Fat Man [Mass Market Paperback]

Maurice Gee (Author), Cary Austin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1999

Herbert Muskie is The Fat Man. When he catches skinny, hungry Colin Potter stealing a chocolate bar, he forces Colin to become his partner in crime. This begins an ever-escalating cycle of dominance fueled by Muskie's hatred of the people of Loomis--a grudge Colin doesn't understand. The Fat Man's sphere of influence quickly ensnares the rest of Colin's family and threatens to destroy their lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Of this "seamlessly crafted psychological thriller" set in 1933 New Zealand, PW's starred review said, "Gee gives the proverbial victim-turns-villain myth several spellbinding twists.... Readers with a hearty appetite for the diabolical will get their fill here." Ages 12-up. (Mar.)r
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up. In this engrossing psychological thriller, a devious man, embittered by the taunts he endured as a child, returns to his hometown to seek revenge on the family of one of his tormentors.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689824599
• ISBN-13: 978-0689824593
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,952,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Review Of The Fat man, January 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fat Man (Hardcover)

Herbert Muskie (the fat man) comes back from 13 years in the U.S. and he's out for revenge for the bullies who made his childhood the worst anybody could have. Herbert sees Colin a young boy stealing a chocolate bar,and then threatening Colin To Rob Mrs Muskie's house. This continues the phsycological book with the fat man getting revenge on his bullies that bullied him 13 years ago. I enjoyed reading this book because it was thrilling and phsycological. I reconmend this book to people who are the age of 12 to 14.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Fat Bust, May 27, 2006

By 

Julius Charles "Julius" (Baltimore,M.D) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fat Man (Hardcover)

The fat man isn't a good book. It isn't action packed like I thought it would be. It's about Herbert Muskie, once a child of the town Loomis who wants to get revenge on everyone in the town. But he finds Colin in his house and makes him do his dirty work. He wants to get back at everyone but tourchers Colin into being his accomplice.

In the mist of the book, the toucher stops, and the book begins to stink. Herbert lets Colin go and then they magically meet up again at Colin's grandmothers house. Colin they sees that Herbert doesn't just dislike him, but his whole family. The heat of the story never got back up after that. There wasn't anymore break ins, and no one got hurt. Colin was stuck babysitting Herbert's daughter Verna, and defending her at school.

The end of the book wasn't good at all. Colin and Verna became friends, and the fat man was never seen again. Before i read the book i thought that it would be good. But after reading t, i thought that it was a waste of time. I should have read something else. EVERYONE, DON'T CHOOSE THIS BOOK!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, August 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fat Man (Mass Market Paperback)

Lots of people probably imagine going back to their hometown and "paying back" the people who terrorized them when they were young. Well, Herbert Muskie, does just that - but guess what? He's not such a nice guy either - in fact he is extremely cruel. Colin Potter is caught stealing a chocolate bar from Muskie and is forced to help him burglarize a house. Throughout the story we watch as Colin realizes just how evil Muskie is and his feelings of hopelessness as he watches Muskie target people in Colin's family. You see some vulnerability in Muskie, but he is so inherently bad that it is hard to feel sorry for him. Good read.