Why Liv?
by Jon Sebastian Shifrin
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Pub Date Oct 26 2019 | Archive Date Jun 28 2021
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Description
As a twenty-something corporate employee with a doctor-in-training girlfriend, Livingstone Modicai Ackerman—Liv, to his friends—personifies success. Yet all is not as it seems. His job is tedious and soul-gutting, his girlfriend is a vacuous, image-conscious snob, and, meanwhile, his pathologically narcissistic parents are constant irritants. Add to this the febrile political climate dominated by a reactionary group, the Patriot Posse, led by a mendacious radio personality with outlandish hair and catchy campaign slogan to “Make America Great Again,” is a presidential candidate—and he’s winning!
Overwhelmed and struggling to maintain a sense of dignity and worth, Liv quits his job, breaks up with his girlfriend, and leaves for Spain to explore the existential question: Why live?
Told with humorous charm and wit, Why Liv? examines why modern work is so devoid of purpose and why reactionary politics is so alluring in America. Most of all, it humbly attempts to offer a reason to persevere during difficult times.
Advance Praise
“… a highly amusing ride.” — BlueInk Reviews
“Why Liv? is a wake-up call to contemporary Americans, a book that challenges how readers approach political reality."" — Readers’ Favorite"
“… a highly amusing ride.” — BlueInk Reviews
“Why Liv? is a wake-up call to contemporary Americans, a book that challenges how readers approach political reality."" — Readers’ Favorite"
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9781950282937 |
| PRICE | $3.99 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 694760
This was quite the nice surprise when I started reading this book! While it encompasses the most recent political catastrophe in the USA, the story focuses on a few main characters who create a dialogue not only about daily life but also a philosophical perspective of the human condition. Livingstone Modicai Ackerman—Liv, is open and honest and gets what life is about. The various settings in the novel are quite familiar to me as are some of the various references so I felt quite at home with this novel! This was the reading pick me up that I did not know I needed!
Katherine H, Reviewer
TRIGGER WARNING: politics, narcissistic parents, personal image issues
I felt for Liv due to everything that was wrong in his life. Why Liv? Has an interesting plot and the subjects covered make it unlike anything I’ve reviewed before.
I feel Jon Sebastian Shifrin was adventurous as an author to combine all these subjects. The resulting novel, Why Liv, is one I feel could spark debate amongst readers because of the issues covered, and the fact they’re issues that make us all feel uncomfortable and/ or uneasy at some point in our lives.
Because of this, I think the book will remain current in its plot and subject matter for years to come.
I think it would make a good book club pick for this reason.
I posted a spotlight post on my blog as part of the blog tour: https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/spotlight-post-by-jon-sebastian-shifrin/
Thanks to Jon Sebastian Shiffrin and Bublish, Incorporated for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
4 stars
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