The Scrotum Toad

by Charles Moberly

Tangle is a tree-hugger who is often mistaken for a glamorous witch. She is proud of her organic smallholding in the heart of Africa.
When threatened by a bullying and corrupt businessman who starts trashing the environment and the local people, who can she turn to?
Surely not that foul-mouthed Aussie TV presenter, nor those famous and fabulously wealthy international holidaymakers, who suddenly invade her precious patch. And how could an international food-eating competition, sponsored by the USA’s tin-eared goodwill ambassador, solve her problems?
Surrounded by xenophobic bickering, Tangle struggles to assert her authority, aided by some unlikely admirers.
The Scrotum Toad is an outrageous comic novel which will have the easily offended spluttering over their lattes. Nationalities, cultures and occupations are satirised shamelessly.
You have been warned.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2022

Reviews

[Sandy Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am finding this book incredibly hard to review. At the half way point I was wondering if I was missing something, but having finished it, I concluded that the book wasn't really for me. I think this book is very much a two camp book, it's a love it or leave it situation and I only read on as much wanted to be included in the bookclub discussions but I was very close to not finishing it. I didn't particularly like the characters, there were too many of them which was confusing at the beginning. I also felt that they lacked depth and some were included purely to be able to insert "jokes" at the characters expense. I appreciate that the author is being satirical but this was lost on me. I thought the humour childish and deliberately provocative leaving me feeling the humour was too near the mark, although the author does fairly warn that the book is provocative satire. I felt the generalisation on nationalities, cultures and occupations were just plain lazy stereotypes with exaggerated caricatures which I didn't appreciate. The plot was chaotic, with events and characters arriving in quick succession. I certainly wasn't emotionally invested with any of it, and as the jokes weren't landing for me there was little to hold my interest. I felt the humour was forced, the characters unengaging and the satire was too heavy handed. Simply put the book style didn't match my taste. However this is what I love about book club's in that it gets me to read things I wouldn't normally consider. I do normally like bonkers books and I reread the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy recently but felt that author was letting me in on the jokes and it had endearing characters, for this book I just didn't have the same connection. Charles Moberly clearly missed the mark with this. I feel that being deliberately offensive doesn't automatically make something satirical. I appreciate that some may find this book hilarious, but unfortunately it wasn't for me.

[Stephanie Newham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles Moberly's The Scrotum Toad is a good first novel from an observant writer. The opening chapters are slow, introducing us to what I presumed were the four main characters who are going to be the focus of the story set in a make-believe African country. Ideally, all this backstory could have been slotted into the narrative to help the pace from the outset. However, once we arrive in Africa, curiosity and some good writing kept me going. I never started to root for any of the characters, there were just too many to even begin to empathise with, and some were more annoying than humorous, although there are some laugh out loud moments. And that Toad!!!
Having said all that, reality is stretched in unusual and intriguing ways. The narrative pulses with smart political/social observations, darkly witty and at times hilarious. The author obviously has a skewed view that needed sharing. I look forward to future books.

[Charlotte Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful mix of unique characters.

Set against an African back drop, with descriptions of pure beauty and wonder, The Scrotum Toad pulls you into a story that can outshine any soap opera. Full of quirky, fun characters each with their own special personality traits and levels of intelligence and luck (how on earth Stanley has made it as far in life as he has is beyond me)

Each character does have endearing qualities, I'll be honest though, it took me a little while to warm up to Tangle but that's definitely down to having to rearrange my way of thinking. She's quite the inspiration.

[ChillwithabookAWARD With · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scrotum Toad by Charles Moberly has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Award
www.chillwithabook.com

[Steve Sheppard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hugely entertaining, wickedly funny and deliciously satirical novel with a wide cast of characters. if the title puts you off, don't let it. A very enjoyable read