Beeperless Remote
by Van Whitfield

List Price: $10.95
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 038548934X
Publisher: Anchor

With a style that is simultaneously self-effacing and downright hilarious, Van Whitfield's Beeperless Remote is the cleverly told tale of one man who has been thrown into the dating pool and is struggling to get out.

Meet Shawn Wayne. He's single, employed, hard-bodied, a former All-American, and looking for his ideal woman. Shawn may have an obsession with ESPN's "Sports Center," money, and going to the gym, but he's a good guy. According to his best friend, Kelly, however, he may have to "expand his universe" a little to find the right woman.

Shawn's search for the woman of his dreams leads to dating misadventures ranging from nightmare blind dates and underage flings to encounters with married swingers. Held hostage by today's technology, where dating has become a complex web of answering machines and cell phones, he finds the rules have changed, and that he now has to contend with six different types of women:

• 1s--"I just got out of a really bad relationship."
• 2s--"I'm not interested in a relationship. I just have friends."
• 3s--"What is it you said you do for a living?"
• 4s--"Men are dogs."
• 5s--"My biological clock is ticking. I need a man."
• 6s--"I'm single, I'm available, and, yes, I'm interested."

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1. Shawn utilizes a rating system to describe six different types of women. Do you feel this system is accurate? Do you see yourself or your friends somewhere in this system? What numbers and phrases would you attach to men?

2. Shawn's mother plays a dominant role in his life. Does this accurately reflect the mother/son relationships of the men in your life? What piece of his mother's advice did you find especially thoughtful? Did you find Mrs. Wayne's advice to be consistent with that of your mother?

3. Troi, Shawn's main love interest, is depicted as a focused, career-oriented woman of the '90s. What do you think she saw in Shawn? Would you have gone to the black-tie dinner with him? Was Shawn misled?

4. In Beeperless Remote, Whitfield sets up several different dating scenarios. Have you and your friends found yourselves in similar situations? How and where do single men and women meet today? Would you date a man like Shawn? Do you know men like Shawn?

5. Beeperless Remote ends in a climactic fashion. In your opinion, what happens next? Will Donnie maintain his new way of life? Will Kelly's relationship with Lance continue? What will happen when Troi comes back to D.C.? Will Dawn and Shawn persevere? What do you think is the "good news" Dawn refers to in her last message?

top of the page

Beeperless Remote
by Van Whitfield

List Price: $10.95
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 038548934X
Publisher: Anchor

With a style that is simultaneously self-effacing and downright hilarious, Van Whitfield's Beeperless Remote is the cleverly told tale of one man who has been thrown into the dating pool and is struggling to get out.

Meet Shawn Wayne. He's single, employed, hard-bodied, a former All-American, and looking for his ideal woman. Shawn may have an obsession with ESPN's "Sports Center," money, and going to the gym, but he's a good guy. According to his best friend, Kelly, however, he may have to "expand his universe" a little to find the right woman.

Shawn's search for the woman of his dreams leads to dating misadventures ranging from nightmare blind dates and underage flings to encounters with married swingers. Held hostage by today's technology, where dating has become a complex web of answering machines and cell phones, he finds the rules have changed, and that he now has to contend with six different types of women:

• 1s--"I just got out of a really bad relationship."
• 2s--"I'm not interested in a relationship. I just have friends."
• 3s--"What is it you said you do for a living?"
• 4s--"Men are dogs."
• 5s--"My biological clock is ticking. I need a man."
• 6s--"I'm single, I'm available, and, yes, I'm interested."

top of the page

1. Shawn utilizes a rating system to describe six different types of women. Do you feel this system is accurate? Do you see yourself or your friends somewhere in this system? What numbers and phrases would you attach to men?

2. Shawn's mother plays a dominant role in his life. Does this accurately reflect the mother/son relationships of the men in your life? What piece of his mother's advice did you find especially thoughtful? Did you find Mrs. Wayne's advice to be consistent with that of your mother?

3. Troi, Shawn's main love interest, is depicted as a focused, career-oriented woman of the '90s. What do you think she saw in Shawn? Would you have gone to the black-tie dinner with him? Was Shawn misled?

4. In Beeperless Remote, Whitfield sets up several different dating scenarios. Have you and your friends found yourselves in similar situations? How and where do single men and women meet today? Would you date a man like Shawn? Do you know men like Shawn?

5. Beeperless Remote ends in a climactic fashion. In your opinion, what happens next? Will Donnie maintain his new way of life? Will Kelly's relationship with Lance continue? What will happen when Troi comes back to D.C.? Will Dawn and Shawn persevere? What do you think is the "good news" Dawn refers to in her last message?

top of the page