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And out of the Darkwood Mr. Toppit comes, and he comes not for you, or for me, but for all of us. When The Hayseed Chronicles, an obscure series of children's books, become world-famous millions of readers debate the significance of that enigmatic last line and the shadowy figure of Mr. Toppit who dominates the books. The author, Arthur Hayman, an unsuccessful screenwriter mown down by a concrete truck in Soho, never reaps the benefits of the books' success. The legacy passes to his widow, Martha, and her children - the fragile Rachel, and Luke, reluctantly immortalised as Luke Hayseed, the central character of his father's books. But others want their share, particularly Laurie, the overweight stranger from California, who comforts Arthur as he lies dying, and has a mysterious agenda of her own that changes all their lives. For buried deep in the books lie secrets which threaten to be revealed as the family begins to crumble under the heavy burden of their inheritance. Spanning several decades, from the heyday of the British film industry after the war to the cut-throat world of show business in Los Angeles, Mr. Toppit is a riveting tale of the unexpected effects of sudden fame and fortune. Not since Jonathan Coe's What a Carve Up! has a novel managed to capture a family and a society to such wonderfully funny and painful effect.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member beserene
Most readers can imagine the trouble that often happens when a writer uses his/her child as the model for fiction -- think Christopher Robin Milne, etc. -- especially when that fiction becomes a phenomenon. The impact such a phenomenon could have on a family, in this case a family that (like most)
For most of the novel, Luke Hayman -- the boy who was fictionalized as "Luke Hayseed" in his father's popular children's series 'The Hayseed Chronicles' -- is our guide to the psychological and emotional collapse that his family is undergoing, mostly as a result of the fame and misrepresentation related to the books. Unfortunately, Luke is not much of an engaging narrator. That is part of the point, in some ways, because as a character he is distant and struggles to relate to those around him anyway, but lack of relatability is an even bigger issue for the reader. I struggled to push myself through the first 200 pages of this book, largely because there was no character -- including the primary narrator -- toward whom I felt any attachment.
Another impediment to the engagement of the reader is the narrative style. While most of the chapters are through Luke's eyes, we sometimes jump to the perspectives of other characters, including (occasionally and randomly) reading through letters or other communications. The narrative itself is non-linear for much of the book, jumping from Luke's father's death (not a spoiler -- this happens at the beginning of the book, though it is a later event in the chronology) to his teen years to his childhood and then bopping back and forth a few times. While I appreciate the efforts of an author to "mix it up", all the jumping around was also an impediment to any genuine connection with the book.
About 200 pages into the book, the event promised since the very beginning -- again, not a spoiler, the books get popular in America -- actually occurs (instead of just being alluded to) and at that point things start to pick up. What has been distant becomes emotionally intense, what had been inactive becomes a rollercoaster. The last 100 pages roll out quickly, with the inevitable tragedy toward which the book has been driving unfolded in one brief, sharp, emotional scene.
Truthfully, I cannot really recommend this book for those who like their fiction to be consistent and engaging -- the work that it took to get into this book will not be worth it for many. I did find that the book left me with a lot to think about, but it was not a genuinely enjoyable read. The post-modern trend of convoluting the narrative in any possible fashion annoys me, because it always seems that the author of such a narrative would rather be admired than loved. So, there is much here to push one away. In fairness, some may find the emotional payoff worth it. I did not. Not one I will be reading again.
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already has significant problems, is the premise for Charles Elton's post-modern novel.For most of the novel, Luke Hayman -- the boy who was fictionalized as "Luke Hayseed" in his father's popular children's series 'The Hayseed Chronicles' -- is our guide to the psychological and emotional collapse that his family is undergoing, mostly as a result of the fame and misrepresentation related to the books. Unfortunately, Luke is not much of an engaging narrator. That is part of the point, in some ways, because as a character he is distant and struggles to relate to those around him anyway, but lack of relatability is an even bigger issue for the reader. I struggled to push myself through the first 200 pages of this book, largely because there was no character -- including the primary narrator -- toward whom I felt any attachment.
Another impediment to the engagement of the reader is the narrative style. While most of the chapters are through Luke's eyes, we sometimes jump to the perspectives of other characters, including (occasionally and randomly) reading through letters or other communications. The narrative itself is non-linear for much of the book, jumping from Luke's father's death (not a spoiler -- this happens at the beginning of the book, though it is a later event in the chronology) to his teen years to his childhood and then bopping back and forth a few times. While I appreciate the efforts of an author to "mix it up", all the jumping around was also an impediment to any genuine connection with the book.
About 200 pages into the book, the event promised since the very beginning -- again, not a spoiler, the books get popular in America -- actually occurs (instead of just being alluded to) and at that point things start to pick up. What has been distant becomes emotionally intense, what had been inactive becomes a rollercoaster. The last 100 pages roll out quickly, with the inevitable tragedy toward which the book has been driving unfolded in one brief, sharp, emotional scene.
