Journal Entry 1 by aleonblue from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Sunday, May 14, 2006

Blurb from the back of the book:

"In his prime, Edward was an extraordinary man. There wasn't anything he couldn't do - and do well.

He could outrun anybody. he never missed a day of school, even in the worst blizzard. He saved lives. Animals loved him, people loved him, women loved him.

Or at least that's what he's told his son, William. Willian doesn't really know his father because, actually, Edward wasn't home all that much.

Now, watching his father die, William grows increasingly desperate to know him before it's too late. And in wonderful sleight of hand, he recreates his elusive father's life in a series of legends and myths inspired by the few facts he knows. Through these tales, William begins to understand Edward Bloom's great fears - and his great fallings.

In a series of wrenchingly funny, often poignant scenes, Big Fish teaches us about the transformative power of storytelling, and one way of moving from life to death."

This is a debut novel from Daniel Wallace.

I enjoyed Tim Burton's movied adaptation of this book, starring Ewan MacGregor, so look forward to reading the original novel.

Permanent Collection 

Journal Entry 2 by aleonblue from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Friday, October 06, 2006

Journal Entry 3 by aleonblue at to the next participant in sent by post, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (10/9/2006 UTC) at to the next participant in sent by post, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Heading off over the seas to the first participant in this bookring in the USA - hope you enjoy the book! 

Journal Entry 4 by rainwolfe from Crofton, Maryland USA on Friday, October 20, 2006

I was completely charmed by the movie, and have really been looking forward to reading this. Plus, it arrived from Australia! How cool is that?!
Thanks aleonblue!

 

Journal Entry 5 by rainwolfe from Crofton, Maryland USA on Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Greatly enjoyed this, and will be putting in my car to post today or tomorrow morning. 

Journal Entry 6 by elizardbreath from Pendleton, Oregon USA on Friday, November 24, 2006

Received today...I've got 3 before it, but being holiday weekend...I should finish it fast! 

Journal Entry 7 by elizardbreath from Pendleton, Oregon USA on Tuesday, December 12, 2006

What a ridiculously weird book! I loved it! My husband and I rented this movie a couple years ago but watched it really late and I fell asleep. I am going to go rent it today to watch again tonight! This book will go out to the next one on the list within the next couple days. 

Journal Entry 8 by KateKintail from Burke, Virginia USA on Thursday, December 14, 2006

I received this in the mail today! Oh boy!

I'm in the middle of reading Trainspotting for a bookring (seems to be my month of reading books that were made into movies with nummy Ewan McGregor) but I already started Big Fish and look forward to the adventures. Yayness!

And, Rainwolfe, what a pretty bookmark! :-) I absolutely love when bookring books arrive with their own bookmarks in them- adds to the whole experience.

Thank you, aleonblue, for this bookring! I've never had a BookCrossing book in my hands that's come all the way from Australia. 

Journal Entry 9 by KateKintail from Burke, Virginia USA on Tuesday, December 19, 2006

I really enjoyed this book. I've seen the movie at least a dozen times, so I brought that with me as I read the book. I found them to be very similar in spirit, theme, and tone... and they were both amusing, touching, and charming but surprisingly in much different ways! I loved the storytelling techniques- in a book about telling stories, the form was certainly important. And I loved the characters as I thought I would, especially Edward.

As a writer, it's a dream of mine to one day turn into a story, myself. Not for the immortality, but for the ability to delight and entertain forever... just like this book does. A wonderful read. Thanks again for the bookring!

I'll be sending this out to dietcokemama either tomorrow or Thursday (depending how swamped the post office is when I get to it!) 

Journal Entry 10 by dietcokemama from Beverly, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, December 28, 2006

This book arrived in the mail on Saturday the 23rd from KateKintail. I just started reading it today. 

Journal Entry 11 by dietcokemama from Beverly, Massachusetts USA on Tuesday, January 09, 2007

I really enjoyed this book, it was a crazy, fun story. It's in the mail on the way to NH to Rrrcaron.

