Title: Akhmed and the Atomic Matzo Balls:
A Novel of International Intrigue, Pork-Crazed Termites, and Motherhood
Review:
The author begins his story with a wide cast of characters, from the hated dictators of our time, a woefully overblown liberal college professor and his estranged far right daughter, and even rampant porcine loving termites. Slowly we begin visiting each character in-turn to advance the plot ever so slightly. But the story builds in ever tightening spirals and the characters begin overlapping, creating a fast paced and fun climax.
My favorite character was Les Fenwich, a prime example of what can be wrong with modern academia. A professor of English who believes the more confusing he can make the language through the use of large words the more intelligent he is. Who is contrarian as a matter of course rather than conscious. I am grateful I have never met anyone so completely like Les in real life, but I see shadows of him everywhere.
Buslik has created a farce of the highest order that will forever change your view of the matzo ball and its lethal potential. A comedy that manages to be funny, and it manages to see the humorous side of violent death to boot. Plus, who knew the president of Iran was such a good dancer?
The author begins his story with a wide cast of characters, from the hated dictators of our time, a woefully overblown liberal college professor and his estranged far right daughter, and even rampant porcine loving termites. Slowly we begin visiting each character in-turn to advance the plot ever so slightly. But the story builds in ever tightening spirals and the characters begin overlapping, creating a fast paced and fun climax.
My favorite character was Les Fenwich, a prime example of what can be wrong with modern academia. A professor of English who believes the more confusing he can make the language through the use of large words the more intelligent he is. Who is contrarian as a matter of course rather than conscious. I am grateful I have never met anyone so completely like Les in real life, but I see shadows of him everywhere.
Buslik has created a farce of the highest order that will forever change your view of the matzo ball and its lethal potential. A comedy that manages to be funny, and it manages to see the humorous side of violent death to boot. Plus, who knew the president of Iran was such a good dancer?
Publisher: Travelers' Tales/Solas House
(December 20, 2011)
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 370
ISBN: 978-1609520694
Quick Review: 4 Stars out of 5.
Where Did I Get the Book:
Sent by the publisher
for review.
Synopsis: Iranian president
Akhmed teams up with the leaders of Venezuela and Cuba and their American
intelligence agents to smuggle radioactive matzo balls into Miami Beach. But
intelligence being as slippery a concept to these nincompoops as chicken fat on
linoleum, when each member of the gang decides to ladle out his own personal
nuke soup, holy terror Akhmed is left steaming. Will his plan to destroy
America float like a fly or sink like a lead dumpling?
Star-crossed lovers, conniving academics, and blustery
social climbers collide with ravenous termites, international do-badders, and
multi-level marketing in a plot as fast-paced and hilarious as a runaway
mountain bus. Radioactivity has never been so much fun.
Author Biography: Gary Buslik is an American novelist, short story writer,
travel writer, and essayist. His work has appeared in many literary and
commercial magazines and anthologies. His travel-essay collection A Rotten
Person Travels the Caribbean (Travelers' Tales, 2008) won the 2009 Benjamin
Franklin Book Award. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and earned his Ph.D. in
English literature from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Other Reviews: Simply Jews, Amazon Reviews
Joined the ranks of Christopher Moore? I can't think of any praise higher than that! Thanks so much for being on the tour!
ReplyDeleteThis book gripped me as no Matzo ball has ever stirred me before. Couldn't put it down (the book, not the matza ball).
ReplyDeleteTruthfully, it was quite brilliant.
To hold Mr. Buslik in the realm of Dave Barry and Christopher Moore is a compliment I totally agree with. But to be more accurate, Woody Allen would work just as well. Mr. Buslik's wit and wisdom tirelessly works its way into our collective conscious. I am constantly laughing out loud.
ReplyDelete