“She had wanted from him all she wanted from anyone: to tell her what to do and leave her alone.”
Full of wry humor and topical technology debates, "Wrong Way" offers a surface-level view of employment ennui in the age of automation. Joanne McNeil's prose has an appealing flow, but the story progression is slow and elements of the plotline are only marginally believable.
Teresa's endless series of dead-end jobs become even more heartbreaking when you learn how her dream role was ripped out from underneath her. It can be difficult to find interiority with the main character beyond a surface level, but her journey is relatable and, in many ways, universal.
“The Ivy League is Scientology for people in Weston, Bethesda, Westchester County.”
Reading "Wrong Way" as an encapsulation of Gen X's encroaching mortality and existential crises can perhaps elevate -- or diminish -- the nature of the experience, depending on your age. McNeil stays close to what she knows here, leading to hope that future work will lead to further exploration and challenge.
“It’s a chance to be human with someone who doesn’t judge her for being no good at it."
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