Biodiesel A Novel George H Monahan Books
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In an effort to beat the high cost of living, Anthropology Professor Thomas McGrath sets out to achieve energy independence by home-brewing biodiesel, a renewable fuel made from discarded cooking oil. Aided by his conspiracy-theorist, non-conformist friend, Jack Hancock, Thomas builds a biodiesel processor out of recycled appliances and produces an initial batch of high quality fuel. As Thomas sets out to find a steady supplier of used cooking oil, he is dismayed to learn that his neighbor, the avaricious businessman Vincent Tremayne, has all but cornered the waste oil market in a greedy bid to monopolize the "eco-friendly" biodiesel industry. A comedy of errors ensues as Vincent Tremayne and Thomas McGrath become locked in a desperate contest for control of the scarce raw material needed to make biodiesel. BIODIESEL is a comedic satire of environmentalism and the energy crisis, of corporate greed and government corruption. In a manner redolent of John Kennedy Toole's CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES, Joseph Heller's CATCH-22, and E. Annie Proulx's THE SHIPPING NEWS, BIODIESEL tells the story of an odd-ball cast of disparate characters--of philosophers and trophy wives--of financiers and fashion designers--of commercial fishermen, gourmet chefs and eco-terrorists--each drawn together by circumstance, on a collision course with destiny.
Biodiesel A Novel George H Monahan Books
This book was wonderful, from start to finish. Never a dull minute, it was all that I could do to put it down and get something done instead of trying to read it from start to finish. It's so refreshing to find a book this interesting and exciting, filled with quirky characters, oddball ideas that on the surface are doable, and a real plot against an evil oil company.I'm not a greenie, and I was a bit concerned about winding up with a book that preached about the evils of "man made global warming," but it's not that kind of book. Even if you are one of the believers you'll still enjoy this book. It doesn't take a side either way, it just weaves its way through the lives of some really interesting characters, and keeps you amused the entire way through.
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Biodiesel A Novel George H Monahan Books Reviews
George Monahan's first novel is a highly entertaining look at today's world of environmentalism run rampant in an age of governmental and corporate control sparked misinformation and sound bites. The novel's satiric view of our current state is very realistic, yet hilarious!!
It's a beautiful marriage of Libertarian politics and comedy.
Well done!!
The plans and schemes of this diverse cast of characters miraculously converge and lead to the phenominally unforeseen conclusion of this whimsical adventure. I hope Prof. Thomas McGrath (you've got to love him!) has more bright ideas.I would love a sequel.
I REALLY enjoyed this book and I learned a thing or two as well. When you reach the last two chapters, stand up and get ready to cheer.
"Grumpy Old Men" meets "Fargo".
Very funny and a great read. The topic is very relevant and the ambiance of the book is completely satisfying,
I read Biodiesel on a trip to Argentina and I have to say it was an amazing, relaxing way to end the day.
Strengths
1. It is intelligently written, yet, not overly scholarly.
2. The characters are very relatable. Yet, the author allows the characters moments of hilarious hyperbole, that remind me of "A Confederacy of Dunces"
3. The story smoothly build upon itself, to the point that it will have you cheering at the end.
Weaknesses
1. It is a first edition and has a few typos.
2. there were some twists that were a bit fantastical, yet, for the most part, it added to the satire.
Monahan's satirical wit and unpredictable plot twists kept me reading the way I thought only Vonnegut could. As I raced to finish the last few pages on an airplane, I found myself rejoicing when it was announced that the flight would have to enter a holding pattern due to bad weather. This book made me not only laugh out loud, but cringe at times with its poignant reminders of the hypocrisy littering society. I can only hope that Monahan continues to produce literary gems on par with Biodiesel.
I'll start out by saying that I loved this book. For a first-time novelist, I think that Monahan is an excellent writer. The novel is smart, informed and very, very funny.
The book follows a gaggle of small-town regulars engaged in their funny and often ridiculous personal agendas, all somehow related to their local interpretation of the modern Green movement. Everyone is represented here, from the college professor who wants to make his own biodiesel so he can retire with ample savings, his former air-headed student, now married to the local "make-a-buck-anyway-possible" oil man, to the professor's Libertarian, antagonist friend, to a whole host of amusing, forlorn characters, including everyday activists, Gaia worshippers and the poor soul who gets booted off his land so it can be sold off in a carbon-credit scam.
Sounds funny, right? Well, that is only where is starts. The various exploits of these characters as they pursue their various agendas is funny enough along the way but it all leads up to one of the funniest chapters I have read in a good long while. So if you pick this read up, don't give up on it as the end is a scream. Personally, I don't think you will want to give up as the various situations leading up to the end are easily enough to keep you interested, entertained and engaged. Monahan is obviously well versed in the areas behind the story line including the making of biodiesel as well as the values of a good Libertarian so I suspect you will find it a learning experience as well. I know I did.
Also, don't pass this one up because you think it merely is an excuse to make fun of the Green movement. Anyone who believes in the real conservationist values in America will find little offense here. This book is poking just a bit of fun at some of our modern machinations around "acting locally". And while I happen to be a nature lover, bird watcher and general conservationist myself, I personally think the teasing that Monahan shells out is well deserved.
"Timely" is the book review copout, or kiss off, word that most often gets hauled off the shelf when the reviewer can't think of anything else positive to say. But in the case of George Monahan's "Biodiesel," the "timely" dodge really isn't.
As we speak, U.S. warships powered by french-fry grease and other such gunk are tooling around off Hawaii in exercises with the ships of a few friendly nations, including Japan's.(Hawaii? Japan? Hello?? We gotta' talk).
Many members of Congress hate this, of course. They say it's a lot cheaper to run destroyers and cruisers on regular rather than biodiesel, and they're also against all efforts by the military to go green. So it seems we can forget solar-powered tanks.
And as we speak, bioburglars equipped with big vacuumy things on trucks are prowling the night in the Washington, D.C., suburbs to suck out every last drop from the waste tanks of burger joints. As Casey said, you could look it up. They get $3 a gallon for this stuff.
George has taken this sludgy topic on a Rabelasian ride past the trophy-wived executive suites of Big Oil and the ever-so-earnest hideaways of not-so Big Green. And wait til' you get to know Daphne Tremayne, femme fatale wannabe and and clueless Cruella.
Somebody's gotta' find some fun in cap and trade, or trade and cap, whatever, and George is the guy to do it.
This book was wonderful, from start to finish. Never a dull minute, it was all that I could do to put it down and get something done instead of trying to read it from start to finish. It's so refreshing to find a book this interesting and exciting, filled with quirky characters, oddball ideas that on the surface are doable, and a real plot against an evil oil company.
I'm not a greenie, and I was a bit concerned about winding up with a book that preached about the evils of "man made global warming," but it's not that kind of book. Even if you are one of the believers you'll still enjoy this book. It doesn't take a side either way, it just weaves its way through the lives of some really interesting characters, and keeps you amused the entire way through.
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