Stevenson Under The Palm Trees
14 journalers for this copy...
"Stevenson Under the Palm Trees is a deceptively simple tale that's both evocative ... and disturbing." OBSERVERROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON is enjoying life on the humid, colourful island of Samoa until rape, murder and the appearance of his doppelgänger, Mr Baker, change everything.
With this playful homage to Stevenson's life and work, Manguel weaves an intoxicating tale in which dreams mingle with consciousness and repressed desires take shape, where stories become reality and storytellers merge with their own creations.
"Deftly drawing on Stevenson's writings, Manguel moves elegantly through multiple dualities - not merely repression aud sensuality, but waking and dreaming, reporting and inventing, attraction and revulsion. Like his eminent precursors, he succeeds in showing how an ostensible crime story can carry profound implications." SUNDAY TIMES
This is a small pocket book - only 105 pages.
Quite a readable story - I liked it a lot. The illustrations are woodcuts made by Stevenson himself while he was convalescing in the sanatorium town of davos, Switzerland in 1881. I will let this book represent Samoa in my
Book from Every Country Challenge.
This will be a bookray:
Dotdot
Thy
Rakuna
Aspen72
LeishaCamden
LastEdition
Haugtussa
Notnot
...
Dotdot
Thy
Rakuna
Aspen72
LeishaCamden
LastEdition
Haugtussa
Notnot
...
Thank you, Annelis. I love the title.
Story is very exciting. Mr Baker was so demonic, perhaps he was the Devil himself. Thank you for the bookray, Annelis. Once again I've read a good book I wouldn't have read without bookcrossing. I'll put the book in to a mailbox on my way to work.
the book arrived today, thanks dotdot. It looks very intriguing.
I liked it too. And now there’s the same problem as with most of the new acquaintances, they lead to more books. For example, Manguel’s A History of Reading and The Dictionary of Imaginary Places look very interesting. And I’m ashamed to admit that I have not read Stevenson’s Dr.Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde either (~Stevenson and Mr. Baker?).
Book was mailed yesterday to Rakuna.
Book was mailed yesterday to Rakuna.
The book arrived last friday. I try to read this before the next Turku meetup.
I read this book during the holidays, sorry it took so long to journal. I've been out of town.
I didn't really find a connection to the story, but since the book was an easy read I read it trough.
I'll pass the book to Aspen72 in the next Turku meetup.
Edit: I used this as part of my Book from every country -challenge as Samoa.
I didn't really find a connection to the story, but since the book was an easy read I read it trough.
I'll pass the book to Aspen72 in the next Turku meetup.
Edit: I used this as part of my Book from every country -challenge as Samoa.
Journal Entry 10 by AspenYard from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Saturday, January 19, 2008
Thank you Rakuna. I have quite long queue of ring books waiting at the moment, but hope to get this small book read somewhere in between :)
Journal Entry 11 by AspenYard from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Friday, January 25, 2008
I liked the story, even though after reading it I'm a bit confused - I don't quite understand were there really Mr. Baker or was he imagination. And the quote on first sheet "No one wanders under palm trees unpunished" by Goethe makes that confusion a bit stronger: my question is, did someone actually get punished... Maybe understanding is not the point here.I was feeling a bit uncivilised, too, and therefore I guided myself to wikipages of Stevenson and currently I'm getting some brighter flashings in my head, maybe also getting interested in other work of these two, Stevenson and Manguel.
#5 release in Keep them moving 2008 challenge.
Samoa in My book from every country challenge.
This book continues the travelling asap.
This was in my mailbox when I got home from work today. Rather a surprise as I wasn't quite aware that I was next on this ray. :-) And it's SO true what they say about rings and rays, they travel in packs ... !! But this is such a small book that it shouldn't take me long to read it. I'll journal again when I've read the book. Thanks, everyone! :-)
I've read the book now, finished it yesterday. It was a quick and relatively easy read. Had to focus though to keep things clear in my mind - what was actually happening, and what was just in Stevenson's mind ... ??
