The Book Report Episode #38
Episode #37
The Hippopotamus By Stephen Fry
The Book
First published in 1994 by Hutchinson. Associated with Arrow Books. What I am gathering are both imprints and ultimately owned by Penguin Random House. My copy was the 10th print in 1995. It was also published, at the same time, in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. All through their countries Penguin Random House.
There are 356 pages and nothing more.
What Did I Think
I wanted to love this book but the writing made it hard. The story itself is bland. There is no WOW factor but just a simple story that seems stretched to achieve an outcome. The outcome is: Don’t rely on rumours and superstition without knowing the full story first. Look before you leap. Looking away will not keep the truth away. Being an idiot is no excuse. Oh and maybe giving your daughter away for a rumour does make you a bad parent.
I admit there was a part in the book I nearly laughed out loud. A stifled laugh. But that couldn’t improve my verdict.
The story is about Ted Wallace. He is a washed-out poet who has just been sacked from his job at the newspaper and enjoys a lot of drinking at any time that suits him.
His goddaughter June has asked him to see her family and investigate them. He has to find out if something is true. He doesn’t know what he has to investigate but she hopes that he will work it out. Before it’s too late.
He gets in touch with his Godson David and gets himself invited to stay for a while using the idea of writing the memoirs of his godson’s father, Michael Logan. An entrepreneurial master who has spent his life building many businesses.
I am not the most English literate man, so when you read a Stephen Fry book expect some big and small words that the average human wouldn’t normally use. And also some Latin. But also remember that Mr Fry is a very smart, intelligent man. And that also shows in his writing. And maybe that might be his slight downfall.
Is It Him?
The main character I assume is a version of Mr Fry, whom he has seen in the mirror. A little part he might not like much, but accepts. And maybe connected during a time when he was going through some mental health problems. I admit I have no idea what was going on during that time.
Mr Fry seems to be a person who can leap between classes. That’s probably why I like him. He doesn’t give a flying, who you are. You are accepted and that’s it. A good rule to live by.
This is a very British Upperclass story with the working class crashing in here and there. Which is what Ted needs to be, to live the life he leads. An almost Jane Austin-style/ novice, amateur detective story set in the late twentieth century. But with the trend of the time that the upper-class and close friends were idiots. Intelligent idiots. But still idiots.
Would I Recommend
I would say if you like Stephen Fry and want more than just his TV, movie and onstage stuff then give this book a go. But other than that I wouldn’t recommend this book. I will continue to enjoy whatever Mr Fry gets up to in the future. Even though this isn’t a bad book, the story isn’t the worst I have read. But, it’s not a good book either.
But, please, never resist reading a book because someone gives you their opinion. Because that is all it is. An opinion.
Would you like to purchase your very own copy?
You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/ USA, Barnes and Noble and eBay UK/ USA.
Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.
