Journal Entry 1 by dallasjay from San Diego, California USA on Saturday, October 11, 2003

This is a hilarious and fun read for anyone who loved watching movies like "Misery," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Princess Bride," and "Maverick." This book is written by the guy who wrote the script to all those movies and this book talks about them all. I enjoyed this book cover to cover and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it to everyone! Very fun and good read. 

Journal Entry 2 by dallasjay at Mailed to fellow BXer in Little Rock, Arkansas USA on Friday, October 24, 2003

Released on Friday, October 24, 2003 at Mailed to fellow BXer in Little Rock, Arkansas USA. 

Journal Entry 3 by magicwritinggal from Fort Smith, Arkansas USA on Monday, November 10, 2003

Somebody please chastise me. I'm so bad about journaling these things when they come in. I received this book in the mail last week (I think?) from dallasjay, and I'm mostly through it now.

It's quite a fun read, actually. A lot more conversational than I'd imagined, which is rather satisfying. I really do feel like old Bill Goldman is just sitting over there, happy to have found an attentive listener, telling me what he thinks about things. I should have it finished by the weekend (busy week, this one) and in the mail after that.

Operative word: should. Thanks, dallasjay! 

Journal Entry 4 by magicwritinggal from Fort Smith, Arkansas USA on Monday, November 10, 2003

fsr44 just pm'd me about being added to the end of this short bookray. I'm going to go ahead and post the mailing order here in case the paper copy gets lost.

From dallasjay to
1. magicwritinggal
2. karendawn
3. reverends
4. fsr44

Hope that helps! 

Journal Entry 5 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Monday, February 23, 2004

This hefty hardcover arrived today. I'm in the middle of another bookring book at the moment, but I will read this one right after it.

UPDATE March 2: I'm about 2/3 of the way through the book and really enjoying it so far. 

Journal Entry 6 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Wednesday, March 03, 2004

One thing I learned from this book -- I could never be a screenwriter. But really, I enjoyed this book and had a lot of fun looking around "behind the scenes." Goldman's writing is very easy to read. I liked the sample script (about Climber) that he provides and discusses in the end -- I'd like to know if anything ever came out of it or if it was just an exercise for the book. 

Journal Entry 7 by karendawn at on Saturday, March 06, 2004

Released on Saturday, March 06, 2004 at Mailed to a fellow Bookcrosser in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

sent off to reverends this morning 

Journal Entry 8 by reverends from Phillipsburg, New Jersey USA on Thursday, March 11, 2004

Received this as part of a bookray I don't remember signing up for, but I am certainly glad I did. This is the first book by Goldman that I have read, but it most certainly won't be the last.

Being a screenwriter myself (those that may wish to do so can see some of my stuff HERE, I've read several books on screenwriting and movie business, and Goldman's comes across as one of the most honest, humble, helpful, and constructive books I've yet to read. Especially when he admits only being completely happy with two or three of his finished works, even going so far as to use his failures as examples in how to (and how not to) write a screenplay. It doesn't matter if you are a struggling writer, or if you are just interested in the filmmaking industry, as What Lie Did I Tell covers enough bases to make it an interesting, enjoyable, and altogether constructive read for either. 

Journal Entry 9 by reverends at Friend/Fellow Bookcrosser in Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Saturday, April 10, 2004

Released on Saturday, April 10, 2004 at Friend/Fellow Bookcrosser in Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA.

Sending this along to the next person on the list. Hope they enjoy it as much as I did! 

Journal Entry 10 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Monday, April 12, 2004

Received today in a book ray. I have one book ahead of it. Thanks. 

Journal Entry 11 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Monday, April 19, 2004

I met William Goldman years ago, and have always enjoyed his writing. This book is no exception - half memoir, half screenwriting class, all of it is written in the most natural, conversational tone.

Since I am the end of this ray, unless Dallasjay objects, I will send to Truthteller next and then she will send it on to JennyO. Hopefully this book can continue its journey. 

Journal Entry 12 by fsr44 at n/a in n/a, By Post -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Released on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 at n/a in n/a, By Post Controlled Releases.

Sending to truthteller to continue this ray. Truthteller, send this on to JennyO when you finish it, please. 

Journal Entry 13 by truthteller from Mobile, Alabama USA on Saturday, May 01, 2004

Having enjoyed a reading of his previous book where he was dead-on about an experience he shared with fsr44...I know I will like this one. Still think Butch and Sundance among the best screenplays of its time. Loved All the President's Men. Can still cringe at the line "Is it safe?" 

Journal Entry 14 by truthteller from Mobile, Alabama USA on Tuesday, June 01, 2004

Enjoyed it, although I will confess to doing some skimming through parts in which I had less interest or experience with the movie.
Sending onto Jenny O as part of the book ray and hope she enjoys!
Truthteller 

Journal Entry 15 by truthteller from Mobile, Alabama USA on Wednesday, June 02, 2004

On to JennyO in Bookring!
Enjoy...
"who are those guys??"
Truthteller 

Journal Entry 16 by O-Jenny from Temple, Texas USA on Thursday, June 10, 2004

This book arrived safely today. Thanks for sending it, truthteller (and fsr44 for arranging it). I think Goldman's brilliant and hysterically funny, so I'm looking forward to reading the book. I need to finish Fortress of Solitude first for a group book discussion (see this thread in Book Talk), and then I'll start this one.

Truthteller, if I need to send this one to anyone else, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll offer it up on the Wish Lists forum. 

Journal Entry 17 by O-Jenny from Temple, Texas USA on Sunday, June 13, 2004

First let me say that I think William Goldman is an excellent writer of both screenplays and novels. I will go see any movie that has his name attached to it. They aren't always fabulous, but he's had so many winners, and he is so talented, that I'm willing to give him a shot every time. He wrote one of my favorite books and my very favorite movie -- The Princess Bride. I was thrilled to read in this book that it's his favorite too. I will always remember going to see that movie in college with my best friend. Said best friend was a very proper, buttoned-up young man, never willing to show emotion. At the end of the movie when Peter Falk says, "As you wish," I turned to my friend, and saw tears dripping down his face. He immediately said, "If you tell ANYONE, I'll kill you." God, I love that movie.

I think fsr44 offered this book to me when she saw that I was rereading The Silent Gondoliers. I usually read two or three books a week, but I had sort of hit a wall and was struggling to finish a book. I didn't know what to pick up next, couldn't seem to get excited about anything on my bookshelf. Then, I saw a copy of The Silent Gondoliers by S. Morgenstern tucked away between some heavier books. I knew I could pick it up, finish it in a couple of hours, and feel better about the world in general.

I think that's Goldman's biggest strength. He's may never write a Pulitzer prize winning novel or even another screenplay of the caliber of Butch and Sundance or The Princess Bride. But he ALWAYS knows how to reach the audience and tug their heartstrings. He's wonderfully competent at telling a story. And it was a thrill reading this book and finding out how that process works. It's not something I'll ever be able to do (let's face it, I don't even write good journal entries), but I have great respect for someone who does it as well as Goldman.

By the way, I read all 400+ pages of this book in one day. That's how readable this guy is. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Will offer it up on the Wish List forum next. Thank you all for sharing. 

Journal Entry 18 by O-Jenny from Temple, Texas USA on Friday, June 25, 2004

Mailed to another bookcrosser last week. 

Journal Entry 19 by FamFatale from Chantilly, Virginia USA on Saturday, June 26, 2004

Received in the mail today. Am anxious to read the scoop of what it's like to work with Mel Gibson !! 

Journal Entry 20 by FamFatale from Chantilly, Virginia USA on Sunday, July 18, 2004

promised to bookczuk when read