Customer Reviews

Paperweight

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Paperweight is actually a collection of many different articles written by Stephen Fry over the years for a variety of publications. Most of these 'essays' are only between one and three pages long, but Fry fits as many laughs into each one as you would normally get in a whole book. Fry's view points are exuberantly refreshing on so many issues, yet at the same time he seems to be telling you something you knew all along, but had never been able to quite put into words. If you like originality and new twists (with gentle splashes of the surreal and deft, quirky touches) then Paperweight is for you.

Paperweight is an excellent introduction to Stephen Fry if you've never come across his writing before. It can be taken in small, highly digestible doses, whereas his novels need to be swallowed in one go to appreciate his arcane sense of the outrageous. This 'essay' format offers the best of this hugely entertaining all-rounder. In the book's introduction, Fry says that he used to get many desperate requests from readers for copies of articles he'd written. You'll understand why, if you read the book. In fact, the introduction is one of the highlights of Paperweight, being cripplingly ironic, immodestly modest and more witty than a witty person at a national wit contest. In fact, put simply, Fry=Wit=Laughter

Mr. Fry's 'Paperweight' is indeed just that: a heavy-ish object which may be utilised to confine smaller, unbound bits of paper. It has the requistite bulk, a pleasing shape, and an interesting cover, featuring Mr. Fry himself.

And yet it is so much more. It is a collection, a bringing together, a collection, a consolidation and, if you will, a _collection_ of Mr. Fry's written dabblings before he sprang to our attention with the utterly printed and thoroughly bound first novel, 'The Liar'. 'Paperweight' is a book containing, among other things, Mr. Fry's radio broadcasts in the guise of the inimitable Professor Trefusis (in printed form, to avoid undue technical difficulties), his articles for such venerable journalistic mouthpieces as the Observer, the Tatler, the Listener, Home & Garden, the Beano, Punch, Nature, Judy, the Mineralogical Record, KMT, the British Journal of Sexual Sociopathy, the Journal of Roman Studies, Woman's Day, the Sun, and, of course, the Welsh edition of the Manchester Guardian [nb: the preceeding list may not be entirely within the bounds of accuracy - Ed.]. A short drama is contained within, as are a number of essays on a variety of mind-improving subjects, book reviews, political essays (written, one should remember, while Britain was in the iron grip of the Iron Lady) and, as mentioned elsewhere, the Trefusis broadcasts, a name which will be quite familiar to readers of Mr. Fry's later work, 'The Liar'. Here Mr. Fry's range and style, his versatility, and his breadth, depth and length are all invidiously displayed. It is a book to savour, of which one should breathe the bouquet, drink deeply, and sit back to observe the salubrious effects. This book must be possessed by all admirers of Mr. Fry, for it is his Rosetta Stone, his Treaty of Versailles, his Pre-nuptial Agreement Betwixt Consenting Adults.

What else may one say? What, indeed. Badger, annoy, and trouble your bookseller until he agrees to stock it. Then purchase. Take it to your home. Unwrap the plain brown paper. Enjoy. Quite simple, really.

As Mr Fry advises the readers of 'Paperweight', I have not attempted to read this book in one sitting. I believe he says something about being able to have too much of a good thing. Whilst I don't agree with his reasoning, (I don't believe one can ever have enough of Mr Fry), I did see his point so I have been enjoying A Little Bit of Fry every night before I am taken away to the Land of Nod by the Sleep Fairy. This book is thoroughly entertaining. I do so love the way Mr Fry looks at the world and the silly creatures who inhabit it. If only the newspaper and radio station owners of Australia would employ people with half Mr Fry's intelligence, wit and talent, our country would be a much better place (and breakfast radio wouldn't be such an assault upon one's yet fully awaken sensibilities). Congratulations Mr Fry! Another wonderful read. Please keep them coming.

Stephen Fry's Paperweight provides well-thought arguments, witty jabs at deserving targets, and most importantly lots of laughs. Out-loud-laughs. Do take this book on the bus. This is a collection of various articles, reviews, and radio sketches (plus a play), all easily digestible and quick reads - a good thing, since you'll want to read them over and over. (If you're looking for a present for an associate, score some brownie points and get them Fry's Paperweight instead of the traditional glass one!)

Stephen Fry has been called the Oscar Wilde of his generation... and this book gives you an idea
of one reason why (.. the witty, irreverent musings of this gifted British comic are perhaps not the only reason .....but that is as they say is another story....) To be savoured this offering should be read over a period of time , the better pieces to be taken out and re-re-re-read on rainy days. Readers who have had the pleasure of perusing the Liar will recognise - to paraphrase the man himself - without a scintilla of a glimmer of a suspicion of a speck of a doubt that they are in the presence of a rancoteur of the highest order. So WISE and enlightened perusers of this hagiography ,TARRY NO MORE !! ...order your copy of this subliminal masterpiece from your friendly neighbourhood Book Store and discover for yourself...

In all honesty I find it hard to imagine not loving anything that the great Stephen Fry writes. The man has a wit and a way with words that makes anything he is involved in a delight. What we are presented with in 'Paperweight' is a smorgasbord of outpourings from our articulate friend. Each one produced for newspaper, journal or radio and varying so widely in topic as to take in the Gulf war and a mislaid sock.

We are first presented to Fry's comic creation Dr. Donald Trefusis, a cranky old academic, eerily reminiscent of the protagonist of Fry's novel 'The Hippopotamus'. His cantankerous rantings are a suitable precursor to those of Fry himself later on. Subsequently we are treated to articles by the man himself for a number of publications and on a vast array of topics. With Fry's inimitable style, it almost becomes irrelevant what topic he is discussing, or for which publication. One finds oneself delighting in anything that is offered.

Perhaps one of the more enjoyable aspects of 'Paperweight' is how easy it is to dip in and out of. It is not a book to be read in one go, more one to be nibbled at slowly over the course of weeks. Anyone who is a fan of Fry, humour or even just the English language generally, should do themselves a favour and purchase a copy today.

A very mixed bag of stories and articles assembled into one book. If you know of Stephen Fry and like his humour this would be a good book for you. The tongue in cheek title of Paperweight is very apt. I could see leaving this sitting on a desk and when the mood took you reading one of the approx. 100 short pieces. A very clever man and very funny too.