Books > Politics

[triedunture]

I finally, finally, after about a month of reading during my lunch hours (which I take maybe twice a week, and then usually for 30 minutes), I've worked my way through Hippopotamus. Wanna hear thoughts? I have thoughts!

If I were less lazy, I would find the old post about The Liar that I wrote pre-The Hack of 2008 to compare my thoughts, but here we are, and I am still lazy. Suffice to say, Hippopotamus is Fry's second novel and I found it a much improved experience over The Liar. The narrative voice was smoother and the devices were used with more confidence. The Liar was a wobbling jell-o while Hippopotamus was stronger and, I think, a little more substantive.

Which is not to say it wasn't hilarious and entertaining. I honestly filled the courtyard with guffaws during my measly lunch breaks. It did, like The Liar, start off slowly. Those with a lack of concentration might find it difficult to dive straight into as far as plot, but the distinctive lovable-hateable sometimes-narrator Ted is so wonderfully crass that it matters little; he will keep you entertained while the plot catches up.

I don't want to spoil anyone, but I think you'll find the subject matter surprising. There's an injection of spirituality and hocus pocus that will have you checking the book flap to make sure this is THE Stephen Fry we're talking about. Then you'll feel like an ass when you get to the end because of course THE Stephen Fry is writing this and of course he's just played a massive trick on you and you should really have been paying more attention while eating that panini, reader. Gosh!

Even as you scrape together your self-worth after falling for his little ploy, you might feel cheated. Angry that the ending came at you so quickly. Perhaps critical of the pace changing so rapidly there at the final bit. I mean, we spent almost an entire chapter in the lead up to WWII! (A bit too long if you ask me; certainly a strange piece of what seemed to be filler?) Surely there might have been one paragraph slowly dipping our toes into the pool of denouement?

Oh, quit being such a baby, I say to that reader (me?). You had a lovely time with a lovely book. So you didn't see the ending coming. This isn't Encyclopedia Brown. You're fine just going along for the ride.

I don't know what to do with this book yet. Usually every time I finish a book, I either trade it on Swaptree.com or sell it back at the Strand. I don't think I'll ever read Hippopotamus again because I don't think I'll get the same amount of pleasure in a second read-through, but I also had such a nice time with it that I don't quite want to give it up. I'm hardly ever sentimental with books (or anything material). Maybe I'll hang onto it, if only to have something worn and loved for Mr Fry to sign if he ever comes to NYC for a book signing.

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As for the election. This is what I took away from tonight's debate:

The GOP's platform seems to be all for finding a cure for autism with no funding except for magic gumdrops, rainbows, and sunshine.

Also, I thought Palin's special needs child has Down's, not autism?

Not that it matters. Magic gumdrops would need to be imported from Columbia to cure either.

*hides under a rock and waits for November*

Comments

[ironicbees.livejournal.com]

I liked The Hippopotamus better, too, in large part because I found it much less confusing. XD I was lucky enough to find my copy in Goodwill a few years ago. Not gonna give it away, because what's the chance of my finding another Stephen Fry book in a thrift store?! *treasures all things Stepheny*

Have you read Making History?

I didn't see the debate, but from what I've read abut it, your observations pretty much sum it up.

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

Making History is on my wish list, but I have not wrangled a copy yet. Is it also a novel?

[ironicbees.livejournal.com]

Yep. I've heard good things about it. What I really want is to finish reading "The Ode Less Travelled" one of these days. It actually made me want to read old, long poems, which I never do.

[sige-vic.livejournal.com]

Do you read books in electronic versions? I can send you the text of Making History.

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

Sure! That would be awfully decent of you. I'm sure I'll buy one version or another, so I lessen my pirate guilt that way.

You can send it to triedunture at gmail, or post a link here if you like.

[pinglederry.livejournal.com]

HAVE YOU READ REVENGE?? *bounces*

Also - what, are we not playing chicken anymore?

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

NO, I have not, though that's also on my "to get via trade, barter, or sexual conquest" list.

And yes, I know, I know, I gave up on Google Chicken. I bow to your superior online stomach.

