Flidderbugs [Kindle Edition]

Jonathan Gould (Author)

Book Description

What an amazing achievement: fiction that provides you with an incredible and fun read but leaves you full of thoughts long after you've finished the final paragraph.
- bookbagsandcatnaps.com

As Kriffle the Flidderbug investigates why his fellow 'bugs find it impossible to agree on the pressing issue of how many points there are on the leaves of the tree on which they live, he finds that the truth is more complicated, and ultimately more terrifying, than he ever could have imagined.

Flidderbugs is a political satire, a modern fable, or maybe just a funny little story about a bunch of insects with some very peculiar obsessions.

In this political satire, a follow up to Gould's Doodling, it's easy to insert names and political parties that we see in society today...I really love Jonathan Gould's work. His stories are fun, thought-provoking, and always well written.
- eulana.com

For more stories that stand out from the crowd, check out these other books by Jonathan Gould
*** Magnus Opum: An epic fantasy that's slightly skewed - Tolkien with a twist.
*** Doodling: The unexpected adventures of a man who fell off the world (because it was moving too fast). Douglas Adams meets Lewis Carroll (with just a dash of Gulliver's Travels).
*** Scribbling: More strange and unexpected adventures for Neville Lansdowne.

Product Details

• File Size: 153 KB
• Print Length: 70 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005K7HKS8
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #432,433 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this delightful tale! There is something for everyone! September 1, 2011

By Cassie McCown

Format:Kindle Edition

Flidderbugs is a sort of coming of age story about young Kriffle who is preparing to take over his father's role as leader of the Triplifer tribe. In a series of debates, each tribe, the Triplifer and Quadrigon, try to convince the other of the correct number of points on the Krephiloff Tree's leaves. The Triplifers naturally argue that the leaves have three points, while the Quadrigons insist they have four points.

When Kriffle sees a mysterious `bug lurking around the council and sneaking out of the Fleedenhall with the shears, he knows something isn't quite right. He vows to get to the bottom of things, going so far as consulting the top professors of the Flooderversity. No one seems to have the information he needs regarding the leaves, and he returns home disheartened.

Soon, he runs into his nemesis, Fargeeta, and in a moment of desperation drags her to his terribly overgrown side of the Tree. With a new perspective, the two team up to set things straight in the Tree for good. There's an odd, prophetic rumble in the Tree; the two had better hurry before it is too late for everyone.

I received an advanced copy of Flidderbugs for review.

This is the second of Gould's books that I have had the pleasure to read and review. I have to say I like this one even better than Doodling. Regardless, Jonathan is an exceptionally talented and creative writer! I was impressed with his attention to detail, especially regarding how the `bugs relate to their Tree. For the Flidderbugs, the Krephiloff Tree is their entire world. When we would say `What in the world?', the `bugs would say `What in the Tree?'. I just think that is so incredibly cute, and by Gould being so clever to add little elements such as that, it gives the story even more depth and dimension.

The characters are impeccably fleshed out; I knew exactly what they were each about through every part of the story. I had no trouble whatsoever imagining myself in the Krephiloff Tree, Fleedenhall, or Flooderversity. My absolute favorite character was the philosophical Professor Yangbelu. In describing the `concept of the leaf', Yangelu tells Kriffle, "Everything and nothing. The leaf is us, and yet we are not the leaf. The leaf is other but only when we see it as such, for in becoming the other, it becomes us and so we become it." How can you not love that?!? '

The story of the Flidderbugs is based on the power of perception The group that holds the power seems to create the definition, and life for both sides must follow their rules. Of course, as with any politics, there are those in the middle who ultimately must choose sides. In every society there are the countering perspectives: rich/poor, black/white, educated/uneducated, north/south, popular/unpopular, male/female. The majority of the time, it is greed which fuels this disparity. This story is no different. The moral is it is the foundation that counts, and unbalance eventually leads to collapse. We could certainly learn a lot of lessons from our Flidderbug friends. We are all human, we all live on this earth together, and we are all ultimately responsible for each other.

The BEST thing about this story, for me: I can read it to my children, and they will LOVE it! Young adults and adults can read it, and they will LOVE it too! There is something for everyone to learn and enjoy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Flidderbugs Review September 1, 2011

By eulana

Format:Kindle Edition

Life hasn't always been easy for Kriffle the Flidderbug. For as long as Kriffle can remember, the Quadrigon tribe has always had control of Krephiloff Tree's Shears, which means that the Triplifers, Kriffle's own tribe, has had to deal with an overgrowth of leaves on his side of the tree. Once Kriffle has been nominated to become the Triplifers' new leader and take over from his father, he realizes the 'bugs have even bigger problems. For starters, they can't even agree on whether a leaf has three points or four! Determined to prove that the tree only has three points on a leaf, Kriffle sets out on a mission to bring the truth to his fellow 'bugs. But what he discovers is shocking, and he must find a way to get all the Flidderbugs to work together--or face dire consequences.

In this political satire, a follow up to Gould's Doodling, it's easy to insert names and political parties that we see in society today. I said it before when I reviewed Doodling, and I'll say it again: I really love Jonathan Gould's work. His stories are fun, thought-provoking, and always well written. I think Gould has many successful years to come as an author, and I can't wait to see what he writes next. Oh, and did I mention that I love the cover art for Flidderbugs? I think it's very fitting for his story, and the characters pictured are exactly as I imagined them while I read.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jonathan Gould's brilliant satire strikes again. September 18, 2011

By Jeremy D Rodden

Format:Kindle Edition

As a big fan of Gould's work in his first satire, Doodling, I went into Flidderbugs with very high expectations. Once again, Gould subtly takes jabs at facets of society that are just so ridiculous that we need to see it through the eyes of this small colony of bugs to realize how inane humans can be.

Gould's description of the political process of the Flidderbugs society is hilarious. However, when you compare it to the democratic processes in 'civilized' democracies around the world, you realize that it is actually quite sad... because that's how the party-based systems of democratic cultures operate.

The endless bickering about useless details instead of resolving the core issues that threaten their people, the party-based disagreements without caring to learn facts, the complete cover-your-ears ignorance of the party-line discussions, and the influence of money/business in politics. Gould captures all of these elements with hilarious wit that makes you forget that we people do the same things.

My favorite part of the story was Kriffle's visit to the Flooderversity. The absurdity of the scientists focusing on all facets of the leaves except the number of points including the philosophical discussion of what makes a leaf a leaf and the incomprehensible science-speak of Professor Skervvle were spot-on.

I highly recommend this work to any fan of satire and anyone who is capable of laughing at themselves for falling into some of the same traps that plague the Flidderbugs. I also highly recommend this to politicians, hoping that they can learn from these little 'bugs that they are there to serve in the best interest of the people and not fight over inconsequential details.

-Jeremy Rodden
Author, Kindle Bestselling Cartoon Novel, Toonopolis: Gemini

More About the Author

Jonathan Gould has lived in Melbourne, Australia all his life, except when he hasn't. He has written comedy sketches for both the theatre and radio, as well as several published children's books for the educational market.

He likes to refer to his stories as dag-lit because they don't easily fit into recognisable genres (dag is Australian slang for a person who is unfashionable and doesn't follow the crowd - but in an amusing and fun way). You might think of them as comic fantasies, or modern fairytales for the young and the young-at-heart.

Over the years, his writing has been compared to Douglas Adams, Monty Python, A.A. Milne, Lewis Carroll, the Goons, Dr Seuss, Terry Pratchett, and even Enid Blyton (in a good way).