Ted Wallace is an old, sour, womanizing, cantankerous, whisky-sodden beast of a failed poet and drama critic, but he has his faults too. Fired from...
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Dec 17, 2009
Beli_grrl
rated it: 
A thought experiment to characterize the narrator of this book: What if somehow Oscar Wilde and Howard Stern had a son together?
Other reviews led me to believe that the plot would be very loose and mucky. Going into it with low expectations, I was pleasantly surprised when there was a pretty interesting plot and it was tied up rather neatly at the end.
If you are a fan of a good mystery, this is not for you. It is really only a mystery in the broadest sense. Mostly it's More...
Other reviews led me to believe that the plot would be very loose and mucky. Going into it with low expectations, I was pleasantly surprised when there was a pretty interesting plot and it was tied up rather neatly at the end.
If you are a fan of a good mystery, this is not for you. It is really only a mystery in the broadest sense. Mostly it's More...
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Aug 02, 2011
Tony
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The plot is a little weak, but you're not going to be reading and enjoying this book primarily for the plot anyway. Not that it's bad by any stretch, it's just that what will keep you moving through the book (and like all Fry's work, it is a quick and highly enjoyable read) is the amazing faculty he has with the language. Not a paragraph goes by without some turn of phrase, some peccadillo of thought, some left-field insight into how his thought process works, that will stop you for a moment and
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Dec 03, 2011
Isabel
rated it: 
Insanely, as if by the power of hypnosis, I found myself asking whether, since I'd shown him mine, he'd show me his.[return]He blushed like a ripe peach. 'You don't want to see it really,' he said.[return]'Well, can you recite any? Truly, I'd love to hear some.'[return]This from Ted Wallace, mind you, who'd been known to hurl himself into moving traffic at the prospect of verse recitation.[return]The poem was short, which was good. The poem was sweet, which was good. The poem had form, which was
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Aug 11, 2011
Do not bother with this book if you are easily shocked. It features lots of swear words, sexual references and bestiality...
...it is also very entertaining and kept me gripped right up to the end.
The story is told from the point of view of Ted Wallace. He was once a promising poet but hasn’t written anything in years and is now old, cynical and grumpy. He drinks a lot. He also sounds exactly like Stephen Fry. As I read his words I just couldn’t help hearing Stephen Fry in my head. The other cha More...
...it is also very entertaining and kept me gripped right up to the end.
The story is told from the point of view of Ted Wallace. He was once a promising poet but hasn’t written anything in years and is now old, cynical and grumpy. He drinks a lot. He also sounds exactly like Stephen Fry. As I read his words I just couldn’t help hearing Stephen Fry in my head. The other cha More...
Jul 27, 2011
Jenny Sparrow
rated it:
Если вы никогда не читали Стивена Фрая, советую вам непременно это сделать, но только, упаси Боже, не начинайте с "Гиппопотама"! Человеку, не знакомому с манерой Фрая изъясняться и некоторыми моментами его биографии, эта книга покажется во-первых, местами донельзя вычурной и пустословной, а во-вторых, просто-таки пошлой и вульгарной (из-за обилия нецензурщины в устах главного героя и откровенных сцен и аллюзий). Читайте роман, если вы, как и я, горячо любите Фрая, его иронию, его изыск
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Jun 07, 2011
Skyring
rated it:
I wasn't sure what to make of this to begin with, but I found it increasingly brilliant as I went along.
Stephen Fry has wickedly rewritten the country house detective mystery. Brought it into the modern age, along with associated bad language and cultural references. But realistically, it could have been set any time in the past century. Like P G Wodehouse's novels of upper class English society, it is ageless.
Wodehouse could not have written this, however. Not enough fun, an More...
Stephen Fry has wickedly rewritten the country house detective mystery. Brought it into the modern age, along with associated bad language and cultural references. But realistically, it could have been set any time in the past century. Like P G Wodehouse's novels of upper class English society, it is ageless.
