A very funny and very silly book!

Official Join Me site

From Amazon.com:
From Publishers Weekly
In between jobs as a comedy producer for the BBC, 20-something Wallace would "sit around for hours in my pants" in his London apartment. After a great-uncle's funeral, he was struck by a story about his relative's failed effort to start a 100-member commune. Inspired to start his own group, but not sure what he wanted to do with it, he set up an ambiguous Web site requesting others to "join me." As the chapter headings maintain a running tally of his confused but mostly eager followers, Wallace recounts his misadventures scurrying across Europe while trying to keep the project hidden from his girlfriend, who he knows will think the idea is crazy. As he gradually elects to have his collective devote itself to making others happy, a certain degree of cliche creeps in, but never without a weird undercurrent (e.g., advice about "following the little voice inside" comes from Wallace's e-mail buddy, the "President of the Galactic Government"). The story's pretty silly, and Wallace's plan is strongly reminiscent of the theme of Pay It Forward (which he acknowledges), so he lets readers in on the joke right away, dragging them into his confidence. As Wallace recounts awkward encounters with "Joinees," his bemused tone won't completely distract readers from wondering why he doesn't just ditch his girlfriend if he can't even remember what food she likes, but his mission is entertaining nonetheless. Wallace's decidedly British sensibility might be a barrier to some, but fans of BBC America programming or other Britcoms will probably follow up by rushing to Wallace's site, aimed at recruiting more U.S. members to his offbeat cause.

Released on Saturday, March 27, 2004 at Postal Release in Sydney, Australia Controlled Releases.

Posted to sunny27 as a RABCK!

I received this out of the blue from awaywithfairies on Friday. Such a surprise!

I'm halfway through the book and really enjoying it. I'm beginning to think that Danny may be the reason I enjoyed Are You Dave Gorman? so much and Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure a bit less. He definately has the knack and made me the crazy giggling lady on the train on Saturday morning.

Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!
Although I'm not a joinee (yet), I think the nicest thing I can do at the moment is pass this on to as many people as possible. Hope it makes people happy. Cheese!

International Bookray! The List:

newk - SA
mumurrr – wa
guinever69 – wa
katweeble - uk
spike1972 - uk
solittletime – maine,us
guinevereII – new jersey, us

The Other List:
1. Journal the book when you receive it so we all know it is safe and well.
2. Journal the book when you've read it so we all know what you thought of it.
3. PM the next person on the list so you know where to send it next.
4. Journal the book when you've posted it so we all know it is on the move.

Please be considerate of the people on the list after you. If you are going to take a while to read the book, for whatever reason, please let us know. If you think it's going to take you longer than a month to get to it then please consider passing it on to the next person. We can always come back to you when you have more time.

Release planned for Monday, May 17, 2004 at Sent to another bookcrosser in Brisbane, A Bookray Controlled Releases.

Off to newk to continue it's journey. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

thankyou. Arrived today

An amusing book that I enjoyed. Thanks to all those before me. You have all performed acts of kindness for no personal reward! And probably not on a Friday. I am awaiting an address for mumurrr

posted tonight in the red letter box in our street. A prepaid envelope to WA. I reckon a week.

Book arrived safely on the 31/5 dh quickly spirited it away to read. I don't really mind him reading it first (I have two other bookring books to finish first) but does he have to keep laughing so much :^)

Will post again when I have read it.

2/7/04 popped it into guinevere69's letterbox today

got in letterbox a few days ago
I adored this book, he has a great sense of humor and a great way of writing that is not forced. What a wonderful man to go out and do all that. I read "One Hit Wonderland" by Tony Hawkins which is in the same mold but not as funny, interesting to see that they know each other. Really really well written, throughly recommended

Just received in the post - thanks guinevere69. This will give me a break from my tbr pile from the BBC Book of Big Reads!

I found the book quite amusing and fairly scarey - as an active joiner myself. ( I need to find the Wolverhampton branch of committee joiners anonymous - or set one up for myself).I am really please that I only logged onto the website to look and didn't join myself. Written in a lads together style I found annoying sometimes.

to be posted to Spike today or Monday - sorry I couldn't hold onto it any longer - book pile threatening to take over my room!

Arrived safely in Cardiff this morning. Thanks Katweeble, and of course thanks Sunny27.

Sorry to have taken so long to get to this (I'm learning now not to sign up to so many rings/rays!).

I have just started this today - and I even laughed while reading the Prologue, so I think that's a good sign! ;o)

Will journal again soon.

I've really enjoyed this book. As others have said, Danny Wallace has a very easy, flowing way of writing. I think he really does write as he thinks/speaks. ;o)

I loved the idea of the whole Join Me thing, and the way he got a bit miffed when he realised that others had already been doing it, but maybe not in the same format (as I believe, one or two people have been "bookcrossing" before they joined, er , Bookcrossing ;o)}

I have thought of Joining up, but admit I haven't as yet. I do intend to at least go to the website though.

The only negative in this book, and I feel I have to mention it as it still tugs at my tiny brain even now I've finished it, is how/where he got all the money to do all the traveling, printing of leaflets, etc? I know he had a job of sorts, but it didn't sound like he made much money from that, especially once he'd started Join Me. (I hope me posting this bit doesn't spoil it for anyone else!?!)

I do envy his committment though, and wish I had his drive and determination, and his ability to just be "nice" for no real reason, other than being nice itself. If that makes sense?..

I know there are a lot of links between him and Dave Gorman, who's books I've yet to read (there's at least 1 on Mt Toobie as I write this..), so I look forward to that ;o)

All in all, a great book which is well worth the read.

I'll get this in the post to solittletime shortly.

This is now on it's way to solittetime ;o)

Received in the mail. Thanks for including me. This looks very interesting.

This bookring appears to have been stalled. Several PM's to solittletime have gone unanswered, so I'm sorry to say it looks like the end. I'll PM guineverell to apologise. Thanks to everyone who participated and kept it moving...