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

[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.).