[roundabout] Beyond Black

by Hilary Mantel | Literature & Fiction | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 0007157762 Global Overview for this book
Registered by barnhelm of Fulda, Hessen Germany on 2/4/2006
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5 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by barnhelm from Fulda, Hessen Germany on Saturday, February 4, 2006
mein zweites buch für den booker prize roundabout, ich komme aber erstmal nicht dazu, deswegen geht es gleich auf reisen.

Journal Entry 2 by Sternschnuppe28 from Flörsheim am Main, Hessen Germany on Saturday, February 18, 2006
Dankeschön!

Journal Entry 3 by Sternschnuppe28 from Flörsheim am Main, Hessen Germany on Thursday, March 2, 2006
I tried hard to get into this book, but finally have to admit that I quit after chapter 5 at page 139. The tale of Alison, a psychic, and her assistant, Colotte, who both go from psychic fair tp psychic fair and interact with other ghosts, did not catch my interest so far. Tarot plays a role, too, which I actually like quite a lot in general. I found the plot pretty boring, got confused about the characters (who talks to whom, who´s the passage about) and did not like them at all, especially Colette, who is rather rude.
After having read only a quarter of the book I am certainly not sure, what the book is about: the commercialization of supernatural abilities, pretending to be supernatural (whilst not being), friendship between two woman, an abusive childhood?? Latter I could not take seriously, because of this psychic atmosphere, which is a pity.

So this time I am really, really curious, what the others are going to read out of the book and how you like it. Rating the book at this point seems unfair.

I already forwarded "Beyond black" to elhamisabel yesterday.

Journal Entry 4 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Saturday, March 4, 2006
Thanks, barnhelm and Sternschnuppe28, it arrived today.
I haven't read your JE, Sternschnuppe28. Your postcard was a good way to keep me from doing so.

Journal Entry 5 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Saturday, March 11, 2006
Sorry but I couldn't muster reading more than page 40 or so. I'vetried all week getting into this book. I'm not even sure what it is all about. The setting is strange, the language isn't interesting at all, I honestlydon't even know why I've been triying to read this all week.
I'm giving up on this. My time is too precious to be wasted on a book that I don't like.

EDIT: I just read Sternschnuppe's entry. I hadn't done so so far because she had told me not to. Well, reading her's after writing mine only confirms my own opinion on the book.

Journal Entry 6 by wingCaptainCarrotwing from Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Friday, March 17, 2006
The book arrived today - it looks nice, but those JEs are not encouraging... Anyway, the book will have to join the queue on my shelf for some time.

Journal Entry 7 by wingCaptainCarrotwing from Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Well, to me the book seems quite ok. First, the cover is great. Then, I like the banality of the spirit world as opposed to great claims of important revelations. Then also, I like the sense of humour - Colette and Gavin, the neighbours Evan and Michelle, Colette trying to put Alison on a diet and loosing weight herself; Alison's difficulties with Mart and the returning "fiends"; the interactions of the other mediums (Merlin and Merlyn and Mrs Etchells...). Then, the glimpses of a terrible childhood lead to early assumptions about what "really" happened. Alison's life changes once she remembers her own memories instead of those of the men - nice that she gets company in the end.
On the whole, the book left behind a slight unease: what if it was like this once you go "beyond black" and cannot find the light? Well, I always knew that I can't get rid of ghost stories. ;-)
I recommend this book and pass it on to lesezeichen.

Journal Entry 8 by lesezeichen from Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Saturday, May 13, 2006
The book arrived yesterday. I wonder if I'll like it: things like esotherism, tarot etc. are usually not my thing at all. But maybe it will be a pleasant surprise after all...

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