Customer Reviews

Barry Trotter and the Unauthorized Parody

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I am the world's biggest Harry Potter fan, and so when I read an article about this parody in the Chicago Sun-Times I had to get it. What the hell, it's only ten bucks anyway.

I'm so glad I did! It's one of the funniest things I 've ever read. It's not really a parody of a specifc book in the series -- instead, it starts when Barry (Harry) is twenty-two, made incurably lazy by his famous life, and unwilling to leave Wizard school, where everyone caters to his every whim. It's only when he learns that a Hollywood movie is being made out of his life -- and that if the movie suceeds the school will have to close and he'll have to get a real job -- that he is galvanized into action.

What's especially hilarious is seeing the grown up Barry Trotter using magic in ways that any 22 year old guy would if he could -- to meet women, to get out of trouble he got himself into. Also wonderful is the way that Michael Gerber comes up with little bits of magic that are worthy of JK Rowling, except funny... like "Traveling Snuff," something wizards use to fly. Usually with snuff, you see, you stay in the same place and the snuff comes shooting out of your nose... but with magic snuff, IT stays in the same place, and when you sneeze, you go shooting up into the air.

So, if you like Harry Potter, and you like to laugh, do yourself a favor and get this.

First of all, I adore the "Harry Potter" series. I have read all four books several times, seen the movie, and definitely consider myself a Potter-phile. I have been going through a sort of withdrawal while waiting for the fifth book to come out. The movie filled that void for a bit and so did the two school books, but it didn't make it go away. So, I've been reading books that have been compared to the series and books that are somehow related to them. This is one of those books.

I have read several parodies and humor books in the past and this is actually one of the funnier ones I have read. It is funny because it does not take itself seriously at all. It pokes fun at itself constantly. Almost as often as it pokes fun at everything relating to "Harry Potter."

Really, this book isn't surprising. "Harry Potter" has become so big that I'm surprised there aren't more books like this one. It isn't exactly insulting, as I feared it would be, because of the fact that it's obvious it's meant as humor. It takes some of the very basic concepts behind the series and twists them to the point where you'd have to be a phile to recognize the original idea. In that way, this book is aimed at fans.

There is a lot of "potty humor" in this book, as well as a lot having to do with sex. The writing style is not good by any definition- even the author admits this. Though, I think that might have been the point. It reads more like a piece of (poorly written) fan fiction than a novel.

It can be crude at some points, but it is entertaining nonetheless. I actually found myself getting really into it toward the end and was almost sad when it was over. Maybe that's just my withdrawal speaking, but I guess it means something.

I've read this book upwards of 12 times and it still never fails to make me laugh. Many chapters are so funny that I can't eat and read at the same time, for fear of choking to death or spitting crumbs all over the page. <P...

What keeps me coming back to "Barry Trotter" is the vividness of Mike's imagination: I can still picture Barry's owl with a cigarette clenched in her beak and the hipster centaurs adjusting their berets as they canter into the woods. He's done an amazing job of creating a parody that is as entertaining as it is hilarious.

I should mention that some parents might find "Barry Trotter" inappropriate for children. It's a great book, but it is aimed at an older audience. If you feel that "South Park", "The Simpsons" and Mad magazine are not for kids, you may want to wait a few years before getting "Barry Trotter" for your child....

I have to say, I'm an avid Harry Potter fan. But I also have a sense of humour. This book isn't just for those of you who are sick of hype (which I defend as totally valid ;) ), it's also for any ADULT Harry fan who can have a laugh. I'd be suprised if J.K. herself hasn't had a bit of a chuckle at this one!

I highly recommend Barry Trotter and the Shameless Parody. Its not just a cheap insult at a children's book, its a valid comment on over merchandised children's fads and commercialisation. Satisfies the cynic in even the most devout potter fan.

Enjoy!

I will start off by declaring a few things. Yes, I have read the Harry Potter books. Yes, I do like them. Yes, I will read the rest of them. But no, I am not a fanatic fan who thinks Harry Potter is as good as it gets. You will find me in the middle of things.
With that said, I will say I do not like this parody very much and I think I dislike it more whenever I think about it, and this is not caused by the fact that I am an obsessive Potter fan as I started off with saying. =) The book is very self-ironic which I think is a good thing (it often says things like "Nightmares can be extremely
instructive (especially in cheesy books like this one"). There are jokes in this book I found amusing, and there are several names I'm sure I would find more amusing if I knew what they were a parody of. I fear I haven't paid enough attention when I read HP.

