Title: The Story of Pooville
Author: Fenton Roades
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1532087844
Pages: 158
Genre: Humorous Fiction/Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina

Read Book Review

Fame can be one of the most powerful forces in the world, both for good and bad.
Whether someone uses that fame for wealth and power or to help influence and bring
about change, fame is a major driving force within society as a whole. As Muhammad
Ali once said, “I wanted to use my fame and this face that everyone knows so well to
help uplift and inspire people around the world.”

In author Fenton Roades’ The Story of Pooville, the author uses humor to tell a story of
fame, success, greed and corruption. Following George Poo, a science teacher from
Manchester whose father and uncle run a horse-manure hauling business, moves his
family to the United States. After securing his family and a job there, he discovers a new
revolutionary fertilizing process that could change the world. Building his own company
and town, George begins his quest to change the world.

This was one of the more unique and interesting historical fiction and humor reads I’ve
come across. The author does an amazing job of casually blending in the humor into a
decades long story that examines the pursuit of the American Dream, the push to
further science, and the class system that exists in the US. Readers will be fascinated
as this company develops over the course of several decades, and the dreams and
aspirations of initial protagonist George Poo Sr. change and warp as time goes on. The
blending of this class system theme with humorous elements like the utilization of the
fertilizer’s secret process make this a fascinating read.

This book is the perfect read for those who enjoy humorous concepts, and utilize that
humor into a narrative which examines serious social issues. As a fan of the genre, it
was amazing how the author made the narrative feel natural and engaging while
employing witty commentary all at once. The evolution of this company at the beginning
of the twentieth century into the modern era was fun to read, and the novel’s greatest
strength came within its narrative and thematic storytelling.

Author Fenton Roades The Story of Pooville is definitely one of the most original
narratives within the humorous fiction genre. The fusion of this genre with the historical
fiction genre made for an entertaining and engaging plot, and the study of the class
system and corporate greed within a funny setting made this story stand out.

Fastpaced and narrative-driven, be sure to grab your copy of this phenomenal read today!