Truthfully, I cannot really recommend this book for those who like their fiction to be consistent and engaging -- the work that it took to get into this book will not be worth it for many. I did find that the book left me with a lot to think about, but it was not a genuinely enjoyable read. The post-modern trend of convoluting the narrative in any possible fashion annoys me, because it always seems that the author of such a narrative would rather be admired than loved. So, there is much here to push one away. In fairness, some may find the emotional payoff worth it. I did not. Not one I will be reading again.
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LibraryThing member LukeS
In an exceedingly funny debut, Charles Elton hoists modern fame-hungry society on its petard of greed, ego, and hypocrisy. “Mr. Toppit” features oddballs and prickly characters galore, and the strife between and within these denizens lurks never very far from the surface and frequently boils
A Modesto, California, woman takes a vacation in London in the early days of Reagan and Thatcher. It’s somewhat out of character for her … she’s pretty much a homebody, heavily involved in volunteer work, and is taking her initial trip without her friend from work. Chance puts her on the scene of the accidental death of an obscure author of children’s books, who says a few fateful dying words to her, and the rest, as they say, is history. Laurie, the citizen of Modesto, gloms on to the poor man’s family and his nearly unknown books, and through a series of – maybe serendipitous – circumstances, the books become overwhelmingly popular. With popularity comes wealth of course, but for whom? It also brings lack of privacy, as everyone in the family finds out to their chagrin.
All this is told from the point of view of Luke, the author’s son, for whom the main character in the books is named. Luke ages from a very believable twelve to a very believable mid-20s. Although a handful of voices propel the narrative, it all comes through Luke’s filter. Our eponymous Mr. Toppit is the almost-never-seen villain in the series of books written by the deceased author, and commands fear and revulsion from his lair – over the books and over this book. His presence comes through in the way these people mistreat each other, grab at fame and fortune, and generally make oh-so-modern asses of themselves. Lest we lose focus, Luke, our nearly imperturbable narrator, presents all from his bemused and put-upon perspective. This is exceedingly funny stuff, remember. It skewers our modern TV-and-trappings mores beautifully, unerringly. It indicts us through its very accuracy.
I always assume it’s my fault, but I became a little confused about certain characters’ chronology at the end. But never mind that. If you want to read a marvelously-voiced, wickedly accurate reflection of our modern A.D.D.-addled society, pick this up.
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over. Very nearly never have I laughed out loud so often reading a book.A Modesto, California, woman takes a vacation in London in the early days of Reagan and Thatcher. It’s somewhat out of character for her … she’s pretty much a homebody, heavily involved in volunteer work, and is taking her initial trip without her friend from work. Chance puts her on the scene of the accidental death of an obscure author of children’s books, who says a few fateful dying words to her, and the rest, as they say, is history. Laurie, the citizen of Modesto, gloms on to the poor man’s family and his nearly unknown books, and through a series of – maybe serendipitous – circumstances, the books become overwhelmingly popular. With popularity comes wealth of course, but for whom? It also brings lack of privacy, as everyone in the family finds out to their chagrin.
All this is told from the point of view of Luke, the author’s son, for whom the main character in the books is named. Luke ages from a very believable twelve to a very believable mid-20s. Although a handful of voices propel the narrative, it all comes through Luke’s filter. Our eponymous Mr. Toppit is the almost-never-seen villain in the series of books written by the deceased author, and commands fear and revulsion from his lair – over the books and over this book. His presence comes through in the way these people mistreat each other, grab at fame and fortune, and generally make oh-so-modern asses of themselves. Lest we lose focus, Luke, our nearly imperturbable narrator, presents all from his bemused and put-upon perspective. This is exceedingly funny stuff, remember. It skewers our modern TV-and-trappings mores beautifully, unerringly. It indicts us through its very accuracy.
I always assume it’s my fault, but I became a little confused about certain characters’ chronology at the end. But never mind that. If you want to read a marvelously-voiced, wickedly accurate reflection of our modern A.D.D.-addled society, pick this up.
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LibraryThing member theforestofbooks
Well this was a strange one. Somehow, I expected more from the book within the book side of the plot which never materialised and that for me was disappointing. Particularly as the publisher’s marketing campaign has been busy promoting this imaginary - Hayseed Chronicles - series which lead me to
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believe Mr Toppit was going to fuse through into reality. Maybe that’s my mistake. The characters were well written albeit unlikeable, other than Luke. Though I did feel there was too much backstory on Laurie and not enough on Luke. Overall, an alright read just not the book I wanted or expected. Show Less
LibraryThing member winterpaws
I hated this book and found it difficult to finish.
I purchased it after receiving an email from Penguin and it was advertised on that email. The description sounded interesting, however upon reading the book it was absolutely nothing like the description.
I purchased it after receiving an email from Penguin and it was advertised on that email. The description sounded interesting, however upon reading the book it was absolutely nothing like the description.
LibraryThing member Lynne_M
I quite enjoyed this as an easy, almost whimsical bit of fluff, but this ended sometime around the point the author made the mistake of thinking Sharon Stone a household name in 1986!! It might seem like nit-picking but if you are going to set a book in the past then you need to get it right! I was
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letting lots of things slide up to this faux pas - that should really have been spotted at the editing stage - and after I just wanted to get it finished. Three stars is generous. Show Less
LibraryThing member eleanor_eader
And out of the Darkwood Mr Toppit comes, and he comes not for you, or for me, but for all of us.
There is a cleverly woven thread of sinister oddness that runs through this family saga, the source, the children’s fantasy series written by the deceased Arthur Hayman, and the effects of these books
There are a few interesting – even tongue-in-cheek – parallels between the Hayseed books and A.A.Milne’s immortal tales written for his son, but something fell flat in the telling of Mr. Toppit… although each of the characters are interesting, the dark and amusing nicely balanced, I couldn’t help feeling that early indications of excellence were not quite achieved. Some of my disappointment was caused by the realisation that the darkly fantastic elements of the book were to be confined to the children’s series, but once I had readjusted my understanding of the story, I still thought that there was a good deal too much wasteland between moments of interest.
In short, I liked a lot of it, and won’t write Charles Elton off, but he hasn’t shot to the top of my must-read list, either.
There is a cleverly woven thread of sinister oddness that runs through this family saga, the source, the children’s fantasy series written by the deceased Arthur Hayman, and the effects of these books
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on his surviving family. The darkly unrealised character of Mr. Toppit lurks on every page, as Luke Hayman, who would rather have been left a less intrusive legacy than being know as ‘Luke Hayseed’, the boy from the stories, narrates his family’s struggle to live down the books as they grow in popularity. The introduction of the American woman, Laurie, who builds her career on the back of her love for the books, is one of those characters who bring an instant warped sadness to any book; Luke’s fragile sister Rachel pales against this large, interesting personality, but has her moment to devastate the reader, all the same.There are a few interesting – even tongue-in-cheek – parallels between the Hayseed books and A.A.Milne’s immortal tales written for his son, but something fell flat in the telling of Mr. Toppit… although each of the characters are interesting, the dark and amusing nicely balanced, I couldn’t help feeling that early indications of excellence were not quite achieved. Some of my disappointment was caused by the realisation that the darkly fantastic elements of the book were to be confined to the children’s series, but once I had readjusted my understanding of the story, I still thought that there was a good deal too much wasteland between moments of interest.
In short, I liked a lot of it, and won’t write Charles Elton off, but he hasn’t shot to the top of my must-read list, either.
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LibraryThing member shellyquade
This novel has already been released, and done very well, in England, and is slated to be released in the U.S. in September of this year.
Mr. Toppit is the story of a children's book series, written by a man named Arthur Hayman. The protagonist of the series is based on Arthur's son Luke, and after
Overall, when I finished the book, I did not feel like it was one of the most amazing books ever written. I did feel, however, that it was entertaining, that it wasn't predictable, and that it was addicting. I wanted to keep reading. I wanted to know what crazy things were going to be said and done next. I sympathized with Luke, and I was not expecting the fitting ending. I kept reading because I wanted to keep reading, not because I felt like I had to in order to write an adequate review.
Mr. Toppit is a dark novel, in which the characters act like real people. Some of the things they do don't make sense, and those that do make sense are often slightly horrifying.
It is an entertaining read, and I recommend it. I think it is interesting, slightly depressing, and the characters stay with you, both while you're reading the novel and afterwards.
Mr. Toppit is the story of a children's book series, written by a man named Arthur Hayman. The protagonist of the series is based on Arthur's son Luke, and after
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Arthur's death, and an American woman's influence, the books become bestsellers. The remaining Haymans - Luke, his mother Martha, and his sister Rachel, then have to deal with the sudden fame. The allusion to the Winnie the Pooh franchise is noticeable, although Arthur's series is supposed to be a quite a bit darker. The title of the novel comes from the overbearing, unseen antihero of the novels, who consistently gives Luke tasks that cannot be fulfilled to Mr. Toppit's satisfaction.Overall, when I finished the book, I did not feel like it was one of the most amazing books ever written. I did feel, however, that it was entertaining, that it wasn't predictable, and that it was addicting. I wanted to keep reading. I wanted to know what crazy things were going to be said and done next. I sympathized with Luke, and I was not expecting the fitting ending. I kept reading because I wanted to keep reading, not because I felt like I had to in order to write an adequate review.
