Journal Entry 1 by davemurray101 from Maryville, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, September 14, 2010

An ingenious, revealing, and charming tale about the invention of a popular German sidewalk food by a woman who met, seduced, and held captive a deserter in April, 1945, just before the war's end. The Invention of Curried Sausage is an ingenious, revealing, and delightful novel about the invention of a popular German sidewalk food. Uwe Timm has heard claims that currywurst first appeared in Berlin in the 1950s, but he seems to recall having eaten it much earlier, as a boy in his native Hamburg, at a stand owned and operated by Lena Brucker. He decides to check it out. Although the discovery of curried sausage is eventually explained, it is its prehistory - about how Lena Brcker met, seduced and held captive a German deserter in Hamburg, in April, 1945, just before the war's end-that is the tastiest part. Timm draws gorgeous details from Lena's fine-grained recollections, and the pleasure these provide her and the reader supply the tale's real charm. 

Journal Entry 2 by davemurray101 at Valentine, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Replacement for http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6482689

Remaining Participants...



9. tqd (Aus)

10. Shelly-Sparkles (aus)

11. lucy-lemon (uk)

12. Tubereader (lux)

13. . livrecache (Aus) 

Journal Entry 3 by davemurray101 at a Bookcrosser, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (9/29/2010 UTC) at a Bookcrosser, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posted to tqd - -the Curried Sausage bookray is back on track. 

Journal Entry 4 by tqd at Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Friday, October 01, 2010

Turned up in the mailbox today, thanks! I'm looking forward to this one, but have just realised just how many bookrings have suddenly turned up at Chez TQD. I think I know what my reading goals are for the next month... or two...

Will get to this one asap. 

Journal Entry 5 by tqd at Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Funnily enough, The Invention of Curried Sausage is about the invention of curried sausage, much to the amusement of my friends who saw the title of the book I was reading. A man, Uwe Timm, searches for the history of the invention of curried sausage, a popular German fast food (basically, sliced sausages fried up with ketchup and curry spices), by revisiting an old acquaintance, Mrs Brücker. Mrs Brücker used to cook curried sausages for him at a street stall in Hamburg, and as part of discovering the history of this dish, Timm also finds about her life towards the end of World War 2.

It was a charmingly quirky read, although at times slightly bittersweet, which is only understandable given when and where it was set. There were some nice nods to the artificiality of books: when Timm keeps on trying to second guess when Mrs Brücker did actually invent curried sausage, she replies "things are only that simple in novels". Mrs Brücker proves to be a great storyteller, and like many of my favourite storytellers, is rather creative with the truth, from the very start of the book.

My favourite bit of this book is an extended description of a barter process, whereby the post-war economy of Hamburg putters along quite nicely, with unwanted goods being swapped for wanted goods and skills, and cigarettes are the basis of it all.

I have Shelly-Sparkles' address already, and will get this to her in the mail asap! Sorry it spent so long here, waiting patiently for me to read it. 

Journal Entry 6 by tqd at Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, January 20, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (1/20/2011 UTC) at Sydney, New South Wales Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

In the post to Shelly-Sparkles today. Sorry for the delay!

Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 7 by Shelly-Sparkles at Logan Central, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, January 25, 2011

book arrived, already reading it, like the authors writing style, am sure to enjoy this book.
Happy Australia Day!!

Have contacted Lucy Lemon to pass this book along, now just have to get to the post office and post it, this will probably be next week :D 

Journal Entry 8 by lucy-lemon at Llandudno, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, March 31, 2011

This book arrived a couple of days ago and I took it straight to the gym with me to read while on the cross trainer. I'm sure I got some funny looks, but I was too engrossed to notice! This book is why I love reading through the 1001 books list - I would never have heard of it without the list, and I would have missed a real treat. I loved it. Especially the bittersweet love story between Lena and Bremer. Amazing :-) 

Journal Entry 9 by Tubereader at Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The book has arrived safely (along with another one and after having received another one just before the Easter break). Going into my TBR pile. Hopefully will still manage to read it within a month.

Thanks davemurray101 for sharing and lucy-lemon for sharing!

9th MAY UPDATE: Quick note to let everybody know that I will start reading this book today.

11th MAY UPDATE: Another quick one to let you know that I am almost done reading the book so I have PMed livrecache for their address. 

Journal Entry 10 by Tubereader at Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Thursday, May 12, 2011

What a great little book. I've read it almost in one go. The story is beautiful and the way it is written is very easy to read.

I thought the story would be more about the invention of curried sausage... although it is always on the background, it is only at the very end and shortly that we discover how it was invented. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful story.

I am awaiting for livrecache's address and will post the book to them as soon as I receive it.

Thanks davemurray101 for sharing another great book! 

Journal Entry 11 by Tubereader at Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Released 9 mos ago (8/30/2011 UTC) at Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Livrecache asked to be skipped, so the book goes back to davemurray101 now that the ring is finished!

Thanks for sharing :-) 

Journal Entry 12 by davemurray101 at Valentine, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Back at home now. Thanks to everyone involved in the bookring.