If you support the struggles against racism and sexism and are for dignity on the job a fair wage and working conditions and the rights of workers to cross borders in search of a better life there should be something for you in this book. Some scenarios might seem far fetched a parrot even a smart one scoping out and retrieving surveillance bugs buried in the walls of a political organizing space While I admittedly cheered I also cried out Seriously But then taking on the vicious brutal system in which we live seems far fetched to many too so I suspended disbelief and embraced these characters once again. Laughing a lot and shedding a few tears i had a range of reactions while reading this book I cared about the characters and the choices they made At times I was on the edge of my seat As the central threads of the plot wound down I realized I m going to miss these characters when I finish the book I became invested in the outcome and didn t want to leave the world it created But alas we are forced to make our exit as it were I want a sequel or will have to imagine their futures Read it and enjoy it yourself English
| Exit Velocity: A Novel By Barbara Gregorich |
| 9798350924664 |
| English |
| 384 |
| Kindle Edition |