Mr. Toppit is a dark novel, in which the characters act like real people. Some of the things they do don't make sense, and those that do make sense are often slightly horrifying.
It is an entertaining read, and I recommend it. I think it is interesting, slightly depressing, and the characters stay with you, both while you're reading the novel and afterwards.
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LibraryThing member Mumineurope
Luke, Rachel, Martha and Laurie. Great read.
LibraryThing member khager
Luke Hayman is the main character in his father's series of children's books, The Hayseed Chronicles. (His literary alter ego's name is Luke Hayseed.) These books are fairly popular--it's not Harry Potter, but people have definitely heard of them. (His sister Rachel has no part in the books.)
When
I really wanted to like this book (it's about books!) but I couldn't. Part of the problem, I think, is the writing is very British, and I don't think I was in the right frame of mind. I think ultimately, I wanted more about the books and less about the people behind the books.
When
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his father, Arthur, dies in a freak accident, the books start to become more popular, thanks to an American who happens upon Arthur as he's dying.I really wanted to like this book (it's about books!) but I couldn't. Part of the problem, I think, is the writing is very British, and I don't think I was in the right frame of mind. I think ultimately, I wanted more about the books and less about the people behind the books.
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LibraryThing member suetu
And out of the Darkwood Mr. Toppit comes…
When a reader decides to give a debut novel a try, all they have to base the decision on, really, is the book’s description. That’s what grabbed my interest in Mr. Toppit, Charles Elton’s debut, and I was not disappointed. It’s not a work of
The novel revolves primarily around two characters with a most unusual bond. The first is overweight, middle-aged Laurie Clow of Modesto, CA. It didn’t take me long to see there was something a little… off about Laurie, a sort of desperation, almost. But even now it’s hard to articulate exactly what it is about her. It’s 1981, and Laurie is vacationing in England. She witnesses a terrible accident; a stranger is hit by a truck. She rushes to the scene and tries to comfort this man, Arthur Hayman, as he lay dying.
Later, at the hospital, Laurie somehow becomes attached to Arthur’s grieving family: his wife, Martha; 17-year-old daughter, Rachel; and 13-year-old son, Luke. It is while visiting the family’s home that Laurie learns Arthur was the author of five not especially successful children’s novels called The Hayseed Chronicles. The protagonist of the series is Luke Hayseed, a character based on his son, and it is Luke Hayman who is the other central character of the tale.
The first half of the book relates how Laurie comes into the Hayman’s dysfunctional lives, and how she is somehow transformed by her experience with Arthur. She’s a bit obsessed by him, his family, and certainly by the books he wrote. As a character, I found her to be bizarre, and yet still entirely believable. There are a lot of odd people in the world, and by and large they’re fascinating to watch.
Roughly the second half of the novel takes place five years later in LA. Laurie, almost single-handedly, has turned The Hayseed Chronicles into a world-wide phenomenon. Imagine that Harry Potter was identifiably based on a real kid. That’s what Luke Hayman has been contending with. During a summer visit, we get to see the myriad ways his and Laurie’s lives and relationships have changed. Throughout the novel, Elton manages to insert small mysteries and questions in a not too heavy-handed way, but gradually revelations do come about.
Not everything in this novel is a slam dunk. I wasn’t sure that all the changes of perspective and POV were necessary or elegantly handled. Perhaps not every narrative thread paid off in the end, but I kind of enjoyed the diversions along the way. And there was so much to like. Amidst the darkness and drama, there is a lot of excellent satire going on. At times I was almost laughing aloud. And I found Luke to be sympathetic in a way that Laurie was not, and I cared about him and those he loved.
You may be wondering who the eponymous Mr. Toppit is. He’s the mostly unseen villain of the Hayseed Chronicles. The events of all five books revolve around him, but he doesn’t make a true appearance until the last line of the last book. As I read Mr. Elton’s story, I wondered if Mr. Toppit would make a last minute appearance. It’s not that simple. The final pages of the book cover several years, from the late 80’s to the mid 90’s. Did Mr. Toppit make an appearance? Maybe…
When a reader decides to give a debut novel a try, all they have to base the decision on, really, is the book’s description. That’s what grabbed my interest in Mr. Toppit, Charles Elton’s debut, and I was not disappointed. It’s not a work of
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literary fiction that’s going to set the world on fire, but is some pretty good story-telling.The novel revolves primarily around two characters with a most unusual bond. The first is overweight, middle-aged Laurie Clow of Modesto, CA. It didn’t take me long to see there was something a little… off about Laurie, a sort of desperation, almost. But even now it’s hard to articulate exactly what it is about her. It’s 1981, and Laurie is vacationing in England. She witnesses a terrible accident; a stranger is hit by a truck. She rushes to the scene and tries to comfort this man, Arthur Hayman, as he lay dying.
