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Γατάκι
Το «Γατάκι» αφηγείται την ιστορία του πρίγκιπα Φράκασους, του πιθανού διαδόχου στο –διάσημο για τους ουρανοξύστες του με τις χρυσές πόρτες και τα καζίνο– Δουκάτο των Όριτζεν, ο οποίος περνά την εφηβική του ηλικία παρακολουθώντας ριάλιτι στην τηλεόραση, ενώ φαντάζεται τον εαυτό του ως τον Ρωμαίο Αυτοκράτορα Νέρωνα και φαντασιώνεται πόρνες. Είναι αργόσχολος, κομπορρήμων, μυγιάγγιχτος και εγωιστής. Δεν έχει τρόπους, δεν έχει γνώσεις, δεν έχει ιδέες ούτε λέξεις για να τις εκφράσει. Θα μπορούσε, έτσι όπως είναι, να γίνει ο ένας και μοναδικός αρχηγός που θα καταστήσει τη χώρα και πάλι σπουδαία;
Μια ευφυής παρωδία, στην παράδοση του Τζόναθαν Σουίφτ, για τον λαϊκισμό, τη σύγχρονη δημοκρατία του Δυτικού κόσμου και τις κραυγαλέες αποτυχίες της.
Μια ευφυής παρωδία, στην παράδοση του Τζόναθαν Σουίφτ, για τον λαϊκισμό, τη σύγχρονη δημοκρατία του Δυτικού κόσμου και τις κραυγαλέες αποτυχίες της.
232 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2017
40 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
About the author
Howard Jacobson
76 books384 followersHoward Jacobson was born in Manchester, England, and educated at Cambridge. His many novels include The Mighty Walzer (winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize), Who’s Sorry Now? and Kalooki Nights (both longlisted for the Man Booker Prize), and, most recently, The Act of Love. Jacobson is also a respected critic and broadcaster, and writes a weekly column for the Independent. He lives in London.
Profile of Howard Jacobson in The New York Times.
“The book's appeal to Jewish readers is obvious, but like all great Jewish art — the paintings of Marc Chagall, the books of Saul Bellow, the films of Woody Allen — it is Jacobson's use of the Jewish experience to explain the greater human one that sets it apart. Who among us is so certain of our identity? Who hasn't been asked, "What's your background" and hesitated, even for a split second, to answer their inquisitor? Howard Jacobson's The Finkler Question forces us to ask that of ourselves, and that's why it's a must read, no matter what your background.”—-David Sax, NPR.
Profile of Howard Jacobson in The New York Times.
“The book's appeal to Jewish readers is obvious, but like all great Jewish art — the paintings of Marc Chagall, the books of Saul Bellow, the films of Woody Allen — it is Jacobson's use of the Jewish experience to explain the greater human one that sets it apart. Who among us is so certain of our identity? Who hasn't been asked, "What's your background" and hesitated, even for a split second, to answer their inquisitor? Howard Jacobson's The Finkler Question forces us to ask that of ourselves, and that's why it's a must read, no matter what your background.”—-David Sax, NPR.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
April 7, 2017
It hardly seems fair that Americans must wait to grab a copy of Howard Jacobson’s new novel, “P---y.”
But let’s not get started on Things About Donald Trump That Are Unfair, or we’ll be here all week.
Jacobson, the Man Booker Prize-winning author of “The Finkler Question,” started writing this ribald satire just hours after Trump won the presidential election, and within a few weeks his manuscript was already rushing to print. His fellow Brits can get the book on April 13, but those of us enduring the American carnage firsthand must wait till mid May. An extremely credible source tells me this is unpresidented!!!
Nevertheless, someone — no, not Susan Rice — sent me an early copy of “P---y,” and I moved on it like a b----. When you’re a book critic, they let you do it. You can do anything (except quote the president’s unfiltered words in a family newspaper).
This pairing of author and subject sounds divinely ordained: The world’s smartest comic novelist vs. a TV reality star who. . . .
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
But let’s not get started on Things About Donald Trump That Are Unfair, or we’ll be here all week.
Jacobson, the Man Booker Prize-winning author of “The Finkler Question,” started writing this ribald satire just hours after Trump won the presidential election, and within a few weeks his manuscript was already rushing to print. His fellow Brits can get the book on April 13, but those of us enduring the American carnage firsthand must wait till mid May. An extremely credible source tells me this is unpresidented!!!
Nevertheless, someone — no, not Susan Rice — sent me an early copy of “P---y,” and I moved on it like a b----. When you’re a book critic, they let you do it. You can do anything (except quote the president’s unfiltered words in a family newspaper).
This pairing of author and subject sounds divinely ordained: The world’s smartest comic novelist vs. a TV reality star who. . . .
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
December 18, 2023
As we have found to our acute pain, satirising the self-satirising balloonful of bull semen that is Donnie Trumkoph is a pointless exercise, although thoughtful attempts to understand the inexorable rise in novel-form are helpful. This fable-like retelling of the rise is amusing and caustic, although never reaches further than the inevitable response, that loveless asshole parents breed loveless asshole children who infect the world with their inflated loveless assholleries. Crediting Donnie with a complex interior is beneath writer of Howard’s calibre, making this novel somewhat unneeded, although a welcome slap around the chops all the same.
May 3, 2017
Pussy: A satyr.
When a subject is beyond satire, there are really only two ways to go: make your audience laugh like drains or dip your pen in the deadliest of venom. I’m a huge fan of Howard Jacobson – even, I would say, a little in love with him - but I’m afraid that, for me, his timely satyr’s tale fails to trump real life.
He has some fun with names: Trump is Prince Fracassus, heir presumptive of the Republic of Urbs-Ludus, Sojjourner is the hat-check-girl-turned-political-rival and Vozzek Spravchik plays Putin. I chuckled at the mention of the Artisanal Bread Riots and enjoyed the renderings of the princely silhouettes - is that the devil’s tail or a long, dangling tie? But a sense of time and place is strangely absent. The year is 20** which could be past, present or future but in the absence of any new-fangled technology, one has to assume that this fable is set in present time; Twitter, rather boringly, remains the mass messaging platform of choice.
But then, Howard Jacobson does what Howard Jacobson does best and presents a pithy analysis of the dichotomies of our times: “A hunger for change. A dread of change. A virulent mutual distrust that pitted citizen against citizen…A belief in the free market of goods and ideas that concealed a profound reluctance to trade freely in either. A delight in what was gaudy that concealed a contempt for the wealth that made gaudy possible. A contempt for wealth that concealed a veneration for it. A sense, that is to say, of universal futility and despair for which – and here was the part that interested the Prince – the only antidote was him." You couldn't make it up.
