The Wagon And Other Stories From The City (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
This book caught my attention because it sounded like it would be interesting to learn of the insights of a Chicago cop going about his day, doing his job, and finding meaning in those experiences. I expected a collection of stories, some humorous, others tragic, and an honest critique on society at its best and worst, told through the lenses of an experienced cop.Instead, I got useless ramblings from a guy who appears to have spent the majority of his adulthood half-assing his way through life before stumbling into a job he seems to detest just to pay bills. Preib fashions himself a great philosopher, when a cursory glance through his "essays" shows a guy who, for all intents and purposes is a loser coasting through life. Having worked dead-end/no-where jobs in an effort to support his addiction (which is basically reading great literature and philosophers)Preib attempts to cast himself as the next Thoreau. But all he succeeds in doing is showing the reader what a person with loads of potential but very little motivation can achieve in life. And it isn't a whole lot. While Preib is certainly intelligent, well-read, and has a vast vocabulary, he lacks any clear, structured writing style and doesn't really know how to string coherent thoughts together. Like I said earlier; useless ramblings. I have mixed feelings about this book. I chose to read it thinking I would get interesting stories about being a Chicago cop, coupled with information about a guy who worked in the service industry. What I got was a few interesting details about being a Chicago cop along with a lot of sentences Preib strung together to try to show off his vocabulary skills and show his ability to tease deep meanings out of basic activities, such as riding the el and playing basketball. If he wanted to write a book about becoming a writer, than he should have marketed this book as such. He writes way too much about finding himself as a writer, and doesn't spend nearly enough time delving into what could be quite interesting subject matter. This guy lost his mother, has spent days hitchhiking, and has worked in jobs that could produce an amazing story each day. Why do these experiences not translate themselves into a compelling set of stories in this book?
What do You think about The Wagon And Other Stories From The City (2010)?
I would have given the book four stars if Preib had actually arrested those yuppies.
—Tani
Very interesting, excellent stuff. A new way to see Chicago in particular.
—MTroia
