Grieve

by Joshua Humphreys

Hector Grieve was once the angriest young man in the world…He is now a hellraising soldier of fortune. Protecting Cambodia's ancient ruins from looters, he makes bloodthirsty speeches to his men, drinks hallucinogenic whisky by the bottle, and boasts of being the greatest lover that Angeline Jolie has ever had.When he learns that he’s broke and that his father is dying, Hector has no choice but to abandon his gallivanting and return home, to outer suburban Melbourne—where he ’s about to become once again...the angriest young man in the world.

331 pages, Paperback

Published May 13, 2017

Reviews

[Alexander Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Joshua Humphreys now. I read his 3 books over the course of 3 weeks - 1 each week. His second one Exquisite Hours is...absolutely exquisite. Maybe it was a hard one to follow. I really enjoy the idea of what Joshua was trying to do with this book. Imagine Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld or Kenny Powers taking a look at society and reporting on what is wrong with it. I agree with most of Joshua's views on society (we're in BIG trouble of losing ourselves in the shit) but the character of Hector Grieve, the observer, is far more extreme than Larry or Jerry or even Kenny. A bit too extreme for me and that is saying something. This character showed absolute zero growth. The constant barrage of obnoxiousness got tiresome. I love offensive humour! But I found this too much. Like I said, I like what the goal of this book was, but I'm not sure if it was fully achieved. The amount of 4-page long speeches could have done with an edit too. I loved some of the jokes. I also loved the nod to the main character from a previous Joshua Humphreys book Waxed Exceeding Mighty. Maybe I'm just biased - the scene when Hector slaughters a pet piglet for no reason but to taunt his vegan friends turned me off him for the rest of it as I'm vegetarian. I'm keen for the next book, but this one didn't do it for me.

[Rozanne Visagie · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝙶𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚢 𝙹𝚘𝚜𝚑𝚞𝚊 𝙷𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚢𝚜
Published: 13 June 2017

✯✯✯✯
4 STAR REVIEW

This book is my first comedy novel and maybe my last, maybe not. Not because of this book, but because I don’t particularly like the genre. I have never read this type of genre and decided to try it, but it’s not for me. I will buy his other books, perhaps comedy can grow on me.
Though I laughed at the beginning of the book, I guess my humour faded.
Joshua Humphreys is a talented writer and he can transport you straight to every place mentioned in his book. He has an amazing ability to describe a place using only words and breathing the essence of Cambodia through the pages. The culture and architecture, he does it justice.

Grieve is about Hector S. Grieve, a VERY angry man. He is a General of a Royal Cambodian Army in Siem Reap. He must go back to his home town, Westmeadows, after finding out his father is terminally ill and because he is bankrupt. When he’s back in civilization, he has a hard time getting accustomed to everything, technology and people’s way of talk.
But armed with his Peacemakers and insults he conquers it all.

Personally, for me the insults were a bit too much. The only decent conversations he had was with Helen and David, but afterwards, his persistence led to his ignorance and Helen didn’t want a part of that. But taking his personality into account, without insults he wouldn’t have been the same Hector S. Grieve. Though a little fewer insults would still make him a General, just not that angry.
There were occasions where humour jumped off the pages, but between the insults my humour got lost.
All in all, if you like a comedy novel, if you like Joshua Humphreys and if you like travelling, read this book.

[Sherryann Ragbir · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you first meet Hector Grieve, he’s not a character you bond with immediately-: unsure whether to love him or to hate him. As you get to know Hector, he is extremely offensive, blunt & cold but the deeper you get into the pages, the more you come to connect with the General, he just grows on you. He is courageous, exceptional and hilarious and possesses the machismo absent in today’s society. Many of nights, I would be laughing uncontrollably at this protagonist’s ludicrousness to the point that I was in stitches.
Grieve is the first novel that I’ve read from the author Mr. Joshua Humphreys. I’m not a fan of male authors and their perspectives however Mr. Humphrey’s ability to bring the sarcastic Hector Grieve to life made me wish he was an actual person that I could meet. Now I’m addicted to Joshua’s books, reading his work in retro, his latest novel (Grieve) being my first. He’s been added to my very short list of favorite male authors. It is now a total of two.
If this review isn’t convincing enough, I strongly recommend you visit his Instagram page (@joshvahvmphreys) where you will become part of this author’s life, the process of being an independent author and the fascination that is Joshua Humphreys' brilliant mind.

[Alyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grieve was a much welcomed break from several years of history books and little else for this weary classicist. Humphreys is clearly very very very well and widely read and his humour never falls flat. Grieve is part-comedy, part-social commentary and all kinds of wonderful. I’m glad to have found this author via social media and have huge amounts of respect for the effort and time he has put into developing a strong and loyal readership while self-publishing. I very much look forward to the next book.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a day, which I only do with books I really enjoy. 5 stars.

[Peter Hoffmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book was a fantastically vivid journey for me. An unbridled and utterly non politically correct (Thank Goodness) adventure with Hector Grieve as he makes no apologies and takes no prisoners ( well not many anyway) in hilariously harsh fashion between Cambodia and Australia. I loved the way this book was written and felt bonded to all of the insanely hysterical characters. Being very familiar with these two cultures myself I could see people and places and feel the well detailed atmosphere as I was reading it. This would make a great action comedy movie. Like all great tales, It just left me wanting more.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon reflection, after reading this roller-coaster ride of a novel, I have a lukewarm LOVE of Hector Grieves. I dearly and fondly hope he has a few sequels in him!!! There's plenty of life in that young-lad-old-soul yet... Read in sections, I can say this... I found Hector to be a fascinating and exhausting protagonist. I was heard to laugh out loud on a number of occasions, but not all. I was shocked and offended by a number of events, but not all. It was mostly enjoyable revisiting some areas of my home town, Melbourne, but not all ... I empathised with his many, many frustrations, but not all... I celebrated many of his successes, but not all. I learnt several new words... but not all – of them were nice (!) ... I sincerely hope this book makes it onto some of Melbourne's school-curriculums some day (It will certainly liven up the English class!) ... I am deeply honoured to now be part (but not all) of The Royal King Voar regiment ... now pour that whiskey, dammit!

[Katee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What the hummus do you have to do with this?"
"Victory, is to the audacious, not the kind. God favours the brave. He does not favour the kind."

Hector S Grieve is not a character you will not want to like. He is angry. He hates everything. You will enjoy Hector's world which takes you on a journey of exploring all that is wrong with society. All that is distasteful. And through that journey you will laugh.

If you have every become livid whilst using a self check out at the super market, this book is for you!

What defines a man? What will one do upon returning to their childhood home town that is now completely foreign? Would you choose to eat unicorn or pangolin?

Hector's journey, from the jungles of Cambodia to the suburbs of Melbourne, was the most delightful and fucking awesome read.

This book does not disappoint as it delivers all the comedic goodness of Seinfeldian questions about nothing.