What do you think?
Rate this book
Hospital
Sex, death, drugs, Satanism, voodoo - when things start to go wrong at hospital, who knows where it will end? This is a journey to hell and back.
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
12 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Toby Litt
88 books213 followersToby Litt was born in Bedfordshire, England. He studied Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia where he was taught by Malcolm Bradbury, winning the 1995 Curtis Brown Fellowship.
He lived in Prague from 1990 to 1993 and published his first book, a collection of short stories entitled Adventures in Capitalism, in 1996.
In 2003 Toby Litt was nominated by Granta magazine as one of the 20 'Best of Young British Novelists'.
In 2018, he published Wrestliana, his memoir about wrestling, writing, losing and being a man.
His novel, A Writer's Diary, was published by Galley Beggar Press on January 1st 2022.
A Writer's Diary continues daily on Substack.
He lives in London and is the Head of Creative Writing at the University of Southampton.
He lived in Prague from 1990 to 1993 and published his first book, a collection of short stories entitled Adventures in Capitalism, in 1996.
In 2003 Toby Litt was nominated by Granta magazine as one of the 20 'Best of Young British Novelists'.
In 2018, he published Wrestliana, his memoir about wrestling, writing, losing and being a man.
His novel, A Writer's Diary, was published by Galley Beggar Press on January 1st 2022.
A Writer's Diary continues daily on Substack.
He lives in London and is the Head of Creative Writing at the University of Southampton.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 1, 2018
I remembered enjoying this at 19. I still like the idea and hermetic feel of mysterious enclosed spaces—just that at the time I didn't know authors who do it better, like Ballard or Kafka... A feeling of Heller too: can't get off the island or whatever (I never made it through Catch 22, several times.)
And amongst my "books so good I won't read them again" are the first two Gormenghast novels. "There is nothing but the castle" is just so perfect. A location crumbling under the weight of its tedious monarchy. Nothing else exists because nothing else, no other mode of existence, is imaginable. The implications of that resonate so deeply. In Hospital, the effect is apparently emptier.
But I don't know: the fact that the hermetic location effect has no definite purpose, and is unhinged from tangible symbolism, doesn't turn me off it entirely. In fact, that it is tethered to no specific earthly commentary made the book a portal to something completely unknown—when I was 19. And I'm still excited to explore the possibilities of this method in my own writing in future, even though I didn't make it through this book a second time.
In fact, this exact book, with the content trimmed down and the tone changed, would be perfect. As is, it's just hard to read lists of people suffering from horrific ailments just because the author is trying to impress me with his world-building skills. Most pages reek of this insensitivity, and it's this that turned me off a second read, not what may understandably be perceived as "weirdness for weirdness' sake."
Whole pages of characters are thrown at the reader, though they serve no apparent purpose. The inside back cover gives a complete list of all the patients, and such quantity-based impressing methods in literature are almost always dick-measuring contests.
"4329 words today!"
"Almost! 4330+ would've gotten you awards and/or laid. Better luck tomorrow!"
People don't suck books, loser; they read them.
And amongst my "books so good I won't read them again" are the first two Gormenghast novels. "There is nothing but the castle" is just so perfect. A location crumbling under the weight of its tedious monarchy. Nothing else exists because nothing else, no other mode of existence, is imaginable. The implications of that resonate so deeply. In Hospital, the effect is apparently emptier.
But I don't know: the fact that the hermetic location effect has no definite purpose, and is unhinged from tangible symbolism, doesn't turn me off it entirely. In fact, that it is tethered to no specific earthly commentary made the book a portal to something completely unknown—when I was 19. And I'm still excited to explore the possibilities of this method in my own writing in future, even though I didn't make it through this book a second time.
In fact, this exact book, with the content trimmed down and the tone changed, would be perfect. As is, it's just hard to read lists of people suffering from horrific ailments just because the author is trying to impress me with his world-building skills. Most pages reek of this insensitivity, and it's this that turned me off a second read, not what may understandably be perceived as "weirdness for weirdness' sake."
Whole pages of characters are thrown at the reader, though they serve no apparent purpose. The inside back cover gives a complete list of all the patients, and such quantity-based impressing methods in literature are almost always dick-measuring contests.
"4329 words today!"
"Almost! 4330+ would've gotten you awards and/or laid. Better luck tomorrow!"
People don't suck books, loser; they read them.
October 23, 2010
I feel bad about giving this four stars because it’s so stupid and disgusting. The characters are bland, the descriptions tiresome, and the dialogue dry. But I absolutely could not stop reading it. Some parts made me laugh out loud but I instantly felt guilty. I enjoyed it immensely but am afraid of what that says about me. It begins in the land of lunacy and ends up somewhere on the far side of deranged, if you stop looking for redeeming features and just give in to its ridiculousness its disturbingly entertaining.
