19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surreal and... Educational and Timely, too?, September 28, 2004
This is one of the oddest, funniest - and most fact-packed -- books I've read in a long time, and certainly one of the most surreal books I've ever read, which is basically a survey of presidential history and politics set against contemporary issues in the guise of the story of Mo Rocca being appointed a White House correspondent for CNN to compete with the Presidential Pet beat (read - White House propaganda) being monopolized by Fox News. Are you with me? If you saw this year's RNC, and the video about Barney helping sway voters across the country, well, that kind of shilling is basically what is at the heart of this book. And it's filled with cameos by political pundits and politicians and celebrities and all sorts of pop culture references that range from ironic to down right inspired, as well as real honest to god history. It's sort of Monty Python meets....something, I can't quite figure out, but it's sort of screaming cult status. Oh, and then there's the "thriller" that runs through the book where Rocca uncovers the "real influence" presidential pets have had in shaping the country that is suspiciously like the Da Vinci Code, albino (named Gephart), "holy" grail and all. Right on.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Uneven but funny in spots., November 7, 2004
I was not familar with Mo Rocca until I heard a radio interview with him and decided to but this book. He was considerably funnier and more entertaining in the radio interview.
As other reviewers have explained, this is the story of the secret contributions made by presidential pets throughout US history. Mixed in are references to numerous cable news personalities and reporters, some shots at past presidents and our current one, and a conspiracy involving the holy grail of presidential pets.
Some familiarity with TV news personalities (OK, a LOT of familiarity) is necessary to fully appreciate the inside humor. Although Fox News is hit particularly hard, Rocca spares no one.
The problem with this book is it's inconsistency. It reminds me of old average Saturday Night Live or Monty Python episodes, where moments of brilliance are interspersed with skits that just didn't work. The climax is very funny, but leading up to it were many spots that dragged or just seemed dumb rather than humorous.
My copy will probably be ending up on EBay as well.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A shocking expose of who really controls the President, October 8, 2004
Mo Rocca's groundbreaking investigative reporting is a tour de force in this memoir/thriller/oh-so-juicy political potboiler. The former Daily Show guru plows through years of lies and half-truths to uncover the deadly secret that will rock Washington to its core: Presidential pets play more of a role in the affairs of state than previously believed....
Okay, Mo Rocca may have fudged some of the facts, and he may not be telling the full story of his scandelous May-December romance with White House Chief Correspondent Helen Thomas. And sure, Laurie Dhue may not be a killer cyborg and...oops, I've said too much.
This book, Rocca's first, is a tongue-in-cheek look at the world of Presidential pets, a world that used to be regarded merely as a "photo op" to make various Presidents look human. In fact, once you finish this tome you will realize that maybe, just maybe, presidential pets have more to do with the wise decisions our commanders-in-chief make.
Rocca's journey takes him to a hidden lair underneath the White House Press Room, where veteran reporter Helen Thomas (actually a 200+ year old turkey eagle) keeps a secret archive relating the unknown history of just how important presidential pets have been. In the corridors of power, he encounters resistance from the Bush Cabinent to acknowledge information gleaned from those archives. Betrayed by someone who knew about the archives, Rocca and Thomas see their precious documents destroyed. Finally, in a showdown only Jerry Bruckheimer can bring to the screen, Rocca confronts the evil conspiracy that threatens to neuter the presidential pets' power forever. Several of his collegues and political contacts meet a bloody end in a scene so ambitious and so exhilerating that you'll just have to wait for the Hollywood adaptaion.
The book works if you suspend your disbelief...really, really suspend it. I have to say overall, this is an impressive, if slightly muddled and occasionally frustrating, debut from Rocca. Those of you familiar with "Mike Nelson's Death Rat!" by Michael J. Nelson (MST3K) will find that this is a similar style of humorous fiction. In this case, Rocca includes real people, with their real names, and proceeds to run full tilt with a story that has to be read to be appreciated.
Overall, I think the book is winning enough to merit further readings, and I hope Mr. Rocca can continue his groundbreaking studies into just how presidential pets have shaped our nation's history. The world needs to know the real role of Millie, Socks the cat, and all the other pets who have called the White House home. It might shock you, it might embarass you, but it will never fail to entertain you.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
