What do you think?
Rate this book
Looking for Mrs Dextrose
'I glanced at Dextrose's nose, pock-marked, crimson and bulbous, the overripe strawberry that everyone leaves in the punnet. As I did so, his right nostril blew a bubble of snot that might fascinate a small child.' Having completed his quest to follow in the footsteps of intrepid explorer Harrison Dextrose, Pilsbury has been hit with a revelation - that he is the product of those terrible loins. And that's not all. His mother has been left behind somewhere on the globe and he must find her. (Dextrose's own words.) There ensues an unprecedented adventure. A shaman and his curious son, sozzled rednecks, a sweet old lady, nauseating poetry and the Nameless Highway all stand in Pilsbury's way. Is he up to the task? Aided only by his alcoholic father and a grumpy basketball player, our sort-of hero sets off - looking for Mrs Dextrose.
252 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
4 people want to read
About the author
Nick Griffiths
13 books6 followersDeadStar, Nick's first book in ten years, launches 25 January 2022. It concerns the fate of punk/New Wave musician, Garth Tyson, who fled the stage at Glastonbury 1985, having been pelted with mud, and was never seen again.
Nick's also the author of Doctor Who-based memoir, Dalek I Loved You, and the locations-based travel book, Who Goes There. He's written two editions of the comic-travelogue Dextrose Trilogy: In the Footsteps of Harrison Dextrose and Looking for Mrs Dextrose. And three Dangerous Books: For Cats, For Dogs and For Anglers.
Nick's also the author of Doctor Who-based memoir, Dalek I Loved You, and the locations-based travel book, Who Goes There. He's written two editions of the comic-travelogue Dextrose Trilogy: In the Footsteps of Harrison Dextrose and Looking for Mrs Dextrose. And three Dangerous Books: For Cats, For Dogs and For Anglers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 30, 2011
IF you like Alice in Wonderland or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas then you will love Looking for Mrs Dextrose. Nick Griffiths latest novel combines the fantasy of Carroll with the grime of Thompson to make something special, if slightly nauseating.
The novel sees Pilsbury find the object of his life quest, his birth father, only to realise that he is a drunken disappointment. So starts several attempts to bond with said father, and dig out a half decent soul, under all the booze.
Although Griffiths’ setting is otherworldly, plot is improbable and the characters are predominantly male, there is one redeeming aspect of this book for me, which is Pilsbury’s desperate desire for parental approval. This is something I think everyone can relate to, because if we’re honest, who doesn’t want their parent’s to be proud of them?
Pilsbury’s attempt to find his mutinying mother and earn his drunk dad’s affection are further propelled by his need to see the good in them. This is most obvious as Pilsbury temporarily gives up on his family reunion, when threatened at gun point by his dad (Mr Dextrose). The tragic comedy comes as Mr Dextrose admits, ‘Back there. I wouldn’t have minking shot yer’, to which Pilsbury thinks, ‘Now that... is proper parenting.’
The novel sees Pilsbury find the object of his life quest, his birth father, only to realise that he is a drunken disappointment. So starts several attempts to bond with said father, and dig out a half decent soul, under all the booze.
Although Griffiths’ setting is otherworldly, plot is improbable and the characters are predominantly male, there is one redeeming aspect of this book for me, which is Pilsbury’s desperate desire for parental approval. This is something I think everyone can relate to, because if we’re honest, who doesn’t want their parent’s to be proud of them?
Pilsbury’s attempt to find his mutinying mother and earn his drunk dad’s affection are further propelled by his need to see the good in them. This is most obvious as Pilsbury temporarily gives up on his family reunion, when threatened at gun point by his dad (Mr Dextrose). The tragic comedy comes as Mr Dextrose admits, ‘Back there. I wouldn’t have minking shot yer’, to which Pilsbury thinks, ‘Now that... is proper parenting.’
December 12, 2021
This strange wonder had been lurking on my bookcase for god knows how long. I'm pleased that I finally read it. This book takes you on a weird and wonderful journey, with some hugely unexpected sentences catching you off guard in the most brilliant way! I felt that the book lost its way a little towards the end which was a bit of shame given it had such a strong start. Definitely would recommend though even if some parts of the plot felt a little holey. Thoroughly enjoyed it myself and can see 'Mink!' being adopted into my vocabulary!
June 15, 2016
Hilarious. Travelling + humour + bizarre situations.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews