[Darren]

Much like Don't Care High, this is another book that I didn't have a lot to say about. Like the former, it's a great book and a fun re-read. It's got some really humorous moments and quirky characters.

Name Alerts: The Vishnik Prize, and the star Ecinreb and Lord Nodrog in the Legend Of The Glass Caves book.

I got a kick out of Johnny Zull and Outer Nimrod. With Johnny's eclectic guitar playing in a punk-style band, it reminded me of the UK band The Toy Dolls. I also got a big laugh out of the sign which read "Antiflux Cultural Center And Worm Shop". Reminded me of "Puppet Show and Spinal Tap".

This is also GK's first book to delve a little into the sociopolitical arena. As expected, with deft skill he can put across a message without being preachy.

A few questions did arise in my mind while reading this:
1) Gord, you wrote in this book about Outer Nimrod playing at the bar Scuzz (and many bars in the Bugs books), did you go to places like CBGB and The Mudd Club when you got to NYC?
2) A lot of references to Burger King in this book. High on the list for your fast food rankings?
3) Part of this book is about the option of a kid following in his father's career footsteps. Have any of your kids shown interest in becoming an author?

[Gordon Korman]

Hey, Darren, I'm having trouble keeping up with you!

Re: name alerts. I can't remember what Vishnik is -- it might be liquor of some sort. Ecinreb is easy -- it's Mom, Bernice. And Nodrog -- I can't even begin to imagine.

1) Scuzz et al were mostly figments of my imagination. I was 17 when I first got to New York, and I looked  twelve!  2) Burger King was more like it. Ir McDonalds. When they got a lot of snow, which was rare, Big Macs could be had for a quarter, provided you could walk there and order one. Snow removal was nonexistent in the Village.  3) My eldest is in a job where writing and communication are his thing. The other 2 are still in college. All 3 are good writers, but it's too soon to say if anything will develop along those lines.

I'm pleased that you're enjoying what you read so far. Or that you've determined to read all of it!        --Gord--

[Darren]

As always, thanks again for the reply.

These aren't really reviews or deep dives, just thoughts I jot down while enjoying these pleasurable reads. The Name Alerts portion is when I happen across a name that's been used before, like Vishnik cropping up in Interflux after being a character in Our Man Weston. I recall when I posted about the Bruno and Boots series, Raymond Jardine had said something to the effect of keeping an eye out for that (and now getting quite familiar with his name while reading A Semester...). I recognized your and your mom's name and added those to the list. And Vishnik is some sort of eastern European liqueur (hence the jokes in Weston that Parson and Bishop had gotten into the Vishnik).

I'm close to 30% complete on reading through your works. So far, only the Jeremy Bloom ones and the Monday Night Football Club series were new to me, but there are plenty left that I haven't read before. According to Goodreads, the most recent I've read any of these until lately was about six years ago, so a lot of them I only remember vaguely.  I'm not looking at it as a challenge, just enjoying them at whatever pace I want to take, but I'll be happy when I can get to the point that I'm ready to read your new ones as they get released.