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ashbeth2011's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thatweirdbookgirlie's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A beautiful look at two women working the same job but in different countries, and the similarities and differences that pull them together.
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
The Contractors by Lisa Ko
Two women of the same name, working for the same company, as contractors in different countries, start comparing their work and life experiences. Sandra, a high school graduate, works in the United States, barely scraping by and that's only because she lives in the house of a boyfriend. Sandie, a college graduate with a double major, lives in the Philippines. This story highlights the unfairness of the company they work for, with different pay, standards, and opportunities for each woman. Mostly what is highlighted is that contract workers for companies, such as this website company, are given inadequate hours, breaks, support, and benefits while being expected to meet impossible goals and checkpoints.
These two women accidentally "meet" when they are both sent the same email. As they get to know more about each other, working the same job in different companies, each woman mistakenly envies the other woman for the "better" life that they think exists for their counterpart. We know that both women are existing on the edge of despair, with no hope for a better future. Each woman takes steps to change her situation, vastly different steps.
According to Amazon's blurb, Lisa Ko’s The Contractors is part of Out of Line, an incisive collection of funny, enraging, and hopeful stories of women’s empowerment and escape. Descriptions of animal abuse and vaguer description of every type of abuse, violence, and depravity. This was a Kindle Unlimited selection.
Two women of the same name, working for the same company, as contractors in different countries, start comparing their work and life experiences. Sandra, a high school graduate, works in the United States, barely scraping by and that's only because she lives in the house of a boyfriend. Sandie, a college graduate with a double major, lives in the Philippines. This story highlights the unfairness of the company they work for, with different pay, standards, and opportunities for each woman. Mostly what is highlighted is that contract workers for companies, such as this website company, are given inadequate hours, breaks, support, and benefits while being expected to meet impossible goals and checkpoints.
These two women accidentally "meet" when they are both sent the same email. As they get to know more about each other, working the same job in different companies, each woman mistakenly envies the other woman for the "better" life that they think exists for their counterpart. We know that both women are existing on the edge of despair, with no hope for a better future. Each woman takes steps to change her situation, vastly different steps.
According to Amazon's blurb, Lisa Ko’s The Contractors is part of Out of Line, an incisive collection of funny, enraging, and hopeful stories of women’s empowerment and escape. Descriptions of animal abuse and vaguer description of every type of abuse, violence, and depravity. This was a Kindle Unlimited selection.
jessi_reads_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jessthebibliophile's review
3.0
An engrossing short which looks at discrimination in the workplace.
The grass is not greener on the other side.
The ending for US Sandra was unrealistic but hopeful for the PH Sandra.
The grass is not greener on the other side.
The ending for US Sandra was unrealistic but hopeful for the PH Sandra.
erikadawnbraham's review
5.0
What an excellent, thought provoking short story. I absolutely loved it, and would have read a full length novel on this topic.
cheekyramen's review
1.0
This story is so sad and utterly depressing but also feels incomplete. It just kind of ends....
There are way too many "big issues" attempting to be tackled in far too few pages. Really, this was an unpleasant reading experience and in the end, I don't feel that it necessarily taught me anything or gave me any hope for change.
There are way too many "big issues" attempting to be tackled in far too few pages. Really, this was an unpleasant reading experience and in the end, I don't feel that it necessarily taught me anything or gave me any hope for change.
nokoneill's review
2.0
A trigger warning is needed. Too many graphic descriptions of violence. The storyline between the two women is interesting but the graphic descriptions took away from it.
erikoreads's review against another edition
5.0
A depressing, thought-provoking look at content moderation as well as women in tech.
I was hoping to read The Leavers but came across this short story so decided to read it first. It’s a great little read. I’m not sure if it came with TW - I’ve seen/read horrific things during document review so I can just imagine how terrible content moderation is. If this gets fleshed out into a novella or novel, I hope there’s more said on the psychological trauma this line of work would bring.
I was hoping to read The Leavers but came across this short story so decided to read it first. It’s a great little read. I’m not sure if it came with TW - I’ve seen/read horrific things during document review so I can just imagine how terrible content moderation is. If this gets fleshed out into a novella or novel, I hope there’s more said on the psychological trauma this line of work would bring.