Reviewed by Susan Hancy
Jest the Funny Bits presents as an unassuming book with
its clean white cover featuring a juggling jester, signalling that the reader
will be in for some fun. But – wow –
this collection of poems, short stories and plays really packs a punch!
The
book is divided into three sections. The first is a collection of short poems which
are an assortment of unconventional ideas, such as a knight stuck in his armour
being saved by a can opener. Beware the dad joke humour, such as paying a
bargain price for a tree which is dead. (A Christmas tree – ha ha and so true!)
My favourite poem was “Uncle Jack” which begins with a hint of C.J. Dennis’s A
Bush Christmas with a visitor for Christmas, except that Uncle Jack creates
a new calamity with every move he makes. Luckily the police turn up for a chat
after his boomerang lodges in Grannie’s ear and before things get much worse.
The
second section consists of short stories which immediately grip your attention
and entertain the reader with their no holds barred plots (who would even think
to buy an elephant’s foot?, could there be a librarian who eats children?),
expressive similes (“lips curled like two strips of half-cooked bacon”) and the
occasional tender moment. Even the most reluctant reader is guaranteed to
chuckle and return for the next kooky story. For students and aspiring writers,
reading these is like being treated to a master class in great short story
writing.
The
third section is made up of short plays that are fast-paced and packed with
puns. Readers won’t be able to resist dressing up as Dracula or transforming
into Captain Scurvy to put on their own performances. These plays would also be
great material for class activities at school.
Witty
names (used, for example, with the knights Sir Prised, Sir Rounded, Sir Loin
and Sir Cumference, the jackass exploits of Bradley D. Mented where D stands
for Dangerous and interviews by Professor Noah Lott) flow prolifically
throughout the book. Traditional tales are twisted (find out how Jack of Jack
and the Beanstalk fame actually made his fortune and what crime Kimberella
committed at the Ball) and no plot unfolds as you would expect. Each poem,
short story and play is independent, so reading the chapters out of order works
perfectly well, especially if you want to get stuck straight into a short story
or play. The variety of tales and techniques used by Bill Condon in creating Jest
the Funny Bits had me thinking of him as a modern-day Henry Lawson. I
highly recommend this book as a total surprise packet with its plethora of
choice for short, wacky reads guaranteed to give a good laugh before bedtime.
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