Journal Entry 1 by gussy916 from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Sunday, March 12, 2006

From a review website:

Vikas Swarup's spectacular debut novel opens in a jail cell in Mumbai, India, where Ram Mohammad Thomas is being held after correctly answering all twelve questions on India's biggest quiz show, Who Will Win a Billion? It is hard to believe that a poor orphan who has never read a newspaper or gone to school could win such a contest. But through a series of exhilarating tales Ram explains to his lawyer how episodes in his life gave him the answer to each question.

Ram takes us on an amazing review of his own history -- from the day he was found as a baby in the clothes donation box of a Delhi church to his employment by a faded Bollywood star to his adventure with a security-crazed Australian army colonel to his career as an overly creative tour guide at the Taj Mahal.

Swarup's Q & A is a beguiling blend of high comedy, drama, and romance that reveals how we know what we know -- not just about trivia, but about life itself. Cutting across humanity in all its squalor and glory, Vikas Swarup presents a kaleidoscopic vision of the struggle between good and evil -- and what happens when one boy has no other choice in life but to survive. 

Journal Entry 2 by gussy916 from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Tuesday, March 28, 2006

...And it's a Ring!

The usual rules apply...(and I'll post them here sometime soon...)

Tentative Order:(I'm just listing everyone down for now....I'll juggle the order later)

The book is on its way to the first person
Catsalive (Australia)
Miss-gonewest (Australia - Intl)
Piggeldy (Germany - Surface mail Intl)
Colebear (US - Intl if reqd)
ds3233 (US - Intl)
Fizzfred (US - Intl)
LyekkaMarengo (US- Intl)
Tashe (US- Intl)
Lpree (US - Intl)
Rapscallia (Canada - Intl)
Giggogg (UK - Intl)
Lizzy-Stardust (UK - Intl) 

Journal Entry 3 by gussy916 from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Sunday, April 16, 2006

What an awesome book! I picked it up on a lark, and thought that perhaps this could make a good read...and WOW!
I could not put it down (even though I had to go for Mass, its Holy Week) and stayed up till 4am finishing it.

The pace is fast, twisted and very very surprising. Although everything seems to happen in super fast mode, it's believable. Mumbai being the city that it is, everything happens so fast here, and this book manages to capture that very well.
This book was a good decision..and I hope the people on the list like it too!
 

Journal Entry 4 by gussy916 at Indian Postal Service in Postal Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (4/18/2006 UTC) at Indian Postal Service in Postal Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

And it's off! to Australia.
Safe travels little book, and hope you enjoy it Catsalive

ETA: 22 May 2006

This book has not yet been journalled, and I hope it hasn't gotten lost. I will PM Catsalive and check. Incase it hasn't turned up, will try and get another copy to re-start this ring. Thanks for being patient. 

Journal Entry 5 by gussy916 from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Friday, June 16, 2006

All participants of this ring have been moved to this Book instead since this one seems to be absconding.

I don't want anyone to miss out on this book, it is such an amazing read!

So hopefully this time it will have better luck with its travels and reach safely.