Journal Entry 1 by hakkalina from Budapest, Pest Hungary on Saturday, January 16, 2010

It is a paperback edition with 97 pages. It was written for "World Book Day".

From its cover:
The winter isn't ending. Nobody knows why. And Odd has run away from home, even though he can barely walk and has to use a crutch. Out in the forest he encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle - there creatures with a strange story to tell. Now Odd is faced with a stranger journey then he had ever imagined. A journey to save Asgard, City of the Norse gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it. It is going to take a very special kind of boy to defeat the most dangerous of all the Frost Giants and rescue the Mighty Gods. Someone cheerful and infuriating and lever. someone just like you...

After reading The Graveyard Book I found out this book. I was so interested in it, now I managed to get it... I am looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 2 by hakkalina at Budapest, Pest Hungary on Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Journal Entry 3 by hakkalina at Budapest, Pest Hungary on Thursday, October 14, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (10/14/2010 UTC) at Budapest, Pest Hungary

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The ray starts, the book is travelling to its first reader!  

Journal Entry 4 by kizmiaz at Belém , Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Friday, October 22, 2010

Just got it, thanks hakkalina!
I loved the postcard, I've been to Budapest last year and loved the city (especially Pest), it's one city I'll try and go back one day.
I'll try and be quick in my reading. 

Journal Entry 5 by kizmiaz at Belém , Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Sunday, October 24, 2010

Journal Entry 6 by marko167 at Sitges, Barcelona Spain on Sunday, November 28, 2010

Bad Marko. Arrived a few weeks back and unfortunately real life got in the way, sincerest apologies. 

Journal Entry 7 by marko167 at Sitges, Barcelona Spain on Sunday, November 28, 2010

Great short story. Old fashioned in a fairy tale way and very enjoyable read.

Read in one sitting and confirms that Gaiman is one of my new favorite authors.

Many thanks for sharing.

M. 

Journal Entry 8 by marko167 at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, December 05, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (12/6/2010 UTC) at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Off it flies to Alemania. Bon voyage! 

Journal Entry 9 by Simson-Shilitoe at Neewiller-près-Lauterbourg, Alsace France on Saturday, December 11, 2010

The book arrived safely alongside with "The Life and Times of Hercule Poirot" in Saturday`s mail.

At the moment I am reading "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson, a bookring started by "chich". I will finish this book on Sunday. Then it will be followed by Neil Gaiman`s "Odd and the Frost Giants" and "The Life and Times of Hercule Poirot".

Thank you "hakkalina" for sharing.

Thank you "marko167" for posting.  

Journal Entry 10 by Simson-Shilitoe at Neewiller-près-Lauterbourg, Alsace France on Sunday, December 19, 2010

Journal Entry 11 by Simson-Shilitoe at Rülzheim, Rheinland-Pfalz Germany on Monday, December 20, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (12/20/2010 UTC) at Rülzheim, Rheinland-Pfalz Germany

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Journal Entry 12 by faerie-glen at Ulm, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Saturday, January 01, 2011

Thanks! 

Journal Entry 13 by faerie-glen at Ulm, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Thursday, January 06, 2011

Cute little kids' book, but I'm more of a fan of Gaiman's adult works. 

Journal Entry 14 by StewT at Leipzig, Sachsen Germany on Sunday, January 23, 2011

booked arrived sfae and sound. Reckon I cna whizz through it at the same time as my other book. Gaiman on!  

Journal Entry 15 by Vekiki at London , Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, March 20, 2011

this has arrived with me, yesterday, I'm very glad as I was starting to worry it had got lost! But, no, it is safe and sound :)
it is very short so I should finish it in a few days
Thankyou for sharing 

Journal Entry 16 by Vekiki at London , Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, April 01, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (4/1/2011 UTC) at London , Greater London United Kingdom

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put this in the post yesterday.

hmm... I love gaimens stuff fro grown-ups, but his childrens writing is mediocre at best - he really dumbs stuff down, quite patronising almost. A real shame as the ideas are great, but the language and storytelling is just so blah 

Journal Entry 17 by blueblack at Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, April 30, 2011

As noted on my profile page, I've been away from home for several weeks. This book has arrived safely and as it is very slim and has been waiting for a little while, it's going to the top of my TBR pile. 

Journal Entry 18 by blueblack at Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 04, 2011

One of the things I love about Gaiman's work is the way his storytelling is so classic, you can't tell whether he's imagined it himself or whether he's retelling a folk story.
A nice, quick book. Not the greatest thing he's written but pleasant enough.

