This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Currently residing in Washington, DC, Mike Hager is a retired lawyer, diplomat, co-founder of the International Development Law Organization in Rome, Executive Director of Conflict Management Group in Cambridge, MA and President of the Education For Employment Foundation in Washington, DC. Most of his professional career was spent abroad (in West Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Egypt and Italy). The Queue is his first novel and Warriors his first play trilogy. He has a produced ten-minute play (Waiting for Beckett) to his credit. Another ten-minute play (The Fishing Trip) and some unpublished short stories are in the wings.
Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite
In The Queue we face a world that I hope I will never see in reality. The Leader has mandated that all elderly be rounded up and herded to an unknown destination. They walk in a queue many miles long as soldiers continue to force them ahead. The people are forced to wear a badge with their age on it, designating their place in line. Many fall along the way due to medical problems, abuse and lack of nourishment.
The plight of the elderly is told through the journal of a man searching for his parents. He locates them and witnesses the atrocities taking place. After a time he leaves his parents and mingles with other victims learning their stories. He heads toward the front of the line hoping to discover what lay ahead for the sufferers. What he found was beyond horrendous.
The Queue is not an easy book to read, I was sickened by the treatment of the elderly. Then I began to think of some things I have overheard concerning Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other humanitarian programs that aide the elderly. In the last few years we have seen an increase in the over sixty crowd and a continued decrease in those entering the work force. As one approaching sixty too fast I am concerned with the outlook of the younger generation. I have heard the elderly referred to as a burden to society. I have heard complaints that the elderly did not prepare for the future and now are dependent on the next generation. Too often the elderly are looked at as a burden and all of their hard work, accomplishments and sacrifice are over looked or forgotten.
While The Queue may seem abit over the top at first glance, after pondering the author’s intent it is easy to understand why this book had to be written in this style. Although filled with difficult concepts and imagery, it may be one of the most important books you ever read.
This book continues on with three short plays all shedding light on the elderly and nursing facilities. They are written with more than a touch irony. In the first the elderly are drafted into the military. The government has decided to send the elderly to the front lines instead of young soldiers. Being an equal opportunity army women are automatically accepted as well as the handicapped. The next one introduces readers to a home for the elderly where they pretend “no one ever loses. Each resident writes their own script.” The last play deals with being forced to leave your home.
As I stated earlier, the author utilizes his talent to shed light on the victimization of the elderly. Well done!