When a subject is beyond satire, there are really only two ways to go: make your audience laugh like drains or dip your pen in the deadliest of venom. I’m a huge fan of Howard Jacobson – even, I would say, a little in love with him - but I’m afraid that, for me, his timely satyr’s tale fails to trump real life.
He has some fun with names: Trump is Prince Fracassus, heir presumptive of the Republic of Urbs-Ludus, Sojjourner is the hat-check-girl-turned-political-rival and Vozzek Spravchik plays Putin. I chuckled at the mention of the Artisanal Bread Riots and enjoyed the renderings of the princely silhouettes - is that the devil’s tail or a long, dangling tie? But a sense of time and place is strangely absent. The year is 20** which could be past, present or future but in the absence of any new-fangled technology, one has to assume that this fable is set in present time; Twitter, rather boringly, remains the mass messaging platform of choice.
But then, Howard Jacobson does what Howard Jacobson does best and presents a pithy analysis of the dichotomies of our times: “A hunger for change. A dread of change. A virulent mutual distrust that pitted citizen against citizen…A belief in the free market of goods and ideas that concealed a profound reluctance to trade freely in either. A delight in what was gaudy that concealed a contempt for the wealth that made gaudy possible. A contempt for wealth that concealed a veneration for it. A sense, that is to say, of universal futility and despair for which – and here was the part that interested the Prince – the only antidote was him." You couldn't make it up.
July 24, 2017
You see the cover. You see the title. You know you want to read it! This was much more than a political commentary on our existing president. It gives you insight into the raising of not just a megalomaniac, but the entitlement of the rich. It showed the ways that the rich manipulate the poor in their favor, and most importantly, it spoke about the mistakes that the alternatives make in not communicating effectively. I relished it for far too long, but thoroughly enjoyed reading it...and can't stop thinking about the lessons learned....
October 21, 2020
I was really looking forward to this. I wanted a real biting and coherent satire of Trump, a real FUCK YOU and take down in PUSSY. But all I got was a load of pretentious literary nonsense.
There are glimmers of hope and amusement but for the most part, it’s boring twoddle. It’s so maddening because the premise is such an obvious open goal (Trump is a maniacal baby inheriting a fictitious kingdom), but all Jacobson does is dance around the subjects and past lunacies of the current president. It was so easy to make him look like a fool, but all we get is fantasy and boredom. Luckily, it’s not that long. Because what is there is completely tedious.
This could have been such a laugh, but all the reader has is to wade through the codes, the metaphors and the damn magical realism. In the end, nothing really happens. The little bastard thrives and gets no comeuppance.
I couldn't say that I was massively aware of this author's output. I know him to be a successful one, so maybe this is his shtick. It’s just… ugh… annoying.
There are glimmers of hope and amusement but for the most part, it’s boring twoddle. It’s so maddening because the premise is such an obvious open goal (Trump is a maniacal baby inheriting a fictitious kingdom), but all Jacobson does is dance around the subjects and past lunacies of the current president. It was so easy to make him look like a fool, but all we get is fantasy and boredom. Luckily, it’s not that long. Because what is there is completely tedious.
This could have been such a laugh, but all the reader has is to wade through the codes, the metaphors and the damn magical realism. In the end, nothing really happens. The little bastard thrives and gets no comeuppance.
I couldn't say that I was massively aware of this author's output. I know him to be a successful one, so maybe this is his shtick. It’s just… ugh… annoying.
October 23, 2017
It is difficult, even for Jacobson to satirize Trump. Great satire comes from taking normal behavior and exposing its ridiculous nature through hyperbole or hypocrisy. Trump is all hyperbole and hypocrisy, so reading satire about Trump ends up just reading like the news unfortunately.
August 14, 2017
Como resposta à vitória eleitoral de Trump, Howard Jacobson — vencedor do Prémio Man Booker de 2010 com a obra “A Questão Finkler” — escreveu “Pussy” (Bertrand Editora, 2017), um conto de fadas pleno de humor no qual procura, de forma fantasiada, perceber de que forma Trump conquistou “o coração e o voto do seu povo”.
Ainda que nunca fazendo referência directa a Donald Trump, o autor representa-o pela personagem “Fracassus”, o presunçoso herdeiro do Grão-Ducado de Origen, república de Urbs-Ludus, famoso pelos seus arranha-céus e casinos dourados. Desde a infância até à assunção do reino, acompanhamos a evolução daquele para quem “desejar equivalia a receber”. “Não se esperava que um Príncipe desse sinais de intelectualidade, mas não era este príncipe mais lerdo do que o significado costumeiro da palavra?”.
Numa crítica sagaz à personalidade do líder, Howard Jacobson põe a nu, de forma caricaturada, como aquela que parece ser a última pessoa capaz de liderar a nação acaba a fazê-lo. Marcado por uma infância a ver reality shows na televisão, a imaginar-se o imperador romano Nero e a fantasiar com profissionais do sexo, Fracassus é descrito como “uma criança de pugnacidade, egocentrismo e fanfarronice comuns, pouco atenta ao mundo em redor e habituada a que lhe fizessem as vontades”.
A sátira é constante na obra, tanto no que se refere a Fracassus — cujo choro quando algo lhe era negado era entendido como demonstrativo da sua determinação e o facto de não reparar em ninguém um “sinal de autossuficiência e de uma vida interior de grande riqueza” — como à política e à sociedade em geral.
Desde as selfies da moda, aos blogues e ao uso do Twitter — primeiro para relatar o que come e, mais tarde, para partilhar os seus pensamentos sobre o mundo —, o leitor encontra a discussão da bomba como uma oportunidade, um príncipe com receio de discursos com mais de 140 caracteres, dado o número limitado de palavras que conhece para se expressar, e uma sociedade em que o ecrã substituiu “a chupeta como apaziguador e o berço portátil como soporífero”.
Howard Jacobson apresenta-nos tragédia e comédia de mãos dadas, através de uma anedota política, uma sátira que tem tanto de divertida quanto de preocupante, com um tom provocatório permanente. Afinal, parece que “o segredo de um bom governo é não cumprir promessas”. Caberá ao leitor decidir se se revê na crítica, mas o autor deixa logo de início um presságio: “E chegará o momento em que todos aqueles que habitam sobre a Terra se espantarão por o terem adorado…”
Opinião completa no Deus me Livro: http://deusmelivro.com/mil-folhas/pus...
Ainda que nunca fazendo referência directa a Donald Trump, o autor representa-o pela personagem “Fracassus”, o presunçoso herdeiro do Grão-Ducado de Origen, república de Urbs-Ludus, famoso pelos seus arranha-céus e casinos dourados. Desde a infância até à assunção do reino, acompanhamos a evolução daquele para quem “desejar equivalia a receber”. “Não se esperava que um Príncipe desse sinais de intelectualidade, mas não era este príncipe mais lerdo do que o significado costumeiro da palavra?”.
