Official Review: Everybody Gets Paid by Tom Morgan

[Shrabastee Chakraborty]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Everybody Gets Paid" by Tom Morgan.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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Everybody Gets Paid, a contemporary novel by Tom Morgan, features three Californians undergoing midlife crises. Nathaniel Oakland mostly writes Hollywood screenplays yet hopes to publish his own book one day. His friend, Francis Rooney O’Day, is a well-established attorney. Grant Farrow is a filmmaker whose career has steadily declined after a brief period of success. Their personal lives are equally dysfunctional. Nathaniel and Rooney are both dealing with the aftermath of messy divorces, while Grant has found solace in alcohol and drugs. The story starts with the trio going on a road trip to San Francisco in search of “the Great Unknown.” Will the trip rejuvenate them, or will they give in to the chaotic life once more?

The book consists of three parts, with Nathaniel narrating the story. I liked the slightly dispirited yet subtly humorous tone Morgan adopted throughout the novel. Nathaniel seemed unable to recover from his divorce and the resultant confusion. No matter how much he tried, he could not fill the void it left in his life. Morgan’s depiction of this feeling of loss was expressive. The novel also showed how working towards a dream could give one enough tenacity to surmount all obstacles.

The biggest disappointment for me was the absence of character arcs. The trio met several new characters and garnered new experiences throughout the book; however, most of them proved to be inconsequential. From the blurb, I expected this novel to be a story of self-discovery. Yet, the characters lacked depth and stayed the same, with no ups and downs whatsoever. Nathaniel remained perpetually depressed over his divorce. Frolicking with friends, getting to know a few attractive women, or revisiting his childhood home failed to bring him closure. I did not find his character at all relatable.

The storyline itself had very little to offer. The most exciting event in the book was probably a drunken brawl between Grant and an egotistic artist. The twist highlighted in the blurb did not make an appearance until the third part. Even then, it did not generate much intrigue and was over within a few pages. The ending brought a sudden turn of events that I had not foreseen. Apart from that, the lack of evolution in either the characters or the plot made the novel uninteresting.

Throughout the book, many female characters arrived and then disappeared within a couple of pages. The brief intimacy Nathaniel or his friends had with them contributed nothing to the plot but added to the superficiality of the characters. Besides, the characters leaned heavily on alcoholism and substance abuse. This fact, along with the frequent use of profanities, did not sit well with me.

Considering these points, I rate the book 2 out of 4 stars. There were a few errors that did not detract from the reading experience. Although this novel failed to meet my expectations, readers who enjoy contemporary fiction might appreciate it. However, those who do not like to read about alcohol and drug abuse should stay away from this.

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Everybody Gets Paid
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[Kaivalya Khisti]

I do not enjoy novels that do not invest enough in character development. So this is not the book I will pick.

[Bookworm101520]

I appreciate the note about the lack of character arcs! That's something that really bothers me as well. Thank you for a comprehensive review.

[Nqobile Mashinini Tshabalala]

What a pity the story lacked character arcs. The storyline has real potential! I was expecting to learn about the 3 character's growth. Nonetheless, thanks for the review!

[Bertha Jackson]

I like to feel a connection with the characters when I read a book, so this one does not appeal to me. Thank you for your review.

[Tarilan]

This is not the kind of book I like to read. Thanks for the review though.