Title: The Accidental King of Achoo
Author: Linda J. Falkner, LMHC
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1532022036
Genre: Satire/humor/politics
Pages: 107
Reviewed by: Barbara Miller
Pacific Book Review
Written in a genre of fantasy with a flair for adventure, the actual storyline of The Accidental King of Achoo is a symbolic representation of the past presidential election with a flowing double entendre threaded throughout the passages, not referencing an alternative sensual meaning however a politically charged, laughable tale. Author Linda J. Falkner uses her professional skills as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, combined with her talented creative writing in the fantasy genre, to bring to fruition a satire with characters from the recent presidential election to a whole new level of commentary.
The storyline of the actions, sequences of events and narratives pokes at the winner of various sporting contests in the world of Achoo, where the people needed to choose a new king. The winner is a very wealthy man named Orgizo, overweight with peculiar hair, having a gilded home on the top of a mountain, a womanizer, flaunting the beauty of his daughter in unnatural ways and touting a motto of “Making Achoo Great Again.” Sound familiar?
The name Achoo came into being when Orgizo’s great Grandfather, a very wealthy man was escaping his homeland because of being chased out by unhappy customers of the charlatan’s snake oils – potions in which the cost was high and the benefits were non-existent. While riding on his horse with his wives and children walking behind, he began sneezing in a valley due to a bizarre sneeze tree, hence naming the valley Achoo; he settled and built a home on the top on the mountain. His home had gold wall paper and guided fixtures, brought with him on his journey in his Trupperware containers.
One day, many generations later, the king accidently died in a spectacular equestrian jump over a dozen filled toilet bowls, the old man didn’t quite make it and got stuck, head down, into the last toilet – so the people went without a king. A new king needed to be chosen. It was decided to have a race, a scavenger hunt and bakeoff to decide a new king. Orgizo was an unlikely contestant to the various contests because he needed strength, skill and wit against a formidable group of talented opponents – talents are not in his wheelhouse. Yet by a combination of under-handed deeds caused at the despicable hands of Orgizo during a race, one by one his competitors fell by the wayside, leaving him to participate in the next event; a scavenger hunt. Finally, it was whittled down where Orgizo faced a smart, talented woman, Mikro, in a head-to-head contest. Throughout countless sabotage, aggressive bullying and downright underhanded cheating.
Falkner slices, dices and peels away at as many character traits of Orgizo, the ruling king, making quite clever analogies to tales with sarcasm and satire, showing Orgizo as foolish as the naked ruler in The Emperor’s New Clothes, where Hans Christian Andersen mocks the emperor in his literary classic. Aside from a quirky homosexual sex scene, a bit of Brokeback Mountain thrown in, the book bounces around with fanciful names and ridiculous events – mimicking real life with the absurdity of hacking, illegal activities, mocking and name calling, as art imitates life. Eventually Orgizo wins in what he calls “a landslide,” and touts “You lost, I won.” Typical of his winner-takes-anyway possible attitude.
The Accidental King of Achoo is destined to irritate Trumpsters as it entertains the millennials who voted for “Her.” Linda J. Falkner no doubt enjoyed writing this story, relieving her own inner stress and frustrations as she hopes to have millions laugh along which will find this unique political humor original and clever. A humorous, light-hearted look at life with The Donald as our President. The writing is sharp and incredibly creative. If you’re not a fan of Trump, this is a good purchase and makes a great gift. Look for this book, coming soon in bookstores, online and in neighborhood Trupperware parties along with gilded bathroom fixtures.
