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John Irvine. Rat
atouille for the rindless. Illustrations by Dave Freeman.
PreShrunk Press: Colville, New Zealand. 2007. ISBN
978-0-473-12544-8. 37 pp.
NZ $19.99. Does not include postage and handling.
Books information is available for
from John Irvine's
website.
To order books
contact "John Irvine" <cooldragon@slingshot.co.nz>
Commentary
'A piece of totally irrational fun, Rat atouille is an
ideal gift for anyone who loves to poke sticks at authority,
take the Mickey, deflate the overblown and generally have a good
laugh. Some wonderful fun with language, punctuated with totally
un-PC graphics, few will be able to avoid laughing out loud as
they enjoy this short work. And don't be disappointed when you
find that the last few pages are taken up with what appears to
be explanatory material. Some of the best laughs lie hidden
within.
We'd love to see this duo take on a prose 'analysis' of life in
the South Pacific.'
~Graeme Beals,
managing director, Zenith Publishing Group, New Zealand
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“Rat atouille for the rindless” is a wild wily and hilarious
ride. Follow Brian the rat through his many experiences and
little life lessons. Full of laugh-out-loud moments and without
a shred of political correctness to mar its slick hilarity. The
world is knee-deep in the mess of its own making and Brian wades
through the muck to come out the other side smelling like just
what he is—a rat!
Cleverly written and illustrated, “Rat atouille” will surely be
welcomed by anyone tiring of the same old, same old in all the
‘safe, let’s not step on anyone’s toes’ types of books of recent
years.
John Irvine (the author) and Dave Freeman (the illustrator) are
a dangerously funny and cynical duo indeed. Dave’s artwork
perfectly punctuates the writing throughout, adding more insight
and humor to every poem about the ratty escapades of Brian.
Every person exposed to the book will have a different reaction
but each person will definitely HAVE a reaction. “Rat atouille”
is a great book, full of fun and laughs, and I highly recommend
it.
~Sharon M. White, Tennessee, USA
About John Irvine
John Irvine is a Scribbler and occasional
linoleum layer.
John Irvine
was born in Lower Hutt, New Zealand in 1940. John and his
writer/poet wife live in Colville on New Zealand’s
picturesque Coromandel Peninsula, surrounded by hills and
ocean. Here he occasionally lets his dark side out to
play. He is the online administrator for a Canadian-based
international teen writer’s forum. He has his own web
site:
www.cooldragon.co.nz
John’s first collection of poetry, Man of Stone,
was released recently to enthusiastic reviews in New
Zealand during 2005 by Zenith Publishing Group, and is
available internationally from the publisher’s website
www.zenithpublishing.co.nz
His second volume of illustrated poetry, Rat
atouille for the rindless (illustrated by Dave
Freeman) was published in 2007 by Preshrunk Press.
John is editor and contributor for the recently launched
illustrated collection of speculative poetry,
Anomalous Appetites, which can be seen and
purschased by visiting his
website.
About Dave Freeman
Professional idiot
and repeat pencil-stealer.
Dave started life young and regressed from that stage until he
is now his own grandfather. Amongst his many achievements are
none worth mentioning.
Credits:
Dave Freeman: NZ is
new to publishing but has had some prose and poetry published in
Facets of Friendship – an anthology of work from the Creative
Writers Group and online in Australian Reader. However he has
been posting on writers’ sites for some years.
As an advertising copywriter, many of his more intentionally
seductive works have appeared in press and magazine ads
throughout Victoria and Western Australia. As this volume
attests, Dave has done a bit of drawing as well.
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