The Adventures of George by Blair Gowrie — Reviewed by Guy Portman
This satirical poem (38,606 words) takes the form of a series of connected short stories, which revolve around a restaurant whose chef is a parody of George W. Bush. Various rhyming schemes are employed. The numerous adventures feature national leaders, politicians, celebrities and even anti-pork activists. In some instances real names are employed, in others barely disguised aliases. Examples include bin Maden, Borrock Sobama and Didi Damin. Terrorists feature prominently.
This reader admires the author’s rhyming abilities and the imagination entailed in creating this highly original and at times humorous work. However, the format does not lend itself to the elements of a successful story, most notably character development and plot.
