We'll Always Have Parrots: A Meg Langslow Mystery

by Donna Andrews | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 0312939604 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 9/4/2006
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This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
12 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Monday, September 4, 2006
I first discovered this book via the hardcover edition from the bargain rack at Barnes and Noble, and loved it so much that I got several copies (click here to see where they've all gotten to) - but now the paperback's out and I thought I'd pick up a nice small copy to offer for a bookring!

The story's about a murder mystery at a fan convention, and it reminded me a lot of the very funny Bimbos of the Death Sun. [That one deals with a fantasy convention and this one's about the fans of a cult TV show, but there's a lot of overlap!]

The heroine, Meg, has a fiance who has a minor role on a cult TV show, and she tags along with him to a fan convention. [She's a blacksmith, as it happens, and has some swords and other ironmongery to take along to the dealer's room. Is this a marriage made in heaven, or what?] As the show is set in an exotic locale, somebody has the bright idea to decorate the hotel in jungle style, complete with live parrots and monkeys - hence the title, and a good deal of chaotic humor.

I knew from early on that this was going to be funny; the name of the cult TV show, for example, is Porfiria, Queen of the Jungle, and I was sniggering at the use of a rather nasty medical condition as the name of a fantasy heroine long before the reasons for this were explained in the story. [Yes, there's a reason; yes, it's very funny. And yes, "Porfiria" would be a great fantasy-character name. {grin}]

As in Bimbos, this story's both a pastiche and a homage to fandom; its quirks are highlighted, but so are its temptations and delights. And the writing's lively and very, very funny. [Minor-but-fun spoiler - select blank space to see: It shows attention to detail as well; what with all those parrots at the hotel it's perfectly believable that one of them would begin to imitate the "ding" sound of an arriving elevator, thereby causing much confusion to guests waiting for a lift!] There are little references to computer geekery and forensic TV shows and even slash fan-fiction, and wonderful digs between the characters. Oh, and the mystery's OK too! Definitely recommended.

[Update: I was tickled to discover that the wonderful "Unshelved" comic strip featured We'll Always Have Parrots in its October 1 Book Club strip - check it out!]

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Monday, September 11, 2006
I'm offering this for a bookray (see forum post here).

Bookray/ring instructions:

When you receive the book, please journal it, and PM the next person in line for their address so you'll have it ready when you've finished the book.
Note: even if you've sent books to that person before, please PM them before mailing this one, to confirm that the address is correct and that they're able to take on a bookring book at this time.
Try and read the book promptly - ideally, within a month of receiving it. (If you expect to take longer, you can request to be put at the end of the list. If you find you're swamped with other books when the person before you contacts you about the bookring, you can ask to be skipped, and then let me know whether you'd like to be moved down the list or dropped entirely. If you receive the book and find it's taking longer than you'd planned to get through it, I'd appreciate an update in its journal entries or on your profile, just to let me and the other participants know you haven't forgotten it.)

When you're ready to pass the book along, please make another journal entry containing your comments about the book and stating where you've sent it, and set the book's status code to "traveling". [If you find that you're having problems contacting the next person in line, or don't think you can manage to mail the book as originally agreed - or if the list has you sending somewhere you asked not to - then please let me know; I'll be glad to try to work something out!]

Note for international mailing from the US: this book's small enough to fit inside a small Global Priority Flat-rate envelope, which means it can be sent anywhere for about $5.25 - not much more than the cost of surface mail in most cases. FYI!

***

Participants so far, in tentative mailing order:

rootmartin [Massachusetts]
babsdotter [Missouri]
gaysocialworker [Texas]
katintheboots [California]
amberC [Australia]
RockDg9 [Australia]
dodau [UK]
bilbi [France]

Journal Entry 3 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Saturday, September 16, 2006
Controlled release: the book's on its way to BCer rootmartin in Massachusetts, to kick off the bookray. Hope you enjoy it!

Journal Entry 4 by rootmartin from Wellesley, Massachusetts USA on Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Just caught this in the mail today. Thanks for the speedy shipping! This is the first book ray that I'm involved in, and I'm excited to be first on the list.

This is my next TBR book in line. I've not far left in my current book, "Heat" so hopefully, I'll jump into this one later this week.

I'll PM babsdotter for mailing info later tonight.

Journal Entry 5 by rootmartin from Wellesley, Massachusetts USA on Sunday, September 24, 2006
I just finished this book yesterday. It kept me good company while I recuperated from a nasty fall down an entire flight of stairs. Since I'm three months pregnant, my tumble resulted in a 911 call, a trip to the ER, an ultrasound and the ending (and very reassuring) assessment that all seems well with the baby. I, however, am a bit beat up by the entire adventure so have spent the better part of two days lying in bed, trying to rest my sore back and neck.

So, I've been doing a lot of reading. This book was great fun to read. There was a sufficient number of characters to keep the mystery alive throughout the entire book. The cult tv convention details were hilarious and I could picture it all rather vividly in my mind. I truly enjoyed reading this light and fun book and hope that others will as well.

I'm putting it in the mailbox to babsdotter right now.

Journal Entry 6 by babsdotter from Sparta, Missouri USA on Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Got this today in the mail. It's part of a bookray. Interesting how the bookcrossing stamp was used on the bottom edge. I look forward to reading it.

