Dear Committee Members

Dear Committee Members tells the story of Jason Fitger, an English professor at a small Midwestern college, through his various letters of recommendation for students and colleagues. His communications range from standard academic references to personal appeals and frustrated rants about university politics. The novel takes place over one academic year at the fictional Payne University, where budget cuts plague the English department while the Economics department flourishes upstairs. Fitger writes increasingly unorthodox letters while attempting to secure funding and opportunities for a promising graduate student working on a novel. The epistolary format reveals the inner workings of academia through Fitger's candid, sometimes inappropriate missives to colleagues, ex-wives, department heads, and various organizations. His letters chronicle the daily frustrations of teaching in a struggling humanities department while maintaining professional obligations. The book examines themes of institutional bureaucracy, the devaluation of the humanities in higher education, and one professor's attempt to preserve both his ideals and his humanity within a changing academic landscape.

Readers appreciate the novel's sharp academic satire told through recommendation letters, with many noting its portrayal of university politics rings true. The protagonist's cynical voice and witty observations draw consistent praise, with multiple readers calling it "laugh-out-loud funny." Common praise points: - Clever letter format that maintains interest - Accurate depiction of academic life - Dark humor about university bureaucracy Main criticisms: - Some find the protagonist too bitter and unlikeable - Format becomes repetitive for some readers - Plot feels thin beyond the letters Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (16,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (850+ ratings) "Perfect for anyone who's ever dealt with academic bureaucracy," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads reviewer counters: "The bitter tone wore me down halfway through." The novel wins particular praise from academics and professors who say it captures their experiences with recommendation letters and department politics.

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole A tale of academic pomposity follows an unemployed scholar who writes elaborate complaint letters while failing to achieve meaningful work in New Orleans.

The Lecturer's Tale by James Hynes This campus novel tracks a powerless adjunct professor who gains supernatural abilities after losing his finger in an accident at a Midwestern university.

Straight Man by Richard Russo The interim chair of an English department navigates departmental politics, budget cuts, and personal crises during one week at a Pennsylvania college.

Small World by David Lodge Professors from different universities chase romance and career advancement while traveling to academic conferences across the globe.

Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis A junior lecturer at a British university stumbles through professional obligations and romantic entanglements while trying to secure his position in academia.

📚 The novel is written entirely through letters of recommendation, making it an epistolary novel that cleverly reveals its story through one-sided correspondence. ✍️ Julie Schumacher became the first woman to win the Thurber Prize for American Humor in 2015 for this book, breaking a 20-year male-winning streak. 🎓 The author drew from her own experience writing more than 1,500 letters of recommendation during her career as a professor at the University of Minnesota. 📖 The book spawned a sequel called "The Shakespeare Requirement," which continues to follow protagonist Jason Fitger but switches from the epistolary format to traditional narrative. 🏆 The novel serves as a satirical commentary on the decline of humanities funding in universities, using humor to highlight serious issues in academia.