Journal Entry 1 by unibooker from Oakland, California USA on Monday, March 03, 2003

A good friend of mine recieved this book for christmas a few years ago. After reading it, he lent it to me so that I could tell him if I thought it was funny or not. I thought it was. I enjoy Mr. Mills's humour, but also the sense of danger that he creates. I'm now enjoying Mills's latest, Scheme For Full Employment and so I thought I might send this book along and see if there are any other Magnus Mills fans out there, just waiting.

- unibooker
 

Journal Entry 2 by unibooker at -- By mail, by hand, rings, RABCKs etc in Montréal, Québec Canada on Monday, March 03, 2003

Released on Monday, March 03, 2003 at i'm mailing this to a friend in Montreal, Quebec Canada.

The book can be found about a week from now in idiotechnitian's mailbox.
Don't worry, all you other bookcrossers. I'm certain that he'll re-release it very shortly. 

Journal Entry 3 by idioteqnician from Stoke Newington, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, March 17, 2003

MARCH 17:
Well looky here! The truth is, I had an inkling that the unibooker was sending me a book, and not only because of my flawless ESP. He asked for my address too. Plus, I am a neurotic BookCrossing addict and I saw in the "go hunting" section last week that a certain someone in Oakland, California was sending me a little something something. I know LOTS of Americans (in fact, some of my very good friends are even American!) but only two in Oakland, and one of those two is currently busy being pregnant.

Thanks, unibooker! I am relieved to see that this book is not too long and with fairly large print. My to-be-read list is starting to scare me, but it's the epic tomes that really slow me down, not fun looking reads like this one.

I think the unibooker should watch his own mailbox in the coming days for a special little book bomb of his own.


MARCH 23:
This book is really odd. It’s amazing how simple the story is, but how it holds your attention the entire way through. I just kept turning page after page, fascinated by the unremarkable events in the unremarkable lives of three unremarkable men. And then every few chapters or so, the most remarkable event crops up and is treated in the most remarkably unremarkable way. I agree with unibooker too that this is a very funny book, but not at all in a knee-slapping kind of way – it’s all flat and deadpan. Mills’ writing is so unassuming and the characters are so charming that I couldn’t help reading this more or less straight through. What starts out as a very plain narrative becomes more and more creepy as it goes along until a rather abrupt end that left me scratching my head a bit. I’m going to find other books by Mills he seems like a good author who has come up with a really unique story here – who’d have thought a book about men who build fences could be so captivating?? 

Journal Entry 4 by idioteqnician at Controlled release in Montréal, Québec in - By post or by hand/ in person -, Québec Canada on Monday, March 31, 2003

Released on Monday, March 31, 2003 at CONTROLLED RELEASE in Montreal, Quebec Canada.

I am sending this book off on a little BookRay. The rules are pretty easy: 1. Journal the book to tell us you received it. 2. Read and enjoy! 3. Journal the book to tell us what you thought of it. 4. PM the next person on the list for their address and send the book on its way.

If you don't hear back from the next person on the list after a week or so, consider jumping to the next in line. And please note that I may add people to this list if others request to join the BookRay. Thanks everyone! (Names in bold have already received the book:)

1. mfa - Lisbon, Portugal
2. cestmoi - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3. minerswifebb - Greenwood, British Columbia, Canada
4. anabanana - Los Angeles, California, USA
5. sgscarcliff - San Francisco, California, USA
6. branna - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
7. eireannaigh - Valley Center, Kansas, USA
8. free-bird - Woodstock, Ontario, Canada 

Journal Entry 5 by mfa from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Friday, May 16, 2003

the book has just arrived through the post. i'tll go top on my reading list, and that means it should be on its way back to canada soon. i'll let you know what i think of it as soon as i finish it. thank you, idioteqnician! 

Journal Entry 6 by mfa from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Thursday, May 22, 2003

this really is a quick read - it took me less than 2 days to finish it. It's quite odd indeed, but funny as well. it's like going on about nothing for 214 pages just to prove there's nothing really to go on about. i quite enjoyed the way the characters were quite consistent with their dialgues throughout the book, and the way each chapter ends creating a lot of suspense - quite ingenious writing, i must say.
i'll make sure it reahes the next reader now. 

Journal Entry 7 by mfa at on Saturday, May 24, 2003

Released on Saturday, May 24, 2003 at mailed to another bookcrosser in Lisboa, lisboa Portugal.

posted to cestmoi today. 

