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114th out of 1,014 books
—
692 voters
The Wonderful Demise of Benjamin Arnold Guppy
by
Gina Collia-Suzuki (Goodreads Author)
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 of the former and causing an equal amount of the latter. A foul, sour-faced old swindler with a penchant for clucking like a chicken and more than a passing interest in the local postman, he was determined to get his hands on hi...more
Paperback, 228 pages
Published
December 1st 2008
by Nezu Press
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Feb 10, 2009
Dee Marie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Dee by:
Author
Shelves:
recommend
“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 “unwelcoming party” of...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 “unwelcoming party” of...more
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 flat only to...more
The story is that Alex and Roy Leah have moved into a new flat only to...more
A satire, very funny.
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 best. But, should the r...more
After all, in any aquarium of dazzling tropical fish, the the guppy is background clutter at best. But, should the r...more
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 the story), 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 the story), t...more
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...more
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...more
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 rationalization f...more
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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 might be wa...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 might be wa...more
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.
The Guppy’s delusions of self-importance es...more
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.
The Guppy’s delusions of self-importance es...more
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!
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 funny than anyth...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 funny than anyth...more
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!!!!
An entertaining story but about 150 pages too long. Would've been a better short story.
Sep 21, 2009
Ladiibbug
marked it as wish-list
pb rel. 12/08
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.
Fun little book. Got REALLY irritated with the police, but I guess that's an important part of the story. Enjoyed 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.
Mar 24, 2013
Nash Mascaro Crimson River Productions
marked it as to-read
Oct 10, 2012
Jamie
marked it as to-read
Oct 07, 2012
Xiri
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Oct 05, 2012
Michelle
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Sep 20, 2012
Jeff Mires
marked it as to-read
Aug 31, 2012
Bajavballgurl
marked it as to-read
Jul 29, 2012
Kris
marked it as to-read
Jul 14, 2012
Veronica
marked it as wishlist
May 05, 2012
Lorien
marked it as to-read
Apr 12, 2012
George
marked it as to-read
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Gina Collia-Suzuki is an art historian, writer and artist based in the UK. Having developed a deep interest in Japanese art, history and culture at an early age, she began studying Japanese woodblock prints whilst training as an artist in the 1980s. In 1986 the eminent scholar Jack Hillierbecame her mentor, and with his invaluable guidance she began in-depth research into the works of Kitagawa Uta...more
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May 29, 2009 09:48am