I have vedranaster's postal address and will be sending this book out ASAP. 

Journal Entry 19 by blueblack at Another Bookcrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- World Wide Web on Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (5/4/2011 UTC) at Another Bookcrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- World Wide Web

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Off to Croatia! 

Journal Entry 20 by vedranaster at Zagreb: Donji grad (city centre), Zagreb City Croatia on Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Arrived today, safe and sound!
Oh my, what a treat this will be!
It's a small children's book, and it's a Gaiman.
If all goes according to plan, it should be on its way to the next participant within a week!

Thank you blueblack for sending it, and to you hakkalina for organizing the ray.
I've been trying to get my hands on this one for quite some time. :)

Journal Entry 21 by vedranaster at Zagreb: Donji grad (city centre), Zagreb City Croatia on Tuesday, May 17, 2011

I love Neil Gaiman, but this was just too simplified, both in terms of language and plot development. I can't say I had a terrible time reading it, but often found myself reading it just to get to the end. I know that it was written for kids, but I still get the feeling -- having read almost everything written by Gaiman -- that he could have and should have done a better job, especially for the kids. I usually have no problem reading children's literature, but this one, to me, simply feels too much as "made-to-order, in a haste".

But be that as it may, I'm definitely NOT sorry that I have read it. I'm on a quest to track down every little bit of writing by Gaiman. ;) So, thank you hakkalina for organizing this ray, and to everybody before me -- especially blueblack -- for sending the book on. :)


Snowpeople @Flickr

Journal Entry 22 by vedranaster at Zagreb, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Croatia on Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (5/18/2011 UTC) at Zagreb, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Croatia

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The book is now off on its way to LESEHEST,
to the region that is home of the Norse gods.

Happy Reading!

Journal Entry 23 by LESEHEST at Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag fylke Norway on Friday, May 27, 2011

This cute little book came to Norway today. Can't wait to read it! It won't take long :)


A cute little story, somehow different from other books by Gaiman that I've read.
Thanks for sharing!! 

Journal Entry 24 by LESEHEST at Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag fylke Norway on Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Released 11 mos ago (6/18/2011 UTC) at Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag fylke Norway

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Sent by mail to New Zealand. 

Journal Entry 25 by Sfogs at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Sunday, July 03, 2011

Thank you! This book arrived while I was away on holiday. I should be able to get onto it soon. :D 

Journal Entry 26 by Sfogs at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Sunday, July 10, 2011

A small fast read which I really enjoyed! Thank you!
Will post onto NMReader tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 27 by Sfogs at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Monday, July 11, 2011

Released 10 mos ago (7/11/2011 UTC) at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand

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On it's way to the USA! 

Journal Entry 28 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Saturday, September 24, 2011

Found the book and hope to read this weekend. 

Journal Entry 29 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Tuesday, September 27, 2011

I want to apologize for the delay in moving this book along. It was with some books I bought around the time it had arrived instead of with my rings/rays.

It was a delightful tale that made for a fun read on a rainy weekend day. Well written and entertaining.

I now have the address for azuki and will drop at the PO on Thursday 

Journal Entry 30 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Released 8 mos ago (9/29/2011 UTC) at Herndon, Virginia USA

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Will drop at the PO after work

Delivery Confirmation Number: 0310 2010 0002 1708 6823 

Journal Entry 31 by azuki at Miami, Florida USA on Friday, October 14, 2011

Book is here! I just signed up for next week's Dewey 24 hr read-a-thon so this is the perfect book to slot between heftier reads! 

Journal Entry 32 by azuki at Miami, Florida USA on Wednesday, November 02, 2011

It's an enjoyable enough read, a bit unusual, though not as brilliant as his other works.
Thanks for sharing the book.
I have another book ready to send to k00kaburra and this book will be sent along w it. 

Journal Entry 33 by k00kaburra at San Jose, California USA on Thursday, November 17, 2011

Looking forward to reading this one! 

Journal Entry 34 by k00kaburra at San Jose, California USA on Monday, December 05, 2011

Read today.
It has been a long, long winter – the longest anyone can remember. In the great hall, where the entire village has been cooped up for months, fights are breaking out as tempers grow short. Odd, a young boy who was crippled in a terrible accident, decides that he's had enough and sneaks out one night so that he can return to the hut that once belonged to his father, now long dead. Once there, he meets three animals: a bear, a fox, and an eagle. They talk, it turns out, and explain to Odd that they are really Thor, Loki and Odin. The gods were transformed into animals by an evil Frost Giant who has since managed to take over Asgard. Odd decides that there's nothing to do but go to Asgard and free it, so he sets out at once with his three companions following along behind him.

