Snowball's Chance [Hardcover]

John Reed (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2002

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“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 Kindle Edition 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 the book editor for The Brooklyn Rail. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 137 pages
• Publisher: Roof Books (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931824053
• ISBN-13: 978-1931824057
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #958,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't believe it's not everywhere., July 18, 2003

By 

fread (New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snowball's Chance (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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What ho?, October 16, 2007

By 

S. Cottam - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Snowball's Chance (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.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Attacked by both sides, January 15, 2003

By 

gary (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snowball's Chance (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.