Numa crítica sagaz à personalidade do líder, Howard Jacobson põe a nu, de forma caricaturada, como aquela que parece ser a última pessoa capaz de liderar a nação acaba a fazê-lo. Marcado por uma infância a ver reality shows na televisão, a imaginar-se o imperador romano Nero e a fantasiar com profissionais do sexo, Fracassus é descrito como “uma criança de pugnacidade, egocentrismo e fanfarronice comuns, pouco atenta ao mundo em redor e habituada a que lhe fizessem as vontades”.
A sátira é constante na obra, tanto no que se refere a Fracassus — cujo choro quando algo lhe era negado era entendido como demonstrativo da sua determinação e o facto de não reparar em ninguém um “sinal de autossuficiência e de uma vida interior de grande riqueza” — como à política e à sociedade em geral.
Desde as selfies da moda, aos blogues e ao uso do Twitter — primeiro para relatar o que come e, mais tarde, para partilhar os seus pensamentos sobre o mundo —, o leitor encontra a discussão da bomba como uma oportunidade, um príncipe com receio de discursos com mais de 140 caracteres, dado o número limitado de palavras que conhece para se expressar, e uma sociedade em que o ecrã substituiu “a chupeta como apaziguador e o berço portátil como soporífero”.
Howard Jacobson apresenta-nos tragédia e comédia de mãos dadas, através de uma anedota política, uma sátira que tem tanto de divertida quanto de preocupante, com um tom provocatório permanente. Afinal, parece que “o segredo de um bom governo é não cumprir promessas”. Caberá ao leitor decidir se se revê na crítica, mas o autor deixa logo de início um presságio: “E chegará o momento em que todos aqueles que habitam sobre a Terra se espantarão por o terem adorado…”
Opinião completa no Deus me Livro: http://deusmelivro.com/mil-folhas/pus...
September 10, 2018
I'm always late to the party and getting round to this book was no exception. I'm glad I held off. Many of the reviews at the time of publication were of the "what was the point in writing a satire like this when the truth so clearly exceeds parody" variety, which is a shame because there is so much here to enjoy. Of course it is satirical and Trump is clearly the target. But Howard Jacobson is an intelligent writer and there is more at work here than meets the eye. In a less gifted author, it is likely that the subject matter would have been treated crudely (that is not to say that this lacks crudity, it is there, but usually it is there to make a point rather than to get a cheap laugh). The phrase 'Swiftian Satire' has rightly been invoked to describe this novel and I believe that Jacobson wrote this with one eye on posterity. I've heard him use the quote: 'to be universal, one must concentrate on the particular' (I'm paraphrasing slightly) and this is true of 'Pussy' in its treatment of a central character that is so clearly based on Donald Trump - who inhabits a world so nearly like our own. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy kept popping into my mind as I listened to the audiobook and the reason, I think, is that like Douglas Adams, Howard Jacobson deals with the flagrant insanity of our unjust world with the same flabbergasted disbelief. One day, it will be possible to read this for belly laughs, secure in the knowledge that this bling-encrusted dystopia could never happen here. Unfortunately, that day has not yet arrived.
July 17, 2017
Reality exceeds this parody, unfortunately.
July 31, 2017
What is reality and what is satire. It's be better if it wasn't so f*cking depressing.
December 21, 2025
If Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the Grinch made a literary baby, this would be it. You have to accept before starting that things are going to get weird and simply roll with it.
The storytelling is deliberately cartoonish, the humor ridiculous, and the tone enthusiastically unhinged. You can read Pu$$y either as a ribald political satire or as a tale of a prince with painfully limited social skills and colorful vocabulary who nonetheless charms his way to the very top.
Prince Fracassus himself is a grotesque little marvel. Jacobson’s descriptions of the prince had me fighting to breathe from laughter. It’s so creative and witty! Yes, Prince Fracassus’s language and worldview are crude and rage inducing, but that’s also the point. If you are easily offended or place certain people on a pedestal, this isn’t the book for you. If you can’t handle the heat, get out of the literary kitchen. But if you can, enjoy the satirical feast!
The storytelling is deliberately cartoonish, the humor ridiculous, and the tone enthusiastically unhinged. You can read Pu$$y either as a ribald political satire or as a tale of a prince with painfully limited social skills and colorful vocabulary who nonetheless charms his way to the very top.
Prince Fracassus himself is a grotesque little marvel. Jacobson’s descriptions of the prince had me fighting to breathe from laughter. It’s so creative and witty! Yes, Prince Fracassus’s language and worldview are crude and rage inducing, but that’s also the point. If you are easily offended or place certain people on a pedestal, this isn’t the book for you. If you can’t handle the heat, get out of the literary kitchen. But if you can, enjoy the satirical feast!
March 30, 2018
this was a witty satirical romp through a future driven not by values but by subverting values, the disintegration of language and meaning. . and the progeny of such a world devolving ...
a world run by ego wanting pussy and not much else ...
a little clever and very entertaining.
a world run by ego wanting pussy and not much else ...
a little clever and very entertaining.
July 4, 2024
Amusing, maybe not so much if you are a Trump supporter.
May 15, 2017
Prince Fracassus, son of the Duke and Duchess of Origen, grows up in the Republic of Urbs-Ludus. This small republic is famous for its high skyscrapers (which do not even let you see the moon) and for its casinos. The boy hardly has any contact with people outside the palace, most of his time he spends in front of TV where he watches reality shows and history lessons on emperors such as Nero. His teachers try to bring the world to him and especially to enlarge his vocabulary, but this is not very successful. Therefore, they go on a trip, maybe the direct contact with the real world might have an impact on him. In the meantime, the old Duke dies, the republic is slowly crumbling and Fracassus will be the one to save his dukedom.
Howard Jacobson’s novel is a satire which makes you laugh out loud and want to cry at the same time. He did not even try to convey his message very subtly, no, he openly holds the mirror up to the electorate and asks them: What have you done? So far, many have criticised President Trump, this is not very difficult since he provides you with so much to attack every day. This is quickly done. Jacobson, however, has a very elaborate way of confrontation.
First of all, the protagonist’s name. “Fracassus” reminds me of the French adjective fracassant which has two meanings: on the one hand, it comprises the idea of spectacular and surprising, on the other hand, it is destructive like a wrecking ball. Both significances go well with the current POTUS. The dukedom was also provided with a telling name: a very original idea to call it the capital of play. The surroundings of the small prince match somehow the Trump tower and the fact that he is famous for building houses and known due to his TV shows is not that very subtle.
