Barry Trotter and the Shameless Parody - Michael Gerber

...Parody is the story of Barry Trotter, a 22 year old pupil in his 11th Term at the Hogwash School of Magic. He has been there for years because the books written about him have made him a millionaire (the most famous being “Barry Trotter and the Philosopher’s Scone” written by J.G. Rollins and released in the U.S as “Barry Trotter and the Magic Biscuit”) ~ his fame has also made the school so popular they want him to stay forever…plus, he would HAVE ...
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Barry leads a really good life ~ he doesn’t have to do any work and all the girls love him! This comfortable existence all changes when the grasping forces of the movie industry (Wagner Brothers) try to release the film “Barry Trotter and the Inevitable Attempt to Cash-in” and bury Hogwash in a sea of Merchandise and Muddles (Muggles). Barry and his side kicks Ermine Cringer and Lon Measly HAVE to defeat them and save Hogwash ~ or, as ... more

When I saw a parody of the oh-so-popular Harry Potter books on the shelf at work (in the library) I just HAD to take a look! I am a big fan of Spike Milligan’s …”According to” books (Black Beauty, Robin Hood, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, etc) and had a chuckle or two at Harvard Lampoon’s “Bored of the Rings”, so a laugh at the expense of the bespectacled trainee wizard was a must!

~~~PLOT.

Shameless Parody is the story of Barry Trotter, a 22 year old pupil in his 11th Term at the Hogwash School of Magic. He has been there for years because the books written about him have made him a millionaire (the most famous being “Barry Trotter and the Philosopher’s Scone” written by J.G. Rollins and released in the U.S as “Barry Trotter and the Magic Biscuit”) ~ his fame has also made the school so popular they want him to stay forever…plus, he would HAVE to get a job if he gave up his place!

Barry leads a really good life ~ he doesn’t have to do any work and all the girls love him! This comfortable existence all changes when the grasping forces of the movie industry (Wagner Brothers) try to release the film “Barry Trotter and the Inevitable Attempt to Cash-in” and bury Hogwash in a sea of Merchandise and Muddles (Muggles). Barry and his side kicks Ermine Cringer and Lon Measly HAVE to defeat them and save Hogwash ~ or, as the Headmaster Alpo Bumblebore says, “if Hogwash closes you’ll have to get a job!”

Will they succeed? Will the jokes and sarcasm last until the end of the book? You’ll just have to read the book…or my review!

~~~WHAT I THOUGHT!

I enjoyed Shameless Parody, but not as much as I thought I would. It IS funny and the sarcastic references to the Harry Potter novels are well conceived and generally pretty witty. The only problem I have with the book is that it tries a bit too hard and goes on a little bit too long. After a few chapters I was still smiling mildly, but the jokes were beginning to grate a little ~ Gerber was trying so hard to make amusing names out of the existing characters that the plot and the humour begins to suffer.

It is a silly story and a bit of generally harmless fun ~ and very good to read when you are getting tired of the whole Harry Potter franchise. Some of the names given to the familiar Harry Potter characters and places are inspired, but some are a little contrived. I loved Moaning Myrtle’s transformation into Flatulent Fanny and I groaned merrily at the Diarrhea Cream sweets, but the Chamber of Secrets becoming the ChamberPOT of Secrets did seem a little TOO obvious!

The writing style is easy to read and understand, but the plot is a little difficult because it sometimes verges on the far TOO silly! I also feel that you if you haven’t read the Harry Potter books you just aren’t going to get it! If you don’t know the original then the parody is going to go over your head and you won’t find it funny at all!

The jokes are contemporary and amusing on the whole. These will probably lose their relevance over time and the book will date. I am glad that I read this story now while the gags are fresh and still make me laugh ~ my views may change if I read it again a few years hence. I do like the way that, despite the Mickey taking, the author seems to retain a sense of respect for the Harry Potter books ~ the main source of the malice appears to centre on the “merchandising gone mad” ~ such as the toys, sweets, pyjamas and countless other off-shoots.

I also worry that this book could be read by young children, rather than the target audience of adults. There isn’t anything too near the knuckle and no swearing, but a lot of the humour is aimed at a more grown up sense of humour ~ for example Barry uses his fame and magic to attract impressionable young girls; maybe not the sort of thing you’ll want your youngster to be reading about!

Also, bear in mind that the book, although very fast paced, is aimed primarily at an American audience and some of the English charm of the characters is lost as a result.

I do recommend Barry Trotter and the Shameless Parody. It is fun, has loads of energy and is a pretty good read. Just don’t take it too seriously and keep your tongue firmly lodged in your cheek when reading and you should be just fine.

I’m off to read “Barry Trotter and the Unnecessary Sequel” now……

~~~BOOK INFO.

Paperback – 288 pages
Publisher – Gollancz
ISBN – 057 507 497 3
Price - £5.99

Currently on sale on Amazon for £3.99 and can be purchased with the sequel “Barry Trotter and the Unnecessary Sequel” for £7.98 ~ cover price would be £12.98.

 

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