Thanks to aleonblue for including me in this ring. 

Journal Entry 12 by Rrrcaron from Lancaster, New Hampshire USA on Friday, January 12, 2007

I received this book in the mail today. I have a book in progress, but I plan on reading this one asap.
Ruth 

Journal Entry 13 by Rrrcaron from Lancaster, New Hampshire USA on Monday, January 15, 2007

I so enjoyed reading this book! I will now have to find a copy of the movie you prevoiuos journalers talked about. It was a fun read- short and sweet. Thanks for sharing. Contacting the next in line and will get in the mail asap!
Ruth 

Journal Entry 14 by rebel-padawan from Redlake, Minnesota USA on Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Received this in the mail last Saturday (sorry for the journal delay) and took it to work with me, where it charmed me into being late late back from lunch break, luckily I work the grave shift and won't catch too much heck!

I am presently half way through the book, having taken a few days to get some sleep. :) I positively love the movie and am so far loving this book! Thank you for sharing, will be contacting the next person when I am done with this journal so I have the address handy when I am finished!

Thanks again for sharing!

P.S. Ewan McGreggor is "nummy" perfect word KateKintail! 

Journal Entry 15 by rebel-padawan from Redlake, Minnesota USA on Friday, January 26, 2007

I relate to this story a lot, as I lost one of my parents (my mom) at a young age, and when I think back about her now, I remember her stories, the ones she would tell of her earlier life, her adventures and misadventures. Like Edward Bloom, my mom was a big fish.

As it happened, this is my #6 in the 50 books challenge.

I am so glad I had the chance to read this book. It is completely different than I expected, and familiar in the way a broken in pair of pants is familiar after a washing. I had watched the movie (several times) and loved it, as I am a really big Ewan McGreggor fan, and was amazed to find out it was based on a book.
I love that Billy Crudup is in the movie too, as my friend Zane looks so much like him. Zane's song "Fall Again" reminds me a lot of the love scenes between Edward and Sandra.
Zane: Billy Crudup:
I finished this book early this evening (around 11pm) and promptly put on the movie, just to relive the magic a little bit longer.

Thank you for sharing! 

Journal Entry 16 by rebel-padawan at sending to next participant of bookring in Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Friday, January 26, 2007

Released 5 yrs ago (1/26/2007 UTC) at sending to next participant of bookring in Quesnel, British Columbia Canada

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Sending on to ajsmom in the morning when I go to the post office. 

Journal Entry 17 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Sunday, February 11, 2007

Received today, thank you! I'm looking forward to this and may have to watch the movie again afterwards...just to get my Ewan McGregor fix! 

Journal Entry 18 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, February 14, 2007

I loved it! I also really enjoyed the CD rebel-padawan sent along of her friend Zane singing (and I don't have much love for Country music, so that's saying something). What a great book, filled with funny jokes and truths about family.

I PM'd RustyReader on Feb. 11 and again tonight. If I don't hear back in the next two days, I will check in with lauraloo. Thanks for the ring, aleonblue! 

Journal Entry 19 by ajsmom at mailed to next reader in Postal release, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, February 15, 2007

Released 5 yrs ago (2/15/2007 UTC) at mailed to next reader in Postal release, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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Sent to RustyReader via letter mail. 

Journal Entry 20 by RustyReader2 from Nepean, Ontario Canada on Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Arrived safe and sound this morning! Will be starting this either today or tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 21 by RustyReader2 from Nepean, Ontario Canada on Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Well this book definitely surprised me. I did not want to see the movie at all, but once I started reading the book I couldn't put it down. I wasn't interested in the movie because of the way it jumped around, but reading the book didn't have that same feeling.

Great read, thank you for sharing it! Sending it to lauraloo29 next week. 

Journal Entry 22 by RustyReader2 at Canada Post in Nepean, Ontario Canada on Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Released 5 yrs ago (4/10/2007 UTC) at Canada Post in Nepean, Ontario Canada

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Sorry it took me so long to send this off, but I have been VERY sick for the past 3 weeks. I have now sent it off to lauraloo29. 

