Joe Barrett (2)
Author of Managed Care
For other authors named Joe Barrett, see the disambiguation page.
Works by Joe Barrett
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- male
- Country (for map)
- USA
- Places of residence
- South Tampa, Florida, USA
- Short biography
- Joe Barrett has spent the past twenty-five years as a chief executive of entrepreneurial organizations ranging from private, venture-funded companies to large publicly-listed multinational corporations. He has been a frequent speaker at National Retail Federation conferences and has sat on the boards of several for-profit and non-profit companies. His short fiction has been published in Iconoclast, The Storyteller and The Palo Alto Review. He lives with his wife and two children in South Tampa, Florida.
Members
Reviews
Managed Care by Joe Barrett
Kindle book. Quirky, but fun read.KIRKUS REVIEWIn Barrett?s debut farcical novel, a 30-something man living in a managed care facility finds unlikely allies in two middle schoolers.New Jersey computer programmer Frank Johnson expects reimbursement after his grandfather dies prior to his stay at the Hardy Managed Care Facility. But as Ed Hardy refuses to refund Frank?s one-year advance payment, Frank moves in (perfectly legal, since he shares his name with his late grandfather). After six months of living in Room 422, he and Hardy are at a stalemate. Frank then meets Elroy, a 12-year-old foster kid, who?s at the facility as part of Rudolphsville Middle School?s newly minted Outreach Club. Elroy is just there to read to Frank, but this arrangement becomes an opportunity for Frank to enjoy time off campus. Hardy, of course, won?t let Frank choose a destination, but he likes Elroy?s idea: take Frank to a Catholic church for confession, an outing Hardy assumes Frank will despise. Frank?s excursions soon include the only other Outreach Club member, Sally Berman. Incidentally, Frank?s confessions inspire him to ?fix? the church by providing what he believes is missing: intimacy. Though Frank revels in impudence (he wears and periodically endorses adult diapers), his gradual affection for his preteen pals is endearing. For example, Elroy?s elation at merely spending time with someone else?s family gets an emotional response from Frank, a self-professed ?pretty hard-edged loner.? Elroy is a sympathetic character, enduring school bullies and living with an elderly couple unsuitable for fostering. Sally, too, recently lost her beloved Aunt Sadie to suicide and, burdened with an indifferent mother, becomes suicidal herself. The bond among the main characters, including the kids? potential romance, is charming. Less engaging, however, is Frank?s plan regarding the church. But it?s a great excuse for the trio?s frequent bouts of hilarious banter.Witty, occasionally crass, and an unqualified delight.… (more)
Gigglesnort humor in the same vein as Bill & Ted or Strange Brew. Total adolescent laugh fest! Theoretical plot, but mostly a vehicle for the laughs.
I requested and received an EARC from Black Rose Writing via NetGalley. Thank you! My kids will love it!
I requested and received an EARC from Black Rose Writing via NetGalley. Thank you! My kids will love it!
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.This book starts off very cheeky and makes you chuckle. Then it throws in some make you think about that for a minute and ends with some watery eyes and a how about that! I enjoyed every page. Great cast of characters and a nice flow to the story. I’ll definitely be checking out other books by this author.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.As with so many books I review for LibraryThing Early Reviewers, this book was not what I expected. I had a hard time deciding between 3 and 4 stars for it. The author's style reminded me a little of Dave Barry or Lewis Grizzard in the beginning but then became a little more serious in tone. The premise of the book is that a tween blogger with the help of her 10-year-old hacker type brother and business type father can create an alternate financial system to the current one in the U.S. It chronicles the events as each blog is posted and what needs to be done in response. It shows some of the pitfalls that arise as the ideas from the blog take off. The story is told from the point of view of the father and something I really liked was he was not portrayed as a doofus as so many men/fathers are. There were some unresolved issues, but then when you are changing the world for the better you cannot do everything right away. I good read with the window left open for sequel.… (more)
Awards
Statistics
- Works
- 4
- Members
- 84
- Popularity
- #216,911
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 18
- ISBNs
- 5