Later, at the hospital, Laurie somehow becomes attached to Arthur’s grieving family: his wife, Martha; 17-year-old daughter, Rachel; and 13-year-old son, Luke. It is while visiting the family’s home that Laurie learns Arthur was the author of five not especially successful children’s novels called The Hayseed Chronicles. The protagonist of the series is Luke Hayseed, a character based on his son, and it is Luke Hayman who is the other central character of the tale.
The first half of the book relates how Laurie comes into the Hayman’s dysfunctional lives, and how she is somehow transformed by her experience with Arthur. She’s a bit obsessed by him, his family, and certainly by the books he wrote. As a character, I found her to be bizarre, and yet still entirely believable. There are a lot of odd people in the world, and by and large they’re fascinating to watch.
Roughly the second half of the novel takes place five years later in LA. Laurie, almost single-handedly, has turned The Hayseed Chronicles into a world-wide phenomenon. Imagine that Harry Potter was identifiably based on a real kid. That’s what Luke Hayman has been contending with. During a summer visit, we get to see the myriad ways his and Laurie’s lives and relationships have changed. Throughout the novel, Elton manages to insert small mysteries and questions in a not too heavy-handed way, but gradually revelations do come about.
Not everything in this novel is a slam dunk. I wasn’t sure that all the changes of perspective and POV were necessary or elegantly handled. Perhaps not every narrative thread paid off in the end, but I kind of enjoyed the diversions along the way. And there was so much to like. Amidst the darkness and drama, there is a lot of excellent satire going on. At times I was almost laughing aloud. And I found Luke to be sympathetic in a way that Laurie was not, and I cared about him and those he loved.
You may be wondering who the eponymous Mr. Toppit is. He’s the mostly unseen villain of the Hayseed Chronicles. The events of all five books revolve around him, but he doesn’t make a true appearance until the last line of the last book. As I read Mr. Elton’s story, I wondered if Mr. Toppit would make a last minute appearance. It’s not that simple. The final pages of the book cover several years, from the late 80’s to the mid 90’s. Did Mr. Toppit make an appearance? Maybe…
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LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
An intriguing novel developed from an interesting idea, though I felt that perhaps the author unnecessarily belaboured the issues of psychiatric decrepitude and dysfunctional families – I get enough of all that at home!
LibraryThing member bonnieconnelly
good entertianment, takes place in England and CA. Weird characters, but kept moving.
LibraryThing member LiterateHousewife
When I got the opportunity to visit with Jen from Devourer of Books in November, we spent a lot of time talking about books we've read and want to read. Shocker, I know. One of the books she mentioned reading in audio was Mr. Toppit by Charles Elton. When she mentioned that it was narrated by Simon
In lieu of my traditional review format, I thought I would summarize my thoughts and feelings along with discussion points with Jen in a few bullet points. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to do so without revealing more of the plot than I'd normally be comfortable with. If you don't want to run into any spoilers, please jump to My Final Thoughts:
I was hoping this book would have a dark, Gothic feel. You have this mysterious Mr. Toppit for whom the book is titled and a young man living in the aftermath of his father's hugely popular children's books. Sadly, this was not the case. While there were some strange things that happened, namely the entire arc of the story dealing with Laurie, Mr. Toppit was more a curiosity than a mystery. Most importantly, he was never a) a menace or b) truly revealed.
There was not a single, solitary character in this novel that I liked even the least bit. While it's not necessary for a book to have likable characters in order for me to enjoy, it is important to me when the book is more about a concept than a story. Characters are what drive me to explore within a story. After some time spent with these characters, it felt like I was just putting in my time to complete it.
During our reading, Jen pointed out correctly that Mr. Toppit is about celebrity and success. Luke did nothing to to create his own fame, yet he had to live with the consequences because his father named the lead character in his Hayseed books Luke. While discussing this with Jen afterward, it occurred to me that Mr. Toppit was, to borrow from Lady Gaga, a fame monster.
Simon Vance's narration is probably the only thing that kept me interested in Mr. Toppit. I enjoyed hearing his American accents, especially Laurie's. Hands down, that was the most amusing part of the entire novel. Now, there are some novels that I feel would have worked better for me in print than audio. I don't believe this is one of them, though.
Both Jen and I recognized the danger of using Simon Vance to help us through a tough read. We don't want to get to the point where his voice gives us a negative Pavlovian response.
My Final Thoughts
Mr. Toppit was interesting in its look at the way unexpected fame and fortune impacts a family and those involved with them. Perhaps if I hadn't gone into it hoping for Gothic darkness I might have liked it better. Then again, I might not have picked it up at all. Elton's novel is by no means the worst book I've read this year, but it is far from the best. If I had a rating system, I'd give it a 5 out of 10. Since I don't, I'll just close by saying that Mr. Toppit was just okay for me.