But Gerber seems to spend one hell of a time joking about sex and bodily sounds and smells. Which reminds me, this is NOT a children's book. There are things in this book I do not find suitable for younger readers, heck, I wouldn't even find them suitable for my parents. =) Anyway, some of these jokes can be entertaining, others I just shake my head at.

There is another thing I can't quite figure out about this book. I don't know if it takes itself seriously or not. This IS a parody, obviously, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's written badly on purpose. It IS written badly, let me emphasise that, and it gets stupid in several places, but I don't know if Gerber intended to. Sometimes I get the feeling Gerber tried to write the book as a *real* book, but unfortunately he failed. It even drags on at times, and I absolutely loathe the ending; I find it utterly ridiculous. Far too mushy, especially for a parody, in my humble opinion anyway.

I do not exactly recommend this book. You can lead a happy life without even knowing this book existed, but I won't tell you *not* to read it either. It's not completely bad, even though I only gave it 2 stars and say several times I don't like it. =) I will point out though, that if you're a fanatic HP fan, then don't get all upset. JK Rowling is treated very nicely in this book. She's actually pictured as a very kind, helpful, and generous person, and also Barry is still the hero, despite his somewhat shady personality. He does, in some ways, save the day. This is a parody, not a book written to be mean.

I bought this book not really knowing what to expect (I read about it online), and I was absolutely floored! I personally liked it more than the book and the movie, and my 7 year-old -- who worships Harry and Co. -- loved it and loved the jokes! It is at times gross and silly but it is always hilarious, and never mean-spirited. A MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE WHO LIKES HARRY!

I am a huge Harry fan, having all the books in hardback and audio tape. I just upgraded to CD so I can listen in my car. A very fun way to make long drives, or when I am sewing of an evening.

I picked this up at Powell's in the Portland airport during an especially long, uncomfortable flight (4 planes, 2 airlines, 18 hours....) and wound up laughing out loud during my Portland to Minneapolis leg - my seatmate thought I was nuts, but it sure took the edge off the flight!

Don't look to this book for intellectual stimulation, or for a 'sacred' look at Harry in his adulthood. These people are more your every-day Joes, just looking for a way to get by, and stumbling more than they stand. A very relaxing, and relaxed, look at the Potters, by an author who is relaxed enough about himself and his writing to not only poke fun at his characters, but at himself.

Having an especially tough day? Pull this out and have a giggle, you deserve it!

A parody of Harry Potter. It places him (and Hogwart's) in the real world: with dirt, subways, groupies, and venal, lawsuit-happy corporations. Hewing fairly closely to the original Harry Potter plot structure, the author recolors every story element in a hilariously twisted way and pokes fun at some of the unspoken assumptions behind children's literature.

"Barry Trotter"'s seemingly encyclopediac knowledge of the Potterian world will delight Harry's fans (at least those whose skins aren't TOO thin.) At the same time, there is a great deal here for the uninitiated. The corruption in Barry's world is all too familiar to us ordinary muggles. This is a treat for all.

Besides, that brat NEEDS a good swirlie.

Funny and a pleasure for anyone who likes to read English.

Barry Trotter, at 22, has become an eternal student at Hogwash School, as parents are willing to spend any amount of money to have their kids go to school with him. He earns the odd bit of cash by selling the location of Hogwash to the Stun newspaper and other such schemes. But the Stun scheme has backfired--Muddles are gathering in increasing numbers outside the gates, and Headmaster Alpo Bumblemore sees only one way out of being overwhelmed--Barry and his pals must stop the next Barry Trotter movie--or else!

I would describe this book as mixed--the first chapters, at Hogwash, are inspired, so is the ultimate confrontation with Lord Valumart. Inbetween, unfortunately, the book has a tendency to bog down

Still, I'd say it is a good read for the Harry Potter fan or enemy. Both should enjoy it.

I enjoyed the Bored of the Rings parody and was looking forward to reading this parody of the Harry Potter books. Unfortunately I didn't find it to be either witty or humorous. The puns are not particularly good and the storyline is amazingly unentertaining. It plods along with only the renaming of familar places and names to keep the reader mildly interested until it finally limps to a merciful conclusion. If you feel you must read this book, chip in with 20 or so friends to share it, then the expense might be worth it.