Journal Entry 1 by Vekiki from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, January 28, 2010

When I saw this in a charity shop, I just couldn't resist picking it up to send it out as a bookray. I absolutely loved it when I read it a few years ao, brilliant black humour.

BOOKRING *** BOOKRING *** BOOKRING

Usual rules for a ring apply: Journal when you get the book and contact the next in line so that your ready to post it on once your done. Read, and hopefully enjoy, in 6 weeks (or let me know if your gonna need longer), then Journal again to let us know your thoughts... and pass it onward!

Participants:
Flambard - UK, post intl
Bookguide - Netherlands, post EU
Silvia-pco - Portugal, post EU
Raeliz64 - UK, post intl
Tsjara - Neatherlands, post EU
Akosikulot - Phillipines, post Asia/USA <-- book here
PJLBewdy - Aus, post intl
Romy86 - Aus, post intl
Emmmersss - USA, post Intl
Camikatzy - Mexico, post USA /Europe
Jujuks - Portugal, post EU
Icila - France, post intl

Last Participant to return the book to me, Vekiki 

Journal Entry 2 by Vekiki at bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/9/2010 UTC) at bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

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Popped in the post today
I really hope everyone enjoys this book 

Journal Entry 3 by flambard from Horsham, West Sussex United Kingdom on Friday, February 12, 2010

Happy days! It has arrived to brighten my Friday! 

Journal Entry 4 by flambard from Horsham, West Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, February 22, 2010

A brilliantly witty and touching novel. It is the story of the odd boy at school, the one who wore his trousers too short, talked to himself and smelled faintly of cabbage. Raymond is a victim of circumstance of the unluckiest kind and his black sense of humour and self-analysis see him through some very unfortunate events. Not a character is out of place. His nihilistic Gran, obnoxious Uncle, Aunt and cousins and wonderfully sympathetic best friends are gems. The only jarring feature is the clunky coincidence that wraps it all up.

The best bits for me were the ballad of Paulette Patterson, the tale of the Kexborough Cowboy (and Golden Fillet Knife) and the fact that Gran watched a Belgian TV documentary about food and sado-masochism under the impression that it was Welsh Channel 4! Haven't we all?


 

Journal Entry 5 by flambard at n/a, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/23/2010 UTC) at n/a, Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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To The Netherlands 

Journal Entry 6 by bookguide from Wijchen, Gelderland Netherlands on Saturday, February 27, 2010

Just went out to the postbox expecting the local free paper and some junk mail, and found 3 books. I'll have to make some more space on my ringbook shelf! Thank you Vekiki for sending it out into the world, and thank you Flambard for posting to me with lovely British commemorative stamps showing James Watt's steam engine and Matthew Boulton's - ahum - don't know what exactly he did, but it's something to do with manufacturing...
Some minutes later: Aha, James Watt's business partner, manufacturer and fellow member of the Lunar Club which included Josiah Wedgwood, Joseph Priestley and Erasmus Darwin, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Boulton. Some think tank! 

Journal Entry 7 by bookguide from Wijchen, Gelderland Netherlands on Monday, March 22, 2010

This book wasn't at all what I'd expected. I don't know why, but I'd expected more of a Tom Sharpe feel to it, probably as a result of reading the text on the back cover. Mind you, I can't originally have expected that, as I outgrew Tom Sharpe years ago! It's full of a quirky offbeat humour, most of it very black indeed. Certainly not a book to be read by anyone with an allegiance to the Anti-Swearing League, it is the tragic story of a misunderstood youth. Unlike most youths who believe they are misunderstood, Raymond is a victim of the most terrible lack of anyone who actually listens to what he says, and he is plagued by a succession of adults who taint his pure motives. As Raymond says, "I could feel that I was digging myself into more trouble. But that's the thing about trouble; it's like quicksand and once you've got yourself into it, it's dead easy then to just keep deeper and deeper into more of it." It's no wonder he retreats into his own safe world in his bedroom, and develops an obsession with Morrissey.

