Journal Entry 1 by rootmartin from Marlborough, Massachusetts USA on Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Kooky festivals of all shapes and sizes exist around the world, as illustrated by this humorous travelogue that recounts the dozen most outrageous celebrations the author discovered on his six-month, six-country adventure. In search of the most unusual and wildest festivities, the author was pelted with beans, amazed by giant snow cows, stampeded in a temple full of men wearing nothing but "nappies," befriended by alien abductees, and much more while attending a Hogmanay in Scotland, a Tomato Festival in Ripley, Tennesee, a Bean Throwing Festival in Tokyo, and a Vodou Festival in Haiti. The side-splitting stories will inspire readers to attend—or create—peculiar festivals of their own, and on a more serious note, explore and appreciate other cultures.

 

Journal Entry 2 by rootmartin from Marlborough, Massachusetts USA on Tuesday, February 03, 2009

I loved the idea of this book but I didn't enjoy the execution as much as I thought I would. Thacker's writing felt like one punch line after another without any particular insight into the culture or the origin of the festivals. In addition, while describing one festival, he would then make a list of other festivals with similar themes. It always felt like he just sat down and looked them up on the web and then made a random list. I do hope that future readers find the book more enjoyable. I was saddened as the concept of the book is fantastic!

It's on its way to candy-is-dandy who got it through the armchair travel swap at bookobsessed.com

Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 3 by candy-is-dandy from Braintree, Essex United Kingdom on Saturday, February 07, 2009

This traveled fast. Arrived safely! Thank you.