Second, the prince’s attitude towards life and people. Even though he has a very limited vocabulary, he knows many words for women, or to be more precise, for prostitutes – which equals women from his point of view. He’d like to reign like an ancient Roman emperor, feeding underlings to the lions, building walls to keep out the unwanted and destroying any kind of protest with strong and quick police intervention. He wants to fight terrorism even if there is none.
Third, his use of twitter – just hilarious. His electoral campaign and the fight with his female opponent and the sharp analysis of her weaknesses – I have hardly ever had to laugh that much while reading. All this is accompanied by Chris Riddell’s charming and funny illustrations of the prince.
Fracassus’ return to his home country to make it great again on the basis of all that he has learnt – e.g. to lie to the people, so they will never expect the truth from you - it is all very funny to read. Until you realise that this satire of this novel is a reality.
Howard Jacobson’s novel is a satire which makes you laugh out loud and want to cry at the same time. He did not even try to convey his message very subtly, no, he openly holds the mirror up to the electorate and asks them: What have you done? So far, many have criticised President Trump, this is not very difficult since he provides you with so much to attack every day. This is quickly done. Jacobson, however, has a very elaborate way of confrontation.
First of all, the protagonist’s name. “Fracassus” reminds me of the French adjective fracassant which has two meanings: on the one hand, it comprises the idea of spectacular and surprising, on the other hand, it is destructive like a wrecking ball. Both significances go well with the current POTUS. The dukedom was also provided with a telling name: a very original idea to call it the capital of play. The surroundings of the small prince match somehow the Trump tower and the fact that he is famous for building houses and known due to his TV shows is not that very subtle.
Second, the prince’s attitude towards life and people. Even though he has a very limited vocabulary, he knows many words for women, or to be more precise, for prostitutes – which equals women from his point of view. He’d like to reign like an ancient Roman emperor, feeding underlings to the lions, building walls to keep out the unwanted and destroying any kind of protest with strong and quick police intervention. He wants to fight terrorism even if there is none.
Third, his use of twitter – just hilarious. His electoral campaign and the fight with his female opponent and the sharp analysis of her weaknesses – I have hardly ever had to laugh that much while reading. All this is accompanied by Chris Riddell’s charming and funny illustrations of the prince.
Fracassus’ return to his home country to make it great again on the basis of all that he has learnt – e.g. to lie to the people, so they will never expect the truth from you - it is all very funny to read. Until you realise that this satire of this novel is a reality.
August 19, 2020
Ο Φρακασους είναι ένας πρίγκιπας που πρέπει να εκπαιδευτεί με κατάλληλους τρόπους ώστε εμπλουτίσει το λεξιλόγιο του και να μπορέσει να διευθύνει τις επιχειρήσεις των γονιών του. Οι γονείς του αποξενωμένοι από αυτό αναθέτουν το έργο τους σε δύο δασκάλους που πληρώνουν. Ο Φρακασους κάποια στιγμή ερωτεύεται μια Μητροπολιτική ελιτιστρια (φεμινιστρια) που αυτος ο έρωτας χαλάει τα σχέδια και τότε αρχίζει η πραγματική εκπαίδευση. Καταφεύγει σε χώρες όπου ο φασισμός,η εκμετάλλευση των αυτοχθόνων και των φτωχών είναι ένα παιχνίδι όπου στήνουν οι ηγέτες. Μέσα σε ένα τέτοιο κόσμο καλλιεργείται σιγά σιγά και ο μικρός Φρακασους. Επιστρέφοντας στην πατρίδα του γίνεται διάσημος, αποκτά δικό του ριάλιτι σόου και συνεχώς πλαισιώνεται από γυναίκες- μαριονέτες. Δεν στέκεται μόνο εκεί βάζει και υποψηφιότητα για πρόεδρος της χώρας αλλά χωρίς να έχει υπολογίσει τον αντίπαλο.
Είναι ένα παραμύθι που "κατασκεύασε" ο συγγραφέας ώστε να λοιδορήσει τη "νέα" δημοκρατία που διαμορφώνεται από τις κυβερνήσεις, την καταπάτηση των δικαιωμάτων του λαού αλλά και κυρίως βασίζεται στην εκμετάλλευση των γυναικών. Οι γυναίκες πρέπει να πλαισιώνουν όλες αυτές τις δράσεις των ανδρών ντυμένες πάντα με φούστα, πάντα να είναι εύκολες και πάντα να μη μιλούν. ουσιαστικά είναι μια προσωποποίηση του Ντόναλντ Τραμπ και βασισμένο σε ένα σεξιστικο σχόλιο που είχε ξεστομίσει το 2016.
Το λεξιλόγιο ήταν ολοκαίνουργιο μέσα σε αυτό το βιβλίο και ουσιαστικά ήταν ο λόγος που το αγόρασα. Το παραμύθι ουσιαστικά είναι υψηλού επιπέδου. Το περιεχόμενο είναι εύπεπτο με σκοπό να δείξει την "πενία" των εκάστοτε αρχόντων που είναι πλαισιωμένη από φανταχτερά χρώματα. Έξυπνο,σύντομο και ελαφρύ ανάγνωσμα.
November 18, 2017
Not bad, but not good. Well-written. It wasn't the author's fault. But reading this book while actually experiencing the event they are allegorizing is like how I imagine it would be to read Animal Farm while you starved in a gulag.
April 12, 2021
Εξαιρετική αλληγορία της σύγχρονης δυτικής κοινωνίας, του "πολιτισμένου" κόσμου, της ηθικής κατάπτωσης. Ο παραλληλισμός του πρίγκιπα Φράκασους με τον Τραμπ αναπόφευκτος. Γάτος ο Τζέικομπσον!
March 17, 2018
Prinz Fracassus, Sohn und Erbe des Herzogs von Urbs-Ludus, ist einst in Überfluss und mit Reality Shows herangewachsen, hält sich selbst für eine Art römischen Kaiser und sonnt sich inzwischen im Lichte seiner berühmten Wolkenkratzer und Casinos. Doch was einst auch dem liebenden Vater aufgefallen ist, wächst sich einfach nicht aus: Prince Fracassus begeistert sich lieber für Prostituierte und allerlei Martialisches, anstatt beispielsweise an seiner Ausdrucksweise zu feilen. Kurzum, auch der erwachsene Spross gibt zu gerne an, interessiert sich für so gut wie nichts - außer natürlich für sich selbst.
Doch urplötzlich liegen alle, naja, fast alle Hoffnungen auf dem Mann mit dem gelben Haar: ist der Prinz nicht genau der Richtige, um das Land wieder voran zu bringen? Kann er Urbs-Ludus von den vielen ausländischen Brotbäckern befreien? Kann er die einst so erfolgreiche, friedliche Republik durch seine Regentschaft wieder groß machen? Nunja, enttäuschte Menschen verlangen ungewöhnliche Maßnahmen und so werden Heerschaaren von Beraten herangekarrt, die ganz tief in die Trickkiste greifen: befremdliche Allianzen werden geschlossen und zu guter Letzt eine Twitterkampagne organisiert, die ihresgleichen sucht.
Klingt nach Donald Trump und seiner Wahlkampagne 2016? Ach was!
Zugegebenermaßen war ich erst einmal baff, als ich gesehen habe, dass sich Howard Jacobson, britischer Schriftsteller und Journalist und 2010 für „Die Finkler-Frage“ mit dem Booker Prize ausgezeichnet, einem solchen Thema widmet. Aber warum eigentlich nicht? Eine bitterböse Satire kann doch ein gutes Mittel sein, sich mit aktuellen politischen Entwicklungen auseinanderzusetzen…
Anfangs hatte ich ziemliche Schwierigkeiten mit dem Schreibstil - ungewohntes Vokabular, seltsam verschachtelte Sätze und ungewöhnliche Metaphern. Wenn man das Ganze aber vom Standpunkt des Autors - dass schlechte Sprache schlechte Menschen hervorbringt - betrachtet, dann ist es durchaus möglich, sich auf die Erzählweise als Stilmittel einzulassen.
Ja klar, der vorliegende Roman ist an Sarkasmus und Präsidenten-Bashing kaum zu überbieten, aber auch seine Wählerschaft und all die Untätigen, die nicht wahrhaben wollten, dass es soweit kommen könnte, bekommen ihr Fett weg. Dabei ist selbstverständlich vieles überspitzt und dennoch entlarvend realistisch. Man könnte sich zurücklehnen und - ist man erstmal angekommen - diese freche Geschichte genießen, aber dann wird einem irgendwann bewusst, dass es ein schonungsloser Blick auf den Ist-Zustand ist. Bis dann unweigerlich der nächste Schritt folgt, wenn man spätestens erkennt, welche Möglichkeiten ein solch mächtiger Mann hat und wie gefährlich dies letztlich für alle sein kann!
Im Grunde verarbeitet Jacobson hier alle bekannten Fehltritte und Peinlichkeiten des derzeitigen US-Präsidenten zu einer schonungslosen, bitterbösen Darstellung eines Prinz Fracassus’. Das lässt von Lachern über heftigstes Kopfschütteln bis zur Fassungslosigkeit eine ganze Bandbreite an Emotionen zu, aber am Ende bleibt wieder einmal die Ernüchterung. Ernüchterung darüber, wie es soweit kommen konnte, dass ein solch egozentrischer Mann mit brandgefährlichen Ansichten Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika werden konnte. Und Erkenntnis, dass wir dringend gegen solche einfach gestrickte Lösungsansätze, die auf dem Rücken von vielen Menschen, um die sich viele nicht (mehr) scheren, gemacht werden, angehen müssen!
Das Buch ist ein sarkastischer Beitrag gegen Trump, aber es braucht einiges, um bei der bewusst gewählten Schreibe dabei zu bleiben. Kann man lesen, muss man aber nicht. Hauptsache, man befasst sich mit dem aktuellen Zeitgeschehen!
Doch urplötzlich liegen alle, naja, fast alle Hoffnungen auf dem Mann mit dem gelben Haar: ist der Prinz nicht genau der Richtige, um das Land wieder voran zu bringen? Kann er Urbs-Ludus von den vielen ausländischen Brotbäckern befreien? Kann er die einst so erfolgreiche, friedliche Republik durch seine Regentschaft wieder groß machen? Nunja, enttäuschte Menschen verlangen ungewöhnliche Maßnahmen und so werden Heerschaaren von Beraten herangekarrt, die ganz tief in die Trickkiste greifen: befremdliche Allianzen werden geschlossen und zu guter Letzt eine Twitterkampagne organisiert, die ihresgleichen sucht.
Klingt nach Donald Trump und seiner Wahlkampagne 2016? Ach was!
Zugegebenermaßen war ich erst einmal baff, als ich gesehen habe, dass sich Howard Jacobson, britischer Schriftsteller und Journalist und 2010 für „Die Finkler-Frage“ mit dem Booker Prize ausgezeichnet, einem solchen Thema widmet. Aber warum eigentlich nicht? Eine bitterböse Satire kann doch ein gutes Mittel sein, sich mit aktuellen politischen Entwicklungen auseinanderzusetzen…
Anfangs hatte ich ziemliche Schwierigkeiten mit dem Schreibstil - ungewohntes Vokabular, seltsam verschachtelte Sätze und ungewöhnliche Metaphern. Wenn man das Ganze aber vom Standpunkt des Autors - dass schlechte Sprache schlechte Menschen hervorbringt - betrachtet, dann ist es durchaus möglich, sich auf die Erzählweise als Stilmittel einzulassen.
Ja klar, der vorliegende Roman ist an Sarkasmus und Präsidenten-Bashing kaum zu überbieten, aber auch seine Wählerschaft und all die Untätigen, die nicht wahrhaben wollten, dass es soweit kommen könnte, bekommen ihr Fett weg. Dabei ist selbstverständlich vieles überspitzt und dennoch entlarvend realistisch. Man könnte sich zurücklehnen und - ist man erstmal angekommen - diese freche Geschichte genießen, aber dann wird einem irgendwann bewusst, dass es ein schonungsloser Blick auf den Ist-Zustand ist. Bis dann unweigerlich der nächste Schritt folgt, wenn man spätestens erkennt, welche Möglichkeiten ein solch mächtiger Mann hat und wie gefährlich dies letztlich für alle sein kann!
Im Grunde verarbeitet Jacobson hier alle bekannten Fehltritte und Peinlichkeiten des derzeitigen US-Präsidenten zu einer schonungslosen, bitterbösen Darstellung eines Prinz Fracassus’. Das lässt von Lachern über heftigstes Kopfschütteln bis zur Fassungslosigkeit eine ganze Bandbreite an Emotionen zu, aber am Ende bleibt wieder einmal die Ernüchterung. Ernüchterung darüber, wie es soweit kommen konnte, dass ein solch egozentrischer Mann mit brandgefährlichen Ansichten Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika werden konnte. Und Erkenntnis, dass wir dringend gegen solche einfach gestrickte Lösungsansätze, die auf dem Rücken von vielen Menschen, um die sich viele nicht (mehr) scheren, gemacht werden, angehen müssen!