Willy Russell also wrote the plays 'Shirley Valentine' and 'Educating Rita', both of which were successfully adapted into films. If this was made into a film, it would be wonderful, but of course, the flytrapping might be rather difficult to get past the censors on several counts! It was full of wonderful characters, including Twinkey the pirouetting diva and Norman the reformed thug. The best of all, though, was Raymond's Gran who was a wonderfully morose and down-to-earth Northern grandma, full of wisdom and inspiration, and it is sad that his mother did not pay more attention to her and less to so-called experts. Willy Russell did a great job describing the old people's home where the only ones having fun were the nurses, and the special school where nobody learnt anything because there were too many disruptive and disturbed children. If only his gran had been able to save him. "I'd been waiting for her to come back because I knew that when my Gran found out my Mam was sending me to a special school, my Gran'd go mad and tell my Mam she must be out of her mind, sending me to a school with all the dyslexics, the disturbed and the don't-know-what-to-do-withs. My Gran wouldn't be impressed by the fact that they were called 'progress' schools nowadays. My Gran would just say, 'Yes! And water's called Perrier nowadays. But giving it a bit of fizz and calling it by a fancy French name doesn't stop it being wet!' "

The plot is peppered with coincidences and improbable meetings, but this just adds to the magic of the book. It was a great read. Thank you Vekiki for giving me a chance to read it. 

Journal Entry 8 by bookguide at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, May 10, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (5/11/2010 UTC) at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Tsjara asked to be skipped for now, so I will be sending it to silvia-pco instead on June 9th.

Journal Entry 9 by bookguide at Wijchen, Gelderland Netherlands on Thursday, August 19, 2010

UPDATE: Sorry, I haven't managed to put this in the post yet. It is now in the envelope awaiting dispatch, so should be on its way very soon. My apologies to everyone who's waiting to read it, and to Vekiki, who has probably been wondering what happened to it. 

Journal Entry 10 by silvia-pco at Murtosa, Aveiro Portugal on Wednesday, November 03, 2010

It's here! It arrived along with other book but I'll pick it up right away! I'll keep you posted.  

Journal Entry 11 by silvia-pco at Murtosa, Aveiro Portugal on Friday, November 26, 2010

I finished this a couple of days ago, but had to wait for some time to let it sink in. When I started reading, I never expected to like this book so much. I thought it to be a good read to make me laugh a bit, but it was really much more than that.

The plot's amazing and incredibly rich. I simphatized with the main character after a few pages - how couldn't you? He really has some serious bad luck chasing him - and all the others that came along managed to keep me hooked throughout the story. I loved all the little stories that kept popping up.

This was one of those books that didn't hit me as being great right from the start, but instead became better and better with every chapter. Thank you so much for sharing it, Vekiki! It is already on its way to Raeliz64. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

 

Journal Entry 12 by raeliz64 at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Monday, December 06, 2010

Apologies for not journalling sooner - it's chaotic in my house at the moment - we've just had a new kitchen and bathroom fitted. I'll get to it as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 13 by raeliz64 at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 28, 2010

I really enjoyed this book, it was brilliantly funny and sad at the same time. I particularly loved Gran, Twinky and Norman. 

Journal Entry 14 by raeliz64 at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Off to Tsjara today. 

Journal Entry 15 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, January 22, 2011

Arrived here safely yesterday, thanks raeliz64! Sounds interesting :) I do have 2 bookrings/rays in front of this, but will get to it sometime soon.. Thanks for sharing Vekiki! 

Journal Entry 16 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, March 05, 2011

I finished reading this book some days ago and I really enjoyed it. The characters were great (especially Gran, Twinky and Norman), and very funny. I read this mostly on the train (commuting - that is when I do most of my reading), which, perhaps wasn't such a good idea as I had quite some trouble trying not to laugh out loud.. And I don't think I will ever look at the word 'psychotherapist' in the same way again :p

Have received akosikulot's address and will mail it out after the weekend. 

Journal Entry 17 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (3/8/2011 UTC) at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands

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On it's way to Akosikulot now..
Hope it will have a safe journey :)

 

Journal Entry 18 by akosikulot at Panabo City, Davao del Norte Philippines on Friday, March 18, 2011

Journal Entry 19 by akosikulot at Panabo City, Davao del Norte Philippines on Friday, May 27, 2011

Journal Entry 20 by akosikulot at Given to the next BookCrosser on the list, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, May 27, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (5/27/2011 UTC) at Given to the next BookCrosser on the list, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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On its way to PJLBewdy in Australia - enjoy the book! :)