Journal Entry 1 by sydney2259 on Monday, January 02, 2006

Black Dog is shorthand for a disease the millions of people suffer from - depression. Artist and writer Matthew Johnstone, a sufferer himself, has written and illustrated this moving and uplifting insight into what it is like to have a Black Dog as a companion.

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This is a very slim lightweight book. I am offering this book as a bookray, to both Australian and International bookcrossers. Please PM me with your location and shipping preferences. Read and send on within 4 weeks please :)


1. frangipanis (Australia)
2. catsalive (Australia)
3. back to Sydney2259
4. SeamonkeyofTVCH (USA)

 

Journal Entry 2 by frangipanis from Rockhampton, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Book has arrived safely in the mail and has been added to my TBR pile ... thanks ... 

Journal Entry 3 by AnonymousFinder on Monday, April 03, 2006

Posting this book today .. thanks ...

CAUGHT IN ROCKHAMPTON QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA 

Journal Entry 4 by frangipanis from Rockhampton, Queensland Australia on Monday, April 03, 2006

Very different to what I expected ... I am forwarding it on to catsalive today ... thanks ... 

Journal Entry 5 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Monday, April 10, 2006

Thanks frangipanis. 

Journal Entry 6 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, April 15, 2006

Journal Entry 7 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, April 16, 2006

I've passed this on to a friend as sydney2259 doesn't require it back now. 

Journal Entry 8 by AS105008 from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, April 17, 2006

A very insightful book into the difficulty many people have with depression. Nicely written & drawn to explain a complex issue in a simple manner. 

Journal Entry 9 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Journal Entry 10 by MooMoo1977 from Lismore, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, April 27, 2006

Certainly gives you something to think about. I loved the analogy of depression being like a black dog....have PM'd CrystalJade to check her addy details and will endeavour to have it sent off either tomorrow or Monday... 

Journal Entry 11 by MooMoo1977 from Lismore, New South Wales Australia on Monday, May 01, 2006

Posted today to CrystalJade. 

Journal Entry 12 by Crystaljade from Hervey Bay, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Arrived yesterday. The quick look I had shows it to be an interesting book. I will probably share this with my teens before sending it on it's journey. 

Journal Entry 13 by Crystaljade from Hervey Bay, Queensland Australia on Monday, May 22, 2006

This was avery helpful book. I sat down with my teens and we went through the book together, discussing each page as we went. Some things where what I experience, while others where a bit different (e.g. the author says the black dog takes his appetite away.....I tend to comfort eat instead. So I discussed that difference with my kids too, that way they understand that not everyone's experience is exactly the same.) It is good for helping family and friends understand the illness better.

I'll pass it on to aussie-rose this week. 

Journal Entry 14 by Crystaljade from Hervey Bay, Queensland Australia on Friday, May 26, 2006

Posted 25/5/06 

Journal Entry 15 by aussie-rose from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Monday, May 29, 2006

Book arrived safely! I'll get on to it ASAP and will journal my thoughts once I've read it. :-) 

Journal Entry 16 by aussie-rose from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Thursday, June 01, 2006

Wow this book certainly is a VERY quick read!! You could be finished it in 15-30 minutes as there are only a few sentences per page, but it's the underlying message that needs to be thought about for MUCH longer!

I found the illustrations very intriguing. Although I haven't been clinically depressed, I have certainly had 'the blues' many times and periods of deep discouragement. So I can't totally relate to the depth of feeling portrayed in the text and illustrations, I can relate to it to a certain degree. I tried to read it with the aim of trying to learn more so I can better understand a few friends who have depression.

Thanks to all past 'custodians' for sharing this book with us all. :-)

I have PM'd crimson-tide and will post off as soon as I get their address. In the meantime I will re-read it a couple more times to really let it sink in!

 

Journal Entry 17 by crimson-tide from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Monday, June 12, 2006

Journal Entry 18 by puppymummy from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, June 20, 2006

This looks terrific! I should have it read for our next meetup, assuming leeny37 will be there to get it from me... 

Journal Entry 19 by puppymummy from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Great book, the cartoons are briliant (particularly the one about aging). The only disappointment for me is that there is no depiction of the mental anguish that can accompany severe depression - but then, you can't cover everything!
Passing it on at meetup tonight. 

