Fiction. Reed's first novel, A Still Small Voice, received high praise from an array of writers and critics. Paul Auster called it "a fine first novel by a young writer of great promise." SNOWBALL'S CHANCE is far more than a scathing sequel to George Orwell's Animal Farm, although it assuredly does count as that rarest of things: a successful sequel to a classic work. In a brilliantly conceived and executed riposte to the marketplace's unthinking cheerleaders, Reed's Snowball, the Pig ousted from the Animal Farm for rationality, returns to bring marketeering to the farm. "While reading SNOWBALL'S CHANCE, one plays this terrifying guessing game of animal clef: Which animal am I? Which animal is my neighbour? Which animal is my enemy? Written in lucid, wise, funny, fable-prose, this book brings to mind Spiegelman's Maus--the use of a playful metaphor to reveal horrible, frightening truths we might otherwise refuse to see. A scary, engrossing novel, a sustained triumph"--Johnathan Ames.
Snowball's Chance (Neversink)
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Written in lucid, wise, funny, fable-prose, this book brings to mind Spiegelman’s Maus—the use of a playful metaphor to reveal truths we might otherwise refuse to see.” —Jonathan Ames
“Reed is an extraordinary talent.”
—Fran Gordon
“John Reed excels in the realm of the strange.”
—San Francisco Examiner
“Orwell’s sacred pigs get a proper roast.”
—Portland Tribune
“The estate of George Orwell is not happy about it.”
—The New York Times --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
“Reed is an extraordinary talent.”
—Fran Gordon
“John Reed excels in the realm of the strange.”
—San Francisco Examiner
“Orwell’s sacred pigs get a proper roast.”
—Portland Tribune
“The estate of George Orwell is not happy about it.”
—The New York Times --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
About the Author
JOHN REED was born in New York City in 1969. Among his many books are the novels A Still Small Voice and The Whole, a play, All the World’s a Grave, and the non-fiction Tales of Woe. He currently teaches at The New School, and is a senior editor at The Brooklyn Rail.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By gary
Format:Hardcover
I'd heard about the book from a conservative friend who read about it in the New York Times. He was seething over the idea and just hated this Reed, who he called a Marxist. A few weeks later, I was talking to an actual Marxist, who also was seething over Reed's novel. So, being a reasonable fellow, I decided to take a look. And I loved it. Totally rational assesment of what's going on. A must read.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By S. Cottam
Format:Hardcover
The future of Animal Farm is sub-prime home loans for all and sequined mangers--Animal Fair! Need I say more? I do. John Reed is wicked smart. He's wicked. And smart. And not wrong. When every young girl dreams of becoming the next big dancing chicken, and the pigs are still running the show, it's time to be very afraid and seriously funny.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By fread
Format:Hardcover
Really, you must look at this book for your classes. High School and College. I have a freshman composition class that just went wild discussing this book. In twenty years of teaching, I've never seen my students so engaged in anything.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By W.W.
Format:Hardcover
It's really not ahead of its time, but this book will one day be recognized for its very accurate depiction of contemporary society. I'm still baffled that it is not discussed in more forums/schools/universities. But I imagine, at some point, it will be. So, be ahead of the curve, read it now. Even if you hate it, you will enjoy figuring out why you hate it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By KAI
Format:Hardcover
I love this book! I read Animal Farm when I was 14 and have wanted to read it again but haven't gotten around to it. Now it's a must after reading 'Snowball's Chance'. John Reed has an imagination like no other and his writing style is incredible. As I was reading, I found myself putting faces to the animals, not thinking of them as animals, and saying "ah-hah....", along with laughing in parts and feeling an incredible sadness in others. I recommend 'Snowball's Chance' to everyone, whether you're a fan of Orwell's 'Animal Farm' or not.
--I went to the animal show, where all of the animals go.
Said a flea to a fly in a flue, "Oh fly, what shall I do?"
Said the fly, "Let's flee!" Said the flea, "Let us fly!"
So they flew through a flaw in the flue--
--I went to the animal show, where all of the animals go.
Said a flea to a fly in a flue, "Oh fly, what shall I do?"
Said the fly, "Let's flee!" Said the flea, "Let us fly!"