Wodehouse could not have written this, however. Not enough fun, an More...
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Jul 02, 2010
Danika
rated it:
I really had no idea what to expect from this book. I had never read any of Fyr's work before. I randomly grabbed it from the shelf. I was pleasantly surprised, but then again, I have a fondness for dry British humour.
I also have a fondness for anti-heroes, but they have to be intelligent and/or witty and I must empathize with them. This book's protagonist, Ted Wallace, is a "sour, womanizing, cantankerous, whisky-sodden beast of a failed poet and drama critic" - what's not More...
I also have a fondness for anti-heroes, but they have to be intelligent and/or witty and I must empathize with them. This book's protagonist, Ted Wallace, is a "sour, womanizing, cantankerous, whisky-sodden beast of a failed poet and drama critic" - what's not More...
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Aug 04, 2009
MacK
rated it: 
Faith: (n) a belief based on things hoped for rather than things seen.
I have faith in a great many things, most of all in literature and authors I admire. So I had faith that the first novel I read from Stephen Fry would allow me to revel in awe of one of the most sophisticated and witty writers in the world today.
Which is why I was startled to confront a first in my long life of reading--a plea for faith, for willing suspension of disbelief...that I could not willingly suspe More...
I have faith in a great many things, most of all in literature and authors I admire. So I had faith that the first novel I read from Stephen Fry would allow me to revel in awe of one of the most sophisticated and witty writers in the world today.
Which is why I was startled to confront a first in my long life of reading--a plea for faith, for willing suspension of disbelief...that I could not willingly suspe More...
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Jun 04, 2009
Manny
rated it:
The cantankerous, alcoholic, abusive, yet strangely charming hero of The Hippopotamus is clearly based on the late Kingsley Amis, and you can view the whole book as a kind of homage to him. It's a first-person narrative; it starts off with the hero being sacked from his job as a theatre critic for yelling drunken abuse from the stalls, and before we've got to page 20 we've already had a wonderful disquisition on the worthlessness of bottled water and Italian salad greens. (He invites his long-su
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Jan 27, 2010
David
rated it:
If you think that there is a discrepancy between giving a book 3 stars and placing it on the "disappointing" shelf, remember that the author is Stephen Fry, someone I think of as being awesomely smart and very funny. His intelligence is evident in this book, but much of the attempted humor falls flat. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that much of it is the kind of humor that might have flown a generation ago (think Kingsley Amis, Wilt Sharpe, Roald Dahl), but is completely jarr
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Jun 06, 2010
Carien
rated it:
To be honest, I had problems getting into this story. It's not because it's not well written, because Fry writes excellent. It's not because the story isn't good, because it's a great story. No, it's because Ted Wallace is the nastiest, most awful lead character I've ever come across in books. He is small minded, sexist and unpleasant and I had a hard time at first to see beyond his behaviour to the story behind his rather large ego (hence the hippopotamus). Once I got used to Ted the story was
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Mar 15, 2009
Josh
rated it: 
Impossible to categorise, in a phrase. The whole book meanders drunkenly between the merely quirky to the flat-out insane. I think the best way this book could be described would be "Wuthering Heights, but with all the cursing put back in". There's a certain crazed skewing of the setting we all know and (Don't) love - that of an upper-class manor full of intrigue, except seen through the eyes of a rather muddy pair of spectacles.
If my metaphors are muddled, it's because I r More...
If my metaphors are muddled, it's because I r More...
Aug 19, 2009
Angela
rated it:
Once I got past the horrendous language, and the narrator's inappropriate side remarks, I learned to expect them and began enjoying it for what it was. I wouldn't say it's "laugh out loud" funny, which is what the quotes on the back want me to believe. But I had a few good chuckles, and a few "I don't believe I just read that" moments, and actually enjoyed reading it.
I love a sarcastic, bitter narrator. I was impressed with the characterization; it wasn't the same More...
I love a sarcastic, bitter narrator. I was impressed with the characterization; it wasn't the same More...