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Vance, I jumped right on the bandwagon with her. My Audible credits were due to refresh within the next week, so I bought it right away.In lieu of my traditional review format, I thought I would summarize my thoughts and feelings along with discussion points with Jen in a few bullet points. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to do so without revealing more of the plot than I'd normally be comfortable with. If you don't want to run into any spoilers, please jump to My Final Thoughts:
I was hoping this book would have a dark, Gothic feel. You have this mysterious Mr. Toppit for whom the book is titled and a young man living in the aftermath of his father's hugely popular children's books. Sadly, this was not the case. While there were some strange things that happened, namely the entire arc of the story dealing with Laurie, Mr. Toppit was more a curiosity than a mystery. Most importantly, he was never a) a menace or b) truly revealed.
There was not a single, solitary character in this novel that I liked even the least bit. While it's not necessary for a book to have likable characters in order for me to enjoy, it is important to me when the book is more about a concept than a story. Characters are what drive me to explore within a story. After some time spent with these characters, it felt like I was just putting in my time to complete it.
During our reading, Jen pointed out correctly that Mr. Toppit is about celebrity and success. Luke did nothing to to create his own fame, yet he had to live with the consequences because his father named the lead character in his Hayseed books Luke. While discussing this with Jen afterward, it occurred to me that Mr. Toppit was, to borrow from Lady Gaga, a fame monster.
Simon Vance's narration is probably the only thing that kept me interested in Mr. Toppit. I enjoyed hearing his American accents, especially Laurie's. Hands down, that was the most amusing part of the entire novel. Now, there are some novels that I feel would have worked better for me in print than audio. I don't believe this is one of them, though.
Both Jen and I recognized the danger of using Simon Vance to help us through a tough read. We don't want to get to the point where his voice gives us a negative Pavlovian response.
My Final Thoughts
Mr. Toppit was interesting in its look at the way unexpected fame and fortune impacts a family and those involved with them. Perhaps if I hadn't gone into it hoping for Gothic darkness I might have liked it better. Then again, I might not have picked it up at all. Elton's novel is by no means the worst book I've read this year, but it is far from the best. If I had a rating system, I'd give it a 5 out of 10. Since I don't, I'll just close by saying that Mr. Toppit was just okay for me.
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LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
Much like Christopher Robert Milne experienced, the fictional Luke Hayward has his life put down on paper by his father, Arthur Hayward. The result? The story told in this book.
To be honest, I flip-flopped back and forth between liking this book and wanting to just give up on it. It wasn't an easy
Every character had his or her flaws, but the most lifelike character was, to me, Lila, the German friend. Charles Elton did such a magnificent job detailing her behavior, her style of dress and her manner of speech so well that I couldn't help but picture her and know exactly what type of person she was. Every time she burst into the scene I couldn't help but laugh and enjoy myself immensely.
I think this story is fairly realistic, I sympathized with Luke's feelings of resentment toward the book, his motives for feeling that resentment and I sympathized with Laurie's decisions regarding the story, even if I didn't completely agree with them.
Overall, while not a gripping story, it was an interesting one and I wanted to see it through.
To be honest, I flip-flopped back and forth between liking this book and wanting to just give up on it. It wasn't an easy
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read and there were some rather crude parts that had me feeling uncomfortable (and the end result will be me not recommending this book lightly). They were completely unnecessary and I am rather sad that I even had to experience them. But then, there's the story of this family, this broken family all revolving around a father that it seemed none of them had paid attention to during his lifetime.Every character had his or her flaws, but the most lifelike character was, to me, Lila, the German friend. Charles Elton did such a magnificent job detailing her behavior, her style of dress and her manner of speech so well that I couldn't help but picture her and know exactly what type of person she was. Every time she burst into the scene I couldn't help but laugh and enjoy myself immensely.
I think this story is fairly realistic, I sympathized with Luke's feelings of resentment toward the book, his motives for feeling that resentment and I sympathized with Laurie's decisions regarding the story, even if I didn't completely agree with them.
Overall, while not a gripping story, it was an interesting one and I wanted to see it through.
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LibraryThing member ForeignCircus
This wonderful story within a story is an engaging and atmospheric read. The story of a family defined by the posthumous popularity of children's books written by a quiet father is poignant and rather dark. Luke and Rachel cannot escape their father's fame, and that inability has terrible
All in all, a wonderful debut. I had a difficult time putting this book down, and am still thinking of it months after I finished reading it. It had a similar feel in my mind to [[ASIN:0743298039 The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel]] and I would recommend it highly to friends.
