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Nibble & Kuhn by David Schmahmann

Either David Schmahmann is a master of subtle characterization, or he’s kind of a jerk, and this just seeped out into his characters naturally.

Let me back up.  Nibble and Kuhn is a book about a lawyer who is up for partner at his law firm.  Meanwhile, he’s having an affair with a junior associate (who is practically engaged) and made out with his boss’s secretary, who is sort of mad at him for not going out with her again.

To make matters worse, he gets handed a horrible case, that was previously worked on by another lawyer (who left to become a judge), and the firm is counting on him to win to recoup all the money they’ve already spent, only now he’s not allowed to spend any more money (for lab samples, expert witnesses, etc.).  Basically, he’s screwed.

O.K., but back to my original point.  There are no likable characters in this book.  Which makes it feel very real.  The whole firm is classist, elitist.  The secretaries have college degrees and are treated like shit.  Which, O.K., I probably identified with them the most, having worked in admin at a hospital, and been snubbed by the doctors and nurses who felt it unnecessary to do things like follow new policies or whatever.  

The reason why I say though, that Schmahmann is either awesome at subtle characterization, or is just kind of a jerk himself (elitist, misogynistic) is because he is a lawyer himself.  Many lawyers have been able to identify with Nibble & Kuhn, as being a realistic (if at times a little absurd) law firm.  

Subtle characteristics aside, none of the characters really went through a character arc.  And I saw the ending coming from–well, pretty close to the beginning.  I maybe didn’t know exactly how they’d get there, but I figured what the characters would do at the end.

Overall, it was a nice little read, and good for anyone who wonders what working in a law firm is actually like.

Yo FTC!  An ARC of this book was sent to me for review
Buy Nibble & Kuhn on Amazon

If you like this book/author, you might like:

(my reviews in blue)

Jpod by Douglas Coupland
Company b max barry 
Happy Hour Is for Amateurs: Work Sucks. Life Doesn’t Have To by Philadelphia Lawyer.
The Associate by John Grisham
The Client by John Grisham 
Take It From Me : Life’s a Struggle But You Can Win by Erin Brokovich and Mark Eliot

Other works by David Schmahmann:

Empire Settings 

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