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A review by jarrahpenguin
Work-Life Balance by Aisha Franz
3.0
Aisha Franz' quirky send-up of corporate culture and wellness culture is scathing and uncomfortable, but also darkly humorous. Three characters start seeing the same therapist for different issues, including a potter feeling insecure in comparison to her successful sculptor studio-mate, a woman who's suspended after sexually harassing her colleague, and a man who was screwed over by a large corporation who had hired him to develop virtual therapy software. Their therapist barely responds during their sessions, preferring to prioritize her own wellness routines.
The book alternates between vignettes of the three characters but only the potter really seems to have much dimension. That kind of makes sense given it's essentially a satire, with appropriately cartoonish but stylized art. But it still feels a bit empty and unsatisfying. It could be that that's the point since the culture Franz portrays is a bit empty and unfulfilling too. I just wished for a more profound moment or turning point and/or even more of an effort to give the readers reason to recognize themselves in the characters, and question that.
The book alternates between vignettes of the three characters but only the potter really seems to have much dimension. That kind of makes sense given it's essentially a satire, with appropriately cartoonish but stylized art. But it still feels a bit empty and unsatisfying. It could be that that's the point since the culture Franz portrays is a bit empty and unfulfilling too. I just wished for a more profound moment or turning point and/or even more of an effort to give the readers reason to recognize themselves in the characters, and question that.