Radhika Mundra
Publisher: The BookGuild Ltd.
Author: John Powell
Price (Kindle Edition): $4.70
Genre: Satirical Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
I love reading children’s books every once in a while and that helps not only in widening my imagination as a writer but also in taking a break from the regular humdrum of dark and deep reads. So, I picked up ‘Saint George: Rusty Knight and Monster Tamer’ by John Powell, which turned out to be a quite fun read. Here’s my review of the same:
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| Source: books.telegraph.co.uk |
Blurb from the book:
In a world infested with monsters intent on harassing the citizenry and scaring the livestock, you need an efficient Patron Saint and Minister for the Environment. George, a vertically challenged and impoverished knight in rusty armour, would appear a poor choice were it not for the fact that, during his travels in the Austrian Tyrol, he discovered a cake with the miraculous power to tame monsters. Suddenly, and for the first time in his life, George is in demand.
Elevated to ministerial position by King Freddie and Prime Minister Merlin, George becomes famous, while remaining (sadly) impoverished, and wittingly or otherwise has a hand in improving international relations with France, creating the first trade union, repelling a Scottish invasion and defining the number of players in a cricket team.
This sharp and witty satirical comedy, filled with comic caricatures and disgruntled dignitaries and set in a time-we-have-all-forgot will appeal to young people and adults alike.
Plot- ‘Well… it was in the days of Good King Freddie’, marks the beginning of the collection of these short adventures of George, the Patron Saint of England and the Minister for the Environment.
George is a poor knight with a rusty armour who is struggling to find a job. He travels far in the search of a job and in the process, discovers the secret to tame the monsters that overrun England, scaring the citizens and livestock.
When the news of his discovery reaches the good old King Freddie, he fires Cuthbert, the previous Patron Saint, who according to Freddie, ‘… can’t tell a Welsh dragon from an Irish whatsit.”, in the blink of an eye after being advised to do so by the wisest man in England, Merlin the Whirlin, who wears a pointed hat because he is short. George eagerly accepts the position of the Patron Saint and rids the country of all the monsters by turning them into pets.
This book is a comical collection of the tales of adventures of George, Merlin and Freddie and Jack.
Read the book to know more!
Also, read Book Review- ‘Motions and Moments: More Essays on Tokyo’ By Michael Pronko
- On point satire.
- Leisurely Read.
Cons:
- Hard to pronounce names! How the hell do you pronounce ‘Marmorgugelhupf’!
About the Author:
John Powell has had a long and distinguished career as an industrial and scientific engineer. In 1971 he travelled to Ghana to take up the post of senior lecturer in mechanical engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, and his life-long love affair with Ghana began. Since then he has travelled the world as a consultant to many international agencies, including UNIDO. He was awarded the OBE in 1991 for services to technical education in Ghana, and in 2003 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science by KNUST in recognition of his long and invaluable service to the country. He now lives in Whitney, Oxfordshire.
Personal Opinion: This book gave me a fit of laughter every now and then. Full of witty remarks, it is a fun read for both kids and adults. Since the stories are self-contained, it can be read at intervals without losing context.
The only con I found was that it was as hard to imagine the monster as was to pronounce their name. What comes to your mind when you read ‘Hungarian woggalong’? Humour me!
Other than this, I’d totally recommend it for all ages.
Haven't read a witty book in a long time. Thanks for the review, I might just give it a read.
xoxo – Chaicy
Style.. A Pastiche! – styleapastiche.com
+ Radhika Mundra.
Seem's a very good read, Interesting. Thank's for sharing. Tc. :))
🙂 It seems like a funny read. Not suitable for my kiddo now, but for me sure 😉
Thank you for the Review Radhika !
Thanks, Chaicy! Long time no see! Yes, you should, it's quite fun! 😀
Thanks Christine, you should try it, you might enjoy it! 😀
Haha, it's fun, not very educational but it does end up everytime as 'and the hero saves the day' kind! 😀 It'll leave you in fits of laughter! 🙂
Looks really interesting especially this word 'Marmorgugelhupf' 😛
Btw thanks for the review 🙂
Great review it sounds like a fun book to read
+ Radhika Mundra. Thank you for sharing another interesting chapter in the book. It has been a long time since I have read a Children's book, some of them really make you get in touch with you'r expressive side and open up the awareness of having a vivid imagination . Dick King Smith is a very good author (have been trying to remember the title of one of his novel's, it was about a cat n it's travel's n experience's ), still, never mind once I remember I will let inform you, bet you can't wait tee he . Tc. :))
I am extremely impressed along with your writing abilities, Thanks for this great share.