The ugly

Title:

The ugly

Author:

Boldizar, Alexander, author.

Personal Author:

Boldizar, Alexander, author.

ISBN:

9781936767472

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

365 pages ; 22 cm

Abstract:

"An adventure, coming-of-age novel that documents two parallel-running stories, past and present, of one individual, Muzhduk the Ugli the Fourth. In the first story, a boulder-throwing mountain man from Siberia whose land is stolen by American lawyers goes to Harvard Law School to learn how to throw words; in the second, Muzhduk has traveled to Africa to search for a lover who may be a humanitarian aid worker on a well-digging mission, or a terrorist" -- Provided by publisher.

Corporate Subject:

Harvard Law School -- Fiction.

Subject Term:

Russians -- Fiction.

Slovaks -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Africa -- Fiction.

Siberia (Russia) -- Fiction.

Genre:

Adventure fiction.

Bildungsromans.

Black humor (Literature)

Summary:

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... Belmont	Book	FICTION BOLDIZA	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

Fiction. Humor. Muzhduk the Ugli the Fourth is a 300--pound boulder--throwing mountain man from Siberia whose tribal homeland is stolen by an American lawyer out to build a butterfly conservatory for wealthy tourists. In order to restore his people's land and honor, Muzhduk must travel to Harvard Law School to learn how to throw words instead of boulders. His anarchic adventures span continents, from Siberia to Cambridge to Africa, as he fights fellow students, Tuareg rebels, professors of law, dark magic, bureaucrats, heatstroke, postmodernists, and eventually time and space. A wild existential comedic romp, THE UGLY tells the tale of a flawed and unlikely hero struggling against the machine that shapes the people who govern our world.

"A picaresque novel about mountain people, Harvard lawyers, the heft of rocks, and the power of words. THE UGLY brims with intelligence and humor." --Laila Lalami, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize

"Even those with only a passing familiarity will nevertheless appreciate his muscular critique of conflicts both intellectual and physical. A surprising treat."--Publishers Weekly

Reviews (1)

Kirkus Review

A Slovak tribal chief attends Harvard Law School in order to gain the skills to save his tribe in Boldizar's debut satire. Muzhduk the Ugli, the Fourth, the leader of a tribe in northeastern Siberia, triumphantly defends a challenge to his chieftainship by winning the Dull-Boulder Throw. But in order to solidify his leadership status, the 300-pound Slovak must climb a mountain that's higher than those scaled by previous chiefs, including his father. Mount Baldhead in the Verkhoyansk Range appears to be ideal, but then a group of Americans shows up there, claiming that they've purchased it from the Russian government. Furthermore, an attorney with a law degree from Harvard University bamboozles Muzhduk and his father into signing over tribal land. Soon, Muzhduk is intent on applying to Harvard himself, seeing it as his metaphorical mountain; specifically, he wants to gain the proper vernacular to defeat the American lawyer at his own game. Despite a perfect LSAT score, he has trouble gaining admittance to the school, but he ultimately takes the place of another student, Peggy Roundtree, who gave up her spot. A concurrent plotline follows Muzhduk in Mali, a year or so later, searching for Peggy. It appears that some governments in Africa have declared Peggy a terrorist, and after rebels kidnap her, Muzhduk seeks to help her with his newfound weapon of words. Boldizar's lampoons of legal arguments are largely successful even if the frequent classroom discussions don't always make sense. For example, Muzhduk makes a point about a well-known 1994 lawsuit against McDonald's by contrasting buying hot coffee with slavery. It is, however, amusing to watch a man who's accustomed to settling disputes physically engage in a "word-throwing battle." The novel's humor carries into its occasional surreal moments, such as Muzhduk's interactions with a small, blue-furred, and possibly imaginary bear named Pooh (which the Slovak says might be a possible copyright violation). The scenes set in Mali are often tense, as the rebels feel like a genuine threat. Translated Slovak curses are sometimes offensive but consistently hilarious, such as "May your mother recognize you in kebab meat." A bizarre but delightful sendup of illogical arguments. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.