Benjamin Arnold Guppy loved turnips. He loved eating them, but most of all he loved throwing them. He also loved money and pain... extorting a lot ...
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Feb 10, 2009
Dee
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“The Wonderful Demise of Benjamin Arnold Guppy,” (or, as I like to call it, the tale of the world’s grumpiest old man), is a murderous misadventure wrapped in the guise of comedic calamities. The story gives new meaning to the old adage...that you can pick your house, you can even pick your neighborhood, but you cannot pick your neighbors.
In Gina Collia-Suzuki cautionary tale, an urban, British couple purchase what they perceive to be their dream home. On move-in day, an “unwelcomin More...
In Gina Collia-Suzuki cautionary tale, an urban, British couple purchase what they perceive to be their dream home. On move-in day, an “unwelcomin More...
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Apr 17, 2009
Ellie
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As someone who's had horrible neighbours for more than ten years, I picked this book up worrying it might make me feel down about my own situation but it had the opposite effect. Fast paced and hilarious and incredibly entertaining, I couldn't put it down. The character development is excellent and Collia-Suzuki has really captured the madness of nightmare neighbours so well and the frustration you feel when you've got them.
The story is that Alex and Roy Leah have moved into a new f More...
The story is that Alex and Roy Leah have moved into a new f More...
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Feb 17, 2011
Malcolm
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When Alex and her husband Roy move into an apartment in a middle class English neighborhood and meet their grumpy, greedy and potentially insane neighbors, Ben and Pat Guppy, it becomes abundantly clear before chapter one ends with "And with that the battle lines were drawn up," that any sane person would begin considering murder as a viable alternative to long-term unpleasantness.
After all, in any aquarium of dazzling tropical fish, the the guppy is background clutter at bes More...
After all, in any aquarium of dazzling tropical fish, the the guppy is background clutter at bes More...
May 12, 2010
Paula
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I think at some point in our lives we have all experienced bad neighbours, whether they play their music too loud or just plain annoy you, they are always there.
With 'The Wonderful Demise of Benjamin Arnold Guppy', Gina Collia-Suzuki has created the most loathsome of characters I have ever had the pleasure to read, the formidable Mr and Mrs Guppy, who despite their age control a whole neighbourhood and daily harass their new neighbours, Roy and Alex Leah (Alex's is the narrator of t More...
With 'The Wonderful Demise of Benjamin Arnold Guppy', Gina Collia-Suzuki has created the most loathsome of characters I have ever had the pleasure to read, the formidable Mr and Mrs Guppy, who despite their age control a whole neighbourhood and daily harass their new neighbours, Roy and Alex Leah (Alex's is the narrator of t More...
May 03, 2009
Elijah
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A cautionary tale about the effects of letting the geriatric get away with pedantic, invasive and abusive activities simply because he's old, The Wonderful Demise of Bengamin Arnold Guppy is a delightfully twisted psychological thriller. With the ending given away in the first paragraph (And the title) and motivation provided in detail through the description of one of the most execrable old men you'll ever meet, the story focuses on how rational, socially adjusted people are pushed to homicide
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Aug 01, 2010
Ruth
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I'm sad to say, this one disappointed me. I picked it up because I entered to win its sequel in the Goodreads Firstreads giveaway section (I feel awful, but I have since removed myself. I figured I shouldn't take the place of someone who enjoyed the first one). I can see why it's been given labels of 'humour' and 'satire,' but it quickly turned bitter. It's obvious from the author blurb that this is based somewhat on real-life experiences, but that only served to make me feel more awkward readin
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Dec 04, 2009
Amy
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This book has a funny (definitely dark humor) premise to it, and I liked the narrative at the beginning, but I guess my main problem with it is it never gave me a character to like or even identify with. The Guppys are ONLY bad, and there are very few people who are so one sided like that. I wanted to know WHY they were the way they were, and maybe even sympathize with them a little bit, but then I guess the murder may have bothered me more. The book felt too much like one long rationalizatio
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Mar 29, 2009
Lis
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 26, 2009
Beth
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Oh, how I loved this book. Gina Collia-Suzuki grabbed me on the first page and never let me go. This is a funny, frightening, and totally entertaining story of what could happen if your neighbors were completely crazy and held you square in the crosshairs of their madness.
Wonderful character development and superb writing made this a bona fide page turner. And, besides being a fun and deliciously wicked tale read, it was also just scary enough to make me wonder who in my neighborhood More...
Wonderful character development and superb writing made this a bona fide page turner. And, besides being a fun and deliciously wicked tale read, it was also just scary enough to make me wonder who in my neighborhood More...
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May 27, 2009
Stuart
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Wickedly Twisted Tale of the Neighbours from Hell
Gina Collia-Suzuki can write: really write.
A young couple, Alex and Roy, hopes and aspirations for an idyllic life by the seaside are shattered when they move into their flat at Hill View.
Like the layers of an onion, the author masterfully peels back the layers to reveal what could possibly be the world’s worst neighbour— the despicable old man, Benjamin Arnold Guppy and his equally deplorable wife, Pat.
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Gina Collia-Suzuki can write: really write.
A young couple, Alex and Roy, hopes and aspirations for an idyllic life by the seaside are shattered when they move into their flat at Hill View.
Like the layers of an onion, the author masterfully peels back the layers to reveal what could possibly be the world’s worst neighbour— the despicable old man, Benjamin Arnold Guppy and his equally deplorable wife, Pat.
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(3 people liked it)
Nov 01, 2009
Lori
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This is my pick for an upcoming bookclub. It is a quick read( you could read it in a day) and filled with ridiculous things that the elderly get away with motivating a perfect murder. I was looking for somethng different than alot of previous picks of the year,and this was it! A dark comedy that will keep you entertained, laughing and plotting right along with the main character. Fun!
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May 29, 2009
Jaimey
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Synopsis: A tale of nasty neighbors, dark comedy and, ultimately, the perfect murder.
What I liked: Well, it was hilarious. The story offers a glimpse into the mind of an otherwise normal young housewife, driven to murder by circumstances out of her control. I can't begin to imagine the horror described in this book, the lunacy of neighbors trying to extort money and resorting to attacks when none is forthcoming. I found the Guppy's attempts to drive their new neighbors away more funn More...
What I liked: Well, it was hilarious. The story offers a glimpse into the mind of an otherwise normal young housewife, driven to murder by circumstances out of her control. I can't begin to imagine the horror described in this book, the lunacy of neighbors trying to extort money and resorting to attacks when none is forthcoming. I found the Guppy's attempts to drive their new neighbors away more funn More...
Jun 25, 2011
Keith
rated it:
A cautionary tale about the problems which bad neighbours can cause if they put their minds to it, and Benjamin Guppy certainly does that.
Jun 21, 2011
Sherry
rated it:
Too long. Somewhat entertaining. The elderly characters in this book are just awful!!! I hope I never ever have neighbors, young or old, like the Ben and Pat Guppy!!!!
Jun 13, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
An entertaining story but about 150 pages too long. Would've been a better short story.
Dec 06, 2009
Rebecca
rated it:
Definitely not a favorite book of mine, I also found many grammatical errors in the printing which really bothered me. It definitely had a few funny parts, but mostly in the beginning because I felt like it started to get tedious as it went on. The humor was also kind of dark.
Oct 01, 2009
Allison
rated it: 
Fun little book. Got REALLY irritated with the police, but I guess that's an important part of the story. Enjoyed it.
Mar 20, 2011
Page
rated it:
This was an easy read. I wouldn't have been able to put up with what the main characters did. I would have done something MUCH sooner.
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