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NOVEMBER 4, 2003 at 5:38 PM
Posted by GRAE
Source: The Tartan via Wizard News
First there was Barry Trotter and the Unauthorized Parody
, which - you guessed it - parodied the Harry Potter novels. Now, just in time for Christmas, we have the aptly named Barry Trotter and the Unnecessary Sequel : The Book Nobody Has Been Waiting For - and after reading The Tartan's review, you may understand exactly why nobody has been waiting for Michael Gerber's latest book.
In this book, Barry Trotter is a 38-year-old wizard. He is married to Ermine and has a son and a daughter. Son Nigel’s upcoming start at Hogwash brings everyone back to the school. The first death there sets the tone for the rest of the book.
Dorco Malfeasance, the Headmister of Hogwash, dies by explosion. This isn’t caused by magic — while making a flying entrance into the Hogwash dining hall, he collapses under his own weight after falling from a height. Barry, dining nearby, keeps eating, and is wholly unaffected, apart from being offered Dorco’s job.
This doesn’t even make the list of the top ten worst moments in the book. Byron, one of Nigel’s classmates, introduces himself to Nigel by saying, "I’ve had sex with my sister, and tasted of human flesh."
When Barry runs into Colin Creepy at the Hogwash reunion, Colin brings up the time that they were caning other students together in the Headmister’s office. Barry and Ermine bring up their extensive sexual histories several times, often in front of Nigel.
The book may be bad, but there are some bright spots. Nigel’s character is the most developed and mature, despite being an 11-year-old. Though he suffers from some of the maladies common to all the characters, such as murderous tendencies (helping to kill every player on the Silverfish Quiddit team and killing Byron by putting earwigs in his head that eat his brain), he is capable of shame, and acts his age.
He also plays Accountants and Attorneys — the fantasy kid’s version of Dungeons and Dragons.
Gerber’s vision of students weaned on Trotter stories coming to Hogwash and imagining themselves to be Barry, Ermine, or Lon hits the mark as well. Searching the Internet for fan fictions proves that this isn’t uncommon.
Unfortunately, flashes of humor and insight like this are rare. More often, its jokes are about combing pubic hair, morning-after spells, and vibrating books used for sexual pleasure. Keep your £6.99, and stay far away from Barry Trotter and the Unnecessary Sequel.
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Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1445
PotionMaster says:
Never read it. Don't want to read it. I did the mistake of buying the Lord of the Rings parady, Bored of the Rings, got as far as the fifth page, then put it down completely disgusted. I figure that this will be the same way.
Posted Mar 8, 2004 at 9:32 PM EST
Mediwitch
Points: 2608
nickyole1 says:
I have heard of these books, and seen them in books stores near my house, but, I have not checked them out. I am not sure that I would enjoy reading them.
Posted Jul 30, 2004 at 12:42 PM EST
Voodoo Lady
Points: 4796
garlic bread says:
Ive had the first Barry Trotter book for years and then the second one was bought for me,then recently i bought the 3rd on,but i had not read any of them until about a week ago,and oh my god i have never laughed so hard in my entire life.Ok the story is silly but it is really funny,especially Lon measly and his poor spelling due to him having a dog brain that Madam Pommefrite had transplanted.I recommomend that you go out and buy them if you like to laugh at the Harry Potter characters,this book is the funniest book that doesnt really make sense that ive ever read.
my favrourite book out of the three has to be erm,i dont know i have not finished reading the 3rd one yet.i love the way the author doesnt use the grammar correctly and there have been a couple of spelling mistakes i.e in book 3 Jorge is spelt "Jorg",the books are like a whacky episode of scrubs,simpsons,sex and the city,buffy all jammed together.
then again you may think they are weird,but who am i to say that,im listening to rolf harris on my computer right now.
Posted Feb 22, 2005 at 7:51 AM EST
Points: 1
Sylvan says:
I'm a big fan of Barry Trotter. Please do not underestimate these books, you should at least give them a chance. They do have sexual references but these come and go quite rarely and for the most part, both Shameless Parody and Unnecessary Sequel are hilarious. The Harry Potter characters are very well satirized in Barry Trotter. I will even go so far as to say I prefer BT over HP.
Posted Mar 14, 2005 at 8:32 PM EST
Squib
Points: 164
natalie_2005 says:
Well i have the first one of these barry trotter and the shameless paody but i never got past the first couple of pages. hmm this seemes to over step the mark a bit!
Posted Apr 10, 2005 at 8:58 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 2
The Bad Turkey says:
These books are great and worth the money... they're even better than Harry Potter! *Nelson laugh* ha ha!
Posted Apr 18, 2005 at 10:43 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 2
The Bad Turkey says:
uh huh... riiiiiiiiiight... the only reason I joined this place is to post a comment... hey! this place has html! bold italic underlined...
Posted Apr 18, 2005 at 10:45 PM EST
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