Journal Entry 1 by Cassandra0629 from Phoenix, Arizona USA on Monday, February 24, 2003

A short, humorous read by a local humor columnist. While she refers to a few specific places in our hometown, you don't have to be familiar with Phoenix to enjoy the book. If you like chick-lit, and if you've had a couple-too-many evenings with friends and lots of booze, you would enjoy this book. She's pretty funny!

As soon as I get this book back from a friend, it's on its way to muffin77! 

Journal Entry 2 by Muffin77 from Leipzig, Sachsen Germany on Monday, March 10, 2003

Just had it in my mailbox today (poor postman - a book a day for me... for me it's WONDERFUL!!!). Thanks a lot Cassandra0629! - I will start reading it tonight and then also start a bookray for it... I can't wait... my first ray and I already have 2 offers (couldn't wait to ask friends to join the ray)... Until in some days...  

Journal Entry 3 by Muffin77 from Leipzig, Sachsen Germany on Saturday, March 15, 2003

Finished and here I have to say CAUTION!!! For your own safety DO NOT lay down & eat chocolate while reading The Candy Apple Freak Show!!! The chocolate may go down the wrong pipe... I think I don't have to mention here whom that happened to...

Here is the list and some instructions and if ANYBODY else is still interested please just PM me and I will add you to the list. Be aware that you may have to send overseas!!!
Also let's play the game with the known rules:
1) everyody should leave a journal entry when receiving the book and after the read! Please let us all know what you think about it...
2) Also PM the next person on the list for a mailing addy and when that person doesn't answer within 7 days MAX! please PM the one after...
3) Everybody should also try to read the book soon - but in a joyful speed. It's not about how many books someone can read within a certain amount of time - it's about enjoying it... and also to remember it... one day you may be in any same situation and then it's good to know that those things don't only happen to you :)))
4) You can send the book via surface mail or airmail - that is completely up to you!!!
So let's cross our fingers and have lots of fun... {Those who have already journaled - a suggestion by my friend mady who saw it on Herrundmeyer's shelf...}

Here is the "list" as of Oct-05-2004:
1) Muffin77 - Germany (but that would be me...)
2) sprockitt - Singapore
3) idioteqnician - Canada
4) the1stof8 - USA
5) seeinstarrz - USA
6) kafka - USA
7) IACBY - USA
8) lavatea - USA
9) sgscarcliff - USA
10) Rendiru - USA
11) Valkyrie119 - USA (to Japan)
12) Mou (I hope the an. finder is you, Mou !?!)
13) mojitopt - Germany
14) Herrundmeyer - Germany
15) leitora - Portugal (wished to be skipped for now... too bad =:o(()
16) mady - Portugal
17) mfa - Portugal
18) Dualidade - Portugal
19) ESofista - Portugal
20) fflloorr - Portugal
21) mundo-pequeno - Portugal
22) solittletime - USA
23) kbgoffe - USA
24) lisaxiii - USA
25) orak100 - UK
26) Gyd - Spain
27) blacksheeps99 - Austria
28) nikel27 - Germany
29) janetcarolina - Peru
30) happycomwgirl - Trinidad
31) label - USA
32) kamalabuji - USA
33) Elina - Finland
34) PenelopePitstop - Italy
35) silverstarry - USA
36) suefitz - USA
37) BioChemJess - USA
38) ...???

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And of course it has been sent out March 17th - forgot to mention that... 

Journal Entry 4 by sprockitt from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Friday, March 21, 2003

This book arrived really quickly! Got it yesterday evening. Wow...thanks, muffin77!

Judging from the journal entries and the look of this book, I can tell it has been a much enjoyed book. Well, this one's going to the top of my TBR pile (actually, I didn't make THAT decision, it was the book...it compelled me to read it immediately after I had unwrapped it!)

 

Journal Entry 5 by sprockitt from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Sunday, March 30, 2003

As Laurie Notaro might have said... "Good book!"

This little gem had me howling with laughter at times. I love most of her essays which are short, blunt and humorous. My favourite one? "Make me Laugh, Clown" What she has written so very echoes my personal thoughts regarding those stripey maniacal creatures, it's uncanny.

Will be mailing it off soon...  

Journal Entry 6 by sprockitt from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Saturday, April 05, 2003

On the road again...
Over to you, idioteqnician! 

