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Bonfire of the Beasts
Bonfire of the Beasts is the most searing satire of political correctness of our time.
Told from the perspective of a swan named Mother Goose, it’s the story of animals who rise up against mankind to create a society free of bigotry and hate. What unfolds is a depiction of how sympathy and love pave the way for unimaginable horrors.
Told from the perspective of a swan named Mother Goose, it’s the story of animals who rise up against mankind to create a society free of bigotry and hate. What unfolds is a depiction of how sympathy and love pave the way for unimaginable horrors.
119 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 16, 2021
About the author
Scott Reardon
6 books24 followersScott Reardon is the author of The Dark Continent and The Prometheus Man, which was published in 2017 by Little Brown. He has written and directed two feature films, Our Pet Kat and Dakota Bastard. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 24, 2021
Animal farm meets 1984 and bringing it bang up to date for our modern times.
You know by now that whilst I subscribe to the never judge a book by it’s cover, I ALWAYS pick the best covers to read first!
This one reminded me of Filth by Irvine Welsh and full disclosure I opened this book expecting it to be as grungy as that one….but my goodness it was so VERY different to what I imagined.
Bonfire of the beasts has been described as “Savagely funny” in its write up and whilst I agree it could be seen as funny the horror of the story told and the way it mimics so many elements of society today stripped any laughter I may have found in this book.
However, controversial it certainly was. It brings all the elements of the animal farm backstory with the rise of the pigs to positions of power with all the surveillance that you expect from 1984. But what this book does is make you THINK. Think about what you read, hear and see in the media….what’s truth and what’s fabricated to help the powers that be guide us to accept how they want us to be, do and produce.
It will make you uncomfortable, it will make you question your beliefs but most of all it will make you think about how you “fit in”
I enjoyed the challenge engaging in an uncomfortable narrative, the author is not afraid of making the reader squirm, and props to them for that.
I wish there had been more of a build up to the revolution, more of an explanation of what was happening beyond the farm but then maybe that was the point? By keeping us in the dark, it kept us from thinking of a different way to live.
It’s a short read at just 130 pages but it’s powerful and will leave you wondering what on earth just happened!
http://www.thepursuitofbookiness.co.u...
You know by now that whilst I subscribe to the never judge a book by it’s cover, I ALWAYS pick the best covers to read first!
This one reminded me of Filth by Irvine Welsh and full disclosure I opened this book expecting it to be as grungy as that one….but my goodness it was so VERY different to what I imagined.
Bonfire of the beasts has been described as “Savagely funny” in its write up and whilst I agree it could be seen as funny the horror of the story told and the way it mimics so many elements of society today stripped any laughter I may have found in this book.
However, controversial it certainly was. It brings all the elements of the animal farm backstory with the rise of the pigs to positions of power with all the surveillance that you expect from 1984. But what this book does is make you THINK. Think about what you read, hear and see in the media….what’s truth and what’s fabricated to help the powers that be guide us to accept how they want us to be, do and produce.
It will make you uncomfortable, it will make you question your beliefs but most of all it will make you think about how you “fit in”
I enjoyed the challenge engaging in an uncomfortable narrative, the author is not afraid of making the reader squirm, and props to them for that.
I wish there had been more of a build up to the revolution, more of an explanation of what was happening beyond the farm but then maybe that was the point? By keeping us in the dark, it kept us from thinking of a different way to live.
It’s a short read at just 130 pages but it’s powerful and will leave you wondering what on earth just happened!
http://www.thepursuitofbookiness.co.u...
May 26, 2026
Bonfire of the Beasts by Bonfire of the Beasts is a wonderful political satire that brilliantly reflects how people in power exploit the weak and minorities for their own benefit. The story strongly reminds readers of Animal Farm, yet the author adds several fresh twists and changes that give the narrative a completely different direction. I really enjoyed how the book balances satire with the harsh realities of politics and governance. The writing keeps the reader engaged while also making them think deeply about society and authority. If you enjoy political fiction, satire, and stories about government systems, this book is definitely worth reading.
April 13, 2024
BONFIRE OF THE BEASTS is political satire at its best. It is one thing to read the classic works NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR and ANIMAL FARM, by George Orwell, written seventy-five plus years ago; it is quite another to find the similar scenes unfolding in a tale written in the twenty-first century.
In ANIMAL FARM, Orwell satirized the Bolshevik Revolution and the betrayal of Joseph Stalin. In the novel NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR, he provides a glimpse of a future where government controls the narrative and rewrites 'history' to suit whatever the current international status might be. How often have you heard "Big Brother is watching you?" As ominous as that sounds to anyone living in a country perceived to be democratic, there is so much more to NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR.
When I picked up my copy of BONFIRE OF THE BEASTS, the juxtaposition of the title with the cover art was jarring. At first, I recalled reading BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES, by Tom Wolfe, and seeing the film with the same title starring Tom Hanks, Melanie Griffith, Bruce Willis, and Morgan Freeman. The pig on the cover of BONFIRE OF THE BEASTS didn't fit with my recollection of "Vanities" at all.
We lived through the actual year 1984 thinking Orwell was somewhat wrong. Moving to the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first, government surveillance has become both public and ubiquitous. Today, class structure is all around us. The 'pigs' are more equal than the chickens, and the cows, and the geese just as the rich are more equal than the poor. Fascistic ideas are in-your-face policies that small 'd' democrats are having difficulty overcoming. Reardon has managed to include racism, misogyny, and greed into his barnyard revolt against humans that doesn't, in the long run, go as planned. Once again, the ideal of creating a society free of bigotry and hate has been thwarted by those who contribute nothing to the collective effort.