Das Buch ist ein sarkastischer Beitrag gegen Trump, aber es braucht einiges, um bei der bewusst gewählten Schreibe dabei zu bleiben. Kann man lesen, muss man aber nicht. Hauptsache, man befasst sich mit dem aktuellen Zeitgeschehen!
January 5, 2022
2.5 stars, not entirely the fault of the book.
To me, satire has always felt like cryptic crosswords. I thiiiiiiink I’m getting it, but also… maybe I’m not at all? Like there’s some hidden key that unlocks the whole thing and helps you understand what it’s ACTUALLY saying, but you have to be a Real Intellectual to find the key. And so not being a Real Intellectual, I’ll just get to the end and it will still be a confusing mess and I’ll have to Google the hidden key to know what I was meant to think of the whole thing, and start from scratch. In short, they make me feel extremely insecure which is not their fault and definitely blown out of proportion in my mind.
The notable exception here is Paul Beatty’s The Sellout, which never felt like it was hiding something from me, and made me laugh out loud several times.
Pussy was also an exception, but not because it wasn’t hiding anything, but because there is nothing about the subject matter to be hidden or disguised. Trump, Brexit, Russian hacking, turning a blind eye to oil/media/real estate barons-turned political tycoons who manage to appeal to the working class while stripping them of wealth and power - all of these and the last ten years of politics have been so absurd and out of this world that for me, Jacobson’s satire falls short of sending it up. It’s already way up.
Of course, this isn’t Jacobson’s fault. But because he wrote it just after Trump was elected, and the reality of his presidency turned out to be more absurd and horrifying than even the most bitter satirists could have predicted, reading this book in 2021 just felt like reading a political history written by someone who’s micro-dosing acid and Voltaire.
Pussy also toes this weird line between a fictionalised no-place, no-time kingdom where Twitter exists, and definitely-real or may-as-well-have-happened things take place, which made it feel a bit adrift.
Someone else on Goodreads has quoted the most hard-hitting passage of the book already:
"A hunger for change. A dread of change. A virulent mutual distrust that pitted citizen against citizen…A belief in the free market of goods and ideas that concealed a profound
reluctance to trade freely in either. A delight in what was gaudy that concealed a contempt for the wealth that made gaudy possible. A contempt for wealth that concealed a veneration for it. A sense, that is to say, of universal futility and despair for which - and here was the part that interested the Prince - the only antidote was him."
But of course this isn’t satire, it’s just a relatively neat summary of one of the things that happened in 2016.
Still funny enough in places, and I’m sorry to mark Jacobson down for reality being more depressing than he was capable of mocking, but here we are.
To me, satire has always felt like cryptic crosswords. I thiiiiiiink I’m getting it, but also… maybe I’m not at all? Like there’s some hidden key that unlocks the whole thing and helps you understand what it’s ACTUALLY saying, but you have to be a Real Intellectual to find the key. And so not being a Real Intellectual, I’ll just get to the end and it will still be a confusing mess and I’ll have to Google the hidden key to know what I was meant to think of the whole thing, and start from scratch. In short, they make me feel extremely insecure which is not their fault and definitely blown out of proportion in my mind.
The notable exception here is Paul Beatty’s The Sellout, which never felt like it was hiding something from me, and made me laugh out loud several times.
Pussy was also an exception, but not because it wasn’t hiding anything, but because there is nothing about the subject matter to be hidden or disguised. Trump, Brexit, Russian hacking, turning a blind eye to oil/media/real estate barons-turned political tycoons who manage to appeal to the working class while stripping them of wealth and power - all of these and the last ten years of politics have been so absurd and out of this world that for me, Jacobson’s satire falls short of sending it up. It’s already way up.
Of course, this isn’t Jacobson’s fault. But because he wrote it just after Trump was elected, and the reality of his presidency turned out to be more absurd and horrifying than even the most bitter satirists could have predicted, reading this book in 2021 just felt like reading a political history written by someone who’s micro-dosing acid and Voltaire.
Pussy also toes this weird line between a fictionalised no-place, no-time kingdom where Twitter exists, and definitely-real or may-as-well-have-happened things take place, which made it feel a bit adrift.
Someone else on Goodreads has quoted the most hard-hitting passage of the book already:
"A hunger for change. A dread of change. A virulent mutual distrust that pitted citizen against citizen…A belief in the free market of goods and ideas that concealed a profound
reluctance to trade freely in either. A delight in what was gaudy that concealed a contempt for the wealth that made gaudy possible. A contempt for wealth that concealed a veneration for it. A sense, that is to say, of universal futility and despair for which - and here was the part that interested the Prince - the only antidote was him."
But of course this isn’t satire, it’s just a relatively neat summary of one of the things that happened in 2016.
Still funny enough in places, and I’m sorry to mark Jacobson down for reality being more depressing than he was capable of mocking, but here we are.
February 17, 2018
Bitterböse und mit einer geballten Portion der Jacobson’schen Finesse gibt es seit dem Beginn von Trumps Präsidentschaft mal wieder was zu Lachen.
Seit ich letztes Jahr im Rahmen des Hogarth Shakespeare Projekts Jacobsons „Shylock“ gelesen hatte, war mir klar: Der Mann kann schreiben. Nachdem ich mir sein Werk „J“zugelegt (und ins Regal gestellt) habe, war jedoch erst mal Ruhe. Als ich aber gesehen habe, dass der King of Cynicism eine Trump Satire geschrieben hat, musste diese doch direkt bei mir einziehen. Und so landete Howard Jacobsons „Pussy“ in meinem Regal. Zugegeben, das Cover hat mich zunächst aufgrund der Karikatur abgeschreckt, aber der Name des Autors hat dies dann wieder wett gemacht. 😉 Das Buch handelt von Prinz Fracassus, der im Reich Urbs-Ludus aufwächst, in dem strikte Mantelpflicht herrscht und der Überfluss regiert. Fracassus‘ Eltern merken bereits früh, dass mit ihrem Spross etwas nicht stimmt, gehen aber doch davon aus, dass sein verschlossenes Wesen auf ein hart arbeitendes Gehirn schließt. Einige Zeit später beginnt Fracassus zu sprechen und spätestens dann wird jedem klar, dass dieser Junge eine Spezialbildung benötigt, um seine Spezialtalente zu fördern. Ihm werden diverse Mentoren zur Seite gestellt, die einer nach dem anderen zum selben Schluss kommen: Es hilft nichts.
"So etwas wie Volkes Wille gibt es nicht. Es gibt bloß den Willen derjenigen, die dem Volk sagen, was Volkes Wille sein soll."