Odd is a fun little boy to follow around. He's clever, and he doesn't talk much, so he's often able to draw people into conversations that reveal a lot about the character in a natural way. Although Odd himself remains a bit of an enigma to the reader, he brings out the best in each of the gods. I also liked the contrast created between Odd's personal growth throughout the quest and the inability of the gods to change their basic nature. Odd may mature and come of age but Loki will always be a trickster and Thor will always be strong and brave but not particularly cunning. Although he doesn't appear until fairly late in the game, I also really liked the Frost Giant. He's been in control of Asgard just long enough to see that defeating the gods isn't all that it's cracked up to be, and he constantly vacillates between proud conqueror and lonely foreigner who just wants to go home.

At less than one hundred pages, this was a very quick read. It's a delightful tale, written in the grand style of myths and legends, but it also has Gaiman's trademark humor. 

Journal Entry 35 by k00kaburra at bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Saturday, January 28, 2012

Released 4 mos ago (1/28/2012 UTC) at bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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The book is now on its way to Izzy5000! I apologize once again for the delay in its travels! 

Journal Entry 36 by Izzy5000 at Fort Collins, Colorado USA on Thursday, February 09, 2012

Wow, I forgot about this one, but I'll read it and pass it on :) 

Journal Entry 37 by Izzy5000 at Fort Collins, Colorado USA on Friday, February 17, 2012

This was an interesting take on the Norse Gods, although it is for a younger reading age. I'm a fan of Neil Gaiman's writing style, so overall I enjoyed the book. I'll mail this and the graphic novel out on Monday.  

Journal Entry 38 by Izzy5000 at Fort Collins, Colorado USA on Saturday, March 17, 2012

Released 2 mos ago (3/17/2012 UTC) at Fort Collins, Colorado USA

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Mailed! 

Journal Entry 39 by Kaija at Muskegon, Michigan USA on Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Was sent to my old addy, so I didn't get it until today.. but it's here safe and sound. I'll send it on to the next person as soon as I finish.. (It won't take too long to read)

Editing to add my thoughts: Well, it was actually quite cute... Nothing earth shattering, but Gaiman and Norse mythology works well together. My roommate was planning on reading this as his copy is M.I.A. at the moment.. but, I don't want to hold this ring up as I gave him 2 weeks and he didn't even start it. I'll buy him a new copy or we'll find his other one..  

Journal Entry 40 by Kaija at Muskegon, Michigan USA on Monday, April 16, 2012

Released 1 mo ago (4/16/2012 UTC) at Muskegon, Michigan USA

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Planning on stopping by the post office tomorrow to send this on to Ravencat :)

Edit to say: Was sent :) 

Journal Entry 41 by ravencat at Lancaster, New York USA on Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Arrived today and won't take me long to read. I have already PM next in line (Cassandra2020) for addy. 

Journal Entry 42 by ravencat at Lancaster, New York USA on Thursday, April 19, 2012

Released 1 mo ago (4/19/2012 UTC) at Lancaster, New York USA

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This wonderful little book was with me one day and then off to the UK (Cassandra2020) the next day. Such a sweet and simple tale of Odd and his friends and their journey back to the people they love.  

Journal Entry 43 by Cassandra2020 at Roslin, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, April 26, 2012

Thank you Hakkalina & Ravencat - will read ASAP & move along 

Journal Entry 44 by Cassandra2020 at Roslin, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, April 30, 2012

What a lovely little book. It was specially written and published for World Book Day 2008 and tells the story of Odd, a little, lame boy who runs away from home and meets three creatures: a fox, a bear and an
eagle. Together they journey to Asgard, home of the Norse Gods, to save it, and the world, from the Frost Giants.

How I wish I'd had this book as a child, I would have loved it then (to be fair, I loved it now - even though (as an adult) I don't usually read childrens books. I also wish that Neil Gaiman had been ommissioned to write Ragnarok for the myth series, he would have brought it all, vividly, to life unlike the dry version that AS Byatt wrote. 

Journal Entry 45 by Cassandra2020 at Roslin, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, May 05, 2012

Released 3 wks ago (5/5/2012 UTC) at Roslin, Scotland United Kingdom

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on its way to the next happy bookcrosser :-) 

Journal Entry 46 by Elskaliam at Hässleholm, Skåne Sweden on Monday, May 14, 2012

Oh! I love reading journals with many journalers! Thank you very much. The book arrived today safe and sound. :-)