Nothing for You - Ted Berrigan

Advantages: Ultimatly life-affirming
Disadvantages: Hard to obtain in England (try the Internet)

...I prefer American poets. British poets are too self-obsessed and parochial. Of all Modern American Poets, Jim Carroll is the most emotionally direct. While some of his early work can be contextually obscure, his heart always comes through. Carroll’s creativity pulled him through protracted Heroin addiction in the 70s. He became an over-night star in New York’s underground poetry scene, buoyed up on praise from contempories Patti Smith and Ted Berrigan and rave reviews from the legendary Jack Kerouac. His unquenchable lust for expression led him to become a luminary of the New York punk scene in the 80s; his song ‘People Who Died’ widely considered a seminal work from that period. This is a man for whom words are more than a living, they are a life. His work combines the raw hunger of the street with an unpretentious spirituality... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: You learn alot about the world
Disadvantages: Will leave you wanting more

...I first came across Ted Simon when watching the Long Way Round, and after finishing watching that i craved more, and was very far from disappointed when i gave this a try, especially since this was the book that sparked the whole idea. From page one i could put it down without feeling that i was missing out on a fantastic adventure. Ted Simon is an extremely generous author, and holds nothing back as he describes his epic 4 year experience. You'll finish this book craving more and with an amazing sense of pleasure of the world we live in as it paints picture that would have failed without the kindness and generosity of people from the all over the entire world. If you liked the long way round, you are guaranteed to love this.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: interesting story
Disadvantages: characters a bit 2d

...As a novelist, Stephen Fry is definitely winning my favour at present. His work is fairly light, witty, and has the added bonus of intelligent thoughts, original ideas and occasionally provocative subject matter. Easy to consume and very pleasing, "The Hippopotamus" is a read I would recommend. The plot: Ted is an aging failed poet, failed theatre critic, with a failed marriage, failing health - in short, his life is a bit of a mess, he's just lost his job and nothing looks bright. A chance encounter with his goddaughter sets him off on an unlikely missions; to visit an old friend and report to the god daughter if he sees anything unusual. All very mysterious. Its not long before there's a house full of people (all strange characters really). Ted can tell that something weird is afoot, but he's not sure what, and when he gets... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful