I Am Legend

by Richard Matheson | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0765318741 Global Overview for this book
Registered by CollegeLady of La Mesa, California USA on 12/31/2007
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17 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by CollegeLady from La Mesa, California USA on Monday, December 31, 2007
Very good book... well-written.

Amazon.com's review:
One of the most influential vampire novels of the 20th century, I Am Legend regularly appears on the "10 Best" lists of numerous critical studies of the horror genre. As Richard Matheson's third novel, it was first marketed as science fiction (for although written in 1954, the story takes place in a future 1976). A terrible plague has decimated the world, and those who were unfortunate enough to survive have been transformed into blood-thirsty creatures of the night. Except, that is, for Robert Neville. He alone appears to be immune to this disease, but the grim irony is that now he is the outsider. He is the legendary monster who must be destroyed because he is different from everyone else. Employing a stark, almost documentary style, Richard Matheson was one of the first writers to convince us that the undead can lurk in a local supermarket freezer as well as a remote Gothic castle. His influence on a generation of bestselling authors--including Stephen King and Dean Koontz--who first read him in their youth is, well, legendary. --Stanley Wiater --This text refers to the Paperback edition.


"One of the most important writers of the twentieth century."--Ray Bradbury

"I think the author who influence me the most as a writer was Richard Matheson. Books like I Am Legend were an inspiration to me." --Stephen King


"Matheson is one of the great names in American terror fiction."—The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Matheson inspires, it's as simple as that."—Brian Lumley

Journal Entry 2 by CollegeLady from La Mesa, California USA on Thursday, January 3, 2008
The bookring is complete. The book will be sent in the following order based on shipping preferences:

Name Shipping Preference Location

Rockbird US only Mission Viejo, CA
Oldreader US only Citrus Heights, CA
Stacers1973 US only Gladstone, OR
tiatia US Only Springfield VA
awakeagain US only Hackettstown, NJ
GrannyAnn US only West Henrietta, NY
NomiJo Anywhere Scarsdale, NY
HappyIdler Europe Athens, Greece (no longer participating 6/7/08)
SazzyMCH UK Alnwick, Northumberland, UK
k2005 Anywhere Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
Lottiotta Anywhere Swansea, Wales, UK
Kera Anywhere Brixham, Devon, UK
Mozette Anywhere Logan, Queensland, Australia
Blackteiwaz American Cont. San Jose, Costa Rica
Smilin-heart Anywhere Bahrain (military - US addy)
geetheflea Anywhere London, Greater London, UK
Jive-Monster Anywhere Swadlincote, Derbyshire, UK
Cambridgelass Anywhere Cambridge, UK
Dodau Anywhere Bristol, Bristol, UK
princess-peapod US Only Avila Beach, CA
Home to CollegeLady

** Please see The CollegeLady Bookshelf for location of the book **


Of course, the usual applies: please try to keep the book in good condition, please try to read the book within one month and please make a journal entry upon receipt of the book and again when you are done.

Also, you will need to PM the next person on the list for his/her snail-addy. A quick journal entry to let us know it's been sent on would be appreciated.

As far as shipping, if possible and you can afford it, please get a tracking number. Never know when the mail service will have hiccups!

Journal Entry 3 by CollegeLady from La Mesa, California USA on Thursday, January 10, 2008
My apologies for the late notice. The book has been shipped via USPS Priority Mail and should arrive in a few days. Tracking number is 9101805213907256022746 which only provides ship date and delivery date. Happy Reading!!!

Journal Entry 4 by RockBird from Mission Viejo, California USA on Friday, January 11, 2008
Can't wait to get started on this; I'm hoping it'll fill in some of the blanks the movie left.


Edit 3/10/08
Sorry it took me so long to get this in the mail; I actually got it read pretty quickly, but it got forgotton in the chaos. I liked most of the main story better overall than the movie; the book's handling of the dog was especially touching. I'm not sure what I think of the few short segments at the end, though. They really seemed unrelated to me, like the author was just tacking on a few unrelated works he wanted to see published.

Released 16 yrs ago (3/10/2008 UTC) at in front of the house in -- Mailed, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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sent on to the next in the ring. sorry for the delay, and enjoy

Journal Entry 6 by oldreader from Colorado Springs, Colorado USA on Thursday, March 20, 2008
arrived todqy.Have 1 bookray ahead of this.Will try to hurry.

Journal Entry 7 by oldreader from Colorado Springs, Colorado USA on Monday, March 24, 2008
This is the first time I have rated a 10.The best I have read in a long time.Did not like the ministories at the end very well.I hasd not heard of this before and did not know it was written in the 50,I am impressed with that fact.What a concept for that time period.Mailing to stacers1973 today.Thanks so much for making this a ring.

Journal Entry 8 by oldreader at US Post in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, March 24, 2008

Released 16 yrs ago (3/24/2008 UTC) at US Post in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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mailed this morning

Journal Entry 9 by Stacers1973 from Gladstone, Oregon USA on Saturday, March 29, 2008
Arrived this am - Thank you! I am so glad I finished up some other books so I can concentrate on this one, I am really excited about it. Lovely bookmark inside too :)

Journal Entry 10 by Stacers1973 from Gladstone, Oregon USA on Monday, March 31, 2008
I have had this on my wishlist for years. It came Saturday and I devoured it in one day. I read through most of the shorts in the back but the main story was the best! I can't get over that this was written in the 1950's ... a very modern book for it's day. Well written, creepy and although these aren't vampires in the *traditional* sense they are totally amazing. This is more about the one man (Neville) than the vampire but also about the survival of both and how sometimes normal can all of a sudden be abnormal.
Favorite Quotes ~
"He turned away from the bar as if he could leave the question there. But questions had no location; they could follow him around."
and
"No longer will you be a weird Robinson Crusoe, imprisoned on an island of night surrounded by oceans of death."

I have sent a PM to TiaTia and am awaiting a confirmation reply, the book is all set to continue it's journey.
** I got the address confirmation, will mail out tomorrow :)

Released 16 yrs ago (4/1/2008 UTC) at Gladstone Post Office, Portland Avenue in Gladstone, Oregon USA

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Controlled Release to tiatia

confirmation number 0307 1790 0000 7981 9629



Journal Entry 12 by tiatia from Fredericksburg, Virginia USA on Friday, April 11, 2008
Came while I was out of town. Still working on two others but will try to hurry. It may take a bit longer as I have work travel again next week.

Journal Entry 13 by tiatia from Fredericksburg, Virginia USA on Friday, May 23, 2008
Not my usual reading genre but I found myself emeshed with the psychology of all of the parties. I think I enjoyed the short stories a bit more as the length forced quick character development. Thanks for sharing. I'll try to post off after the Memorial Day holidays.

Journal Entry 14 by awakeagain from Port Murray, New Jersey USA on Monday, June 9, 2008
Rec'd this bookring today. PMing GrannyAnn for her address.

Journal Entry 15 by awakeagain from Port Murray, New Jersey USA on Sunday, June 15, 2008
Usually when I plan to see a movie, I don't read the book and vice versa. But when I saw this offered, I had recently seen the movie and was interested in how the book differed.

I was totally engrossed from the very first page. The story line is different enough from the movie that I never really felt I knew what would happen next. I loved his writing style and plan to seek out other books.

On it's way to GrannyAnn tomorrow.

Journal Entry 16 by GrannyAnn from West Henrietta, New York USA on Friday, June 20, 2008
Received yesterday. I can't wait to get started.

Thanks for sharing.

Journal Entry 17 by GrannyAnn from West Henrietta, New York USA on Wednesday, July 2, 2008
I enjoyed this story very much. It is a very different take on the typical vampire story. I Am Legend still seems very contemporary but the short stories at the end didn't, many of them seemed very dated.

I have the next reader's address and I'll get it out to her this weekend.

Thanks for sharing, CollegeLady.

Mailed 7/5/08 Delivery confirmation 03080070000025582787.

Journal Entry 18 by NomiJo from Scarsdale, New York USA on Monday, July 14, 2008
This book arrived on Friday, I think, and it immediately sank its teeth into me and even though I can't read it last thing at night, I have managed to read about 150 pages. Urgh. This is a mean story. I'm not even sure if the author has any friendly feeling toward the protagonist. I know I barely do, and yet, I desperately want to see this thorugh til the end. Yikes! Thanks GrannyAnn and CollegeLady. I will journal again when I finish.

Journal Entry 19 by NomiJo from Scarsdale, New York USA on Sunday, July 27, 2008
Well my goodness, he is a mean author, this one. In the very best possible way, it seems like he is using writing as a substitute for therapy, pouring his anger and fear onto the pages. Sometimes that is terrific, and sometimes it makes me uncomfortable. I agree that some of the stories in the book haven't aged so well, but Witch War has a certain significance today, as well as just making me feel deliciously oogy when thinking about it, and Buried Taents is just a terrific and frustrating little story. One of things that Matheson does that I find interesting is that his stories, including I Am Legend, feel like incredibly long and detailed set ups, and then the end comes snapping at you like a guillotine coming down. Sometimes that is really succeesful and sometimes it left me asking, "Well what the heck just happened here?" But I was very sorry when the last story was done, and if I find more books by him, I will probably pick them up.

Journal Entry 20 by NomiJo at Alnwick, Northumberland United Kingdom on Thursday, August 14, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (8/14/2008 UTC) at Alnwick, Northumberland United Kingdom

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This book was (finally, sorry) sent on its way to SazzyMCH who is next on line for this bookroing. I was unable to get a tracking number to send it overseas, but I am sure it will get there soon, now that everything has to go first class!

Journal Entry 21 by SazzyMCH from San Antonio, Texas USA on Monday, August 18, 2008
Book received today = many thanks!

