Rather go to the zoo (The Hippopotamus - Stephen Fry)

Member Name: blackviolets

Product:	The Hippopotamus - Stephen Fry
Date:	04/07/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: there are a few funny bits

Disadvantages: not as good as i expected-not really my type of book.

I'm always a bit wary about reading books written by people who have become famous from other areas. No matter how much I may or may not like them. However, I do like Stephen Fry very much, so his books have to be worth giving a try.

The story opens with the realisation that Ted Wallace, an ageing poet reduced to writing theatre reviews, has been fired from his job on a newspaper. At the slightly unexpected arrival of his sick God daughter (leukemia)Jane, it is suggested that he goes to stay at a Norfolk country house, where one of his old schoolfriend lives.

She has underlying motives however. Wanting him to write to her of any mysteries or suspicous activities going on.

Over the course of his stay it is seemingly obvious that something is going on. That a little boy, who he is particularily drawn to, has a 'talent' which guests are hoping will be able to help or maybe heal them.

Some of the people that visit the house is hugely camp minsiter, an awkward teenage daugher and a TV producer. There is a mild background story going on as well, one concerning how the little boys parents treat him. Not one which is too interesting, towards the middle of the book you get some kind of idea as to how he is healing these people.

I'm clearly not very open minded as halfway through the book, two paragraphs feature that of a horse and the boy himself, I found a bit difficult to read!

This book is funny in places but I cannot help but get irritated by Teds character. Seemingly arrogant and not at all interested in anybody but himself. As for the boy, there's nothing special about him. He appears to be pretty one dymensial.

This is clearly not my kind of story and I did find it pretty hard to get into. I have tried reading Stephen Frys other novels but this is the first one which I have actually managed to read all the way through.

If you want to give Stephen Frys writing material a chance it will cost you £5.99 from Amazon but personally I would prefer to watch or listen to him than read.

Summary: .