Journal Entry 1 by Gooner from March, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 05, 2003

This is the funniest book I have ever read - this is a duplicate copy which I plan to offer to ??? who knows? I'm deciding who to offer it to - that's half the fun!

Updated 27 January 2004:

This has now become a bookring. The batting order is as follows:

1. LisaJane
2. LucyC
3. Tigger79 - postponed
4. Weebly
5. Tigger 79
6. Aquina - postponed
7. WistfulDragon
8. tiggsybabes
9. Shelbycat - received 29 July 2004
10. Olliebear
11. NetStation
12. robert-walker
13. Gooner

Ring now closed. 

Journal Entry 2 by Hexa on Wednesday, January 07, 2004

Received safely - thanks Chris. More when I've read it... 

Journal Entry 3 by Hexa on Saturday, January 17, 2004

Fabulous book - and one that I've heard a lot about, so it was excellent to finally read it. Very very funny, and one of those books where a lot seems to be going on but, for the first half of the book at least, nothing really changes. I loved the way it was all brought together at the end, and was even surprised to find an optimistic note there on the last few pages. The characters were all brilliantly described, and very human (almost exaggeratedly so)in that there was no obvious character with whom the reader was encouraged to sympathise.

Sending the book on very soon. 

Journal Entry 4 by lucycat from Hull, East Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 27, 2004

Many thanks Lisa for passing this on (and for the ace Monty Python postcard - much appreciated and will be added to my BC wall immediately!), and to Chris for starting this off in the first place. Really looking forward to reading it, and hopefully will get it back on the road again next week. :O)

Update 12/02/04

Loved it - everything I had hoped it would be and much more besides! Ignatius is the best anti-hero I've encountered in absolutely ages - in fact it's been a long time since I've come across a book populated by such well-drawn characters in general (Jones and Santa will also stay with me for a long time.) The writing style reminded me a little of 'The Catcher in the Rye', if for no other reason than they're both 'of an age' - all hugely enjoyable stuff, and after a few false starts it's gone off to Aly with a couple of travelling companions tonight.

Happy reading!

 

Journal Entry 5 by weebly from Hartwell, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Monday, February 16, 2004

Received in the post - got 5 books today wooo hooo. Luckilly only this book is in a ring/ray so it will be my next read, others join the pile on my bedside table. Note to self - less computer time more reading time ! 

Journal Entry 6 by weebly from Hartwell, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Saturday, February 21, 2004

Update - I am struggling with this book - I am not liking the mental images ! I am up to about page 60 and can't decide whether to leave it or not. Can anyone offer me any words of encouragement? I have 3 Sue Grafton waiting in the wings to be read which keep catching my eye! 

Journal Entry 7 by weebly from Hartwell, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Thursday, February 26, 2004

OK - I have finally given up on page 173 and decided to let this book go to someone who may appreciate it more. You never know - I may revisit it one day! 

Journal Entry 8 by weebly at Bookring in n/a, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, February 26, 2004

Released on Thursday, February 26, 2004 at Bookring in n/a, Bookring Controlled Releases.

Off to Tigger79 - I hope you enjoy it! 

Journal Entry 9 by KenseyRiver from Ipswich, Suffolk United Kingdom on Saturday, March 06, 2004

Thanks to Weebly for sending this on and to ChrisP for setting up the ring. Having a bit of a TBR crisis at the moment. I am hosting the book group I belong to on Thursday and have not finished the book yet! So I will have to hold fire on reading this until next week (although I have read a few pages, but that does not really count). On a more happy note, this is the first thing I have done on my brand, spanking new computer. I think I am in love. Husband hovering over shoulder, is distressed to discover I was not just talking about him. 

Journal Entry 10 by KenseyRiver from Ipswich, Suffolk United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 05, 2004

I can't believe I have had this book for two months, I am so sorry for those waiting in the queue.

And after all that, I never finished it. I tried really hard and I hate to admit defeat with a book, hence why I have had it so long, but I just could not get into this book. Anyway, hopefully the book goes on to a more deserved reader... 

Journal Entry 11 by WistfulDragon from Streatham, Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, May 15, 2004

Arrived this morning, thank you! Note to self: try Aquina when finished (Aquina was unavailable when the book was available) 

Journal Entry 12 by WistfulDragon from Streatham, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, May 23, 2004

I enjoyed this book, almost despite myself. I still don't understand how I could like Ignatius, but he grows on you - he's so in his own world that he is almost like a mythical creature! But I can also sympathise with those who gave up, as a couple of times I found myself putting the book in my bag before I got to my bus stop - unheard of for me!
It's just as well I made myself a note. I shall try contacting Aquina, if I don't hear from her by Saturday I will send on to Tiggsybabes. 

Journal Entry 13 by tiggsybabes from Pontefract, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, June 04, 2004

Sent to me by Wistful Dragon as Aquina must be away. WIll send to her after I've read it. Can start it next as finished a book yesterday :) 

Journal Entry 14 by tiggsybabes from Pontefract, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 22, 2004

I'm finding it hard to get into this book, but am persevering with it. I've been reading it on & off for the last 2 weeks, alongside nothing else, which is very unlike me not to have more than 1 book on the go. I just thought I'd check if it ws just me & I see some of you have struggled too. I shall give it another week, but am sorely tempted by my 2 great NSSSS books. 

