[Darren]

Ah, Bugs. My favourite of GK's works (that I've read so far). Aside from the books being hilarious and engaging, they spoke to me on a personal level, the main character being from my city and also a musician.

Bugs is a student at Red River Secondary School, though I think Gord might have created this institution. We do have a Red River College here, but that would have made Bugs much older. I don't know if they have or have ever had a music program there but I actually almost attended there for some courses when I was thinking about becoming a librarian. The first book is fantastic, with great characters in addition to Bugs and two fun interweaving plots of Bugs and his sidekick Adam gallivanting about town, playing the clubs with all these bands that Bugs is enamored with, and the hilarious ineptitude of some Home Alone-esque burglars trying to steal the Falusi Emerald. Along the way to the climactic ending we get to read many hysterical band, album and song names. Even during my long Korman Hiatus, whenever I'd be cooking at the stove, I'd still smile and think of the band Spoon Rest. Bugs was also inspirational to me and one time I did end up going on stage and playing guitar with a band at a club near my house (we did Jumping Jack Flash). One part that always has me in stitches is when Darby is meting out punishment only to look over and see Bugs smiling. Who Is Bugs Potter? is a must-read, even for flute-guys.

I finished Nickaninny yesterday at a trailer by the beach, where it's part Naka-Mee-Chee and part bargain basement Hamptons. While it was a relaxing atmosphere, I sure could have used a President Peanut Butter Fudge Nutty. More extremely funny band, album and song names but one that actually came to fruition with the band Garbage! Also there was Endomorph doing a "Three Little Pigs" song which Green Jello did six years later (though quite different lyrically). A lot of uproarious bits in there as well: the excerpts from Bugs' science project, the Davis/Johnson feud, the tripwire scene. For some reason, the first time I read this as a kid, I always read "tentowners" as "ten towners" instead of "tent owners", even though Gord has the character explicitly say that it's a tentowners association for tents like a homeowners association for homes. I don't know why I did but I still end up having to shake it off during re-reads.

I've always wondered how Gord's flash bomb experimentation went.

On to Jeremy Bloom!

[Gordon Korman]

Clumsy flash-bomb experimentation = lost eyebrows.                                                          ---GK---