But it's so revolting and filthy and hideously unnecessary, unless you are totally un-offendable, don't read it.
But it's so revolting and filthy and hideously unnecessary, unless you are totally un-offendable, don't read it.
September 14, 2024
Een absurd verhaal dat mij niet kon boeien. Er zullen zeker liefhebbers voor genre zijn maar ik behoor er niet toe.
March 22, 2025
Normaal beoordeel ik geen boeken die ik niet heb uitgelezen, maar voor deze maak ik een uitzondering—ik ga het niet verder lezen. Ik ben halverwege gestopt omdat dit echt het duisterste boek is dat ik ooit heb gelezen. Het verhaal is absurd en heeft nauwelijks een verhaallijn, wat op zich nog interessant had kunnen zijn.
Maar de afschuwelijke scènes waarin de ergste kanten van de mens worden getoond, waren voor mij te veel. Niet alleen door de inhoud, maar vooral door hoe het gebracht werd. Het voelde niet als een kritische weergave, maar eerder gewoon… pervers. Dat trekt me totaal niet. Ik zou dit boek dan ook niet aanraden.
Maar de afschuwelijke scènes waarin de ergste kanten van de mens worden getoond, waren voor mij te veel. Niet alleen door de inhoud, maar vooral door hoe het gebracht werd. Het voelde niet als een kritische weergave, maar eerder gewoon… pervers. Dat trekt me totaal niet. Ik zou dit boek dan ook niet aanraden.
July 13, 2019
This book is bat shit mental. In the best way bat shit mental can be.
The first section is fairly strange with everything having a weird gloss to it, though it remains fairly normal Casualty kind of stuff.
Then BANG midnight hits and it all goes to hell, literally.
This book is utter, utter, madness; everything that is dark and twisted is going down in this hospital and a boy with a tree in his belly is trying to get out of it. The ending makes no sense and there is no closure. But fucking hell it is one hell of a ride. I loved it. I feel the writer was like right, what bizarre shit can i make happen next and he went for bizarre, really bizarre. After the initial slow(ish) start i finished the last 300odd pages in one go, it had me by the throat.
Fucking bonkers, dark, disturbing and fucking great for it.
The first section is fairly strange with everything having a weird gloss to it, though it remains fairly normal Casualty kind of stuff.
Then BANG midnight hits and it all goes to hell, literally.
This book is utter, utter, madness; everything that is dark and twisted is going down in this hospital and a boy with a tree in his belly is trying to get out of it. The ending makes no sense and there is no closure. But fucking hell it is one hell of a ride. I loved it. I feel the writer was like right, what bizarre shit can i make happen next and he went for bizarre, really bizarre. After the initial slow(ish) start i finished the last 300odd pages in one go, it had me by the throat.
Fucking bonkers, dark, disturbing and fucking great for it.
September 21, 2014
This book was a bit strange, a lot of weird events take place in a seemingly normal hospital. I thought it was a good book because I couldn't really make out which events were real and which were imaginary. Because of this vague border, it really held my attention. There are a lot of switches in perspective, and the parts are fairly short, but that wasn't really negative, as I found myself always reading further because I wanted to know what would happen to the character that had my attention at the moment.
April 19, 2010
By far the worst book I have ever read. Was purchased for $10 off a discount table and I feel as though I over paid by $9.50
The style of writing is tedious and borders on nauseating, the characters and story are beyond annoying and the ending, or lack of, is fitting for one of the greatest wastes of ink ever made.
DO NOT READ
The style of writing is tedious and borders on nauseating, the characters and story are beyond annoying and the ending, or lack of, is fitting for one of the greatest wastes of ink ever made.
DO NOT READ
March 9, 2010
WORST BOOK EVER!!!!!!
It sucks that I always make myself finish a book once I start, because I kept hoping it would get better, but it only kept getting worse.
It sucks that I always make myself finish a book once I start, because I kept hoping it would get better, but it only kept getting worse.
July 30, 2011
As always, a Toby Litt book that is a little weird but that's what I like about him. A boy is trapped in a hospital as the world outside disappears! See, weird!
November 30, 2019
This book, unlike anything I have ever read before or since, defies any and all explanation, sense or semblance of good taste. Every time thought I knew where the story was headed, it veered off in another direction. If you enjoy the bizarre, the grotesque, the esoteric, then perhaps you will enjoy this, as I did. If, however, you prefer stories that conform to the standard expectations and parameters of a fictional narrative, then avoid this book like the proverbial plague.
June 7, 2021
I think this is more 2.5? I rounded up solely because of how much this book has stuck with me over the years despite it being so dang weird. That's got to account for something., right? It feels all over the place and as soon as your invested in a story in one part of the hospital it jumps to another so abruptly different and somehow more bizarre... And yet I still think about it 10+ years later. I never would've guessed that would happen.