Dec 16, 2009
Megan
rated it:
Quite fantastic! A bit of P.G. Wodehouse, but pretty joyous fun. Especially for the quite logical among us. Stephen Fry is amazing and continues to be so in his authorship.
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Mar 13, 2011
Morgan
rated it:
This book was completely different from what I expected! Any one with any mind adored Stephen Fry so I picked up the book with no more than at two minute glance to see what it was about. I can't say it was m favourite book of all time but it certainly entertained me and was easy to read but with great humour.
On the cover of my copy a review has described it as 'wickedly funny' and I couldn't sum it up better myself. I glad with the way it finished otherwise I think it could have seemed More...
On the cover of my copy a review has described it as 'wickedly funny' and I couldn't sum it up better myself. I glad with the way it finished otherwise I think it could have seemed More...
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Apr 13, 2009
Eli
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 08, 2012
Tjibbe
rated it:
Man, this was an entertaining book. Must...find....more....books....by.....Stephen.......Fry
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Feb 13, 2008
Earl
rated it:
Unlike the usual crap balyhooed by the New York literati, this book is genuinely funny.
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Oct 27, 2010
Charlaralotte
rated it:
Well, it's Stephen Fry. How can it be anything but delightful? I was pleasantly surprised to find an intriguing examination of how children come to believe things about themselves.
Why aren't there more people as brilliant, witty, and elegant as Fry? Certainly in America, due to our amnesiac collective consciousness and delight in dumbness, we have a substantial dearth of anyone resembling him. If everyone listened to tapes of Stephen Fry discoursing on anything and everything for at More...
Why aren't there more people as brilliant, witty, and elegant as Fry? Certainly in America, due to our amnesiac collective consciousness and delight in dumbness, we have a substantial dearth of anyone resembling him. If everyone listened to tapes of Stephen Fry discoursing on anything and everything for at More...
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Nov 03, 2011
Craig
rated it:
Oh, what a delightfully naughty treat Mr. Fry has served up with The Hippopotamus. While the plot doesn't quite reach the same satisfying complexity as the subsequent The Stars' Tennis Balls, it nevertheless steers clear of The Liar's incomprehensible detours, and leaves us with a witty, wicked, belly-laughing satire about art, faith, adolescence, and sex.
Fry employs his tremendous wit and charm to create a series of seemingly impossible elements, among which are a hilarious chauven More...
Fry employs his tremendous wit and charm to create a series of seemingly impossible elements, among which are a hilarious chauven More...
Mar 01, 2011
Johnantony
rated it:
Brilliant, gigglingly funny, contrary to many reviews there is nothing "disgusting" in this book just plain old humanity laid out as it is and humanity is disgusting by nature, as nature is a bunch of kids giggling at the monkeys spanking off at the zoo no point being prudishly shocked by this or the less or more imaginative consensual activities of man. "Disgusting" is "war", "oppression" "persecution" not wanking or swearing or writing ... Get
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Feb 23, 2011
Paolo
rated it:
I wasn't sure what to think of this book at first and found the first half to contain too much waffle and tangents. I did, however, read through to the end and I'm glad I did because it all tied up quite nicely in the end.
There are sections of, let's say, a sexually explicit and un-PC nature which cross many taboos but I think there was somewhat of a point being made by the author and I think I saw the comical side of it all.
I'd be careful who I recommended it to, but if More...
There are sections of, let's say, a sexually explicit and un-PC nature which cross many taboos but I think there was somewhat of a point being made by the author and I think I saw the comical side of it all.
I'd be careful who I recommended it to, but if More...
Nov 22, 2011
Philip
rated it:
I really like Stephen Fry. I think he’s a very intelligent and witty man. So why has it taken me so long to seek out his writing? Well, for the same reason I resisted watching QI for so long (before I realised what a great show it is); I thought it would make me feel stupid. I would like to tell you that my fears were unfounded, but check out this little list of words I came across while reading this book, and be honest, how many of them could you define without running to a dictionary?
