Author: Jonathan Gould
Publisher: Self-published
Publish Date: August 30, 2011
Source: I received a copy from the author. This did not affect my review.
Why You're Reading This Book:
- You like comedy.
- You like political satire.
I really enjoyed this book. On the surface it's almost a children's story about warring bugs sharing one big tree and it certainly could be read like that. It's really a political satire and it's very reflective of what's currently going on in the political atmosphere right now. Disagreement, stagnation, and at times, chaos. This book was especially poignant considering the things going on in my country (the United States) like the party divide in Congress, which makes it impossible to get a lot done and the GOP primaries that are currently being carried out in a grueling manner all over the country.. I'm not sure if Gould based the story off of his own country's struggles but this book is broader than just one country.
There are two tribes of Flidderbugs who live in the same tree. Neither one can agree on basic things like how many points the leaves of their tree has (sounds a lot like Congress, no). Will the bugs ever figure out how silly their argument is.
I liked this story because in a fairly simplistic way, Gould is able to show us how crazy politics are and how much better things could be if we just try to get along and at least understand where each other are coming from.
Sounds like a great metaphor!
ReplyDeleteI love political satire and this one looks really unique. Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks Meg for the great review and for pinch-hitting on my blog tour. Thanks to Jenny and Anne for your supportive comments.
ReplyDeleteOut of interest, the story is based on Australian politics (the Flidderbugs' political system is more like a Westminster system as employed in Australia and the UK). But I suppose some things are universal.
Would love to hear more thoughts on humor and politics, or anything else book related. And anyone who leaves a comment will be in the draw for a $25 Amazon gift card.
Ah, that makes total sense with regard to the Westminster system! I didn't think about that.
DeleteThank you for your review. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I know I will too.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I think you will!
DeleteI hope you will too - but then again, I'm a bit biased.
DeleteThank you for hosting Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteGlad I could host him!
DeleteIsn't all politics humorous...to the point of absurdity sometimes? I'm snickering as I read this today because there is political intrigue in my tiny NC town. Our mayor has brought criminal charges against a County Commissioner. They both need to grow up and wear their big boy pants. It's like our own absurdist drama. I need to read this book to put my small town politics into perspective.
ReplyDeleteUgh, it just gets silly, doesn't it? Admittedly living in DC, I'm sort of surrounded by politics and I love watching it. Sometimes I wonder if I'm watching to be informed or just to take in the absurdity of it all :P
DeleteHi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what this book is meant to be about. And sometimes, the bigger the "town", the pettier the arguments seem to be.