Journal Entry 22 by SazzyMCH from San Antonio, Texas USA on Friday, September 12, 2008
Many thanks for sharing. I only read I Am Legend but I absolutely loved it. I was surprised at how tense it made me (especially as I knew what it was about!). I haven't seen the film, but I imagine it is very different.

Have PM'd k2005 for address.

Journal Entry 23 by SazzyMCH from San Antonio, Texas USA on Saturday, September 27, 2008
Sorry - forgot to say that it's now on it's way!

Journal Entry 24 by k2005 from Oxford, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Sunday, September 28, 2008
i received this yesterday and i'm really looking forward to reading it. i loved the film and am interested to see how the original story compares, plus check out some more of Richard Mathesons work.

Journal Entry 25 by k2005 from Oxford, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, October 20, 2008
hmm, i prefered the main story, the other stories seemed a bit dated. i found it difficult to get into "i am legend" at first, probably because i've seen the film and the style of the story is very different. however, once i got into it i really enjoyed it. i sent it to lottiotta this morning, hope she enjoys it as much as i did!

Journal Entry 26 by Lottiotta from Aberdovey, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Very pleased that this has arrived! Thank you, I'll get to it as soon as I can. :)

9th November 2008
I finished this a couple of days ago, and I've just PMed Kera for the next address.

I really enjoyed the way the story twisted and kept me curious, especially with the unusual ending! I think that considering the ending, the author was very skilled to keep up the momentum. I was also impressed by the way it hasn't dated, even though it was written in the 50s or thereabouts.

Thank you very much, I'll send it on as soon as I can!

Journal Entry 27 by Kera from Brixham, Devon United Kingdom on Friday, November 21, 2008
Received in the post today - next book on pile TBR

Journal Entry 28 by Kera from Brixham, Devon United Kingdom on Monday, December 8, 2008
An enjoyable read - definately different to the film!

Journal Entry 29 by Mozette from Logan City, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, March 4, 2009
This wonderful book arrived today! Just when I had started 'The Grapes of Wrath' too! Well, I'll put that one down and read this one instead. In fact, I began reading it on the way home from the post office... this will be my reading material for the next week or so.

Journal Entry 30 by Mozette at on Monday, March 30, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (3/30/2009 UTC) at

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Okay... I had to skip over the person next on the list as they asked me to. How unfortunate... this is a great book! I not only read the novella that was made into the film, I also read the other little stories after it; thus turning me from reading this at night into making this an afternoon read rather quickly. Yeah, this guy gave me the heebi-geebies as much a SK has done successfully in the past! A great Read... and now it's onto Smilin-Heart.

Journal Entry 31 by Smilin-Heart from Norfolk, Virginia USA on Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Yeah, This has found it's way to me. I'll start on it right away and then send it off!

Journal Entry 32 by Smilin-Heart from Norfolk, Virginia USA on Wednesday, April 29, 2009
AWESOME Book!!!! I love it the whole way through

Journal Entry 33 by Smilin-Heart at on Friday, August 14, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (8/13/2009 UTC) at

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On it's way to geetheflea. The book was great!!!! I even loved all the short stories!!

Journal Entry 34 by geetheflea from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Wow, I'd forgotten I was on the list for this but so glad I am. Half way through and thoroughly enjoying what I've read so far. Thanks Smilin-Heart for sending to me.

Journal Entry 35 by geetheflea from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Really enjoyed the main story in this - surprising how different all the film versions of it are and not one accurate to the (great) story. The other stories in the second half of the book didn't impress me as much though there were some highlights: Prey, Mad House, and From Shadowed Places. I would be keen to check out some more of his short stories.

Will send straight off to Jive-Monster as soon as I have the address.

Thanks CollegeLady for organising the ring!

UPDATE: Book on its way though the post office they said there's a lot of postal strikes at the moment and it may take 2-3 weeks for the parcel to get to its destination!

Journal Entry 36 by Jive-Monster from -- Somewhere in Derbyshire🤷‍♂️, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Saturday, September 12, 2009
Received in the post. Have already started reading it - althought it may get posted from Cornwall when I'm on holiday.

Loving all of the previous posts - can't wait to get to the short stories at the back!

Journal Entry 37 by Jive-Monster from -- Somewhere in Derbyshire🤷‍♂️, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Sunday, September 20, 2009
I really enjoyed this book - it wasn't at all what I expected having seen the film.

I've taken it away on holiday with me and will endeavour to post it to cambridgelass while I'm down here. Failing that - it'll have to be when I get home.

Thanks for sharing!

Journal Entry 38 by cambridgelass from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Monday, October 19, 2009
Sorry to register this so late, I have had the book for three weeks so shame on me.

Well what a fantastic read, this is a superb story that is very well written. I like the fact it was differetn to the movie, this was more pyscological therefore more scary. I read this extremely quick as could not put it down.

I can say i am a fan of Ricahrd Matheson and this is is best I have read. Thankyou Jive - Monster for sharing the book and for being so patient with me :0) and thankyou to collegelady for setting up the ring.

Have Pmed the next person on the list.

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