Journal Entry 1 by chich from Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Friday, October 24, 2008

This was such a fun read! I picked this up because I had read Happiness and enjoyed it very much. Now I think I'm fast becoming a Will Ferguson fan:) "Hokkaido Highway Blues" is really refreshing in the sense that it doesn't offer a clichéd view of Japan at all. It's very witty, insightful, thoughtful and highly enjoyable! It definitely makes you want to book a ticket to Japan straight away:o) This is one of the best travelogues I've read recently and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in foreign cultures in general and Japan in particular!

From the Back Cover:
The book follows Will Ferguson as he hitchhikes 1,800 miles north through Japan following the Cherry Blossom Front (Sakura Zensen). The arrival of the blossom is a national event in Japan, eagerly tracked on television bulletins, and besides marking the end of winter and the start of the business cycle it facilitates a burst of heavy drinking disguised as a communal meditation on transience.

Surveying the country from the not quite private, not quite public, position of the passenger seat, Ferguson sees the Japan not written about in guide books, but gets to the heart of this intriguing and contradictory country. This is a laugh out loud, warm-hearted account with a generous helping of satire. 

Journal Entry 2 by chich from Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Journal Entry 3 by chich from Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Thursday, August 06, 2009

Here we go!

Book sent to Kerriou today, enjoy! 

Journal Entry 4 by Kerriou from Swansea, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Arrived safely this morning. Thank you, chich. Just a few pages left of my current read so I'll make a start on this book this evening. 

Journal Entry 5 by Kerriou from Swansea, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 16, 2009

I really enjoyed this book. It's the first travelogue I've read about Japan and now I wish to read more about this fascinating country. Will Ferguson's journey following the cherry blossom front was amusing, informative and gave an insight into Japanese culture and character as seen from a Canadian who has lived and worked in Japan.
Thank you for sharing, chich.

I've PMd Lizzy-stardust a few times but after putting out a ISO on the forum I've discovered that she's away at present. chich would like this book to kept in sequence so I'll hang on to it until Lizzy returns. 

Journal Entry 6 by Kerriou at Swansea, a controlled release -- Controlled Releases on Friday, September 18, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (9/18/2009 UTC) at Swansea, a controlled release -- Controlled Releases

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Posted off to Lizzy-stardust. 

Journal Entry 7 by Lizzy-stardust from Salford, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Monday, September 21, 2009

Received in today's post. Thanks so much! I am only 150 pages into my current read of 530 pages, and having glanced at this, the print is tiny, but I should still manage to send it on within a month. Thanks again! 

Journal Entry 8 by iiwi from Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Saturday, October 10, 2009

Received. 

Journal Entry 9 by iiwi from Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Monday, November 02, 2009

That was hilarious. I'm not sure it helped me on my plans to go to Japan on holiday, especially with the way Japanese seem to treat foreigeners in this book. Going on the fly seems quite difficult, when people don't want you to stay in hotels and stuff. I would like to go for South to north by train though. Fergusson says training through a country only makes you a guest, while hichhiking makes you a member, but I will settle for that. 

Journal Entry 10 by iiwi from Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Tuesday, November 03, 2009

LindyLouMac asked to be skipped from the ring, so now I'm going to pm CanPou 

Journal Entry 11 by CanPou from Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thank you iiwi! It just arrived today. Sometimes I think we must be on another planet for mail to take so long to reach us!!! Looking forward to reading this one! 

Journal Entry 12 by CanPou from Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Thursday, January 07, 2010

Well, I am not sure this book is really enticing anyone to go to Japan, but it is a very good read. Nothing to do with your usual travel book! 

Journal Entry 13 by samulli from Weimar, Thüringen Germany on Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Arrived today. I'll get to it as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 14 by samulli from Weimar, Thüringen Germany on Sunday, January 24, 2010

I couldn't finish this book. I gave up about a third in. It may be that I am just not in the mood for Japan right now.
When I read in the foreword that this was an abridged edition and that 90 pages had been cut I simultaneously laughed and rolled my eyes. I don't know if they really cut out anything, because the narrative is very long-winded and meandering in places and could have used some trimming. But it sure seems like all they did was make the font a good bit smaller. And that makes reading this book hard work.

Will Ferguson is definitely no Bill Bryson, even though he tries very hard. Whereas Bryson often makes me laugh out loud until I have tears streaming down my face, Ferguson only manages to make me smile fleetingly.

Japan, although a fascinating culture, has never been very far up on my "countries I'd like to visit"-list, on account of it being too infernally expensive. But now it sank even deeper. As a blond caucasian woman I have no wish whatsoever to be stared at and treated like a carnival attraction on my holidays. I'm really glad the japanese friends I met on my travels don't hold such parochial views.

Thanks anyway for giving me a chance to read this book. At least now I know that I won't bother with any of Ferguson's other books (if there are any).
I have contacted the next person on the list and hope to get the book on its way in the next couple of days.

Edit 28. Jan.:
Oops, totally forgot to update this. The book went out 2 days ago. 

Journal Entry 15 by Bluemchenblatt from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Monday, February 01, 2010

Well received!
I first need to finish Generation Doof, but then this book will be next in the starting box! 

Journal Entry 16 by Bluemchenblatt from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Friday, February 19, 2010

This book made me giggle, smile and laugh out loud! Though there have been some moments where I definitely thought "Too much information!" and others "Well, you don't seem enough informed about Japan after all!" it was a very enjoyable and interesting read - thank you for sharing, chich!

aunt-sophie's address is already in my possession so hopefully I'll find the time to move this on rapidly! 