I have to agree with dotdot that this is a great example of a book one would probably never read if it wasn't for BookCrossing. I had never heard of Manguel before I came across this ray. He is a talented writer and I'm glad I had the chance to read this little fable. Thank you for sharing, Annelis! :-)
Don't know if it's just me but I feel like I sensed a bit of magical realism in this book. Manguel is Argentinian after all. The story was a little hard to figure out, I agree with whoever said that ... I'm still not sure which parts actually happened and which parts were a product of Stevenson's deteriorating condition. Or even what Stevensons's condition actually was like towards the end there. A clever interweaving of fact and fiction.
I also really liked seeing the woodcuts that had been made by Stevenson himself. I love 'Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde' but I wasn't aware that Stevenson was a graphic artist too. :-)
I will PM LastEdition for an address and will get the book moving again soon.
I have to agree with dotdot that this is a great example of a book one would probably never read if it wasn't for BookCrossing. I had never heard of Manguel before I came across this ray. He is a talented writer and I'm glad I had the chance to read this little fable. Thank you for sharing, Annelis! :-)
Don't know if it's just me but I feel like I sensed a bit of magical realism in this book. Manguel is Argentinian after all. The story was a little hard to figure out, I agree with whoever said that ... I'm still not sure which parts actually happened and which parts were a product of Stevenson's deteriorating condition. Or even what Stevensons's condition actually was like towards the end there. A clever interweaving of fact and fiction.
I also really liked seeing the woodcuts that had been made by Stevenson himself. I love 'Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde' but I wasn't aware that Stevenson was a graphic artist too. :-)
I will PM LastEdition for an address and will get the book moving again soon.
Journal Entry 14 by 
LeishaCamden
at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
LeishaCamden at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (2/26/2008 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
I got this book in the mail to Denmark tonight. Hope LastEdition won't be too swamped with library books when it arrives ;-) but fortunately this book is an unusually quick and easy read. :-)
Happy travels, little book!
I got this book in the mail to Denmark tonight. Hope LastEdition won't be too swamped with library books when it arrives ;-) but fortunately this book is an unusually quick and easy read. :-)
Happy travels, little book!
The lovely little book arrived and I am sure I can fit in between my library books. Thank you LC for sending it and Annelis for the bookray.
Nicely fitted in between 2 library books.
I too would never have come across this book if it had not been for BC .. and been the poorer for it. Thank you Annelis for not only finding this little gem but also for deciding to share it! I am glad to see that more people have joined this ray after me .. you are in for a treat.
It is not often I come across books that get the old grey cells doing overtime, but this one did and I had such fun with the process. I still can not get over the fact that when I encountered the word “tusitala” I knew immediately what it meant because I had seen it before... I still do not know where and when, but I am thinking about it (and no, neither google nor wikipedia has enlightened me), and probably because I did not read the other JEs before reading, I am thinking that Stevenson read Hans Christian Andersen’s The Shadow before writing his Jekyll/Hide book.
I do not think that any magic realism can be detected .. thankfully, as I am allergic to the stuff ...
I have PMed for Haugtussa's address.
--------------------
Update 07-03-2008:
Mailed to Haugtussa .. I have left the bookmark in the book as I found it fitting.
I too would never have come across this book if it had not been for BC .. and been the poorer for it. Thank you Annelis for not only finding this little gem but also for deciding to share it! I am glad to see that more people have joined this ray after me .. you are in for a treat.
It is not often I come across books that get the old grey cells doing overtime, but this one did and I had such fun with the process. I still can not get over the fact that when I encountered the word “tusitala” I knew immediately what it meant because I had seen it before... I still do not know where and when, but I am thinking about it (and no, neither google nor wikipedia has enlightened me), and probably because I did not read the other JEs before reading, I am thinking that Stevenson read Hans Christian Andersen’s The Shadow before writing his Jekyll/Hide book.
I do not think that any magic realism can be detected .. thankfully, as I am allergic to the stuff ...
I have PMed for Haugtussa's address.
--------------------
Update 07-03-2008:
Mailed to Haugtussa .. I have left the bookmark in the book as I found it fitting.
The book arrived to day. Thanks for passing it on.
I read this book whilst on Easter holiday in freezing Denmark! It was actually quite nice to read a book set in a warm place, even if the story was as scary as they come.
Who or what was mr Baker?
I'll get it sent of to notnot this week. Thanks for sharing.
