Winkie - Clifford Chase

...long time!!!

Winkie is the 2006 debut novel of author American author Clifford Chase, let’s just say that I shan’t be in a hurry to read book number two!!

Seemingly - “Cliff Chase stunned the literary world with the 2006 release of WINKIE, his first novel, which has garnered rave reviews from editors and readers alike.” – Well I think that they must all have read a different book than I did

The reviews ...
.../>
‘"Huh," said Winkie to himself, standing on the window box, looking around. "So this is the world."’

Winkie is a tatty. 80- year old teddy bear who is tired of being neglected by all the children who had once loved him.

In desperation Winkie (who could be male or female as children have changed his/her sex over the years - but was once a female called Marie) throws himself/herself off ... more

‘Winkie’ by Clifford Chase

Introduction

Well I just don’t know where to start on this review!

As regular review readers will have guessed I have a very eclectic taste in reading – even a cereal box has proved interesting reading at some times, but this was the strangest and most difficult to read book that I have come across for a VERY long time!!!

Winkie is the 2006 debut novel of author American author Clifford Chase, let’s just say that I shan’t be in a hurry to read book number two!!

Seemingly - “Cliff Chase stunned the literary world with the 2006 release of WINKIE, his first novel, which has garnered rave reviews from editors and readers alike.” – Well I think that they must all have read a different book than I did

The reviews I had read for this book sounded good. I bought it because I thought that it would be funny and interesting; it is billed as a satire on the war on terror. A teddy bear arrested for terrorism, sounds promising, but oh dear me, what a waste of time and money I found it!!

The Plot

I am now going to tell you the plot, but I don’t think that you will believe me!!!

‘"Huh," said Winkie to himself, standing on the window box, looking around. "So this is the world."’

Winkie is a tatty. 80- year old teddy bear who is tired of being neglected by all the children who had once loved him.

In desperation Winkie (who could be male or female as children have changed his/her sex over the years - but was once a female called Marie) throws himself/herself off the shelf where he/she has been left to decay, jumps out of the window and runs off to live in the forest.

Winkie has a baby (!!!!) that is kidnapped by the Unabomber. Then Winkie, who is living in the cabin of a dead mad professor, is arrested by a SWAT team, he is charged with over nine thousand offences that include terrorism, treason and being a witch amongst many,many more things.

We are shown Winkies’ time in prison, where we are introduced to Françoise, a lesbian Muslim cleaning woman and Winkie’s stuttering lawyer, Charles Unwin.
We also learn about Winkie's past life with the different generations of the Chase family (including Clifford, the author who did actually own this bear) and finally we see his trial for the 9,678 charges----- and that is where I will leave it!!

Now don’t say I didn’t warn you!!

What I Thought

I’m too much of a lady to say!!!

I do know that this book is a satire based on the post-September 11th overreaction and the war on terroism, perhaps it helps if you are American, but this did nothing for me.

The majority of the book is taken up with the absurd trial, I will admit to the odd titter here and there , but it was odd and it was definatly a titter and not a guffaw!!
Parts of the story about Winkie were OK (ish), and I have to admit at times I wanted to go and dig out my old battered teddy and give him a hug!!

Now I don’t think that I am stupid,and to a point I could understand and appreciate the spoof on the American judicial system- to a point; but all in all the whole book was like a really weird dream!!!!

Conclusion

Don’t bother going on Amazon or to Waterstones – you can have my copy!!!

I'm only giving it a star because I have to!! 

...less