So they flew through a flaw in the flue--
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This was a book that was placed on the required reading list of my college English class, along with Orwell's Animal Farm. I found it an incredibly intriguing piece that both capitalized (no pun intended) on the uniqueness of Orwell's writing style (paranthetical phrases, etc) and pokes fun at it (there are quite a few silly songs and poems that the animals make up).
I think that it can be viewed from many different angles, especially if you see their Ferris Wheel as the Pentagon...think about it.
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
After being exiled from Animal Farm, a contrite Snowball returns insisting that he learned his lesson of excess and abuse of power and will harm no one. He slowly begins his means of taking over through "democratic" processes by promising if elected in charge he will reform the farm so that the animals will have plenty of pie and the stables will be heated and well lighted. No one will want under his enlightened leadership.
Snowball's reform succeeds so that newcomers from the surrounding areas begin to flock to Animal Farm for a taste of the good life. These refugees are given the jobs none of the old-timers want to do and live in the oldest dilapidated barns. The original loyal followers of Snowball move into choice property outside the crime ridden center. Snowball continues to expand Animal Farm bringing prosperity to his inner circle.
Winning a court case, Snowball gains control of the water rights. This leaves the Beavers with nothing but anger and frustration that leads to counterinsurgency with an opportunity to a better afterlife if they die for the cause of freeing the beaver woods.
John Reed provides an intriguing ironic follow-up to George Orwell's superb satirical personification of communism by applying the same cast to the personification of capitalism. Some diehard Orwellian fans will loathe what might seem as an assault on the author, but this reviewer believes that Mr. Orwell on THE WHOLE would have done something similar if he lived today. Mindful of a Jay Ward Fractured Fairy Tale involving Sleeping Beauty, SNOWBALL'S CHANCE is a strong satire of a strong satire turning Orwell on his head.
Harriet Klausner
Snowball's reform succeeds so that newcomers from the surrounding areas begin to flock to Animal Farm for a taste of the good life. These refugees are given the jobs none of the old-timers want to do and live in the oldest dilapidated barns. The original loyal followers of Snowball move into choice property outside the crime ridden center. Snowball continues to expand Animal Farm bringing prosperity to his inner circle.
Winning a court case, Snowball gains control of the water rights. This leaves the Beavers with nothing but anger and frustration that leads to counterinsurgency with an opportunity to a better afterlife if they die for the cause of freeing the beaver woods.
John Reed provides an intriguing ironic follow-up to George Orwell's superb satirical personification of communism by applying the same cast to the personification of capitalism. Some diehard Orwellian fans will loathe what might seem as an assault on the author, but this reviewer believes that Mr. Orwell on THE WHOLE would have done something similar if he lived today. Mindful of a Jay Ward Fractured Fairy Tale involving Sleeping Beauty, SNOWBALL'S CHANCE is a strong satire of a strong satire turning Orwell on his head.
Harriet Klausner
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Brilliant wit mixed with polical savvy! An incredible read!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Funny and worth it.
I found the book an entertaining and light read, getting through it in a single night's reading, maybe two hours total. Read more
Published 4 months ago by S Peter Cordner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Timely Extension
Any book dealing with 9/11 issues has an uphill battle to win me over. If it was written poorly it would have been a disaster. Read more
Published on July 10, 2008 by Bruce D. Seymour
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clever
From the tongue-in-cheek title to the "Twin Mills," clever is the way to describe John Reed's "Snowball's Chance. Read more
Published on July 9, 2008 by Mr. Good
5.0 out of 5 stars
Where do Snowballs go.......?
Snowball turns up again years after the Animal Farm debacle . Reed's bristling animal characters weave a symphony of ironies. Read more
Published on June 11, 2007 by Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars
My report
This book was on a reading list for school, and I read it over the summer. I just got to give a talk about it, and it really surpirsed my teacher. Read more
Published on October 3, 2003 by "redeftnewt"
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disgustingly disrespectful.
This book is disrespectful to Orwell and to Animal Farm. Compared to other books in it's genre, especially Animal Farm, it is ignorant and lowly. Read more
Published on September 14, 2003 by Assya
5.0 out of 5 stars
I can't believe it's not everywhere.
Really, you must look at this book for your classes. High School and College. I have a freshman composition class that just went wild discussing this book. Read more
Published on July 18, 2003 by fread
