The Letter Girl

by Andrew Masterson | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0330361325 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Littlemave of Weston, Australian Capital Territory Australia on 1/25/2007
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Littlemave from Weston, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Thursday, January 25, 2007
I got this as a Christmas present from the kids. And it's about books!
***
Back of the book:
In a country where most books are banned, feisty barmaid Jet Black finds herself with the world's only copy of Julius Caesar's long lost masterpiece, De Analogia. If she can deliver the book to a mysterious black market dealer known only as the Polymath, she may well make her fortune. If she's caught with it in her possession, death is probably the better option.
Darkly comic, cruelly satiric and hugely inventive, The Letter Girl is about privatisation and the rising power of the multinational megastate...
***
This is set in the not too distant future where "Rationalisation" has meant that books written prior to 1900 are banned materials, and to own them is risking a prison sentence. Definitely set in the technology age, and where most public companies have been privatised including ParliamentCorp (you can vote if you are a shareholder!) but where poverty is rife, and big brother is definitely watching all of your transactions. If you are good at writing at school you could win the Ray Martin Memorial Assistance, a type of scholarship, or you could go walking in the Hachimoto-Skase National Park!

Jet has been managing a seedy pub "off the records" and has some dubious acquaintances, she can also fight if needs be, and is definitely one spunky female. =) She meets some darned weird, but interesting, people on her trip to the next city and I cant help but think the finale is set at Bondi Beach.

Let me know what you think?

Journal Entry 2 by Littlemave from Weston, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Thursday, January 25, 2007
I enjoyed this book so much that I am offering it as a book-ring on the BCAUS Yahoo group.
Participants as follow:

catsalive - Sydney
hunnyb - Sydney
lisagt - Sydney
puppymummy - Melbourne

freelunch - QLD (has asked to be at the end)

and back to littlemave.

Journal Entry 3 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Hand-delivered to me today. Thanks, Littlemave.

Journal Entry 4 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, March 15, 2007
What a horrible place - books banned & even parliament is a corporation on the share market..... hmm. I enjoyed the book, it's a bit of a laugh, really, and I loved the Ferals. The blind Pilot was pretty nifty too. I appreciated the story, the action moved apace, it was humorous, but it still didn't grab me in a big way & I'm not sure why. It did provide me moments of entertainment. You've gotta smile when the REALLY nasty person's name is Fortescue Shagg-Nasté.

Thanks, Littlemave. I'll send it off to hunnyb next week.

Journal Entry 5 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, March 18, 2007
Posted to hunnyb this morning.

Journal Entry 6 by hunnyb from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, March 22, 2007
Joined up because the plot sounds like a cross between "Book Thief" and "Syrup" - two of my favourites! :) Thanks, will get into it right away.

Journal Entry 7 by hunnyb from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, April 3, 2007
This was a really fun read. The plot was fast and witty, and I just loved Jet!! Boo for multi-national corporations taking over the world (including Parliament). Yay for books and rebellion! :) Thanks for sharing this Littlemave, I've PMd lisagt.

Journal Entry 8 by Lisagt from Holsworthy, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, April 12, 2007
This book was waiting on my doorstep today when I arrived home. Looks interesting!

Journal Entry 9 by Lisagt from Holsworthy, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, May 1, 2007
I'm sorry to say that I just cannot get into this book. I've read at least two chapters; I guess it's just not for me. I have contacted the next reader and it will be on its way tomorrow.
Thanx for sharing though!

Journal Entry 10 by puppymummy from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Friday, May 11, 2007
Arrived here safely, I'm a little behind with my bookrings but RedGuard is away for a month so I anticipate doing more reading :) Will try to get to it soon.

Journal Entry 11 by puppymummy from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Monday, July 16, 2007
It's interesting how so many books about the future predict that books are seditious tools that will be banned - who would have thought they were so dangerous? And what was Chairman Mao thinking?????
I found the book interesting and the concepts of the Ferals and the overall political system was thought-provoking. However, the ending was sudden and I felt as though he'd gotten to deadline and just wrapped it up quickly to get it over with, so I was a little disappointed.
Overall a good read - will be posted to freelunch tomorrow.

Journal Entry 12 by freelunch from Cairns, Queensland Australia on Sunday, July 22, 2007
received today, thanks Littlemave and puppymummy

added to my (smallish) pile of TBR bookrings - if I take too long returning it feel free to yell at me a bit :o)

Journal Entry 13 by freelunch from Cairns, Queensland Australia on Monday, September 10, 2007
this book was great fun, thanks again for sharing it Littlemave :o)

I shall send it on to sarahbear tomorrow

Journal Entry 14 by Littlemave from Weston, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, September 10, 2007
Extra participants added...

Sarahbear - Tas
Scrapaholic - Darwin
erinoc - Qld

*then* back to me!

Thanks everyone so far. =)

Journal Entry 15 by sarahbear from St Helens, Tasmania Australia on Tuesday, September 18, 2007
received today. Thanks heaps. Have one ahead of it then I will be getting stuck into it.

Journal Entry 16 by sarahbear from St Helens, Tasmania Australia on Tuesday, October 23, 2007
I really struggled getting into this. Posting on to scrapholic as soon as I have an address.

Journal Entry 17 by sarahbear from St Helens, Tasmania Australia on Monday, October 29, 2007
Posting to scrapaholic in the morning. Thanks for sharing your book with me.

Journal Entry 18 by scrapaholic from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Friday, November 16, 2007
Got the book today. Thanks

Journal Entry 19 by scrapaholic from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Saturday, November 24, 2007
What terrible place to live - no books to read!!! It was an interesting concept for a storyline.
I found this book hard to get into.
Will post onto erinoc when I get her details

Journal Entry 20 by erinoc from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Thursday, December 27, 2007
Thanks all, this one has arrived safely.

Sounds like a good read - and has been travelling for about a year so I'm keen to get into it.

Journal Entry 21 by erinoc from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Very interesting concept. I struggled to really get into it (I think I get impatient over the holiday period!).

What is it about futuristic novels and predicting the end of books? Would be a great forum discussion.

Great to find another book by an Australian author that has done some travelling around the bookcrossing traps!

Thanks for sharing littlemave

Putting in the afternoon mail today - sorry for the delay! 7 Jan 08

Journal Entry 22 by Littlemave from Weston, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, January 14, 2008
This has now arrived home after a year of travelling!
Thanks to everyone who took part, and thanks erinoc for the lollies!

Mr Mave has now snuck this into his Mt TBR....

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.