What do a novel based on the ideals of the French Revolution, a narrative that develops around two families living in the Salinas Valley, California, and a dystopia of lost children on a desert island have in common? The three plots of the classics serve as the background for stories about the Dog Man, a character created by the American author-illustrator Dav Pilkey, whose release of the fourth volume of the policeman series with the body of a man and the head of a dog, The Dog Man and the supergatinho, has just arrived at bookstores in the country.
The hero who barks in the face of danger was created from the adventures of the Captain Cueca series by the duo Jorge and Haroldo. And it was in the fifth school year, more specifically in the third volume of the series, that the canine police strip began to present elements of classic stories. It happened when the two mischievous boys, Jorge and Haroldo, were already “more mature and smarter”, as they themselves make a point of punctuating in the preface “Dog-Man on the Stage”. Thanks to Mrs. Chievess, the literature teacher, or thanks to her, the pair of friends got to know some classics and decided to use this repertoire as inspiration to recount the endeavors of this security agent who graces newspaper covers for his heroic attitude and also distracts himself by biting his foot of the wooden chair. Some old habits really never change.
The inspiration was clear in the title, O Homem-Cão: A Tale of Two Kittens. The book refers to A Tale of Two Cities, written in 1859 by Charles Dickens. André Czarnobai, translator of the book for Companhia das Letrinhas, explains a little about this adaptation process: “A tale of two cities became ‘kitties’ because the sound of the two words is very similar in English; in Portuguese, ‘cidades’ and ‘kittens’ are completely unrelated. So this puzzle was quite complex. A lot was lost in many moments, but a great effort was made to, whenever possible, reinforce the connections between the two works”.
Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea” is a satirical novel by comedian and writer Jon Stewart. The book is a parody of Jules Verne’s “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” and it follows the misadventures of a hapless crew aboard a submarine infested with fleas.
The book is divided into 15 chapters, each of which tells a different part of the story. The humor in the book is sharp and witty, with Stewart taking jabs at everything from modern politics to celebrity culture. The characters are all delightfully absurd, with the crew of the submarine made up of a group of misfits and oddballs.
The story begins with the crew of the submarine, the USS Inconceivable, setting sail on a mission to explore the depths of the ocean. They quickly discover that their vessel is infested with fleas, which leads to a series of hilarious mishaps and misadventures.
One of the standout chapters in the book is “Flea-turing the Stars,” in which the crew encounters a group of Hollywood celebrities who have been transformed into giant fleas. The satire in this chapter is particularly biting, with Stewart skewering the superficiality of celebrity culture.
Another standout chapter is “Flea-tality,” in which the crew of the Inconceivable finds themselves in the middle of a flea civil war. This chapter is both hilarious and surprisingly poignant, with Stewart using the absurdity of the situation to comment on the futility of war.
Throughout the book, Stewart’s writing is witty and clever, with jokes and puns that are sure to elicit laughs. The characters are all well-drawn, with each member of the crew having their own unique quirks and flaws.
One of the strengths of the book is its ability to balance humor with social commentary. Stewart uses the absurdity of the situation to comment on a variety of issues, from politics to environmentalism.
The pacing of the book is also excellent, with each chapter building on the last to create a cohesive and entertaining story. The dialogue is sharp and snappy, with each character having their own distinct voice.
However, some readers may find the humor in the book to be a bit juvenile or crass at times. Additionally, the satire may not be to everyone’s taste, as some of the jokes are quite biting.
Overall, “Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea” is a hilarious and clever satire that skewers everything from politics to celebrity culture. Stewart’s writing is sharp and witty, and the characters are all delightfully absurd. If you’re a fan of satire or comedy, this book is definitely worth a read.
