Shift Happens

Breakdowns During Life's Long Hauls

By: Margot Genger

Narrated by: Randye Kaye

Out of desperation to escape the confines of her small Northern California town, in 1979, Genger breaks every rule of her social class, gender, and upbringing to become a long-haul truck driver.

Shift Happens is a 21st-century incarnation of the classic voyage to find one’s self and one’s homeland. By facing her mental health and addiction demons, at the age of 28, she sees her role as a young woman flip-flop from cheerleader, girlfriend, young wife, sex-symbol to a strong, self-determined individual who knows what she wants and how to succeed. Along the way, Margot discovers the many facets of America - its beauty and its meanness - and eventually realizes what she values in "home".

Ms. Genger’s gift of description paints the majesty of the beaches, mountains, meadows, and skyscapes of the countryside, and captures the colors and grit of our cities, truck stops, and underground lives of long-haul truck drivers. Shift Happens will make you laugh, cringe, and celebrate as you meet Margot’s driving partners - Southerners, Yankees, East Coast, West Coast, and Middle Americans of all stripes and colors - as she delivers everything from Hustler magazines to Washington State apples.

©2018 Margot Genger (P)2018 Margot Genger

Clutch – Shift

This isn’t a book about trips between Central Valley fruit growers and Kroger in Cincinnati; this is the story of the journey from psychosis to self-acceptance with a few entertaining truck driving stories along the way. Margot Genger took copious notes during her career as a long haul trucker and those notes became “Shift Happens”. An engaging memoir superbly told by Randye Kaye, “Shift Happens” creates real empathy for Margot and her search to find something out there on the road which, in the end, turned out to be Margot.

A highly entertaining tale.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

One Womans Journey of Discovery

Story/Attention Holding

Shift Happens: Breakdowns During Life's Long Hauls by Margot Genger and narrated by Randye Kaye is a very frank and compelling look at one woman’s life, choices, and coping skills in dealing with her mental health and addictions. Set in 1979 the United States is a different world from 2018. Ms. Genger takes charge of her life by deciding to become a long-haul truck driver to write her masterpiece bestseller. The job of long-haul trucking is not for the faint of heart. The hours and the isolation are balanced by the beauty of this great country from the mountains, grain fields Midwest, to the concrete jungle of the cities.

The story holds your attention with the author’s vivid and accurate description of the world of long-haul team trucking. The agony of a bad partner to the joy of a good partner where everything flows seamlessly. The deadheading for loads, the life of living in truck stops to sharing a sleeper cab with another individual is true to the lifestyle. The people she meets and experiences she has across the country in 1979 show the world that was America, Warts and all. She learns what matters and is needed to define home for her.

Narration/Production Value

The Narration by Randye Kaye is a perfect match to the story the author is telling. This is the first performance that I have listened to by the narrator by I enjoyed the narration. She brought life to this great story and added layers to the characters through her performance. The production value of the audiobook is of excellent quality, the performance is clear and sharp throughout the entire performance.

I really enjoyed this audiobook and highly recommend it. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Real life with all it's ups and downs

Real story told without hiding the bad stuff and trying to make it appear more pretty than it was. I got into this story right away and had to keep listening. It's told true to life and with all the mistakes, the drama, heartbreak and every other bad and good thing that happened. I had to keep listening to know if she made it through everything her difficult life threw at her. This is a story of an amazingly strong and determined woman. I loved it! This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Keep on Truckin

This Review can be in the form of a Country song....... yup heartache,alcholism,depression...

yeah hitting bottom really hitting bottom.

But the song picks up speed and the tempo gets a little happier our hero starts to take control of her life she defies gender roles and becomes a long haul Trucker.

Yup she is meetin all kinds of characters and absorbing their lifes lessons
and lets sing along she is a girl who knows her place in this crazy world.

With help from a great Narrator you got yourself a good read.



You keep on Truckin girl !!!!!




This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

TRUCKING IN THE 70'S - JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY

Loved this book! Great story, great narration, enjoyed all of it. It's a definite "trip" reading all about her trials and tribulations, experiencing her life on the road. It's got a little bit of everything, all sorts of interesting characters and a great self-discovery journey in dealing with mental illness and addiction. I love the idea of the book, and think it was very well-writtten and so interesting! I definitely recommend this to anyone, I'm in for the long haul! :)
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Shift Happens, a marvelous read!

Lifes journey through trials, jubilation, and changes. A great adventure, a moving story. I loved it!