The Book Nook

A Midsummer’s Night Madness   Some consider William Shakespeare to be the greatest English writer in history.  There’s no doubt he’s inspired many artists and writers since his death in 1616.  His work is still enjoyed today in films or one stages around the world, including American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin. One of his more popular plays is “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” in which a mischievous fairy named Puck causes trouble.  It was the inspiration for today’s featured novel “Shakespeare for Squirrels” by Christopher Moore.  Published in July of this year, it’s the author’s third Shakespeare-inspired novel and has the feel of a frenzied parody. While I’ve never wondered what a less-refined and zanier version of the play would look like, Moore obviously has. The central character is Pocket of Dog Snogging, who is a royal fool or court jester.  As the tale starts Pocket is in trouble, as usual and has been set adrift by pirates.  He’s accompanied by his apprentice, Drool, who possesses a large body and a tiny brain.  They wash up on the shores of Greece and are saved by a strange wee creature called Cobweb, whose opinion of Pocket drops sharply once she discovers his profession.  She’s met another fool – Puck, and his antics didn’t sit well with her. Pocket hopes to get a job by impressing the local Duke and meets with the duke’s minister, who is frantic to find his missing daughter.  She refused to marry the man he’s chosen for her and has run away.  With the wedding date approaching quickly, Pocket agrees to help. When he stumbles across Puck’s body and is found by the guards, he and Drool are hauled off to jail on suspicion of murder.  He’s able to persuade others of his innocence and strike a bargain.  He has three days of freedom to discover what happened to Puck and report back, or he and Drool will be executed. Embroiled in a murder mystery with very high stakes, his sleuthing attempts resemble those of a noir detective style (think The Maltese Falcon).  Along the way he meets a bumbling troop of would-be actors, runaway lovers and an assortment of strange creatures such as fairies and goblins. As he searches, the mystery deepens and Pocket is long on suspects but short on time. He’ll need every ally he can find and every last drop of magic to save himself and Drool from death.  His willingness to use deceit, deception and trickery to achieve his goals, with mixed and laughable results. While Shakespeare’s tale is silly in its own right, Moore ratchets up the wacky meter several notches.  Like the original, there’s a large cast of characters and Moore is up to the task of keeping readers on track.  He mentions this specifically in the book’s afterword, which I thought was as funny as the story itself.  The reason behind the strange title becomes apparent as the plot progresses. Moore’s writing has been described as comic fantasy or absurdist fiction and the author has been described as irreverent, naughty and insanely funny.  Those who sense an adult language warning are absolutely right.  There are both familiar and inventive swear words that will provoke various reactions depending on your tolerance.  Sexual references were glossed over and presented without graphic detail. At times the fast-moving plot seemed somewhat confused but I enjoyed the handling of it as a murder mystery.  One gag that didn’t suffer from being revisited was the fairies’ inability to count.  The author’s expansion of actor Nick Bottom’s character was also a welcome addition. Be prepared for bawdy humor, witty insults and Shakespearean references -some subtle, some obvious.  All are used to great effect and shows off Moore’s comic ability.  His love of the Bard is obvious in this send-up via the use of multiple subplots and wicked humor.  It’s the unusual characters and clever dialog that makes this retelling a silly yet earnest tribute to the great playwright. Fans of Moor’s work will remember Pocket from two previous books “Fool” and “The Serpent of Venice”.  All three are fine as stand-alone novels, so no need to be concerned about jumping into the midst of a series. If you’re in the mood for silly humor, the author’s manic imagination is certainly entertaining.  From Pocket’s dicey beginning to the improvised play near the end, this campy story will carry you off to a magical and humorous world.