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Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions
by Daniel Wallace | Literature & Fiction
Registered by wingcaligula03wing of Hayward, California USA on Saturday, February 14, 2004
Average 8 star rating by BookCrossing Members 

status (set by jaredwf): reserved


7 journalers for this copy...

Journal Entry 1 by wingcaligula03wing from Hayward, California USA on Saturday, February 14, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Saw the movie and want to read the book. Actually, have heard good things about the book from other bookcrossers. Will read it and ring it.

Update: Much to my chagrin, I have actually read this book and I don't remember reading it at all! I've kept a book diary since 1987 of everything I've read. While looking for book recommendations for books that take place in California and New Orleans (see the two chit chat threads), I saw that I had read Big Fish back in March of 1999. 

Journal Entry 2 by wingcaligula03wing from Hayward, California USA on Saturday, February 14, 2004

This book has not been rated.

    The ring participants
  • chivers -- Brazil -- USA/Canada or Brazil
  • Fanclub -- HI -- USA/Canada
  • allysther -- HI -- International
  • kab113 -- NY -- USA <-- currently here. :)
  • spaceystacey -- NJ -- USA/Canada
  • jaredwf -- OK -- International
  • newk -- Australia -- International
  • Hawkette -- Australia -- International
  • katayoun -- Iran -- International
  • Hengameh -- Iran -- International
  • Stensler -- WI -- USA
  • yourotherleft -- PA -- USA
  • ghaweyn -- CO -- USA
  • fizzfred -- CA -- USA
  • ToXiCKiTTiKiSS -- CA -- USA
  • WickedWordz -- FL -- USA
  • Caligula03 -- CA -- home to me


Please PM me with your location (state or country) and mailing preference. 

Journal Entry 3 by wingcaligula03wing from Hayward, California USA on Thursday, May 20, 2004

9 out of 10

Big Fish the book has all the pieces (scenes, sets, characters, and dialogue) that are in the film but the book presents them so that they are like a connect-the-dots puzzle that hasn't been completed. I think that Tim Burton actually improved on the book by connecting those dots, developing themes and motifs that are started in the book but not explored.

Big Fish the movie has three distinct narratives. Narrative one is the son's interpretation of his father's stories. The fantasy scenes are the son's exaggeration of what his father is telling him. Then there is story of the father's last days before he dies and the son's attempts to understand his father. Finally (and this is Burton's largest contribution) is the meeting of the truth of the father's stories meeting with the son's expectations of that truth. This happens at the funneral -- a wonderful addition brings the two divergent stories together.

Things you won't find in the book: the carnival, the bank robbery, how the father met the two headed singer and the son's pregnant wife. 

Journal Entry 4 by wingcaligula03wing at on Friday, May 21, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Release planned for Saturday, May 22, 2004 at chivers in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

Mailing to start the ring. 

Journal Entry 5 by chivers from Recife, Pernambuco Brazil on Tuesday, June 01, 2004

This book has not been rated.

just arrived. i'm in the middle of another bookring, and my tests will start next week but i'll do my best not to keep this book more than 2 weeks. thanks!


update (06/12/04): started reading it today. 

Journal Entry 6 by chivers from Recife, Pernambuco Brazil on Sunday, June 13, 2004

8 out of 10

Just finished reading it. quick read and also a fun book. i didn't have the opportunity to watch the movie yet, but now i really want to watch it.
thanks caligula03 for the opportunity! 

Journal Entry 7 by fanclub from Baltimore, Maryland USA on Sunday, July 18, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Yeah! This arrived in yesterday's mail and I just finished my only other bookring book, so this goes right on top! I will be seeing allysther in two weeks, so I'll hand it right over then! :) 

Journal Entry 8 by fanclub from Baltimore, Maryland USA on Sunday, July 25, 2004

8 out of 10

This book is beautifully written and quite a charmer. I read it through in one day, as it is divided into short little segments and moves smoothly from one to the next. However, in this instance I must say that I much prefer the movie. Usually, I don't see the movie before reading the book, but in this case I did. I don't know if that is the reason, or if it just Tim Burton's godliness, but this time I loved the movie more. There is just this amazing sense of awe throughout Burton's interpretation. He brings it completely to life, and I don't think any of the things he added or removed took away from the story in any way. In fact, there were some of his changes that I actually preferred, one being the relationship between Jenny Hill in Specter and Edward Bloom. However, the end still leaves you with a light, content feeling and is a good snuggle read.

I will hand this over to allysther personally when I see her this weekend. 

Journal Entry 9 by wingallystherwing from Waipahu, Hawaii USA on Monday, August 02, 2004

This book has not been rated.

I'm looking forward to this one. I purchaced the DVD a while ago, and have been waiting to see it for the second time. I will read the book, and then take a second plunge into the film. 

Journal Entry 10 by wingallystherwing from Waipahu, Hawaii USA on Wednesday, September 01, 2004

8 out of 10

This was sent out about a week ago, so it should arrive soonish.

My thoughts on the book? It was a bit disjointed, as is life. I agree that the movie version is better. I enjoyed this very much, but was not pulled in the same way I was for the film. A good read, though. Thank you for sharing it! 

Journal Entry 11 by kab113 from Troy, Ohio USA on Sunday, September 19, 2004

This book has not been rated.

I caught this book a few weeks back but haven't remembered to journal so in the few minutes that I've been home. Thanks for including me in this ring, caligula03! 

Journal Entry 12 by kab113 from Troy, Ohio USA on Tuesday, October 26, 2004

This book has not been rated.

I read this book in a day which was nice for me because I never have that much time to read... check out my profile and you'll see why... Anyways, I usually like to read the book before I see a movie but I didn't in this case and I was disappointed in the book. I don't believe I can give it a fair rating because of my biasness but I'll give it one anyway.

I did post-it a couple pages though that I will record in my journal before I send the book on and when I do that I'll let you know which ones they were.

Thanks for including me in this bookring! 

Journal Entry 13 by spaceystacey from Bridgeton, New Jersey USA on Sunday, November 07, 2004

9 out of 10

Just received in the post on Saturday with another bookring. Will be reading shortly and posting again.

I must say that I really enjoyed this first novel by Daniel Wallace. I had also seen the movie.


Will be posted today to next reader, jaredwf, as soon as I have the address. 

Journal Entry 14 by jaredwf from Mannford, Oklahoma USA on Wednesday, February 23, 2005

7 out of 10

Received the book a few weeks ago and just now finished it since I have been busy with classes and other books.

As many have said, the movie was better. It is a funny and somewhat touching book but it doesn't achieve the same effect as the movie.

Will mail to newk in the next few days. 



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