Journal Entry 20 by leeny37 from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Received safely from puppymummy at tonight's meet-up, thank you! (^_^) This should be a quick read; I will try to get through it soon and send it off to the next participant asap so it doesn't get lost when my house move happens! *grin* 

Journal Entry 21 by puppymummy from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, July 04, 2006

read this somewhere between puppymummy and meetup 

Journal Entry 22 by leeny37 from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Thursday, July 06, 2006

This was a quick little read but I really enjoyed it. I thought the illustrations captured the emotions perfectly and it was a great visual depiction of some of the struggles that people with depression face. I liked the uplifting end - definitely very encouraging for those who have had their lives affected by depression, including their friends and families. I do agree with catsalive though, it's very hard on dogs and kinda sad to see them associated with depression! Thanks for sharing and I will get this out to the next participant asap. 

Journal Entry 23 by leeny37 at Post office: Mailed to another bookcrosser in Australia, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, July 15, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (7/16/2006 UTC) at Post office: Mailed to another bookcrosser in Australia, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Oops, apologies for hanging on to this, I had meant to mail it out ages ago! This is wrapped up and ready to head to goodthinkingmax, I will drop it off at the post office on my way to work. 

Journal Entry 24 by goodthinkingmax from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Arrived today. Thanks. 

Journal Entry 25 by goodthinkingmax from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, August 13, 2006

Initially I was a bit mystified by the gorgeous black dog in the illustrations representing depression. Black Dog is a term I had only recently heard in relation to depression so it was interesting to read the foreword and the history of the term. After reading this a few times, I realised that it is a feat to have people who have experienced depression "smile wryly and respond affectionately to his images". If the book was full of images of a disgusting, evil-looking thing, very few would be likely to pick it up.

The illustrations were great. I love that the dog is expressionless until the second last illustration. This expressionless look really captures the way depression takes over in unexpected and often seemingly small ways. I love the illustration of the dog sitting on the kite string and another where it is ruining the man's appetite with its tail in the wine. I think the book addresses most symptoms of depression and I was struck by the page: "He likes to wake me up with very repetitive, negative thinking" as an example of the book's thoroughness.

Thanks for starting this bookring. I have been curious about it for a while and may buy my own copy to mull over occasionally but mainly to use at work with adolescents.

I will send off to hunnyb today. 

Journal Entry 26 by hunnyb from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, August 17, 2006

Received book today, thanks all :) 

Journal Entry 27 by hunnyb from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Friday, August 18, 2006

I thought this was a good illustrated representation of the symptoms of depression. The writing was also clear and well expressed, helping to debunk some of the myths surrounding depression. Definitely a good book for sharing :) Thanks all, I've PMd ebonystar for an address. 

Journal Entry 28 by ebonystar from Saint John, New Brunswick Canada on Wednesday, September 06, 2006

i think this arrived a couple of days ago, but have been away, so apologies for only getting it journalled today. i've had a quick flick through but will give a friend the chance to have a read, then send on to angelfirestar.
thanks for giving me the chance to read this! i maybe recognise the analogy 'black dog' from nick drake's music? 

Journal Entry 29 by AngelfireStar from Falls City, Nebraska USA on Saturday, October 07, 2006

TBR will read ASAP 

Journal Entry 30 by AngelfireStar from Falls City, Nebraska USA on Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Greeat book. Short rad and vrey informative. I love the way he wrote it.

Waiting for the next person's address. 

Journal Entry 31 by AngelfireStar at Controlled Postal Release in Falls City, Nebraska USA on Thursday, November 30, 2006

RELEASE NOTES:

sent to catsalive

Thanks for including me in the ring. 

Journal Entry 32 by AngelfireStar at Controlled Postal Release in Falls City, Nebraska USA on Thursday, November 30, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (11/30/2006 UTC) at Controlled Postal Release in Falls City, Nebraska USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

sent to catsalive

Thanks for including me in the ring. 

Journal Entry 33 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Friday, December 08, 2006

Home now. Thankyou for participating in this bookring, everyone. 

Journal Entry 34 by catsalive at Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, January 05, 2011

This is a good book. I must get it back into circulation. 

Journal Entry 35 by catsalive at WA, Virtual Bookbox OZ -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, March 17, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (3/17/2011 UTC) at WA, Virtual Bookbox OZ -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to Carole888 from Round 23 of the OzVBB. 

Journal Entry 36 by Carole888 at Perth, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, March 24, 2011

Arrived safely!! Thanks a lot catsalive. Wow! I am surprised to see how far this book has travelled and it's great to be able to read all those journals. Well, I opened the envelope and read it straight away. The illustrations are very effective. You can really feel everything happening as it all builds up. I also found the foreword and acknowledgements interesting. Two others in our household have also read it and they think it is great. Will be sharing it around.

Black Dog Website