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One Big Damn Puzzler [Paperback]

John Harding
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
RRP: �9.99
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Book Description

3 May 2006

On a remote South Pacific island paradise, an elderly tribesman is translating Hamlet into local Pidgin English. Much to his annoyance, his struggles with the Bard are interrupted by the arrival of an unexpected visitor. William Hardt is a young American lawyer, he has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and he has come to help. And from that moment on, nothing will ever be the same. For what (and who) he finds there will challenge both his and our values and our ideas about love, life and even death.

Bursting with good things, from the islanders themselves - with their curious logic, strange notions about sex and addictive rendering of English - to moments of aching sadness as much as life-affirming farce, this exuberantly original novel confirms John Harding as one of contemporary fiction's most entertaining and observant chroniclers of the human condition.


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Product details

  • Paperback: 544 pages
  • Publisher: Black Swan; New Ed edition (3 May 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0552999806
  • ISBN-13: 978-0552999809
  • Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 261,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Harding was born in a small Fenland village in the Isle of Ely. After village and grammar school he read English at St Catherine's College, Oxford. Since then he has spent most of his working life as a freelance writer,writing for a variety of national newspapers and magazines.

His first novel, What We Did On Our Holiday was a huge critical and commercial success and was filmed in 2006 by Granada for ITV. It was followed by the much acclaimed While The Sun Shines, and One Big Damn Puzzler.

His latest novel, Florence and Giles, is an international bestseller, charting in Italy and Brazil.

He is currently working on a fifth novel to be published by Harper Collins in 2012.

For more information, including reviews of his books,author readings and photos visit John Harding's official website:

http://www.john-harding.co.uk/

Product Description

Review

"Enormously enjoyable...Harding tackles this novel's huge, tragic subject with a blissfully skewed lightness of touch." (DEBORAH MOGGACH)

"Masterly...ambitious in scope and executed with wit and exuberance, John Harding has created a rich, complex and endearing fictitious world which holds important truths for our own." (DAILY MAIL)

"Instantly winning...it made me laugh. A lot...Gaugin-gaudy, and as rich and spicy as a good dish of stewed yam" (DAILY TELEGRAPH)

"Blackly comic...intensely literary...an allusive tour de force... thoroughly entertaining." (THE TIMES)

"A multi-layered comedy...laugh-out-loud funny, ambitious, carefully constructed, addictive, this novel is one big damn fine achievement." (GLASGOW HERALD)

Book Description

Hitting the funny bone and touching the heart, the new novel by the author of What We Did On Our Holiday.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing and entertaining read 29 Nov 2006
By Fflaine
Format:Paperback
My daughter was given this book for her birthday and spent so much time laughing out loud that I had to read it too. I absolutely loved it - the descriptions of the island, the islanders, and their beliefs and customs really drew me in. I want to go to Tuma when I die! William's experiences with his OCD give you a flavour of what sufferers go through, without it taking over the story. I'm not really a Shakespeare scholar, but I spotted a few bits of plot that looked familiar. I want my friend with an English degree to read the book next so that she can tell me all the references to Shakespeare plays that I missed. How nerdish is that?!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Poignant and heart warming 14 Sep 2006
Format:Paperback
As soon as William Hardt lands on the beautiful pacific island, determined to right all the wrongs of his countrymen, you know how things will end up for the natives. It's a bittersweet tale that left me smiling but also sad. Its a book that will make you laugh out loud. The characters are very well realised and the islanders pidgin dialect is infectious! This is a lovely book to read if you have a long journey ahead of you as it sucks you right in and you never get bored. Its an easy read the gives you something to think about - the arrogance of western civilisation, the americanisation of the globe, death, life, love and the importance of a nice pair of green sling back shoes!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars perfect mixture 1 Jun 2008
By kehs TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
What a fantastic read this was. I had thought it was going to be humorous book about books - and it is - but it's so much more too. The story of how the islanders lose their innocence is full of originality and is witty, dramatic, deep, funny, sad, magical and at times also grotesque. All of this blends together into perfect mixture of a tale that will make you re-think your ideas about the meaning of life. It made me laugh out loud but at other times I was moved to tears. It's also caused me to feel the need to read more Shakespeare, although it's by no means necessary to do so in order to enjoy this book. This is one of my best reads so far this year and I highly recommend it.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars darkly funny 19 May 2008
By Rubbah
Format:Paperback
I picked this book up on a whim yesterday and I'm glad I did. I read it all day up to midnight becasue I had to know how it finished. Humour is mixed with the more serious messages about capitalism and war, as well as sadness. All the characters are well drwn and I grew attached to many, especially the she-boys and of course the Hamlet re-writer himself, Managua. Yes there is toilet humour but if that is all see in the book it is wasted on you.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Unusual and very funny. 29 Aug 2006
Format:Paperback
I picked up this book by chance and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found it quirky and amusing and the descriptions of the main characters' OCD made me laugh out loud (although obviously I have sympathy for real OCD sufferers). I still think of Managua with a smile. If you want a laugh and to read something totally original, I recommend this book!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars great fun 24 Aug 2006
Format:Hardcover
Just a really enjoyable read. On the surface an hilarious Shakespearean comedy but the social commentary when it comes is very topical. Basically a book about the inevitability of the capitalist bandwagon sweeping up all in its wake, but also a very funny and touching story about lonely people finding happiness. My wife is reading it now, and then it will go round the family. One for everyone to enjoy!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Spicy 25 Feb 2010
Format:Paperback
There are so many themes in this highly entertaining book that you could spend hours debating the way Harding treats any one of them. It is a highly spiced yam-stew of a book, but infinitely more palatable than the one the author describes on his island. Unlike many of the reviews that feature on the cover, or this website, I didn't find the book laugh-out loud-funny. Constantly amusing, certainly.