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Aug 17, 2011
caty
rated it:
Edward Wallace has just been fired from his writing job with a London daily when he runs into his god-daughter in a bar. She offers him a remarkable sum of money to go spend some time with his former best friend (her uncle) and find out the curiosity’s of his home and family. So he goes to the huge manor in Norfolk and bizarreness unfolds.
Ted (Edward) was a character you instantly both liked and hated at the same time being a dirty old man who seemed to have little emotion for anyone, himself in
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Jan 28, 2011
Mike
rated it:
Thus far I'm totally taken aback. I love it.
Stephen Fry is one of the most brilliant individuals of the current time. To find that he excels in literature as well should be no surprise.
Is it dirty? Absolutely. Is the protagonist an egotistical, whiskey-soaked, misogynist? Absolutely. Remember...this is a work of fiction and try not to get all uppity about some cursing and lewd language. Don't forget that some of the best, and now, most respected works of art, literature, music and t More...
Stephen Fry is one of the most brilliant individuals of the current time. To find that he excels in literature as well should be no surprise.
Is it dirty? Absolutely. Is the protagonist an egotistical, whiskey-soaked, misogynist? Absolutely. Remember...this is a work of fiction and try not to get all uppity about some cursing and lewd language. Don't forget that some of the best, and now, most respected works of art, literature, music and t More...
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May 29, 2010
Chelsea
rated it:
The Good:
1. Incredibly witty and well written. You can tell Stephen Fry put in a lot of work crafting each sentence. His sharp wit and charming word play are a delight to read.
2. The storyline, once it appears, is a fun little mystery. At first I thought this was a whimsical tale but it the twist is very appealing and surprising.
3. Its just an unusual little book. A night diversion from what I usually read. I have read Stephen Fry's other novel "The Liar" which was da More...
1. Incredibly witty and well written. You can tell Stephen Fry put in a lot of work crafting each sentence. His sharp wit and charming word play are a delight to read.
2. The storyline, once it appears, is a fun little mystery. At first I thought this was a whimsical tale but it the twist is very appealing and surprising.
3. Its just an unusual little book. A night diversion from what I usually read. I have read Stephen Fry's other novel "The Liar" which was da More...
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Mar 29, 2010
Bunxena
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 05, 2009
Maureen
rated it:
it's laugh-out-loud funny at times, and pleasant the rest of the time. ted wallace, the poet protagonist seems a modern version of bertie wooster, up until the end, when he has shows the perspicacity of jeeves. i suspect it isn't a coincidence fry, and his best friend hugh laurie, starred in the BBC adaptation of wodehouse' jeeves and wooster stories, which ran just prior to the publication of this book. living wodehouse for four years would no doubt have an influence on one's writing. i am curi
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Oct 15, 2010
Fran
rated it:
Is there anything Stephen Fry can't do??
I found this book while wandering idly through the library. First thought, "Hey, Stephen Fry wrote a book!" Second thought, "Hey, it's signed!"
Third thought, "I wonder what it's about..." Since it was a library book sans dust jacket, there was no way to know, and I'm so glad. You should pick up this book and read without having an inkling of what's in store. I'll just say that it's funny, it's th More...
I found this book while wandering idly through the library. First thought, "Hey, Stephen Fry wrote a book!" Second thought, "Hey, it's signed!"
Third thought, "I wonder what it's about..." Since it was a library book sans dust jacket, there was no way to know, and I'm so glad. You should pick up this book and read without having an inkling of what's in store. I'll just say that it's funny, it's th More...
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Sep 09, 2010
To be honest, whilst I like Stephen Fry on TV and enjoyed his autobiographical book, I found this story rather too crude for my liking. It was also quite hard to follow at first, because of the way it went back and forth between different characters and time periods. Whilst I can't say that I particularly enjoyed this book, I am glad that I read it. There was certainly a kind of feel-good factor to its ending. I don't think I'll be reading another Stephen Fry fiction however.