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consequences for them and for others in their orbit. Because the books first became popular in the US, the story bounces between harsh and modern LA and the soft woods of country England. Both environments are wonderfully crafted, lending a brooding element that helps define the narrative.All in all, a wonderful debut. I had a difficult time putting this book down, and am still thinking of it months after I finished reading it. It had a similar feel in my mind to [[ASIN:0743298039 The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel]] and I would recommend it highly to friends.
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LibraryThing member markfinl
Mr. Toppit is the story of a family that is becomes unexpectedly wealthy and famous because the death of the family patriarch, Arthur, leads to a surge in popularity of his series of young adult novels known as The Hayseed Chronicles. Arthur's widow, Martha, and his children, Rachel and Luke, are
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left to deal with the fallout of both Arthur's death and their newfound wealth and fame. Mr. Toppit is a well-written book, but it isn't particularly interesting. There is no mystery to be solved in the plot or insight to be gained into the human condition. It's not a thriller, nor it is especially witty or profound. It just is. It's a pleasant enough book, but there is no real reason to recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member ken1952
Elton's first novel is quite a trip. A series of childrens' books (a la Harry Potter) suddenly become popular after the author is killed in a lorry accident. His family is forced to cope with the myth that builds up as the books popularity take off. Elton takes a wry look at the publishing
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industry, Hollywood, talk shows and the perils of success in this very entertaining novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member soybean-soybean
The proverb Never judge a book by its cover is most apt for this book. Although supposedly fiction, it read like an autobiography in passing. Took me several jumpstarts to try keep on trudging through this literary landscape. To be fair, it was lightly engaging. It's just that i'd expected
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something with 'real' magic and fantastical adventure, based on the artwork on the cover and on the title itself, which had showed such promise, before i started reading page 1, whereupon my heart sank, having come to the realisation that it wasn't what i'd hoped for. It didn't even have a happy ending, so stark and somewhat disturbing, about a non-conventional family who'd got international fame due to a series of fictional books that the patriarch of the family had written right up until his accidental demise. drugs, booze, mental institution centres and messed up human psyches with all its failings played a large part in this book. All in all, i wish i hadn't bought it, and had paid more attention to the fact that it hadnt been shelved in the childrens fiction nor fantasy adventure area of the bookstore. That really oughtve given me a hint, but as i'd alluded to before, it's that damn beguiling title and cover illustration that suckered me in. Show Less
LibraryThing member debs4jc
I could only sustain a mild interest in this convoluted tale. It concerns the life of Luke Hayman, whose life is forever defined by the character of Luke Hayseed--the child hero his father wrote about in "The Hayseed Chronicles", which gradually becomes a bestselling series of children's books.
While some may enjoy the mirror this book holds up to modern society, it just seemed to drag on as listened to it. I never felt that attached to any of the characters, and I don't even recall much about how it was all resolved. It may be a great read for someone else who enjoys reflective stories with a British connection.
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Luke's father dies in an accident when he is a teenager, and his family is plunged into chaos. His sister roams the world and eventually suffers a total mental breakdown. His mother retreats from the world. And a family friend, who was present at his father's death, takes her connection to the family and creates hew own fame and fortune. Behind it all is the speculation about what "Mr. Toppit"--the dark, shadowing "evil" character of the book--is meant to represent.While some may enjoy the mirror this book holds up to modern society, it just seemed to drag on as listened to it. I never felt that attached to any of the characters, and I don't even recall much about how it was all resolved. It may be a great read for someone else who enjoys reflective stories with a British connection.
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LibraryThing member nikon
On the whole it's bit of a slog and yet there are some parts that grab hold of you and keep hold of you but then... not long afterwards... along comes another slog
LibraryThing member passion4reading
I was intrigued by the blurb on the back cover ('... jangly with secrets'), but the secrets were pretty few and far between. I couldn't warm to any of the characters apart from the main narrator, Luke, and I wanted the book to end for all the wrong reasons. In my opinion there was virtually no
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character progression there, and instead the reader gets treated to lots of incidental, irrelevant and distracting background for some of the minor players, including a Round Robin letter from Laurie's radio station boss-turned-manager. The author does make the occasional valid, thought-provoking point, and Luke's voice is suitably wry and dead-pan to raise the occasional smile, but those are not enough to save the book. One for the charity shop, I'm afraid. Show Less
LibraryThing member frisbeesage
Dark and confusing, Mr. Toppit felt like a carnival fun house ride gone awry. Its the story of the Luke Hayman and the Hayseed Chronicles. Luke's father, Arthur, writes the Hayseed Chronicles which are published and languish in obscurity for many years. When Arthur dies a young American woman
The plot of Mr. Toppit is an interesting and unique idea. It largely deals with the feelings of Luke who has to live with his childhood being highly fictionalized and then read by millions. Unfortunately the execution left me cold. I never understood the motivation or actions of any of the characters and was often confused about even simple plot details. The overall tone is of doom and impending disaster which just didn't appeal to me.