Journal Entry 7 by Cassandra0629 from Phoenix, Arizona USA on Monday, April 14, 2003

Hi again, fellow BC'ers. I just wanted to show you an email I got from the author, Laurie Notaro yesterday. I originally sent her a note with a link to this journal so that she could appreciate all the places her book has been. This was her response: "Thank you so much for your note and thanks for letting me know that IG is getting around more than I have. I think it's great that a lot of people have access to it where they wouldn't normally. IG has been published in German, although I don't know what the title is or when it is due out. I did see the cover a while ago and it was incredibly stupid, so I'm not imagining big sales over there.
I'm so glad everyone is liking it, I hope they like the second one, too, which comes out in July. It's called Autobiography of a Fat Bride, it's much better than IG and being a new bride yourself, I hope you can enjoy it.
Thanks again, and please pass on my best to all of those who have liked the book--(damn those who don't!!). Heehee.
Rock on, Laurie Notaro".

So, we can all look forward to a second book soon! 

Journal Entry 8 by Muffin77 from Leipzig, Sachsen Germany on Monday, April 14, 2003

The German edition is called "Anleitung zum Zickigsein" ("Instruction to be bitchy") and it didn't come out yet. The cover looks terrible...  

Journal Entry 9 by idioteqnician from Stoke Newington, Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 15, 2003

Hey, that's fun to get a book from Singapore! I wish I was in Singapore! The Singapore stamps were pretty cute too. I'm very happy to receive this book. I'm just finishing off my current read and then I will move straight on to this one to keep it moving. The book arrived looking like it's been through some tough times, but it's sure to last quite a few more trips. 

Journal Entry 10 by idioteqnician from Stoke Newington, Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, April 19, 2003

I really wanted to like this book. It's got a great title, cover, and premise. Tales from drunken mishaps should appeal to a guy like me. But I stopped reading this at the halfway point. A couple of the stories made me laugh out loud. Others made me smile in a shameful "I've done that too" sort of way. A lot of them, however, made me wonder if the intention was even humour or rather just a sort of poignant chuckle. I wanted to laugh, not chuckle!

Make! Me! Laugh! Clown!

Anyway, I thought it was pretty neat that Laurie Notaro emailed you back, Cassandra0629, so I'll just chalk it up to me having a different sense of humour than the author or my mood not being right when I read this book. I've patched this book up a little and am going to pass it on to the next person ASAP. 

Journal Entry 11 by the1stof8 from Renton, Washington USA on Thursday, May 01, 2003

I rec'd this in the mail a couple days ago from idioteqnician (sorry for not posting sooner). I've already started it and hopefully will have it finished in the next couple days. 

Journal Entry 12 by the1stof8 from Renton, Washington USA on Thursday, May 08, 2003

Overall, I enjoyed this book. (please don't damn me Laurie) Several of the chapters could have been written about some people I know (and love). My favorite was Moral Sex ... too funny and actually quite touching.

The book is now on it's way to seeinstarrz .... 

Journal Entry 13 by seeinstarrz from Moline, Illinois USA on Monday, May 19, 2003

I actually received this book on May 14th, but all of my electronics went on strike this weekend so not only could I not get on the website, but I also couldn't call anyone to complain about it...or heat up a bowl of soup. I felt so lost :::sniff, sniff:::

Anywho...on to more important matters. I LOVED this book, though as others have said and I'm going to reiterate - I have BEEN or at very least, been WITH that person in her narratives far too many times to count. And despite the eerie feeling that she may have been watching me while writing this (my driver's ed teacher was a clown "on the side" and it's haunted me to this day), I still laughed out loud. It reads a lot like a female Dave Barry. I may have to buy a copy and read it again, just to make sure she doesn't owe me any sort of royalties ;)

This book will soon be on its way to Kafka! 

Journal Entry 14 by kafka from Phoenix, Arizona USA on Friday, May 23, 2003

I just received this -- my turn in the bookray! I'm familiar with Laurie Notaro's writing since I'm also in Phoenix so I'm anxious to read her book. Since we're heading into a long weekend I should have plenty of time to read & this is at the top of my list. 

Journal Entry 15 by kafka from Phoenix, Arizona USA on Tuesday, May 27, 2003

A very funny book of her columns from the newspaper. I remembered some of them & overall the book just provided me with a great laugh.

Now it's on to IACBY.... 

Journal Entry 16 by IACBY from Cave Creek, Arizona USA on Wednesday, May 28, 2003

I just received the book today! How exciting :o) Despite living in Greater Phoenix, I can't say I am familiar with the author... but I am definitely excited to begin the book!

I'll write more when I'm done,

~IACBY 

Journal Entry 17 by IACBY from Cave Creek, Arizona USA on Sunday, June 15, 2003

Hello to all!