Journal Entry 8 by cestmoi from Hamilton, Ontario Canada on Friday, June 06, 2003

Just received in the mail today. Thanks! I'll journal as I'm reading it.
 

Journal Entry 9 by cestmoi from Hamilton, Ontario Canada on Monday, June 09, 2003

I'm 3/4 of the way into this book and enjoying it so much! I was so engrossed in reading it tonight on the subway that I went three stops past the one I wanted! Which made me run up a flight of stairs and then down a flight of stairs to get back on the northbound train to go back the three stops to meet 'Nathan and Sue for dinner. (Those of you who have met me...stop laughing at that picture!!).

Anyway..so far they have managed with their ineptness to do some pretty..unbelievable stuff...(don't want to give anything away)..but they certainly are characters. Will journal again when I'm finished. Just wanted to say thanks to idioteqnician for a great choice of book for a bookring. 

Journal Entry 10 by cestmoi from Hamilton, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, June 10, 2003

Journal Entry 11 by minerswifebb from Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan Canada on Monday, June 23, 2003

received today...thanks cestmoi.To the top of the TBR pile! 

Journal Entry 12 by minerswifebb from Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan Canada on Sunday, July 13, 2003

I read this strange little book today....it is kind of dreary, creepy and funny all at once. I was reminded a bit of The Music Of Chance by Paul Auster.
If it had been a longer book I don't think I would have persevered and finished it, but I'm glad I did, though the ending certainly didn't resolve much!
Waiting for anabanana's address to send the book onward into the book ray. 

Journal Entry 13 by minerswifebb at post office in Greenwood, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, July 15, 2003

Released on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at post office in Greenwood, British Columbia Canada.

Mailing to anabanana in LA 

Journal Entry 14 by anabanana from Pasadena, California USA on Wednesday, July 23, 2003

Received today from minerswifebb as part of the bookray. Thank you! I will read it and journal soon. 

Journal Entry 15 by anabanana from Pasadena, California USA on Sunday, July 27, 2003

I agree with all of the other comments made so far. This simple story kept my interest the whole way through. Like idiotegnician wrote, even the most remarkable events are written as completely unremarkable and the story keeps on going. At one point towards the end of the book, an entire section from earlier in the book is repeated word for word seeming to suggest the repetitive nature of these men's lives. You wonder how many times the scenes described in the book have played out for Richie and Tam. The only thing new seems to be the job they have at the end... and it is that newness that adds to some of the discomfort and creepiness, I think. Very interesting.... thanks idiotegnician! I will send a PM to sgscarcliff to send this book on... 

Journal Entry 16 by sgscarcliff on Friday, August 08, 2003

I just received this in the mail.
Thank you Unibooker idioteqnician for making this book available.

I read some of the other journal entries. It looks like this will be a good book to read along with 2 of my other bookrings that are a bit dark.

Idioteqnician, I see in the comment below you only know two person from Oakland. While I live in San Francisco, I work in Oakland so I guess you can now say you know 3.

I will post again when I have read the book

Susan 

Journal Entry 17 by sgscarcliff on Thursday, August 21, 2003

With other bookrays, I just started the book today and I will probably finish it in a few days. One day during commuting and I am 1/4 the way done. You know your in for an odd book when the main characters accidently kill someone and the solution is to bury him in a post hole. I am likeing it. It is a nice change after all the dark bookrays that have been coming my way just lately.

I will Post more when I am done. I will probably send it out the middle of next week.

Susan 

Journal Entry 18 by sgscarcliff on Sunday, August 24, 2003

Finished the book. I will be sending it on once I get a mailing address.

I want to know what is in the sausages, the possibilities do not look good.

For those that have watched the Bob Newhart show that took place in a B&B in Vermont (I think) did the main characters remind you of Larry, Darryl and other brother Darryl.

Thanks 

Journal Entry 19 by Branna from Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, September 27, 2003

I got this in the mail last week. I've managed to make some space among other bookring/bookray reads, so I'll be putting this one in my backpack for morning/afternoon transit reads, and something to do over my lunch break at work.  

Journal Entry 20 by Branna from Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, January 03, 2004

Wow. This was an amazing book. I wish I had time to read it again, but I've already wasted enough forgetting it on my shelf for months. Time to pass it along!