I listened to the audio version of Mr. Toppit, read by Simon Vance. While I generally like Simon Vance's readings, it is hard to enjoy the narrator if the content is lacking.
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becomes mysteriously involved with the family, eventually rocketing the Hayseed Chronicles into widespread fame. None of the family, Luke, his sister Rachel, or his mother handles the new found fame well and as the book comes to a close disaster seems inevitable.The plot of Mr. Toppit is an interesting and unique idea. It largely deals with the feelings of Luke who has to live with his childhood being highly fictionalized and then read by millions. Unfortunately the execution left me cold. I never understood the motivation or actions of any of the characters and was often confused about even simple plot details. The overall tone is of doom and impending disaster which just didn't appeal to me.
I listened to the audio version of Mr. Toppit, read by Simon Vance. While I generally like Simon Vance's readings, it is hard to enjoy the narrator if the content is lacking.
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LibraryThing member michelle_bcf
Mr Toppit was recently published by Penguin, with the emphasis being on the Mr Toppit of the title.. a marketing push which caught my eye. The book, however, tells the story of an author, his family, and one of his greatest fans.
The author of the story is Arthur Hayman, a screenwriter who writes a
However, it’s only after Arthur’s death that these books gain popularity, and the book deals with the effects of this, on Luke, his family, and Laurie.. an American stranger who is with Arthur as he dies.
We see most of the story through the eyes of Luke, caught up in the popularity of the books, even though this isn’t something he welcomes. Luke has a wonderfully dysfunctional family, all dealing with their own issues and histories. I personally wasn’t so keen on the part of the book in which Luke visits Laurie in America, but it is part of the overall tale.
It’s a difficult book to categorise, but it explores family relationships, fame, and dealing with past secrets. The characters are all well written, if not always totally likeable, and I wonder how long it will be before we see Penguin publish the actual Hayseed Chronicles! ;-)
The author of the story is Arthur Hayman, a screenwriter who writes a
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series of books which feature his son Luke. These books are collectively known as the Hayseed Chronicles, and if you remove the dustcover of this hardback version, their is an old looking cover depicting this.However, it’s only after Arthur’s death that these books gain popularity, and the book deals with the effects of this, on Luke, his family, and Laurie.. an American stranger who is with Arthur as he dies.
We see most of the story through the eyes of Luke, caught up in the popularity of the books, even though this isn’t something he welcomes. Luke has a wonderfully dysfunctional family, all dealing with their own issues and histories. I personally wasn’t so keen on the part of the book in which Luke visits Laurie in America, but it is part of the overall tale.
It’s a difficult book to categorise, but it explores family relationships, fame, and dealing with past secrets. The characters are all well written, if not always totally likeable, and I wonder how long it will be before we see Penguin publish the actual Hayseed Chronicles! ;-)
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LibraryThing member pussreboots
Mr. Toppit by Charles Elton is about the fallout of being the inspiration for a famous fictional character. Loosely based on the life of Christopher Milne and his fictional counterpart in the Winnie the Pooh books, this book follows the life and times of Luke Hayman after the death of his author
The book is told from multiple points of view, namely, Luke, an American who brings the Hayseed books to California (and inadvertently makes them world famous), Luke's troubled sister who wants to know why she was never included in the books. The events of Luke's life and the explosion of his alter ego's rise in fame come out of order, though there is somewhat of a progression forward in time. This mixture of points of view and moments in time make for an unnecessarily confusing narrative.
When I read the book, I was unaware of the author's work with the Milne estate but the similarity to Christopher Milne's life is unmistakable. That said, knowing now about that connection, I find myself less pleased with the added drama (namely Arthur's violent death and the American making posthumous fame possible). These elements don't ring true and in light of the source material, there is already enough there to make a compelling character study while still being fictional.
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father and the ways in which he can't escape being compared to his father's creation, Luke Hayseed.The book is told from multiple points of view, namely, Luke, an American who brings the Hayseed books to California (and inadvertently makes them world famous), Luke's troubled sister who wants to know why she was never included in the books. The events of Luke's life and the explosion of his alter ego's rise in fame come out of order, though there is somewhat of a progression forward in time. This mixture of points of view and moments in time make for an unnecessarily confusing narrative.
When I read the book, I was unaware of the author's work with the Milne estate but the similarity to Christopher Milne's life is unmistakable. That said, knowing now about that connection, I find myself less pleased with the added drama (namely Arthur's violent death and the American making posthumous fame possible). These elements don't ring true and in light of the source material, there is already enough there to make a compelling character study while still being fictional.
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Awards
Desmond Elliott Prize (Longlist — 2009)