Journal Entry 1 by jawin from Launceston, Tasmania Australia on Thursday, March 01, 2007

J.W. Wells seemed to be a respectable establishment, but the company now paying Paul Carpenter's salary is in fact a deeply sinister organisation with a mighty peculiar management team. Paul thought he was getting the hang of it (particularly when he fell head over heels for his strangely alluring colleague Sophie), but death is never far away when you work at J.W. Wells. Unlike the stapler - that's always going awol. Our lovestruck hero is about to discover that custard is definitely in the eye of the beholder. And that it really stings. Tom Holt's fantasy is populated with evil goblins, annoying sprites and people like us. However, it's not always possible to tell the difference.

This is apparently the third (and final) book in the adventures of Paul Carpenter. Most of the reviews say the first two books were very funny. I don't know - I haven't read them - and probably won't bother after this one.

I didn't think EAF&C was really that funny at all. It does have moments of witty dialogue, but not the laugh-out-loud, repeat-the-lines-to-everyone-you-know sort of dialogue. Much of it even got confusing, and the explanations for the weird happenings didn't make sense. In fact, EAF&C just lost me. They start all this talk about people hiding out in custard-space, and how Sophie and this goblin were linked through it, then there was this bit about living swords, battles that didn't get fought, etc. It was just all smushed together, and didn't really form a cohesive, fun-to-read story.

Overall, I'd say read it if you liked the other two in the series and have an overwhelming need to know what happens to Paul. However, if you haven't read those, either start at the beginning - or don't bother.  

Journal Entry 2 by jawin from Launceston, Tasmania Australia on Thursday, March 01, 2007

Some of the reviews liken this to Rob Grant's work - in fact, one of the endorsements on the back cover burb is from Grant. 'Uniquely twisted - crcaking gags', he says.

I know another BCer who enjoys Grant's work - so I'll pass this on to him. 

Journal Entry 3 by caldron from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Thursday, March 01, 2007

gratefully received from jawin this fine be-uniformed morning!
"Wildly imaginative" claims New Scientist . . .
I shall look forward to this :) sanks!

~ time flows ~

clearing MTBR of bx books this xmas/ny break, but sadly could just not get into this one at all so employed the rule of 50 in desparation, to no avail.

as this appears to be the last book of a trilogy, I'll try to find a new home via bxing - otherwise I'll wild release.


 

Journal Entry 4 by caldron from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, January 09, 2008

sent today to chich as a RABCK (thanks to Cliff's Wishlists); Enjoy! :o) 

Journal Entry 5 by chich from Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Woo Hoo! Thanks so much Caldron, I've been wanting to read this book for such a long time:D Unlike you, I've read the first two books in this trilogy and desperately want to find what Tom Holt has in store for Paul Carpenter:) Thanks so much for all the bookmarks and postcards too, they're fantastic! I particularly *love* the Australian convention bookmark:-]

This wonderful RABCK makes you an official member of my BC Hall of Fame!! 

Journal Entry 6 by chich from Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Monday, May 05, 2008

This book is an okay read but quite a dis pointing ending to the series involving Paul Carpenter at J.W. Wells & Co. I loved the two previous instalments and I think that this book lacked Holt's usual wackiness, as well as a "punchier" style. Still, it was an entertaining enough read:)

Thanks again for passing this on Caldron:-] 

Journal Entry 7 by chich at Café Restaurante Can Pou in Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Monday, May 05, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (5/5/2008 UTC) at Café Restaurante Can Pou in Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:


Book released at my sister's wonderful OBCZ on the island of Ibiza.

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