BONFIRE OF THE BEASTS does not presuppose you've read Orwell's books, but you do need an appreciation of satire to reap the benefits of Reardon's narrative.
In ANIMAL FARM, Orwell satirized the Bolshevik Revolution and the betrayal of Joseph Stalin. In the novel NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR, he provides a glimpse of a future where government controls the narrative and rewrites 'history' to suit whatever the current international status might be. How often have you heard "Big Brother is watching you?" As ominous as that sounds to anyone living in a country perceived to be democratic, there is so much more to NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR.
When I picked up my copy of BONFIRE OF THE BEASTS, the juxtaposition of the title with the cover art was jarring. At first, I recalled reading BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES, by Tom Wolfe, and seeing the film with the same title starring Tom Hanks, Melanie Griffith, Bruce Willis, and Morgan Freeman. The pig on the cover of BONFIRE OF THE BEASTS didn't fit with my recollection of "Vanities" at all.
We lived through the actual year 1984 thinking Orwell was somewhat wrong. Moving to the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first, government surveillance has become both public and ubiquitous. Today, class structure is all around us. The 'pigs' are more equal than the chickens, and the cows, and the geese just as the rich are more equal than the poor. Fascistic ideas are in-your-face policies that small 'd' democrats are having difficulty overcoming. Reardon has managed to include racism, misogyny, and greed into his barnyard revolt against humans that doesn't, in the long run, go as planned. Once again, the ideal of creating a society free of bigotry and hate has been thwarted by those who contribute nothing to the collective effort.
BONFIRE OF THE BEASTS does not presuppose you've read Orwell's books, but you do need an appreciation of satire to reap the benefits of Reardon's narrative.
March 28, 2022
Interestingly enough, we had just finished reading 1984 when we picked this book up. It is being claimed as Animal Farm meets 1984. Being fresh out of reading the latter we were interested as to how it held up.
This book will surely make you uncomfortable. Here you have the rise of pigs (hello Animal Farm) and an oppressed society where there is no escape from being monitored (hello 1984). There are some funny sections, which unfortunately (well played Mr. Reardon) do not seem as funny as you read on and realize everything written in the book has the very real potential of happening in 2022.
It’s a very quick read, standing at a mere 123 pages, but one that resonates with all readers whether you agree with the premise or not.
---Read more reviews at Kukiyo.com---
This book will surely make you uncomfortable. Here you have the rise of pigs (hello Animal Farm) and an oppressed society where there is no escape from being monitored (hello 1984). There are some funny sections, which unfortunately (well played Mr. Reardon) do not seem as funny as you read on and realize everything written in the book has the very real potential of happening in 2022.
It’s a very quick read, standing at a mere 123 pages, but one that resonates with all readers whether you agree with the premise or not.
---Read more reviews at Kukiyo.com---
December 13, 2022
2.5 stars
NOVELLA
The thing I enjoyed most was the way this book forces you to change your perspective and forces you to think.
But the story and writing style unfortunately wasn't for me. The writing is very "tell" with no "show" & becomes rather repetitive. I liked the political angle and that feeling of things not being as they seem, but I wanted more from the story & characters.
A really great concept with amazing potential, but unfortunately it wasn't all I was hoping it would be.
*Free e-copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
NOVELLA
The thing I enjoyed most was the way this book forces you to change your perspective and forces you to think.
But the story and writing style unfortunately wasn't for me. The writing is very "tell" with no "show" & becomes rather repetitive. I liked the political angle and that feeling of things not being as they seem, but I wanted more from the story & characters.
A really great concept with amazing potential, but unfortunately it wasn't all I was hoping it would be.
*Free e-copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2022
Animal Farm for the 21st Century
This book reminded me of Animal Farm, yet with more of today's society interwoven.
There was a couple of typographical errors, where the author had the animals raise a hand instead of a wing, hoof, or paw, but if you can get pass this then this is definitely a book worth reading.
Just remember: Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
This book reminded me of Animal Farm, yet with more of today's society interwoven.
There was a couple of typographical errors, where the author had the animals raise a hand instead of a wing, hoof, or paw, but if you can get pass this then this is definitely a book worth reading.
Just remember: Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
May 25, 2023
Satire reflecting society's current state of turmoil
Explores what happens when idealistic notions are taken too far. Society begins to suffer to an extreme degree, eventually those ideals begin to facilitate the downfall of the culture when the extreme ideas are put into play.
Mirrors our current state of political reforms, political correctness, etc.
Explores what happens when idealistic notions are taken too far. Society begins to suffer to an extreme degree, eventually those ideals begin to facilitate the downfall of the culture when the extreme ideas are put into play.
Mirrors our current state of political reforms, political correctness, etc.
May 8, 2022
And so it goes
I remember reading Animal Farm and tis was almost the same thing. I think the idea is the same. Any society or large group of people always end up the same way, because there will always be the ones who want to control everything and everyone.
I remember reading Animal Farm and tis was almost the same thing. I think the idea is the same. Any society or large group of people always end up the same way, because there will always be the ones who want to control everything and everyone.
February 23, 2022
A creative take on Animal Farm/1984
May 10, 2023
As someone else commented, Animal Farm meets 1984. Frightening satire.
July 30, 2024
Not a bad homage to Orwell's "Animal Farm" in which Reardon critiques capitalism instead of communism.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews