The Doorman: A Novelette Kindle Edition

Life is a series of choices. If one believes in the concept of Free Will, those choices are all up to us, as individuals, to make them; thus, our lives are comprised of one choice on one topic which leads to a second choice on a second topic which leads to a third and so on and so forth until we've made all the decisions that can be made in a lifetime---and that is our life. It's a string of 'yes or no' answers to questions we may not even be aware are being posed at the time.

The Doorman focuses on one of the most basic choices a person will make: what do I want to do when I grow up? What kind of job do I want?

It's a basic choice, yet it's so important in the grand scheme of things because isn't our job what takes up the majority of our lives? We may have family -husbands or wives, children, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandchildren, a whole extended clan- or hobbies -reading, writing, painting, photography, dancing, hiking, skydiving, underwater basket-weaving even- but how many hours of one's life do they devote to their family or their hobby in comparison to the number they spend at their job? Even working only the base 40 hours a week, adding in an hour for a commute five days a week, and an hour for lunch those same five along with say another hour to go with that to prepare for work---well, that totals up to 55 hours in 5 days which breaks down to 11 hours out of 24 spent at work or getting ready for work, going to work, eating to keep working, and say a person sleeps a full 8 hours (Though, let's be honest here, who does that? Who has the luxury of 8 hours of sleep every night?), well, that leaves us only 5 hours a day for everything else in our lives.

5 hours for our lovers, families, hobbies, and interests.

Given that one will spend approximately 65% -if not more- of their life working, that seems like such a paltry number of hours to simply live, doesn't it?

This story focuses on Alex Becker trying to decide how he wants to live his life after he gets everything he thought he wanted. He's got the job of his supposed dreams which pays more than any member of his family has ever made and he lives in the nicest residence his family has ever seen and the biggest decision in his life seems to start out being having to choose which girl he wants to date more: Orlee or Anna.

Alex grows up a lot in the course of this short piece. He learns that reality is often harsher than our dreams as well as that some decisions can only be made once. Over the entirety of the piece, his doorman, Lenny, broadens his perspective on life, what he wants from it, what he could get out of it, and what he won't get out of it if he keeps torturing himself working a job that is destroying him. He experiences death, grief, and makes a decision that changes his life all because his doorman opens his eyes to all the world he's missing when he's not 'stopping to smell the roses.'

A single decision can make a life or take it. Alex gets to see that first hand and he's made better for it. His character progression is thought-provoking, genuine, and was one that I feel any reader should be able to relate to since it's made up of all the choices that we typically all have to make at some point in our lives or another.

Theology is something dear to me so it was interesting to see the question posed as to what does it take to make one 'God'? I liked seeing Alex's thoughts on the subject and it amused me though I wouldn't call this a theological study as much as a philosophical journey through a time of change in one man's life.

Personally, I'd give this one five stars for a great short read worth thinking about for at least twice as long as it takes to read it.

***Note: My review was based on a complimentary copy of the work provided to This Redhead LOVES Books Blog in exchange for an honest opinion. I have since purchased the piece to add it to my permanent library.***

This is MY OPINION of the story. Please read the synopsis and any and all content warnings given by the author before deciding on purchasing the book. Please be kind and leave a review when finished reading.

We all have heard the song “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” by Alan Jackson. We all know it describes September 11, 2001. I know exactly where I was. I will never forget. That day brings many memories for me. I am sure it does for everyone. What it didn’t do was question my faith. It did for others, though. It did for Alex.

Alex is a man who is moving up in life. Helping is parents live comfortably and enjoying the comforts money can buy. He soon starts questioning his life after he continuously works 15 hour days and weekends though and wonders if there is more he could do.

Alex lives at 777 Fifth Avenue. This is where he meets Lenny, the Doorman. Lenny is not usually shy about voicing his opinion or giving out information. The more Alex gets to know Lenny the more he starts to wonder how Lenny knows all these random facts.

Alex is a self-professed Atheist but Lenny is making Alex think of spirituality. Is there a higher being? Can Lenny really be this smart? How can he know things that are happening around the world?

Alex wants to change his life but doing so will cause a drastic pay cut. Alex’s dad is not too happy with that but Lenny tells Alex he will make the change in 10 months.

So, where was Alex on September 11, 2001? Running late to work…..why? This would be the first time he was ever late. Alex really begins to think about things after this…..

The Doorman is a book that will make you think. It will make you question your beliefs. It will make you make a choice at the end….

The Doorman is an amazing story and will leave you with one question at the end…Who is Lenny?

What would you do if an elevator ride made you question your most fundamental beliefs? That is precisely the situation in which Alex, the narrator/protagonist finds himself in this intensely thought-provoking novelette. Following this Hero's Journey takes the reader on an exploration of the most profound questions posited by philosophers and sages throughout history.

The Doorman is a beautifully-written story, with theological underpinnings and mystical qualities, in which the author tackles such weighty concepts as love and loss, good and evil, destiny and free will. That he is able to accomplish that so artfully in so few pages is a testament to a very sophisticated talent for story telling and strong, well-developed technical skills.

The prose is tight and flows seamlessly. The dialogue and internal monologue of the narrator/protagonist are at times almost breath-takingly poignant. The characters are richly drawn and in some cases, brilliantly challenge established preconceptions. The issues are both timeless and timely and the story concept is innovative and original.

Despite the length, The Doorman is easily one of the most impressive stories I have read in a very long time and would, in my opinion, stand as an equal with award-winning prose.