STEPHEN FRY

A press character in the book is called Max Hastings - isn't that just a HUGE coincidence?

Sorry I always confuse the two. Max Hastings is a Fleet Street Editor (I think), Max Clifford is a PR agent. Looks them up on WIkipedia.

I really liked this book. I got some looks when i was on the bus laughing at it though

Fascinating and very interesting book. It shows that the life is really surprising thing
I'm absolutely agree with Mattic - thing about men's and women's sex was very exactly developed there (!)

Just finished reading it last night.

Absolutely fantastic, I've never been so drawn in by a novel and so interested in the characters. The last 30 pages or so had me excitedly turning each page and actually had my heart thumping faster.

A classic.

Well, of course I thougt it was great, or I wouldn't have read it. I usually follow Stephen King's advice and read for about twenty pages whether I love it or hate it (not so with Dan Brown; like Stephen I was almost instantly repulsed :D). Then I stop and wonder whether I want to read the rest.
In the hippo case, it once again proved a good idea. I actually had some small trouble getting into the book at first. I wasn't sure who was writing the first bits (which, I suppose, was who it's meant to be), but found the near-rants fascinating. I couldn't agree more with male vs. female libido, although I disagree with the presentation and the details. You know how it is when you read something like that, I'm sure.
Anyway, the whole setup with the traditional detective novel is immensely funny when coupled with this story-line. I kept getting images from Gosford Park running through my mind.
The horse scene was very graphic, but consider your reaction to it... Isn't murder worse? It was wonderfully un-PC, but I don't think it overstepped any actual lines. But then again, I'm from Denmark, so...
Bottom line: Absolutely worth a read in my opinion. I think I read it in two pieces (although it's a year back or so, my memory could be failing me.

finished this today. I meandered my way through the first half over the course of a couple of weeks and then read the second half all this weekend.

I thought the story was very good, and I was quite pleased with the resolution. I'd like to see Daisy Diary that night! my favorite digression was into Michael's family history, and my least favorite digression was the trip to the hospital. my favorite new word was "dissembler."

also this:

is a ha-ha. that was the most confusing word that I didn't know.