Journal Entry 15 by tiggsybabes from Pontefract, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, June 26, 2004

I made an effort to finish this & read it in the garden yesterday afternoon (sun finally!) & finsihed it in bed this morning with a cup of tea :) Some days it's nice to wake first :)

I don't know why it's taken me so long to finish it as I enjoyed it, but found the middle hard going.

Originally I disliked Ignatious, but found myself empathising with him towards the end & cheering him on the final few pages :)

I think my favourite character was Miss Trixie & I've worked with women like her *G*

I shall PM Aquina & give her a few days to respond as I see she hasn't replied to a few PMs (I'm chasing her on another ray too) I'll also PM Shelby cat & send it to her before next weekend (if no reply from Aquina) as am off on my hols. Yay! 

Journal Entry 16 by tiggsybabes from Pontefract, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, July 02, 2004

PMed Shelbycat for her address as no reply from Aquina. Will be posted to Shelbycat tomorrow, 23 July. 

Journal Entry 17 by Shelbycat from Llanelli, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, July 29, 2004

Just got this in the post, and added to the growing TBR pile of ring/ray books! 

Journal Entry 18 by Shelbycat from Llanelli, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, September 20, 2004

I'm so sorry but i just didn't get on with this book at all. In fact i'm going to give it up on page 154 as "not my cup of tea". I'm PMing Olliebear for their address to send it on and i hope they enjoy it more than i did. 

Journal Entry 19 by Olliebear from Hull, East Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, September 30, 2004

Book arrived this morning! I have wanted to read it for a while as on Amazon it was a recommended read for lovers of Geek Love by Catherine Dunn. Anyway, will get onto this as soon as I have finished Ozzy Osbourne's biography!

Thanks, Shelbycat for sending this on. 

Journal Entry 20 by Olliebear from Hull, East Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 19, 2004

I did enjoy this book alot. I was surprised that some people gave up halfway through, but then admittedly it is quite heavy-going, with a lot of description in it. However, it is amazing how you come to feel some kind of sympathy for the anti-hero, Ignatius. He is a character I came to love to hate. I was pleased by the ending though, I won't give any details here for future readers but it was exactly what I was hoping would happen! The style of writing is quite sumptuous in places and I found myself only reading 20 pages at a time and often re-reading sections but in a good way!

Anyway, this will be off on it's next journey to Steve-land shortly. I hope he enjoys it. Thanks
for sharing this unique book, Gooner!


UPDATE>>>16/11/04 So sorry I have just found this in a pile of TBP (To be Posted) I thought it had gone already! Will post off today! Mucho apologies. Olliebearxx 

Journal Entry 21 by Netstation from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, November 20, 2004

Arrived today, or yesterday maybe. Excellent timing as I'm just finishing my current book so I'll get to this straight away. Thanks Olliebear, and Gooner for starting the ring. 

Journal Entry 22 by Netstation from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, December 11, 2004

Loved it! What a fabulous anti-hero Ignatius is. The worrying thing for me is that I actually know people like him! I wish I'd had the idea of writing about them as Toole has done here. I have to say I pretty much guessed how it would all turn out but it wasn't meant to be a mystery. For me the fun was in the way the author brought all the strands together.

Ooops, edited to take out spoiler before Rob saw it, sorry :o(

Off to robert-walker 10/12/04. 

Journal Entry 23 by R-W from Rotherham, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, December 16, 2004

this has just arrived just a few moments ago, i have just started a book, i will make this next on my list, thanks Gooner for organising the ring, and thanks to NetStation for mailing it on, with some very cool postcards 

Journal Entry 24 by R-W from Rotherham, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 05, 2005

I've not finished the book yet, but i'm having fun reading it. I read a couple of sentences last night which really sum the book up, and so i wanted to write them here so as i would always remember them. I thought this scene was funny, he's out selling hot dogs and bumps into Mancuso, after having a few words Ignatius writes 'I strode proudly off down the street. Then, realizing that i had forgotten the wagon, i returned grandly to retrieve it' that just sums our hero up. And then on the same page i find another gem
'Health note: Astonishing weight increase, due no doubt to the anxiety which my dear mother's increasing unpleasantness is causing me. It is a truism of human nature, that people learn to hate those who help them. Thus, my mother has turned on me' Oh his poor mother :)
I will now carry on reading. 

Journal Entry 25 by R-W from Rotherham, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, January 06, 2005

This book was great, Ignatius Reilly is a fantastic character, he is just so warped, and lives in his own little world, i just can't describe how funny this book was. Some fantastic, colourful charcters to, who can forget Miss Trixie and Jones.
I enjoyed this book, i think it has now reached the end of the line and will be returning home soon 

Journal Entry 26 by MyopicMeringue on Saturday, February 19, 2005

This arrived today - thank you, Robert-Walker - and thanks for the Robin Hood Bay postcard too. :-) And thanks, Gooner, for starting the bookring. It looks like an entertaining book.

As I understand from Robert-Walker, Gooner doesn't want the book back, so I will pass it on to someone else who wants to read it when I've finished it.