Name: The Hippopotamus
ISBN: 9780099457039

Stephen Fry

The Hippopotamus

Sarah Ryan

I had never read a novel by Stephen Fry before. It was funny but not brilliant. Definitely not a read for anyone easily shocked - I was a bit shocked myself by one of the scenes and am not convinced it added anything to the plot, but no doubt others will differ.

Christina Hufford

** spoiler alert **
           For the first third of this book, I was interested enough in Stephen's prose to keep reading. This recently-fired, cantankerous old British snob is contacted by his goddaughter who was dying of leukemia but has since gone into remission -- she wants him to go to this house of his relatives (his godson's house specifically) to spy on everyone for her, communicate with her by letters, and see if he finds anything amiss. So for the first third of the book, I'm nodding along, Ted's wandering around this Downton Abbey-esque estate, Davey, the fifteen year old godson, is kinda odd, everything's cool.

SECOND THIRD OF THE BOOK, THE KID HAS SEX WITH A HORSE. And I'm like, holding the book at an arm's length reading through squinted eyes and a partial cringe, silently praying please, Stephen, please. Don't let this book be about a child with magical healing semen. please. please. please.

Last third of the book: EVERYTHING IS RIGHT WITH THE WORLD. The mystery really takes off, we spin faster and faster towards the huge climax -- the reveal of what's REALLY going on with Davey's semen-faith-healing and who should really be thanked for all the sudden cures -- and suddenly, the book that I was previously cringing at and wondering why why why has become an incredibly fun, kind of emotional, extremely smutty read.

Definitely the weirdest reading experience I've had all year. I'd be careful who I recommended this to, because it is GRAPHIC. But the cringes are worth it by the end, which I found satisfying. A great send-up of the faith healing obsession, and a well-plotted, exciting book overall. 4/5

Star system:
1 star: what the shit was this book
2 stars: I didn't like it, but it didn't make me MAD. 
3 stars: I liked it! But I probably won't read it again. 
4 stars: Such a good book. Would recommend. 
5 stars: THIS BOOK HAS REDUCED MY SOUL TO MELTED BUTTERY CRUMBS OF GOODNESS AND WARMTH (or maybe coldness and despair) AND HAS IRREVOCABLY CHANGED MY WORLDVIEW. Or it's a Harry Potter book. Those get 5 stars by default because hello.)

Meryn Kae Addison

Connie

Ewan

Gabrielle Griffiths

Sabine Delorme

Richard Binder

Pam Sartain

Amro Gebreel

Elke Maasbommel

Fired from his newspaper, cantankerous, boozy drama critic Ted Wallace seeks a few months repose and free drink at Swafford Hall, the home of his old friend Lord Logan. But strange things have been going on there - miracles and healings - phenomena beyond the ken of a mud-caked hippopotamus like Ted.

Phil James

Kali Nichta

Dora Tominic