Journal Entry 1 by AnnevO from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, April 03, 2010

From Amazon: Hans van den Broek, the Dutch-born narrator of O'Neill's dense, intelligent novel, observes of his friend, Chuck Ramkissoon, a self-mythologizing entrepreneur-gangster, that he never quite believed that people would sooner not have their understanding of the world blown up, even by Chuck Ramkissoon. The image of one's understanding of the world being blown up is poignant—this is Hans's fate after 9/11. He and wife Rachel abandon their downtown loft, and, soon, Rachel leaves him behind at their temporary residence, the Chelsea Hotel, taking their son, Jake, back to London. Hans, an equities analyst, is at loose ends without Rachel, and in the two years he remains Rachel-less in New York City, he gets swept up by Chuck, a Trinidadian expatriate Hans meets at a cricket match. Chuck's dream is to build a cricket stadium in Brooklyn; in the meantime, he operates as a factotum for a Russian gangster. The unlikely (and doomed from the novel's outset) friendship rises and falls in tandem with Hans's marriage, which falls and then, gradually, rises again. 

Journal Entry 2 by Amsterdam2010 from Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Tuesday, April 13, 2010

We received this book as a contribution to the goodie back stock at the Convention. Thank you so much, we appreciate it! 

Journal Entry 3 by ApoloniaX from Bremen, Bremen Germany on Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Journal Entry 4 by ApoloniaX from Bremen, Bremen Germany on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

A very interesting, introspective novel, written in beautiful prose. It’s mainly about Hans’ (the Dutch protagonist’s) friendship to Chuck, who couldn’t be more unlike Hans, and his difficult relationship to his wife Rachel. There is a lot of cricket in the plot, it probably stands for some kind of metaphor, but I couldn’t relate that much to it, having no idea of the game. But there are many other interesting aspects, such as New York’s immigrants, the question of identity, childhood memories. Recommendable!
Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2008. 

Journal Entry 5 by ApoloniaX at to shorten a wishlist, RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, April 29, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (4/30/2010 UTC) at to shorten a wishlist, RABCK -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Journal Entry 6 by Fifna from Voorburg, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, May 08, 2010

Received today, thank you so much for sending this my way ApoloniaX! That brings it back to more or less where it started its travels, I'll be sure to make sure it keeps on travelling after I've read it. Thank you again! 

Journal Entry 7 by Fifna at Voorburg, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, July 14, 2011

A well-written novel, with an interesting look at post-9/11 New York. The bits about when he lived in The Hague were good too, as that's not so far from here. It was at times a little difficult to work out at what point in time we were, as the story kept flipping back and forth. It was also an interesting view of immigrants. Hans always remains the Dutchman, even when he relates to fellow New Yorker Cardozo in London. Yet he mixes well with the West Indian cricketers in New York, perhaps precisely because being immigrants is what binds them (and the cricket of course!)
So all in all an interesting read! 

Journal Entry 8 by Fifna at Strandpaviljoen Zoomers in Castricum, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, September 03, 2011

Released 5 mos ago (9/4/2011 UTC) at Strandpaviljoen Zoomers in Castricum, Noord-Holland Netherlands

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Taking it to the meet-up in Castricum. 

Journal Entry 9 by koekiebak at Tilburg, Noord-Brabant Netherlands on Sunday, September 04, 2011

Mr. K. took this book from the meeting! 

Journal Entry 10 by koekiebak at Tilburg, Noord-Brabant Netherlands on Monday, October 03, 2011

Mister K. liked this book very much!!