[pinglederry.livejournal.com]

Score! I win. You know there's hardcore Lilo/Stitch fanfiction though, right? I love the internet. :)

Revenge is really, really good. It's based on The Count of Monte Cristo, which I didn't realize at first (because I didn't read the back when I bought it), and which apparently Stephen didn't realize until he was halfway through writing it. *g*

I'm open to trading books through sexual conquest, BTW. *salacious wink* Or, you know, just trading.

[cadeira.livejournal.com]

Oh, no. You didn´t just tell her on what book the Tennis Balls is based, did you? Hush!
It´s one of those things that makes the book so marvellous - that you go around with the feeling... "Wait, something´s not right here." and suddenly you discover it and all the anagrams... be assured it´s all in there in the very first chapters. I´m convinced he knew perfectly well what he was doing ;-)

[pinglederry.livejournal.com]

No, no, no worries. I was talking about Revenge. :) And that book says "Based on The Count of Monte Cristo" right on the cover (or at least, the back cover), so it'd be hard to not be spoiled about that.

[cadeira.livejournal.com]

Well, 'The Stars Tennis Balls' was the original title and it was now published under the name of 'Revenge', wasn´t it? And really...? Some silly publisher put that phrase on the back cover?
Anyway, a good read in any case.

And sorry triedunture for spamming your journal.

[pinglederry.livejournal.com]

I didn't know the thing about the title. Nifty. And yes, it mentions The Count of Monte Cristo at least three times on the front and back covers in the version I have, mostly in quotes from positive book reviews. Sorry if I spoiled anything, but I was under the impression that it was made clear from the beginning. :( The book also has an addendum by Stephen at the end talking about his process in writing the book. It's really funny. :) He said he had this great idea, and started writing it out, and worked on it for a while, only to sit up in horror (I believe in the middle of the night) when he realized why his plot seemed so familiar. He decided to go with it anyway, and changed all the names so that they were anagrams of the original characters and so on.

[cadeira.livejournal.com]

Now that´s interesting. I´d love to read that addendum. I think it makes a hell of a different reading experience.
Speaking of hell, dude, your icon gives me the creeps.

[cadeira.livejournal.com]

The Hippopotamus was the second of Fry´s books I listened to and before that the Tennis Balls. And some days ago I finished The Liar. In comparison, I thought the Tennis Balls were much more sophisticated in style and language and plot. The Liar just confused me because all those bits in between didn´t make very much sense until the very end. I had a good time anyway because he was reading it to me and the solution as well as the homoerotic tidbits made up a bit for the confusion.
As for the Hippopotamus... I fell into exactly the same trap, of course. But... but unlike with the Liar it was all there, the hints and the moments were the underlying truth was being communicated were palpable. Stephen narrates Ted in a way so you love to hate him.

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

Yes, Ted was great. Just so awful you had to be pleased with him in that Housian way of "God, I wish I could get away with saying/doing that." I also couldn't decide whether I liked Ted better because I knew it was a character far-off from what Stephen was; I mean, The Liar's MC was preeeeetty close to autobiographical, but Ted is a critic, a and a failure, things I know Stephen is not. But so what, I then ask myself. If you didn't "know" who the author was then you wouldn't care how much he was stretching himself.

It's a whole big thing. But I can't help it: I liked this book more for whatever reason is most true.

[cadeira.livejournal.com]

Maybe Ted is expression of a part of Stephen´s personality we don´t get to see on TV... I like to think he´s staging at least some parts of his appearance...

Anyway, there was one thing... you´re in publishing so you probably have a better feeling for that, there is this one part in the book where Ted is in the tub and suddenly has to get out. He tells us "Years ago I discovered, and you may find this useful, a trick which enables one to dress quickly after a bath...." and then he tells us to rub yourself with oil to get dressed quickly. I had the feeling this was some kind of bouncy device added after the thing went to the editor... or, well not. Just struck me as particularily odd.

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

I think the flashback chapter to the family history sounded odd too. I'm not sure if it smells of editorial handiwork, though. Depends on the editor. Some use a light touch, others push for more. The chapter felt forced to me because it was so, so overwrought, like there needed to be a pumped wordcount (which happens in some houses; certain imprints have a strict wordcount. Novels are so many words, novellas are so many, etc.).