Journal Entry 7 by babsdotter from Sparta, Missouri USA on Thursday, October 19, 2006
This was an enjoyable little mystery. It was a bit predictable in terms of the murder, but the antics with the parrots and monkeys was amusing. I'll be sending it on to gaysocialworker next.

Journal Entry 8 by babsdotter from Sparta, Missouri USA on Friday, November 10, 2006
Oops!!! Sorry. I thought I'd mailed this already. Well, it's on its way to gaysocialworker today.

Journal Entry 9 by trevor4551 from Caloundra, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Arrived safely today. Thanks!

Journal Entry 10 by trevor4551 from Caloundra, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, December 12, 2006
I have nearly finished reading the book, and it should be on the road by the end of the week. Contacted katintheboots in California for her address.

Journal Entry 11 by trevor4551 from Caloundra, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, December 13, 2006
So, murder mysteries are not my most favorite genre. But with a title like We'll Always Have Parrots, I couldn't resist. I was a bit lost with all of the characters-- they're easy to confuse-- but the protagonist, Meg, is most memorable. Being a pet lover, I was highly amused by the guard dog Spike, guarding the caged tiger Salome. I won't rush out to see this one in the movie theatre, but it was nevertheless an interesting treat.

Still waiting on address for katintheboots.

Journal Entry 12 by trevor4551 from Caloundra, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Received katintheboots address. Will be sending on my next run on 12/15.

Journal Entry 13 by katintheboots on Friday, December 22, 2006
Received tonight; will start soon.

Journal Entry 14 by katintheboots on Friday, December 29, 2006
I finished this book this afternoon. I really wanted to like this book, but for some reason just couldn't get into it. The details and characters are all reasonably interesting, but they just didn't click with me.

I've got amberC's address, but probably won't get this in the mail until the first week of the new year. Thanks, Gory, for the tip on the Global Priority Flat-rate envelope...I'll look into it!

Journal Entry 15 by katintheboots on Thursday, January 4, 2007
There was some debate with the shipping clerk about how using the small global priority flat rate envelope meant I wasn't paying $30 to ship the book, or even $15, but a higher-up walked past and straightened things out. So as of this evening, this book is on its way to amberC.

Journal Entry 16 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Arrived safely today. I have another bookring before it.

Journal Entry 17 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Arrived safely today. I have another bookring before it.

Journal Entry 18 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Saturday, January 20, 2007
I enjoyed this light, fun read. There was enough of a mystery to keep me interested. The characters were all memorable and quirky.

Thanks for sharing GoryDetails. Now I'm looking forward even more to Bimbo's.

Posting to RockDg9 on Monday.

Journal Entry 19 by RockDg9 from Toowoomba, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Arrived today - I'll start this tonight.

Journal Entry 20 by RockDg9 from Toowoomba, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, February 7, 2007
I thought the story was ok, but the writing style let it down a bit. I found the chapters WAY too short (and I normally love short chapters) and it was very repetitive.

Other than that the characters and situation were interesting.

Now on to dodau.

Journal Entry 21 by dodau from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire United Kingdom on Friday, February 16, 2007
Arrived this morning. Next to be read.

Journal Entry 22 by dodau from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire United Kingdom on Sunday, February 18, 2007
I loved this. I thought it was funny and well thought out and the fan convention characters were hilarious. I'm going to add her other books to my wish list

Journal Entry 23 by dodau at - By Mail/Post in Given To A Friend, Friend -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, February 22, 2007

Released 17 yrs ago (2/22/2007 UTC) at - By Mail/Post in Given To A Friend, Friend -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:


Journal Entry 24 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Friday, March 9, 2007
I'm so excited ! I'll be introduced to a new mystery female detective !
Just one book to finish before starting this one !
Thanks for sharing \o/

Journal Entry 25 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Monday, March 12, 2007
At first I was a bit disappointed by this book. It was all about a fan convention, monkeys and parrots. I was waiting for the murder... Then someone died and I could hardly put the book down. It was a read full of humour, full of suspense and especially it is the first blacksmith playing sleuth that I met !
Thanks for sharing this book. I may read more of this series.


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BOOKRAY

icila
brujula
sarousse
atalante3134 (fin de liste)

Journal Entry 26 by wingIcilawing from Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Sunday, April 1, 2007
Arrived yesterday. Thanks bilbi !

Journal Entry 27 by wingIcilawing from Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Monday, April 30, 2007
I totally agree with bilbi's entree, so as I'm a little lazy, I'll not say more.

Pming brujula

Journal Entry 28 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Monday, May 7, 2007
safely arrived in Belfort.
Thank you icila!

Journal Entry 29 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Should I do like Icila?
I agree with bilbi too!
I wasn't really thrilled after reading the first few pages. And then I got caught in the story, and by the characters, and was sorry the book was finished when I turned the last page!

So I guess I'll have to search for the other books in the series!

Journal Entry 30 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Saturday, September 8, 2007
Mailed to sarousse today. Sorry for taking so long.

Journal Entry 31 by sarousse from Pontoise, Ile-de-France France on Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Just received today with Carambars. Thanks Brujula !

Edit : And I'm also agree with Bilbi ;-)

Journal Entry 32 by sarousse at Gare des Vallées in Colombes, Ile-de-France France on Sunday, September 13, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (9/13/2009 UTC) at Gare des Vallées in Colombes, Ile-de-France France

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Ce perroquet s'est envolé dans un arbre du parking.

This parrot is perching in a tree.

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