Der junge Fracassus wächst langsam heran und relativ schnell wird klar, dass er mindestens in die Fußstapfen seines Vaters treten will, mindestens ein Casino mit jeder Menge „Nutten“ aufmachen möchte und eine Mauer errichten, mit der er jene aussperren kann, die nicht seine Meinung teilen. Fracassus‘ kindliche Züge spiegeln sich allerdings nicht nur in seiner beschränkten Sichtweise, sondern auch in seinem ebenso beschränkten Vokabular und seinem fehlenden Verständnis für die Dinge dieser Welt wider. Schnell empfiehlt man „seiner Durchlaucht“ die Nutzung von Twitter, damit die Leute Notiz von ihm und seinem ungeheuren Potential nehmen mögen. Während seine Mentoren besorgt sind, er würde die 140 Zeichen nur mit Unsinn füllen, hält seine Mutter dagegen, dass er nicht genügend Worte kenne, um diese Zeichen zu füllen. „Prostituierte“ sei schließlich sein längstes Wort.
Gespickt von einigen von Fracassus‘ Tweets lässt uns Howard Jacobson hier an der kleinen Pilgerreise teilhaben, die Fracassus von seinem Vater empfohlen wird, um zu „reifen“. Dass er dabei diverse Bordelle und Casinos besucht und mit einem Diktator namens Spravchik Zehenwrestling macht und im Anschluss dessen Seelenverwandter wird, hat er sich mit Sicherheit nicht vorgestellt. Als Fracassus schließlich den Präsidenten Phonocrates auf seinem Sterbebett besucht, offenbart dieser ihm das ultimative Geheimnis guter Staatsführung: »Halte nie deine Versprechen.« Fracassus kehrt schließlich von seiner Reise zurück, und ich muss wohl kaum erwähnen, dass das letzte Kapitel »Das Ende aller Tage« heißt. 😉
Die vollständige Rezension findet ihr auf meinem Blog: https://killmonotony.de/rezension/how...
Seit ich letztes Jahr im Rahmen des Hogarth Shakespeare Projekts Jacobsons „Shylock“ gelesen hatte, war mir klar: Der Mann kann schreiben. Nachdem ich mir sein Werk „J“zugelegt (und ins Regal gestellt) habe, war jedoch erst mal Ruhe. Als ich aber gesehen habe, dass der King of Cynicism eine Trump Satire geschrieben hat, musste diese doch direkt bei mir einziehen. Und so landete Howard Jacobsons „Pussy“ in meinem Regal. Zugegeben, das Cover hat mich zunächst aufgrund der Karikatur abgeschreckt, aber der Name des Autors hat dies dann wieder wett gemacht. 😉 Das Buch handelt von Prinz Fracassus, der im Reich Urbs-Ludus aufwächst, in dem strikte Mantelpflicht herrscht und der Überfluss regiert. Fracassus‘ Eltern merken bereits früh, dass mit ihrem Spross etwas nicht stimmt, gehen aber doch davon aus, dass sein verschlossenes Wesen auf ein hart arbeitendes Gehirn schließt. Einige Zeit später beginnt Fracassus zu sprechen und spätestens dann wird jedem klar, dass dieser Junge eine Spezialbildung benötigt, um seine Spezialtalente zu fördern. Ihm werden diverse Mentoren zur Seite gestellt, die einer nach dem anderen zum selben Schluss kommen: Es hilft nichts.
"So etwas wie Volkes Wille gibt es nicht. Es gibt bloß den Willen derjenigen, die dem Volk sagen, was Volkes Wille sein soll."
Der junge Fracassus wächst langsam heran und relativ schnell wird klar, dass er mindestens in die Fußstapfen seines Vaters treten will, mindestens ein Casino mit jeder Menge „Nutten“ aufmachen möchte und eine Mauer errichten, mit der er jene aussperren kann, die nicht seine Meinung teilen. Fracassus‘ kindliche Züge spiegeln sich allerdings nicht nur in seiner beschränkten Sichtweise, sondern auch in seinem ebenso beschränkten Vokabular und seinem fehlenden Verständnis für die Dinge dieser Welt wider. Schnell empfiehlt man „seiner Durchlaucht“ die Nutzung von Twitter, damit die Leute Notiz von ihm und seinem ungeheuren Potential nehmen mögen. Während seine Mentoren besorgt sind, er würde die 140 Zeichen nur mit Unsinn füllen, hält seine Mutter dagegen, dass er nicht genügend Worte kenne, um diese Zeichen zu füllen. „Prostituierte“ sei schließlich sein längstes Wort.
Gespickt von einigen von Fracassus‘ Tweets lässt uns Howard Jacobson hier an der kleinen Pilgerreise teilhaben, die Fracassus von seinem Vater empfohlen wird, um zu „reifen“. Dass er dabei diverse Bordelle und Casinos besucht und mit einem Diktator namens Spravchik Zehenwrestling macht und im Anschluss dessen Seelenverwandter wird, hat er sich mit Sicherheit nicht vorgestellt. Als Fracassus schließlich den Präsidenten Phonocrates auf seinem Sterbebett besucht, offenbart dieser ihm das ultimative Geheimnis guter Staatsführung: »Halte nie deine Versprechen.« Fracassus kehrt schließlich von seiner Reise zurück, und ich muss wohl kaum erwähnen, dass das letzte Kapitel »Das Ende aller Tage« heißt. 😉
Die vollständige Rezension findet ihr auf meinem Blog: https://killmonotony.de/rezension/how...
October 7, 2018
Howard Jacobson’s satirical novel has been said to not go far enough. That reality is more bizarre than fiction, but the novel only deals with the run-up to the election, not the Presidency itself.
Fracassus is a spoilt brat brought up as Prince and heir apparent, despite being the younger son. His knowledge and use of language is limited, his actions designed to provoke rather than inspire. His words for women are unrepeatable and his disdain apparent. He has no use for formal academic education, as his parents feel this may corrupt his vast intellect. Living in the highest tower behind gilded golden gates he looks down on the ordinary folk in the pig sty.
Fracassus is in his late teens before he leaves the country. There he meets Spravchick, who has a benevolent authoritarian approach to his people as well as an interest in wrestling. He makes an indelible impression on the young Fracassus who sees his strength as something to admire and his vacillating treatment of indigenous people, first as artisans then as foreigners, as something to emulate.
The young radical that he meets back home, also makes an impression due to his oratory, not for its content but the influence it has over the people. This leads to a job in reality TV called Stopit! A bit like Jerry Springer, getting people to admit to their wrongdoing and then telling them to stopit!
The ending suggests that people woke up and saw who Fracassus really was, but then the wind changed.