June 13, 2021
In Toby Litt's hospital odd things are happening. After that, very strange things are happening. And after, chaotic and bonkers things are happening.
I read this book years ago, but still remember loving it. It is on my list of favourite books.
Downright delicious chaos.
With a big tree in the middle.
If anyone has a suggestion for books with similar levels of madness, I'm all ears!
I read this book years ago, but still remember loving it. It is on my list of favourite books.
Downright delicious chaos.
With a big tree in the middle.
If anyone has a suggestion for books with similar levels of madness, I'm all ears!
dnf
February 18, 2022This book is all kinds of CRAZY. But somehow it kept me reading and wanting to throw it away at the same time. It has a strong 'This is so wrong!' to 'What the hell is going to happen next?!' balance.
I got halfway when I decided not to finish it. I threw it out and now, after months, kind of regret it.
Maybe, if I ever stumble upon it again, I might finish it after all.
I got halfway when I decided not to finish it. I threw it out and now, after months, kind of regret it.
Maybe, if I ever stumble upon it again, I might finish it after all.
March 24, 2022
If I could rate this book 0 I would! It is the worst book I have ever read. It makes no sense and just doesn’t end. Reading this book is like a bad acid trip. Honestly when I was done I didn’t even take it to the op shop because I didn’t want anyone else to waste their time starting it, I just put it in the bin.
September 17, 2018
The longest book I've read in a long time but it managed to keep me hooked from start to finish. Unlike anything I've ever read before. The closest comparison I could possibly think of is to compare it to something by Neil Gaiman. Weird, disturbing and entrancing.
June 19, 2017
As I saw someone else mention, I wanted to like this book. but it's trashy weird for trashy weirdness's sake, even though one might painfully detect some shreds of meaningful symbolism.
January 20, 2018
Weird but strangely entertaining.
June 1, 2022
Couldn't finish this. Really enjoyed deadkidsongs but this is horribledisgustingpornographic. Like a really crazy japanese horror movie. Sorry Toby.
January 28, 2025
A wild ride of a novel!
May 27, 2025
"The rubber nurse will see you now." Genoten van dit boek, surrealistisch, absurd, schokkend en aangrijpend. Verschillende verhaallijnen die allemaal in hetzelfde ziekenhuis plaatsvinden komen min of meer bij elkaar, maar misschien toch ook weer niet. Ik denk nog minstens een keer per week aan de scene met de verschillende menselijk een dierlijke lichaamsdelen op sterk water. Ook de chirurg die in het geheim een satanische cult (en ja, wat je hoopt dat niet gebeurt, gebeurt) runt is moeilijk uit mijn brein te wissen. Het blijft ook allemaal lekker vaag. Er zijn wel heel veel verhaallijnen binnen dit boek, je moet je concentratie er echt even bij houden en je kunt het boek niet een paar weken laten liggen. Maar al met al zeker een ervaring die ik najaag bij het lezen van een boek, aanrader!
August 2, 2011
A truely bizzare, often perverse, always twisted and pretty merrily obscene! Hard to describe, difficult to put down. One of those books you hope will never end. If you want somthing a bit different from the "Pamala is a successful author of childrens stories, recently divorced from her merchant banker husaband and moved blah blah blah" story line then this is it.
October 26, 2012
One of the strangest, most psychedelic reading experiences I have had yet. I still can't tell if that is a positive or a negative thing. I don't regret reading this book in the slightest though, but it being one of the first books I read out of my comfort zone may not have been the greatest of ideas.
September 15, 2014
One of the most amazing books I've read in a long time. Sometimes it all gets a bit too absurd and too much on the horror side to my opinion (especially around midnight), but apart from that this is a wonderful book. It's freaky, it's fantastic, it's apocalyptic, it's poetic and days after I finished it the story keeps me thinking. A rare book, a cult classic indeed.
July 28, 2011
Phew! As an allegory I don't think this works terribly well, but it's one hell of a ride. I raced through this in a day or so -it's a completely compelling read. I liked the (unconscious?) echoes of Dennis Wheatley - who also knew how to keep a pot on the boil! Toby Litt is a very sick man.
December 7, 2013
It took awhile for me to finish this book. Yet everytime I continued to read the chapter that I had left, the excitement was always there. Toby Litt got me bedazzled more and more I flipped the pages. Very entertaining!
December 10, 2014
I wanted to like this book. In places I thought it was excellent, but it just kept letting me down. The first section felt insipid and stilted, and the end was disappointing to say the least. If I hadn't had such high expectations of the book, maybe it would have received a higher rating.
June 27, 2007
A brilliantly gory and hilarious satire.
August 25, 2008
worringly interesting!
October 8, 2009
Geniaal en ook een beetje vuil soms
June 19, 2014
a bit weird amd a bit too long... but entertaining and funny at times
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews