The Fourth Bear: A Nursery Crime

by Jasper Fforde | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9780143038924 Global Overview for this book
Registered by 2of3Rs of Hillsboro, Oregon USA on 11/18/2007
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11 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by 2of3Rs from Hillsboro, Oregon USA on Sunday, November 18, 2007
This is the sequel to THE BIG OVER EASY. As sequels often are, it's not as good as the first. In it, Jack Spratt, his partner Mary, Mary and Lt. Ashley (the alien), are taken off of a major case and find themselves investigating minor nursery crimes. The Gingerbread Man, (serial killer), is at large, making things much more dangerous. In addition, Spratt, himself a PDR (Person of Dubious Reality), struggles with marriage troubles (his new wife, since his wife who could eat no lean is dead, is not a PDR), as well as internal struggles on the police force.
Again, as I find in all of Fforde's books, the ideas are SO brilliant. However, I find myself wanting less side story and a more thorough development of fewer plots.
Though, again, I did buy it in hardcover and read it. THAT says something.

And here I am, with a NEW copy of this book, this time a trade paperback. The first one (hardocver) I had for the spiral seems to be missing in action. There have been no journal entries since mine in August. So I decided to get another copy so the ray/spiral can continue. And here it is!



...putting as a book spiral with The Big Over Easy...
Here is the bookray for this book. Participants so far...
tenneh - Nebraska
awakeagain - New Jersey
Karenzero - New York
ajsmom - Canada
snoopy3 - Connecticut
Magika - Norway
iliotropio - Belgium
bilbi - France

Please journal when you receive the book and when you read it and PM the next person on the list to move the book onward. enjoy!

Journal Entry 2 by tenneh from Verdon, Nebraska USA on Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Received this book today - will get to it asap! :-)

I loved this book - I think better than The Big Over Easy! Looking forward to more in this series!! :-)

Journal Entry 3 by tenneh at Via Mail in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Nebraska USA on Sunday, December 9, 2007

Released 16 yrs ago (12/12/2007 UTC) at Via Mail in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Nebraska USA

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heading to awakeagain

Journal Entry 4 by awakeagain from Port Murray, New Jersey USA on Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Rec'd today. PMing next person on list.

Journal Entry 5 by KarenZero from Maplewood, New Jersey USA on Saturday, January 26, 2008
Received safely! Will read ASAP.

Journal Entry 6 by KarenZero from Maplewood, New Jersey USA on Monday, March 17, 2008
I actually liked this more than "The Big Over Easy" - it was a little more engaging I think. Will there be another? I think I may prefer Tuesday Next more, but these are fun.

Thanks for sharing it! I'm mailing it off today. Sorry for the delay!

Released 16 yrs ago (3/17/2008 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

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Mailed off to Canada!

Journal Entry 8 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, March 27, 2008
Book received today, thank you! I'm looking forward to this one.

Journal Entry 9 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, April 3, 2008
I think I liked this one better than the first - at least in this one, the anti-hero (ie. Humpty) isn't a drunk and a lech! :) I love Fforde's writing and his silliness in general, and am looking forward to more Thursday Next novels.

Will PM snoopy for an address and have this book on its way asap. Cheers for the ring, smilingheron!

Released 15 yrs ago (4/8/2008 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Sent to snoopy3 via air mail.

Journal Entry 11 by snoopy3 from Bristol, Connecticut USA on Sunday, April 27, 2008
Just returned from vacation & the book was waiting for me in my pile of mail. Will begin reading shortly.

Journal Entry 12 by snoopy3 from Bristol, Connecticut USA on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
I really enjoyed this one...I personally thought it was much better than the Humpty tale. I hope Fforde continues with this series of characters. I'm looking forward to reading more about Jack Sprat(t), Mary Mary & Ashley. (BTW, Ashey's character really seemed to blossom in this novel.) Contacting next recipient on the list, then this one will be on its way.

Journal Entry 13 by snoopy3 from Bristol, Connecticut USA on Saturday, May 17, 2008
On its way to Magika in Norway....

Journal Entry 14 by Magika on Thursday, May 22, 2008
Arrived today, thanks! I have one other ringbook before this one, but I'll try to be quick!

Journal Entry 15 by Magika on Thursday, June 12, 2008
As always with Fforde, I can't help feeling that he has a little trouble weaving all his wonderful ideas into a continuous storyline. There are so many characters and subplots that they take the focus away from the main plot. I do like the main characters though - the actually feel real despite their obscurity. I liked The Big Over Easy better than this one, but I'll definitely keep reading this series if Fforde keeps writing.

14.06.08: Sent to iliotropio today.

Journal Entry 16 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Fourth Bear has found its way to Brussels thanks to Magika!

Journal Entry 17 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
An exquisitely odd story, one to lose one´s self into...
On its way to bilbi. Happy reading!

Journal Entry 18 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Saturday, August 30, 2008
Received today.

Thanks for sharing !

Today's my first day of "summer holidays" ;-)

Two weeks of "farniente", of lazyness, reading books, walking and moving house well, as a mtter of fact, moving flat...)

Just one book to finish before starting this one.

Thanks again

Journal Entry 19 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Sunday, August 31, 2008
I loved this book !
It's so funny to read !
Well, there's a lot of blood though ;-)

I will move the bookray onward now !

Thanks for sharing \o/


----

brujula
EnigmaGryphon

Journal Entry 20 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Friday, September 12, 2008
The book arrived safely in Belfort yesterday!

Thank you!

Journal Entry 21 by Brujula at Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Saturday, October 16, 2010
I've really enjoyed this book!
It's packed with humour and references to Nursery Rhymes, just as the Thursday Next books are packed with references to english litterature.

It is really fun!

Journal Entry 22 by Brujula at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, April 7, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (4/7/2011 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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envoyé à EnigmaGryphon, avec beaucoup beaucoup beaucoup de retard.... Désolée!

Journal Entry 23 by EnigmaGryphon at Cergy, Ile-de-France France on Tuesday, April 19, 2011
2011-04-19 : Received a few days ago, thanks.
Since my TBR list is high enough for a few years of reading, it's not a problem if you're late.

Started at the end of June 2011, forgotten at friends' house a few days later, remembered and taken back in March 2012. Reading should restart soon...
Soon being the 2nd of June, almost 1 year after I forgot it!

Ended during june (still in 2012).

It was fun to remember all those mystical creatures from my childhood (as well as some only present in the anglo-saxon culture AFAIK) even though I never believed in them (my dad is a fun and pragmatic man).
Seeing them reunited in the little town of Reading (the irony of the name was just one the the many details I liked) was a sweet moment.

That said, this book was not the easiest one to read and I think I would prefer a translation over the original if I was to read another book from this author (I liked The Eyre Affair when I read it a few years ago).

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