Journal Entry 1 by GoryDetails from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The Got Books? people have opened a new Used Book Superstore in my town, and every time I go in there I wind up finding more books than I'd been looking for. [Funny how that happens!] On my latest trip, this was one of several finds: a charming edition of Jerome's hilarious book, with colorful illustrations by Paul Cox. My only question now is whether to release this copy or hang on to it and release my previously-designated keeper-copy!

I really loved this book. The chatty/snarky tone, slightly peevish when the narrator is feeling put-upon (which he often is) and more than slightly smug the rest of the time, is great fun, and there are some surprisingly lyrical descriptive passages sprinkled among the humor. Jerome managed to make me want to take a boat up the canals even as he described the drawbacks of doing so. "Glad I'm not there" warred with "wish I could do that" at almost every turn!

One slightly disappointing aspect: while the three main characters were based not-too-loosely on Jerome and two of his friends, the dog was "pure invention, developed out of that area of inner consciousness which, [Jerome] asserts, in all Englishmen contains an element of dog." Ah, well!

Here's a sample of Jerome-ian philosophy:

How good one feels when one is full - how satisfied with ourselves and with the world! People who have tried it, tell me that a clear conscience makes you very happy and contented; but a full stomach does the business quite as well, and is cheaper, and more easily obtained.

It always does seem to me that I am doing more work than I should do. It is not that I object to the work, mind you; I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.

Journal Entry 2 by GoryDetails at Martha's Exchange, Main St in Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, January 29, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (1/29/2010 UTC) at Martha's Exchange, Main St in Nashua, New Hampshire USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I had thought of leaving this book somewhere outside, on a bench or bridge-railing near the canal, by way of a theme. But it's bitterly cold and windy today, so leaving anything outside seemed a bad idea - even if it didn't just blow away, I doubted anyone would be willing to stop and investigate! So I left the book propped up on a window ledge in the entrance of Martha's Exchange brew pub at about 2:30, when I stopped in for some of their Steeplechase Porter (something I think Jerome and friends would appreciate). Hope the finder enjoys the book!