I am still reading the book-- for some reason, I can't read more than 2 stories a day.... it just the way the stories are written. It would fit perfectly into a weekend paper humor section (I suspect that this is how they were written originally). Anyhow, I just wanted to let everyone know why it is taking me so long to get done with the book :o)

All the best,

~IACBY 

Journal Entry 18 by IACBY from Cave Creek, Arizona USA on Thursday, June 19, 2003

Very Cute book!

The last story in the book (nothing but a smile), reminded me of one of my friends who is very prudish :o) I can just hear her voice in my mind when I was reading it! That one was one of my fav.

Anyhow, this book is off to lavatea, as soon as I get her snail mail address :o)

All the best,

~IACBY
*Update- sent it off to Lavatea on 6/20/03 

Journal Entry 19 by lavatea from Tyler, Texas USA on Sunday, July 06, 2003

Journal Entry 20 by Cassandra0629 from Phoenix, Arizona USA on Monday, July 28, 2003

Good news, friends! "Autobiography of a Fat Bride" by Laurie Notaro is now available in the US, and I'll start a bookray for it in a couple weeks. PM me if you would like to be added, and try to include "Fat Bride" or something in the title of the PM so that I get to it right away. Here's the link to the journal entry, although I don't know how to make it look as pretty as some of you do: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/830444/J_852269#J852269
 

Journal Entry 21 by lavatea from Tyler, Texas USA on Wednesday, August 06, 2003

Journal Entry 22 by Muffin77 from Leipzig, Sachsen Germany on Thursday, September 04, 2003

I am wondering if this is still moving =:o))) - or did it get lost?
-----
Ok, I just saw that *lavatea* is moving =:o)))) and that is may take a while =:o))) 

Journal Entry 23 by lavatea from Tyler, Texas USA on Monday, November 03, 2003

Journal Entry 24 by sgscarcliff on Friday, November 07, 2003

I just received in the mail. Well if I am going to get 2 book ray books in one day, I am glad that at least this one is fairly small. I will try to read and send in about a week.
Thanks for the bookring

Sue 

Journal Entry 25 by sgscarcliff on Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Very funny. I am glad I did not havethe kind of troubles that Laurie had. I am ready to send to the next person.
Sue 

Journal Entry 26 by Rendiru from Carmichael, California USA on Sunday, November 23, 2003

This arrived in yesterday's mail. It looks like a fun, short read. Perhaps I'll take it with me to an appointment I have tomorrow - I love having a funny book to read when I'm forced to endure time in a waiting room. 

Journal Entry 27 by Rendiru from Carmichael, California USA on Friday, November 28, 2003

This was a fun book. I didn't really enjoy the stories that dealt with stupid actions while drunk, but several of the others made me laugh so hard I cried. I guess I've lived too long with males (husband and two teenaged sons), because my favorite essay was "This Is a Public Service Announcement" (bathroom humor). I was reading this on break at work, and had to stop because, while I can laugh silently quite effectively most of the time, I was about to reach snorting stage and couldn't justify interfering with the hearing test going on down the hall. :-D

I'm really glad I had the chance to read this. I've already recommended it to three other people. I'll pass this along to Valkyrie119 as soon as I get her address. 

Journal Entry 28 by Valkyrie119 from Oceanside, California USA on Monday, December 08, 2003

just got it, I'll start on it right away 

Journal Entry 29 by Valkyrie119 from Oceanside, California USA on Tuesday, December 16, 2003

Very funny and lighthearted!

Mailing it tomorrow 

Journal Entry 30 by AnonymousFinder on Tuesday, January 06, 2004

Arrived in mail - have just picked it up to read. Looks um... interesting.

CAUGHT IN SYDNEY NSW AUSTRALIA 

Journal Entry 31 by Mou from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, January 24, 2004

Unfortunately i didn't like this book at all. I didn't understand the humour & found nothing funny in her jokes pertaining to alcohol or drunkedness or joblessness or homelessness or any of the toilet jokes. I spent the whole time feeling very very very sorry for her (though of course if it IS autobiographical i'm sure she's just exaggerating a tad). I mean i understand what it's like to be an 'idiot girl' (albeit without the drinking) but the way she wrote about it, i really did not find funny. Though i'm sure the author is most likely a very lovely person (& i add that especially if she's come here to read the entries about her book) - i really dont find the book's persona a nice person. She's not someone i'd like to be friends with. She just makes herself come across as a very aggravated, disorganised, unpalatable creature. (Except of course she was nice to Staci & Casey - but i just remember a whole lot of yelling & whinging at other people throughout the book) I suppose that's where people find her funny? Am sending it off to the next person sometime this week. 

Journal Entry 32 by mojitopt on Wednesday, February 04, 2004

The book arrived safely in yesterday's mail. Thanks to Mou for sending it and to Muffin77 for starting this bookring. It'll be next on my TBR list after finishing with David Sedaris...

Comment after reading: Notaro's essays are okay, they made me chuckle, but not more. Just like the previous fellow BC reader I didn't find this a piece of exceptionally well-written literature.
She might earn credits by some readers, who find it funny, daring or courageous to write about her "private parts", her "hole", her "crotch" or the like. Actually I kind of pitied her for having such a miserable life... 

Journal Entry 33 by mojitopt at BEB1 in BEB - Buecherfresser's English Bookbox, Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 17, 2004

Released on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 at BEB1 in BEB - Buecherfresser's English Bookbox, Bookbox Controlled Releases.

This book will be travelling as a blind passenger in the BEB1 bookbox, which I am sending to Herrundmeyer today anyway. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 34 by Herrundmeyer from Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Thursday, February 19, 2004

Journal Entry 35 by Herrundmeyer from Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Friday, February 20, 2004

Well, I agree with Peter (mojitopt): I didn't find it laughing-out-loud funny.
Actually, I didn't find it exceptionally well-written either, so the things that I found amusing were dragged down a bit by the style of the author. 

Journal Entry 36 by Herrundmeyer at on Friday, February 20, 2004

Journal Entry 37 by mady from Reading, Berkshire United Kingdom on Monday, March 08, 2004

Arrived today! Thanks Herrundmeyer!
I'll be reading it very soon and pass it afterwards to mfa ;) 

Journal Entry 38 by mady from Reading, Berkshire United Kingdom on Monday, March 15, 2004

Funny at times, not so funny at others. I find it hard to believe that some of these things have actually happened and that the person they happened to had the courage to write about them! Also there were a few references to people and places I have no idea about, so I couldn't probably understand some jokes. But I enjoyed the ending of most stories, I think that's the best of this book! :)
It'll be going to mfa today. 

Journal Entry 39 by mfa from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Tuesday, March 16, 2004

so, mady was right... i really did join this ring! i confess it doesn't sound like something i'll enjoy too much, but i'm already giving it a chance. 

Journal Entry 40 by mfa from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Monday, March 22, 2004

Journal Entry 41 by fflloorr from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Tuesday, April 06, 2004

And another bookring ;) 

Journal Entry 42 by fflloorr from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Thursday, April 29, 2004

Oh damn me! =D I didn't like the book! I didn't find any of the stories funny. Maybe it's because I'm from a different culture, I don't know. 

Journal Entry 43 by fflloorr from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Wednesday, May 05, 2004

This book is now going to Esofista, since Dualidade didn't answer any of my PM's for 2 weeks. 

Journal Entry 44 by fflloorr at on Wednesday, May 05, 2004

Release planned for Thursday, May 06, 2004 at Sent by mail in Lisboa, Portugal Controlled Releases.

Sent to Esofista. 

Journal Entry 45 by Muffin77 from Leipzig, Sachsen Germany on Friday, June 18, 2004

Is the book lost or did someone forget to journal it? I hope the latter is the case since there are still some people on the list who'd like to read it =:o))).
Please little book, show up!!!! 

Journal Entry 46 by fflloorr from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Thursday, July 08, 2004

Hi all! I have bad and good news. The bad one, is that the book was returned to me, seems there was something wrong with the address. The good one is that the book is not lost :-)
I'm going to ask Esofista for her address again. 

Journal Entry 47 by ESofista from Braga, Braga Portugal on Tuesday, October 05, 2004

I received “the idiotic girls” yesterday. I thought the book was lost. It delay very much time, I don´t understand why. I will read it and them I gave my opinion. 

Journal Entry 48 by ESofista from Braga, Braga Portugal on Saturday, October 30, 2004

A light book. I didn´t enjoy very much. I will contact the next bookcrosser to send it. 

Journal Entry 49 by ESofista from Braga, Braga Portugal on Thursday, December 09, 2004

Send by mail to Solittletime today! 

Journal Entry 50 by solittletime from Portland, Maine USA on Wednesday, December 15, 2004

That was quick! Received today and will journal again after I read the book. Thanks for including me in this BookRing. 

Journal Entry 51 by Muffin77 from Leipzig, Sachsen Germany on Sunday, September 25, 2005

Apparently this bookray is stalled - many thanks to silverstarry for replacing the book with this copy: "The Idiot Girl's Action Adventure Club"