Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Harper Perennial (2004), Edition: New Ed, Paperback, 256 pages
Description
Life on The Scheme is like being in a feather bed. You've got your full uniform provided, cups of tea and sandwiches, the odd comfy snooze in a lay-by while you wait to clock off, and a healthy weekly wage. And all you've got to do is turn up for work But it could all so easily come to an end.
User reviews
LibraryThing member verenka
I picked the book because of its very funny blurb and intriguing title. Unfortunately my expectations were a bit disappointed. It's an unusual book and for this alone I'll give it 6 points, but it wasn't as funny as I hoped it to be.
Although I usually like it when the whole story is unravelled bit
Although I usually like it when the whole story is unravelled bit
Show More
by bit and you have to read between the line to get it completely. But with this book, when I finally got it, it didn't make me go "ah!" it made me go "eh?". Show Less
LibraryThing member Eat_Read_Knit
The Scheme works like clockwork: a vast fleet of vans transport goods between depots, everything is meticulously checked in and out, and everyone gets paid for their day's work. But the goods they're transporting rounds and round in circles are merely parts for more vans, and tensions are building
This is a passable satire on the workplace and job creations schemes, but while the book has some good moments, it has a tendency to be a bit vague. It was okay, but it could have been really spectacular if it had been pushed a bit further. I kept thinking about what it might have been like if someone like Terry Pratchett had started with the same scenario, and the real book didn't come off well.
It's not bad. In fact, it's decently plotted and vaguely amusing. But its probably one to pick up if the library hasn't got the book you really went in for, rather than one to buy. 3/5.
Show More
between those who think it's acceptable to clock off a few minutes early and those who insist on the full eight hours...This is a passable satire on the workplace and job creations schemes, but while the book has some good moments, it has a tendency to be a bit vague. It was okay, but it could have been really spectacular if it had been pushed a bit further. I kept thinking about what it might have been like if someone like Terry Pratchett had started with the same scenario, and the real book didn't come off well.
It's not bad. In fact, it's decently plotted and vaguely amusing. But its probably one to pick up if the library hasn't got the book you really went in for, rather than one to buy. 3/5.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sanddancer
This books follows a similar line to Mills' previous novels "The Restraint of Beasts" and "All Quiet on the Orient Express" - it is concerned with the monotony of work and features an unnamed narrator who is an observer of the slightly weird world.
The idea of the scheme itself (hundreds of people
I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the other books by the same author. I loved the premise of the book and found it mildly amusing, but thought that perhaps the idea wasn't taken far enough.
The idea of the scheme itself (hundreds of people
Show More
are employed driving around vans that carry only spare parts of those vans) is absolute genius. The story of book is about how this scheme is ruined when factions form amongst the employees of the scheme, which is ridiculously petty but somehow all too believable. I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the other books by the same author. I loved the premise of the book and found it mildly amusing, but thought that perhaps the idea wasn't taken far enough.
Show Less
LibraryThing member isabelx
The Scheme had never witnessed a mass meeting before, simply because there'd been no need for one. Not once in its history had there been any cause for dissatisfaction: we were well paid; we were immune to commercial fluctuation; and the job itself was a cinch. We merely had to drive a van between
This is the story of the demise of a thirty-year-old scheme to provide employment for people around the country. Every day, men drive their UniVans around a series of depots on a fixed schedule, with the depot staff unloading the vans and re-loading them with items to be taken to the next depot on the route. All the scheme does is move goods from one depot to another, and the goods they deliver are UniVan parts, but the scheme is still popular with the general public.
The protagonist is a UniVan driver whose assistant George has a sideline delivering cakes for his demanding girlfriend Trace, even though it is strictly against the rules to carry goods in the cab. George goes on holiday having persuaded the driver to continue delivering his cakes for him, but the driver is assigned a special task, ten days of runs to a distant depot that is going to be integrated into the local network, to get an average time for the run, so a backlog of cakes builds up. Apart from that, their working life is uneventful to start with; they make their rounds, chatting to the depot staff and other drivers, and their only problem is a hand trolley that they seem unable to deliver successfully.
When the full-dayers (who believe in sticking strictly to the eight-hour day) and the swervers (who like being allowed to sign off early sometimes) clash, precipitated by the suspension of a supervisor for handing out too many early-swerves, it is not long before the scheme falls into disrepute and its days are numbered.
An enjoyable satire on bureaucracy, although rather more laid-back than most satires.
Show More
A, B and C, and out continual employment was guaranteed. Now, however, discontent had arisen, and I was curious to find out what would be the outcome.This is the story of the demise of a thirty-year-old scheme to provide employment for people around the country. Every day, men drive their UniVans around a series of depots on a fixed schedule, with the depot staff unloading the vans and re-loading them with items to be taken to the next depot on the route. All the scheme does is move goods from one depot to another, and the goods they deliver are UniVan parts, but the scheme is still popular with the general public.
The protagonist is a UniVan driver whose assistant George has a sideline delivering cakes for his demanding girlfriend Trace, even though it is strictly against the rules to carry goods in the cab. George goes on holiday having persuaded the driver to continue delivering his cakes for him, but the driver is assigned a special task, ten days of runs to a distant depot that is going to be integrated into the local network, to get an average time for the run, so a backlog of cakes builds up. Apart from that, their working life is uneventful to start with; they make their rounds, chatting to the depot staff and other drivers, and their only problem is a hand trolley that they seem unable to deliver successfully.
When the full-dayers (who believe in sticking strictly to the eight-hour day) and the swervers (who like being allowed to sign off early sometimes) clash, precipitated by the suspension of a supervisor for handing out too many early-swerves, it is not long before the scheme falls into disrepute and its days are numbered.
An enjoyable satire on bureaucracy, although rather more laid-back than most satires.
Show Less
LibraryThing member elahrairah
A curious little novel that might have made a better short story. It's charming and has a few funny moments, and is probably worth a read if you fancy something light and gently silly.
Language
Original publication date
2003
Physical description
256 p.; 7.64 inches
ISBN
0007151322 / 9780007151325