Loved, loved, loved this book. It really rings true for book lovers; it's exciting, and humorous, and poignant, and shocking all at the same time.

Welcome, everyone, to the City of Dreaming Books ring, which will get underway this month. Like I said here, it's a wonderful book, and it really speaks to book lovers.

I'd say, try to have the book moving along to the next person within three weeks. If it looks like it's going to take a little longer than that, just let everyone know.

Here is the lineup, as follows:

Start: 4thEstate (me) - USA (int'l)

abigailann - UK (UK only)
RonOren - UK (int'l assumed)
Gwenindil - Portugal (EU only)
MarcThomas - France (EU only)
Alienagr - Netherlands (EU only)
okyrhoe - Greece (int'l)
mrbaggins1 - South Africa (int'l)
UnwrittenLibra - USA (USA, int'l assumed)
faramir10 - USA (USA only)
easterngirl71 - USA (USA only)
***
(back to me)

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Now on its way to abigailann in the UK, to start the ring at long last. Enjoy!

Thanks for sending this book to me. Will get round to reading it soon and then send it on its way

Really gets to the heart of the joy (and obsession) of reading. Also felt some ressonance with my current writing situation. I found myself getting more and more into the book as it progressed until very near the end. However the pictures sometimes got in the way of this process, especially when they didn't seem quite as scary as what I already had in my head.

Will release onto next person as soon as I have the address.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:


Sent to the next participant

Just arrived. I'm in the middle of two books at the moment, so it may take a short while until I get to it, but I should be able to say something in a week or two. Definitely looking forward to it, though...

I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. In a way, it's pretty much your standard fantasy novel (young man gets himself into trouble, only to make the friends he needs to come out the better man), but then mixed in with this theme of writing, reading and books, books, books. While I love the idea of a society where books are so important that a city (literally) lives on them and even crimes are committed because of them, I had expected the book to be more sober; closer to something like The Shadow of the Wind, maybe.

Having said that, what I did love was the Booklings: little gnome-like creatures that live for one thing and one thing only: knowing a certain author's work by heart completely. Some struggle to keep characters apart (imagine trying to know all of Dickens's novels, or Shakespeare's plays); others are massively disappointed to hear "their" author has died leaving only one book. It's such a lovely, sweet idea of a society, isn't it?

I don't want to knock this book too much: it's a nice read, with lovely drawings, but simply not what I had expected. I'm not too fussed about reading more of Walter Moers' work, though. I do appreciate the chance to read a new author's books, so thanks very much for sharing this, 4thEstate! I'll get in touch with Gwenindil and get the book moving soon.

Sent to Gwenindil yesterday. Hope you'll enjoy the book!

He's with me now :)
I already read the first pages and I think it will be a good book for me :)

I'll try not to take long.

Goes to okyrhoe

Arrived in Athens! Thanks! Will start reading it now.

I don't know exactly what it was, something in the first few chapters reminded me of Patrick Süskind's Perfume. As I read this most enchantingly ironic fairy tale about books, writers, and the world of books, I kept on making mental notes comparing Grenouille's quest for the essential smell of life, with Optimus' search for the source of the Orm (writer's inspiration) as manifested in the unnamed writer of the most perfect literary manuscript. The perfume & the manuscript are of no consequence, it's the reader's/protagonist's journey that matters.

Late in the novel Optimus is told: "Writers are there to write, not experience things. If you want to experience things, become a pirate or a Bookhunter. If you want to write, write. If you can't find the makings of a story inside yourself, you won't find them anywhere."
Certainly this novel's story is quite a cleverly written adventure to be experienced by the reader, with lots of incredibly entertaining episodes involving all kinds of whimsically delightful as well as fearfully horrible bookish creatures.
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I will post this to mrbaggins1 tomorrow.

Arrived today from Greece. I've got a couple in front of this one but I'll get 'round to it ASAP. Thanks for sharing

I found this quite a drag in the end - the basic storyline is sound but if it was half as long it would've been a great read. At stages I felt that Moers was introducing all kinds of scary monsters just for the sake of creating them but in the process detracting from the central theme - at 450 pages its way too long imo. I'll think I'll pass him by in future - thanks for sharing and I'm contacting the next in line to move it on.

This is actually the last bookray I have after being overwhelmed with 'ring and 'rays for more than a year and I'm going to try and whittle away MT TBR before entering for more.

Controlled release by surface mail to Unwritten Libra in Baltimore Ew Es of A. Spend the money wisely. Thanks for sharing

Thanks, mrbaggins! It was waiting for me when I got back from a trip to St. Louis, MIssouri. Loved the money...hahahaha! Thanks again :)

Arrived today. Thank you.

I couldn't get anywhere with this book, so I didn't finish it. I'm pm'ing the next person for their address.

That doesn't mean that I'm not grateful being included in this bookring. Thanks 4th Estate.