Journal Entry 17 by Bluemchenblatt at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, February 20, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/20/2010 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Sent on to the Olympics! ;)
Aide en français/Deutsche Hilfe/日本語のページ/Polska Strona Pomocy 

Journal Entry 18 by aunt-sophie from Gatineau, Québec Canada on Tuesday, March 02, 2010

The book is here! 

Journal Entry 19 by aunt-sophie from Gatineau, Québec Canada on Friday, April 09, 2010

I've tried PM'ing megami-no-ushi twice over the last two weeks, but no answer. I'll try to reach the next person in line.

Edit on April 13: Just after I got spoiledrotten's address, I heard from megami-no-ushi, so the book will go there as first planned, finally. I should mail it by the end of the week! 

Journal Entry 20 by megami-no-ushi from Brattleboro, Vermont USA on Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The book came in the mail today, thank you!! It's been moved to the top of pile; I only have about 250 pages left on Teutonic Knights so I should be able to get it sent back off again within 2-3 weeks. I already have spoiled rotten's address so will be able to send it directly.

I'd like to appologise for the delay in responding to the PMs; I've moved my bc account over to my work email to take care of the problem going forward. 

Journal Entry 21 by megami-no-ushi from Brattleboro, Vermont USA on Saturday, May 01, 2010

I really enjoyed this book; it had me laughing out loud on several occations. It also brought back memories of my year in Japan and some of the people I met there. The author perfectly balances the feeling of overabundant hospitality and kindness as a wall the host puts up, much like using language that is too formal for the situation is a deliberate insult.

Thank you very much for the chance to read this and I'll pop the book in the mail to the next reader (already have the address) on Monday. 

Journal Entry 22 by megami-no-ushi at BOOKRING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (5/4/2010 UTC) at BOOKRING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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taking to the post office at lunch to mail to spoiledrotten! 

Journal Entry 23 by spoiledrotten from Waldwick, New Jersey USA on Sunday, May 23, 2010

Received this in the mail, but will send it on without reading. There are quite a few things going on for me right now and I don't want to hold up the ring. I will journal when it has been sent. Thanks for including and sending to me. 

Journal Entry 24 by spoiledrotten at Covington, Kentucky USA on Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (5/26/2010 UTC) at Covington, Kentucky USA

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I received this a part of a bookring, but do not have time to read it at this time. I do want to thank all for including me and sending on. It was mail to WingedMan this morning to continue its journey. 

Journal Entry 25 by WingedMan at Covington, Kentucky USA on Tuesday, June 08, 2010

I'm almost finished with the book I'm currently reading and will begin this one in the next few days. Thank you for including me. 

Journal Entry 26 by WingedMan at Covington, Kentucky USA on Saturday, August 07, 2010

I think I would have enjoyed this much more if I weren't so distracted by other things. I sent a PM to Gzusgirl right after receiving the book and have sent two since then. I haven't heard from her so will probably go ahead and contact the next person.  

Journal Entry 27 by WingedMan at Covington, Kentucky USA on Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Gzusgirl has asked to be skipped, I've contacted Ring88 for a mailing address and hope to get this moving soon. 

Journal Entry 28 by WingedMan at BOOKRING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Monday, November 08, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (11/9/2010 UTC) at BOOKRING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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My sincere apologies for holding this up so long. It's now on it's way to NMReader.

Delivery confirmation: 0306 3030 0002 5606 4798 

Journal Entry 29 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Monday, November 15, 2010

It has arrived 

Journal Entry 30 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Tuesday, February 01, 2011

I thought a status update might be appreciated on this book.

I have started reading it but it is not my primary read at the moment. I am trying to get at least one chapter read/day.

I dropped this as I was reading another travel book and it was too hard to read both at the same time. I have picked this back up and hope to read more quickly now.

Time does get away from me sometimes. I picked this up yesterday and enjoyed what I read much more than I had been earlier. I hope to be a more consistent reader over the next little while with it.

June 20: I am giving this book 100 more pages before giving up on it. While there have been a few entertaining chapters over all I have been bored. 

Journal Entry 31 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Saturday, July 02, 2011

Released 11 mos ago (6/30/2011 UTC) at Herndon, Virginia USA

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I have tried to get into this book and just haven't been able to.

Thanks for including me but it is time this book visited someone else

Delivery Confirmation Number: 0310 3490 0002 4982 8445 

Journal Entry 32 by pinkbug1 at Chatan Town / 北谷町, Okinawa-ken Japan on Monday, July 11, 2011

Just got this in the mail from NMReader. Can't wait to start! It should be interesting after living in Japan for the last 3 years. I am very interested in reading it after I read Roads to Sata. I am hoping that Hokkaido Highway Blues will be more entertaining and funnier.  

Journal Entry 33 by pinkbug1 at Viterbo, Lazio Italy on Monday, February 13, 2012

Released 3 mos ago (2/13/2012 UTC) at Viterbo, Lazio Italy

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Mailed to LindyLouMac yesterday! Hopes she gets it okay, and enjoys it. Again I am so sorry for having it so long, I couldn't afford to mail it internationally until I got a little extra cash.
 

Journal Entry 34 by LindyLouMac at Viterbo, Lazio Italy on Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Arrived safely after its long journey yesterday. Thankyou pinkbug1 no need to apologise as I was not in a hurry! In fact I asked chich (thankyou) if I could be last for this ray as I think this book will be resting in Italy for some time, until my husband and I find time to read it. We will probably then pass it on to our daughter who lives in Hong Kong and has travelled to Japan a number of times. Still on our dream list which is why I am looking forward to reading.