Forrest Gump is a 1986 novel by Winston Groom. The title character experiences adventures ranging from shrimp boating and pingpong championships to thinking about his childhood love. The Vietnam conflict and college football are all part of the story. Throughout his life, Gump views the world simply and truthfully, even though through the course of the book he really doesn't know what he wants to do in life. Author and narrator Groom uses intonations that capture Gump's personality. Gump is full of wisdom, but is considered an "idiot" because of his low IQ and disability and, according to him, he "can think things pretty good," but when he tries "sayin or writin them, it kinda come out like Jello". He is also physically strong and falls into amazing adventures.
The novel was turned into a film by Paramount Pictures in 1994. The film version, placing Tom Hanks in the title role, won several Academy awards and became, at the time, the fourth highest-grossing film ever. The novel contains many plot lines not included in the movie. The novel was republished by Pocket Books (an imprint of Paramount's then-sister company Simon & Schuster) to tie in with the release of the film.
(Wikipedia)

Embankment release. Near Somerset House. 27th January.

I found the popular film based (loosely) this book reasonably enjoyable, so was pleased to catch it as I strolled along Embankment a few weeks ago. Although well written and a decent read, I have to say that the "amazing adventures" Gump relates become increasingly fanciful and unlikely, and the delicate balance of idiot/savant that is done so well in the film (and the first half of the book) is disrupted.

Having said that, I would still recommend you read this book - to live as Forrest Gump does, letting the currents and eddies of life whisk him around from one adventure to the next, is a wonderful thing. I released the book at the Windsor Castle pub in Marylebone, but I doubt it will sit there for long!

Dartello