Journal Entry 23 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Monday, April 16, 2007

Arrived safe and sound today. Finally got caught up on all my rings. This will be read soon. Thank you! 

Journal Entry 24 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Thursday, April 19, 2007

This was a very quick read. Enjoyable though not one of my favorites. Thank you for sharing! 

Journal Entry 25 by janey-canuck from Guelph, Ontario Canada on Saturday, May 05, 2007

Received the other day - I have one ring before it but should be able to get to it soon. 

Journal Entry 26 by janey-canuck from Guelph, Ontario Canada on Monday, June 04, 2007

What a delightful little book! I haven't seen the movie but I think I might have to rent it now. I really enjoyed the little stories and the way the book was written. I think my favourite part was the story about how Edward bought up a entire town and fell in love with Jenny. There was something incredibly charming about it.

The stories were so whimsical, so cute, and so preposterous that you couldn't help but smile through the whole thing!

I have Kemppu's address and will be mailing this out tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks for sharing, aleonblue - I loved the bookplate! 

Journal Entry 27 by Kemppu from Tampere, Pirkanmaa Finland on Monday, June 11, 2007

The book just arrived, thank you! I begin to read it right away. 

Journal Entry 28 by Kemppu from Tampere, Pirkanmaa Finland on Thursday, June 14, 2007

Hmmm, this was quite a strange little book. I was a bit surprised about the structure of it: all those short stories. This wasn't a bad book, but it's not my favourite kind either. This may be due to the fact that I saw the movie first and liked it. I'm also a fan of Ewan McGregor :) The book was not as fantasy-like as the movie, although the main story and the atmosphere were similar.
What disturbed me here was the fact that Edward Bloom didn't seem to be there for his wife and son very much. He just wanted to have his adventures and stories to tell. I felt sorry for William and especially Sandra: nobody ever asked if she was happy, if she wanted to go and see the world too. No, everything was always about Edward. Then again, at the time the book was about, I guess the stories were generally about men, and women just stayed at home. *sigh*
Anyway, in the movie the love story of Sandra and Edward was sweeter.
What I liked most about the book were the stories about the giant and the eye, and the ending. And the thing that often it's not important if the stories are true or not - a good story is a good story. 

Journal Entry 29 by Kemppu from Tampere, Pirkanmaa Finland on Thursday, June 14, 2007

Sent to eirini1. 

Journal Entry 30 by eirini1 from Kallithea, Attica Greece on Wednesday, June 20, 2007

The book arrived today with a nice card from Finland! Thanks!! 

Journal Entry 31 by eirini1 from Kallithea, Attica Greece on Friday, August 03, 2007

I really liked the book!! The movie had wonderful images but the book make you imagine the most incredible things!!! 

Journal Entry 32 by eirini1 at on Sunday, August 26, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (8/22/2007 UTC) at

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I sent the book in Xanthe-pup and i hope to enjoy it as much as me! 

Journal Entry 33 by Xanthe-pup from Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, October 04, 2007

Oh my word - I have had this book for ages! Sorry to all, I thought I had journalled and sent this on to the next participant (when in fact I haven't even PM'd them yet).

First of all, thanks to eirini1 for sending this on to me, and for the lovely little gifts - they live happily on my desk at work. Lovely thought!

Now, the book. I didn't enjoy this as much as I expected to. I saw the film a few years ago, and it moved me deeply. But my husband and I had nursed his father through his last months on this earth and lost him only a couple of weeks before, so it was a very poignant story to us, as well as being painful to watch. I think I unreasonably expected to be moved in the same way four years later, and as I didn't have the same emotional connection I didn't really enjoy this at all.

Perhaps without the 'history' with the film I would have enjyed it much more.

I will PM toyjoy now to ask for an address.

Sorry again for holding up the ring.