Governor Bill Hoeksma of Michigan is a simple, gun-loving son of a billionaire who idolises George W. Bush.When a mysterious illness afflicts members of his inner circle, his conspiring advisors point to a rumoured viral weapons attack – via monkeypox-carrying prairie dogs – launched by the Wisconsin government. Governor Bill decides the Michigan militia should lead the military response, chaos … response, chaos ensues, and he falls unwittingly into a scheme of his powerful father’s making. That scheme begins with cheese research and a Hollywood movie star. How it will end all depends on two unlikely heroes: an aging lesbian state senator, and a high-school teacher born and raised in the Michigan militia.
When the conspiracy runs out of road, and guns are drawn in a showdown outside a Cracker Barrel, will anyone emerge victorious from the Great American Cheese War?
What readers are saying about The Great American Cheese War:
“A rollicking riot of insanity and I mean that in the most wonderful sense! I laughed my way through this story.”
“Highly recommended!! This book was a lot of fun, I laughed out loud, and it’s a clever satire book. It’s well written, engrossing and entertaining.”
“Enjoy your summer, read this book!”
“Satire at it’s finest. The whole book had me rolling on floor laughing!”
more
Paul Flower’s smart satire opens with a bang: a sick, aging politician bemoans how far his children have fallen from the proverbial tree, welcoming death with a dark humor that is immediately overshadowed when he reveals his illness as “a bioweapons attack—monkeypox borne by intentionally infected prairie dogs—launched by the government of Wisconsin against the sovereign state of Michigan.” From there Flower launches into a story that is equal parts black comedy and thriller, both laugh-out-loud funny and utterly horrifying. He especially excels at his descriptions of bureaucratic chaos, stringing together a litany of seemingly minor mishaps that combine to a madcap whole. The result is a humorous and a little too-close-to-home portrayal of a fear-mongering, truth-hiding, power-hungry political machine that was relevant when this novel was first published in 2019 and even more relevant less than a year later in the midst of a global pandemic.
The main targets of Flower’s lampoon are ultra-conservative politicians, conspiracy theorists and paramilitary forces (both amateur and professional). The sole liberal character is also a caricature, but the story would benefit from additional perspectives and satirizations. The most developed and strongest character is Miky, the daughter of two founders of a Second Amendment-styled militia who begins to doubt the cause she was raised to defend. However, the story drags a bit as Miky struggles with her moral quandary in a long drive into Wisconsin with two other Michigan militia members. These concerns aside, The Great American Cheese War is an intelligent, fun and fast-paced black comedy sure to be a favorite of those who share Flower’s political leanings.
It was a bit “cheesy “ but I enjoyed the characters. The book was entertaining.
Cheesus!
True to its mission, British publisher Farrago has found another wonderfully cheesy, Pythonesque, slapstick farce to share with us. This one “takes the Mickey” (pokes fun at) the extremists on the political right wing. Not the fundamentally conservative, careful, and prudent souls out there but the conspiracy theorists (and yes, they exist on both extremes) who see a plot in every news story.
Paul Flower has written a Very Funny Book! I laughed, I screamed, I giggled through every chapter. Best humor/satire I’ve read in a long time. The blurb is accurate, the book was great fun. Kind of like Dr. Strangelove meets The Three Stooges. Loved it.
This is the publisher’s blurb first because it is invisible on Goodreads at this time.
“Governor Bill Hoeksma of Michigan is a simple, gun-loving son of a billionaire who idolises George W. Bush.
When a mysterious illness afflicts members of his inner circle, his conspiring advisors point to a rumoured viral weapons attack – via monkey-pox-carrying prairie dogs – launched by the Wisconsin government. Governor Bill decides the Michigan militia should lead the military response, chaos ensues, and he falls unwittingly into a scheme of his powerful father’s making. That scheme begins with cheese research and a Hollywood movie star. How it will end all depends on two unlikely heroes: an aging lesbian state senator, and a high-school teacher born and raised in the Michigan militia.
When the conspiracy runs out of road, and guns are drawn in a showdown outside a Cracker Barrel, will anyone emerge victorious from the Great American Cheese War?”
Satire at it’s finest, says this lifelong CheeseHead. The whole book had me rolling on floor laughing! No sense recapping the plot, just laugh yourself silly!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Farrago via NetGalley. Thank you!