What strikes me as particularly noteworthy is the sheer inventiveness of the novel, the quantity of richly drawn characters and the way they interact. You find you really do care about the destinies of the islanders and even William the central character who means so well but has such a counter-productive effect on the people he wishes to save.

One Big Damn Puzzler is alive with Shakespearian references, but even if you have little or no knowledge of Shakespeare, you can ponder the other questions raised by the book, such as the nature of the afterlife, the purpose of life itself, the merits of knowledge, the attractiveness of developed versus undeveloped cultures, the nature of belief - the list is endless. Harding also works in a little 9/11 near the end - though I can't help but feel that this was superfluous; the novel works perfectly well without it.

I get the impression from reading reviews also on the American Amazon that some readers have stopped short at the criticism implied of over-burgeoning American culture and the way it is exported around the world. This is certainly a theme, but if all you take out of the book is anti-Americanism, you have only scratched the surface of what the author is trying to say.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking and extremely pertinent. 3 Jun 2007
By Pen pal VINE VOICE
Format:Paperback
I think some of the reviewers who gave a negative review missed the whole point of this book, which is to highlight the havoc capitalism can wreak on the world as a whole and definitely upon cultures who have got along quite nicely without it. Who are we to impose our way of life on peoples whose own traditions ensure a happier and healthier way of life albeit much simpler. And who are we to think that our way is the only way. The characters of William and Lucy are very well rounded. I don't believe that OCD even exists in these more primitive cultures, which goes to show it is probably a manifestation of the complicated and stressful lives we lead. OCD runs parallel to the narrative of the way the islanders use magic in their daily lives, but whereas theirs is communal and healthy, William's is merely debilitating. Lucy's narrative about the customs of the islanders is actually very interesting as it is based on factual accounts from a book published in 1929 and book written by Paul Theroux. In summary this book highlights the worst side of materialism and how damaging it is not just to the islanders but to all of us. We all need to get back to basics and take care of the planet and eat healthy food and co-exist with nature not destroy it. This book is not, however, written as a lecture. It very cleverly and humourously exposes the frailties of our own culture and looks at how rather than imposing it on others, we should learn from them and use what we learn to strengthen what is good in our culture, of which there are many things.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Read it three times and still squealing with laughter
This book is priceless. The characters are beautifully crafted and the plot never falters. Definitely one of the best books I've read
Published 2 months ago by Owl Mother
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun book
The author had fun with this. Imaginary island, imaginary language and a wild ride through Shakespeare. Lots of sideswipes at America too. Entertaining.
Published 5 months ago by Liz
5.0 out of 5 stars A rare gem!
I stumbled across this by accident . .what a joy ! A simple story. . .one Big Damn message! Read and enjoy. . .think and puzzle. . .
Published 11 months ago by Alison
5.0 out of 5 stars A delight of a book
I remember reading an article in The Guardian recently about books that make you laugh out loud. I would add One Big Damn Puzzler to that list, I'm a big fan of PG Wodehouse and... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must-read!
John Harding's work is always superb - literary allusions abound, spiced with amazing plot twists and turns, great humour and pathos. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Happy granny
4.0 out of 5 stars Likeable funny book
This is a book which deals with the clash of cultures between a western lawyer and the inhabitants of small island with some rather 'interesting' customs and traditions. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mysay
5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging, literate and thought-provoking read. Thoroughly...
I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book as much as I did "One Big Damn Puzzler". I came across it by chance (I am an expat bookworm and read everything that comes through... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Katy Marriott
3.0 out of 5 stars good read
i liked it, but its hard to read cause its all set in their native words! i liked it but quite difficult to follow each chapter, and it talks alot about poo haha?
Published 16 months ago by taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic use of anthropology
I loved this book. as a cultural anthropologist, I have spent a lot of time reading the famous debates about different cultural models of conception and this book really uses those... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Steve
5.0 out of 5 stars Genuinely did make me laugh and cry...
Love, loss, Shakespeare, anthropology, subterfuge, globalism, language, obsessive-compulsive disorder and cheerful communal defecation - really, does a book need anything more? Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2012 by Joanne Sheppard
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