Review of Whole Lot of Hullabaloo
Posted: 13 Aug 2021, 22:24
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Whole Lot of Hullabaloo" by Christopher Fried.]
Whole Lot of Hullabaloo by Christopher Fried mainly follows the narrative of two college students, Troy Thomas and Ian Mueller. They are in their sophomore year, dealing with school works, partying on the weekends, and pining for girls in their classes. One Halloween party changes everything when Ian makes a controversial costume choice. One student claims that it is a microaggression and that it warrants sanction from the school administrators. As things blow out of proportion, Troy and Ian soon find themselves amidst protesters, militants, and reporters, all clamoring for social justice. All of a sudden, Troy and Ian’s life aren’t so ordinary anymore.
I find it difficult to read this book at first. It was slow, as the conflict did not arrive until halfway through the story. However, it was at that point that I realized how the technique was just what the story needed. We take the time to get to know the characters and their backstories to better understand their actions and motivations later on. For example, we have Sam Castle, the president of the university. Earlier in the book, the narrative establishes that he is a man who values the school’s excellent reputation. What would he do after knowing that one of his students was involved in a controversy? How would his decision affect the life of the students involved?
I like the slow and steady pace of the story. I think it’s a reasonable choice to initially explore the characters before arriving at the main conflict. I also appreciate the book’s thought-provoking premise. It’s interesting how the narrative challenges political correctness in the twenty-first century. The author frames some of them as a little absurd, provoking the reader to determine which portrayal makes a point and which does not.
The author satirized many socio-political issues, which was the ultimate appeal of the book. But I like how satire and humor aren’t all there is in the story. There are discussions worth pondering over and passages one cannot simply forget. It explores issues of racial stereotypes and how it impacts people of color. It looks into performative activism and its implications. Further, it delves into racial apathy and how it does not absolves one from being discriminatory.
The book seemed professionally edited to me, as there were only a few typographical and spelling errors. They were almost unnoticeable, so I’m not going to deduct any stars for that. I disliked nothing. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars, as I find this an entertaining and thought-provoking read. The satirical portrayal of socio-political issues was well done. People who are into humorous fiction might find this book worth their time. The book was rife with intellectual musings, so I would also recommend this book to readers who are looking for intellectually stimulating books.
******
Whole Lot of Hullabaloo
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Whole Lot of Hullabaloo by Christopher Fried mainly follows the narrative of two college students, Troy Thomas and Ian Mueller. They are in their sophomore year, dealing with school works, partying on the weekends, and pining for girls in their classes. One Halloween party changes everything when Ian makes a controversial costume choice. One student claims that it is a microaggression and that it warrants sanction from the school administrators. As things blow out of proportion, Troy and Ian soon find themselves amidst protesters, militants, and reporters, all clamoring for social justice. All of a sudden, Troy and Ian’s life aren’t so ordinary anymore.
I find it difficult to read this book at first. It was slow, as the conflict did not arrive until halfway through the story. However, it was at that point that I realized how the technique was just what the story needed. We take the time to get to know the characters and their backstories to better understand their actions and motivations later on. For example, we have Sam Castle, the president of the university. Earlier in the book, the narrative establishes that he is a man who values the school’s excellent reputation. What would he do after knowing that one of his students was involved in a controversy? How would his decision affect the life of the students involved?
I like the slow and steady pace of the story. I think it’s a reasonable choice to initially explore the characters before arriving at the main conflict. I also appreciate the book’s thought-provoking premise. It’s interesting how the narrative challenges political correctness in the twenty-first century. The author frames some of them as a little absurd, provoking the reader to determine which portrayal makes a point and which does not.
The author satirized many socio-political issues, which was the ultimate appeal of the book. But I like how satire and humor aren’t all there is in the story. There are discussions worth pondering over and passages one cannot simply forget. It explores issues of racial stereotypes and how it impacts people of color. It looks into performative activism and its implications. Further, it delves into racial apathy and how it does not absolves one from being discriminatory.
The book seemed professionally edited to me, as there were only a few typographical and spelling errors. They were almost unnoticeable, so I’m not going to deduct any stars for that. I disliked nothing. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars, as I find this an entertaining and thought-provoking read. The satirical portrayal of socio-political issues was well done. People who are into humorous fiction might find this book worth their time. The book was rife with intellectual musings, so I would also recommend this book to readers who are looking for intellectually stimulating books.
******
Whole Lot of Hullabaloo
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
of the day BOTD is fiction and a riveting tale with smooth narration and double lane memories and American timeless story Troy Thomas and his friends enjoying college life, hangout,party and admiring beautiful girls until one day a Halloween costume made by his friend lan put his life in danger to an extended Troy Thomas questioned their friendship..the storyline is so satirical Vonnegut situation turns into a comedic affirmation..I enjoyed this book and characters made it so lively it was well written and reviewed I will recommend it 