Who or what was mr Baker?
I'll get it sent of to notnot this week. Thanks for sharing.
Stevenson arrived safe and sound. Looking forward to reading the book!
A good, little book, even though I feel puzzled and a little confused after reading it. Interesting is a good way to describe it.
The woodcuts illustrates the story very well.
Will bring the book to the meet-up in Trondheim on Sunday, maybe someone would be interested in reading it?
Edit: The book continues the journey on its own...
The woodcuts illustrates the story very well.
Will bring the book to the meet-up in Trondheim on Sunday, maybe someone would be interested in reading it?
Edit: The book continues the journey on its own...
Thank you! Such a nice surprise! Funnily enough I got this when I came home from a vacation in Bournemouth where Stevenson lived for a while.
I enjoyed this book. Quite interesting mirror to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Mr Baker being the darker side of Stevenson. I actually liked this book a lot more than Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Journal Entry 23 by 
Panzeranzi
at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Panzeranzi at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (9/30/2008 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Till ThursdayN på fika!
Till ThursdayN på fika!
Thank you! Seems interesting!
I liked it quite a bit but I wish that I had known more about Stevenson and his books before I read it.
Journal Entry 26 by ThursdayN at By hand, by hand -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, December 21, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (12/21/2008 UTC) at By hand, by hand -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Given to my boyfriend.
Given to my boyfriend.
Got it from ThursdayN. Now residing on Mt TBR.
Really liked this book.
Full review over at Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/276860595
Full review over at Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/276860595
Journal Entry 29 by Caterinaanna at Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, April 15, 2012
Won in the Bookswap at the Dublin Unconvention.
Journal Entry 30 by Caterinaanna at Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Since no-one has yet done the summary bit, I shall.
This intriguing little book tells a tale of what happens to Robert Louis Stevenson when his paradise is haunted by the mysterious evangelist, Mr Baker, who may or may not be a hallucination. Either way, the peaceful existence of Stevenson, his wife and their neighbours/hosts are permanently blighted by his arrival. Not for those who like certainty in their stories, this author assumes his readers are intelligent and leaves room in his telling for them to interpret events as they wish.
As others have remarked, it is very cleverly done: if one didn't know the woodcuts pre-dated the story, one would have thought them to have been commissioned.
This intriguing little book tells a tale of what happens to Robert Louis Stevenson when his paradise is haunted by the mysterious evangelist, Mr Baker, who may or may not be a hallucination. Either way, the peaceful existence of Stevenson, his wife and their neighbours/hosts are permanently blighted by his arrival. Not for those who like certainty in their stories, this author assumes his readers are intelligent and leaves room in his telling for them to interpret events as they wish.
As others have remarked, it is very cleverly done: if one didn't know the woodcuts pre-dated the story, one would have thought them to have been commissioned.
Journal Entry 31 by Caterinaanna at Kemi's cafe, Cardiff Bay in Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom on Friday, July 27, 2012
Released 11 yrs ago (7/28/2012 UTC) at Kemi's cafe, Cardiff Bay in Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Dear Reader,
If this is your introduction to Bookcrossing, welcome. Thank you for taking the time to call in here and tell us that you have found this book and, perhaps, what you have thought of it.
This book is now yours to do with as you choose. Keep it, pass it on, or leave it around for someone to find; but please leave the label so it can keep in touch with us. If you would like to share in its future travels, and find out what other people think of it, then do join us using the link at the top of the page: BookCrossing is free, private and fun!
And if you do choose to join, I hope you'll consider using me, CaterinaAnna, as your referring member.
Happy reading!
If this is your introduction to Bookcrossing, welcome. Thank you for taking the time to call in here and tell us that you have found this book and, perhaps, what you have thought of it.
This book is now yours to do with as you choose. Keep it, pass it on, or leave it around for someone to find; but please leave the label so it can keep in touch with us. If you would like to share in its future travels, and find out what other people think of it, then do join us using the link at the top of the page: BookCrossing is free, private and fun!
And if you do choose to join, I hope you'll consider using me, CaterinaAnna, as your referring member.
Happy reading!
Journal Entry 32 by Paws4Books at Northampton, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Found this on the bookshelf in the rather lovely cafe in Cardiff!