Fracassus is a spoilt brat brought up as Prince and heir apparent, despite being the younger son. His knowledge and use of language is limited, his actions designed to provoke rather than inspire. His words for women are unrepeatable and his disdain apparent. He has no use for formal academic education, as his parents feel this may corrupt his vast intellect. Living in the highest tower behind gilded golden gates he looks down on the ordinary folk in the pig sty.
Fracassus is in his late teens before he leaves the country. There he meets Spravchick, who has a benevolent authoritarian approach to his people as well as an interest in wrestling. He makes an indelible impression on the young Fracassus who sees his strength as something to admire and his vacillating treatment of indigenous people, first as artisans then as foreigners, as something to emulate.
The young radical that he meets back home, also makes an impression due to his oratory, not for its content but the influence it has over the people. This leads to a job in reality TV called Stopit! A bit like Jerry Springer, getting people to admit to their wrongdoing and then telling them to stopit!
The ending suggests that people woke up and saw who Fracassus really was, but then the wind changed.
June 3, 2018
Read as one of the primary texts for my Masters in English Studies dissertation: Gothic fiction’s response to the Trump Presidency.
The novel’s central conceit is problematic. ‘Pussy’ satirises Donald Trump, casting him as Prince Fracassus, heir to the throne of Republic Urbs-Ludus. This is in effect a comic fairytale that deploys Gothic tropes to ridicule Trump and those around him.
The problem is that, as imaginative as Jacobson’s cri de coeur is, the reality of Trump, his election and his administration almost makes satire redundant. Jacobson targets Trump’s obvious character flaws; his misogyny, his ignorance, his mendacity, his bigotry. However ‘real world’ Trump’s flaws are so exceptional they are almost beyond parody given how egregious they are.
A reasonable comic novel and in many ways an inevitable work, but Trump is far more grotesque than any satire can ever portray, even one as competently written as this.
The novel’s central conceit is problematic. ‘Pussy’ satirises Donald Trump, casting him as Prince Fracassus, heir to the throne of Republic Urbs-Ludus. This is in effect a comic fairytale that deploys Gothic tropes to ridicule Trump and those around him.
The problem is that, as imaginative as Jacobson’s cri de coeur is, the reality of Trump, his election and his administration almost makes satire redundant. Jacobson targets Trump’s obvious character flaws; his misogyny, his ignorance, his mendacity, his bigotry. However ‘real world’ Trump’s flaws are so exceptional they are almost beyond parody given how egregious they are.
A reasonable comic novel and in many ways an inevitable work, but Trump is far more grotesque than any satire can ever portray, even one as competently written as this.
December 6, 2017
This is my first experience of this author. There are some excellently-worded, extremely pithy paragraphs in this which made me laugh out loud, albeit wryly. The thinly-disguised caricature of the Prince and the pithy observations regarding the mentality of his people are bitingly accurate. Yes, it's a bit of a rant but I enjoyed the style of expression and the clever use of language. Mr. Jacobson's had fun with inventing names of people and places and the descriptions are so near the mark, they leave you in no doubt to whom or to where they refer. Some reviewers have said it's not one of his best books but I enjoyed it and will read more by him.
September 17, 2017
It is really hard to know what to say about this book. Prince Fracassus (emphasis on the ass), is the spoiled, coddled son of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Origen. He is clearly a parody of Donald Trump except that his character is so bang on that I don't think it can eve be called that. Part of me wants to give this book 5 stars because it is so funny and part of me wants to give it 1 star because it is so close to reality that it is damned depressing. Compromise is the best way to go and so I give it 3 stars.
March 8, 2018
I wish that I could say I was offended by this book. I wish that I could say that, despite the thinness of its plot and characters, the book was, at least, funny. But the truth is that I was simply bored and thoroughly uninspired from my first entry to my final exit. Pussy really does deserve to be filled with something better than the story that has been tucked between these folds.
For the full review and analysis, check out Paper & Whiskey
For the full review and analysis, check out Paper & Whiskey
December 4, 2023
Ένα βιβλίο που πήγε άπατο και ήταν αναμενόμενο να πάει άπατο. Μια σπονδή στην woke κουλτούρα της κάθε αναρχοάπλυτης. Το βιβλίο αυτό προσπαθεί ανεπιτυχώς να κράξει τον Τραμπ χωρίς να τα καταφέρνει ούτε στο ελάχιστο. Ο μόνος ικανός πρόεδρος που είχε η Αμερική στην μικρή της ιστορία "φαγώθηκε" από τα λόμπυ και τα διεφθαρμένα ΜΜΕ. Ο μοναδικός πρόεδρος που πραγματοποίησε ότι είχε υποσχεθεί προεκλογικά, δεν ξεκίνησε κανέναν πόλεμο και φυσικά δεν άρεσε στην νέα τάξη πραγμάτων. Απολαύστε τώρα τον διεφθαρμένο με αλτζχαιμερ Μπίντεν και την "βαρεμένη" κουστωδία του.
May 21, 2017
Ever since "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift, I've been a fan. Howard Jacobson's new book "Pussy" is completely worthy of the reference in being called a Trump-era Swiftian satire. Do you feel in need of succor? Current events got you down? Disconcerted and wondering how to know which way is up these last 100+ days? Take a break from the news and read this book. It's all right here.
Howard Jacobson, how to thank you enough? Seriously.
Howard Jacobson, how to thank you enough? Seriously.
November 27, 2017
Perhaps it is not the author's fault that Trump lacks the human qualities to be worth satire, but satire falls flat here. The more interesting moments are when the secondary characters and their actions in response to the Trumpian character are described. The issues of self-interest as opposed to standing up for morality, keeping in mind the assurance that morality will not prevail gave me a frisson.
April 9, 2020
I wish Goodreads had a decimal rating system bc I’d give this book 4.9, only bc too many 5s seems suspect 🤔
A perfect follow up to Stable Genius. Hilarious romp through the (imaginary?) Republic of Urbs-Ludas following the “maturation” of Prince Fracassus. The would be man/boy prince/king is so strikingly similar to he who shall not be named - Mr Jacobson is the Real Genius. Laugh out loud satire!!
As a side, Iron and Wine’s Woman King is playing downstairs...... 😐
A perfect follow up to Stable Genius. Hilarious romp through the (imaginary?) Republic of Urbs-Ludas following the “maturation” of Prince Fracassus. The would be man/boy prince/king is so strikingly similar to he who shall not be named - Mr Jacobson is the Real Genius. Laugh out loud satire!!
As a side, Iron and Wine’s Woman King is playing downstairs...... 😐
July 19, 2017
Took a while to get used to the tone of this, but once I sank into it it was a mixture of hilarious and terrifying. It's basically a fairy tale version of Trump's rise to popularity. Which is equally funny and unbelievable, and petrifying! Very well written, and thought provoking with some important thematic ideological undertones.
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