I generally love parodies for their irreverence and wicked humor. Having read most of the Harry Potter books, I thought this book seemed promising, poking gentle fun at the series. In fact, it started out in a promising manner. It takes place at the Hogwash School for Wizards, with such characters as Halfwid, Lon Measley, Ermine, Serious Blech, Bumblebore, and the evil Valumart. However, it quickly devolved into puerile invocations of sexual and bathroom functions, with references to "The Chamberpot of Secrets", "Flatulent Fanny" and "The Buggering Birch", and as favorite characters (including venerable teachers and staff) are presented in degrading ways. I could not proceed beyond the first 15 or so pages. I doubt that readers who loved the Harry Potter series will find much to attract them here. ( )

I need to go wash my brain. I'm sure it's funny, in its way, but it's just not for me. ( )

As the title suggests this is a parody of the highly successful Harry Potter series. Barry is the “person” that Harry is based on. He sold his story to G.K. Rollins and has never left the Hogwash School of Magic because he is constantly surrounded by his leagues of muddle fans. In an attempt to stop the production of the movie version of one of the books he, Lon Measley and Ermine Cringer have an adventure taking them from England to New York and then on to L.A. This book has some funny moments and is very clever but I would not go out of my way to highly recommend it to anyone. It’s an amusing read for Potter fans and nothing more. Also, definitely not for the kiddies. ( )

am sewing of an evening.

I picked this up at Powell's in the Portland airport during an especially long, uncomfortable flight (4 planes, 2 airlines, 18 hours....) and wound up laughing out loud during my Portland to Minneapolis leg - my seatmate thought I was nuts, but it sure took the edge off the flight!

Don't look to this book for intellectual stimulation, or for a 'sacred' look at Harry in his adulthood. These people are more your every-day Joes, just looking for a way to get by, and stumbling more than they stand. A very relaxing, and relaxed, look at the Potters, by an author who is relaxed enough about himself and his writing to not only poke fun at his characters, but at himself.

Having an especially tough day? Pull this out and have a giggle, you deserve it! ( )

am sewing of an evening.

I picked this up at Powell's in the Portland airport during an especially long, uncomfortable flight (4 planes, 2 airlines, 18 hours....) and wound up laughing out loud during my Portland to Minneapolis leg - my seatmate thought I was nuts, but it sure took the edge off the flight!

Don't look to this book for intellectual stimulation, or for a 'sacred' look at Harry in his adulthood. These people are more your every-day Joes, just looking for a way to get by, and stumbling more than they stand. A very relaxing, and relaxed, look at the Potters, by an author who is relaxed enough about himself and his writing to not only poke fun at his characters, but at himself.

Having an especially tough day? Pull this out and have a giggle, you deserve it! ( )

You don't really need to read this unless you're compelled to read everything related to Harry Potter. Mad Magazine's parodies of the films are funnier, albeit in a different genre. This parody certainly has its amusing points, and benefits from Gerber's affection for Harry Potter, but it's a mild parody of the content and the commercial exploitation of the books. There is no attempt to poke fun at Rowling's writing style (for example, there is not capitalized ADOLESCENT ANGST!), unlike the otherwise-weak Doon or the robust and still-entertaining Bored of the Rings. Still, Gerber's book manages to be something of its own as well as a parody, and is eerily prescient of an event or two occurring in Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince. ( )

Snarky, a bit mean-spirited in places, but it did make me smile here and there. The plot within a plot within a plot was an interesting twist. I'll probably read the sequel. ( )

I refuse to finish this book. Perhaps I expected too much from a parody but this was just not that funny. There were too many blatant gibes at the HP franchise - which, yes, isn't an awesome reflection of our society, but Gerber doesnt even make jokes out of his scorn. The disgusting part is that Gerber must have, on some level, realised that he would be benefiting from the consumerist culture surrounding the HP franchise. (I'm glad I got my copy for free).
There were too few clever parts for me to find it engaging and I gave up in the first chapter. ( )

This is such an odd book. I would definitely suggest reading it at least once. But other than that, its too bizarre for a second reading.

Though it had its funny bits (I still can't get over the name Lord Valumart), all in all it didn't quite amuse me as much as I'd expected it to. But it kept me entertained while I waited for my car to get fixed, so it was worth reading. :) ( )

Awful. Really.

This book really is ridiculous, but I think it's supposed to be. It has it's funnier moments. ( )

The first book in this series really amused me, I loved all the alternate versions of things in the Harry Potter universe. It got a bit weird when the entire plot completely changed and was then about something entirely different. The second book was okay, it did seem to be rather scraping the barrel. The last book however was rather good. It reminded me of Terry Pratchett in some ways and seemed to be a book in its own right and less a Harry Potter parody. ( )

Hilarious. That's all I have to say. Very adult in parts, and constantly pushing the limit, but still a brilliant example of absurdism and parody. ( )

Very cute Harry Potter parody. Adult material ( )

A parody of the Harry Potter series. As a big fan of the HP books, I found this somewhat funny - it had its moments, but on the whole it wasn't anything remarkable. ( )

This is definitely the stupidest book I've read in a long time. It was kind of funny in parts, but mostly just ridiculous. Fortunately, it's not very long.