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I'd read Sterne's Tristram Shandy with delight, getting practically giddy at some of the nth-degree digressions, but hadn't read Sentimental Journey before, so when I came across this slightly battered paperback at a local Annie's Bookstop I had to add it to my to-be-read shelves.
Later: It was enjoyable, but not with the same mind-blowing delight-and-bewilderment of Shandy; this is a shorter, simpler account, and even though the narrator is still quite unreliable, there usually isn't more than one level of misdirection going on at a time [as far as I could tell, anyway!] and it seemed pretty easy to figure out. Our hero is traveling, and along the way he spots attractive women and finds excuses to meet them, has disputes with the coachmen and misunderstandings with innkeepers, acquires a new servant, and comes very close to having some actual adventures. And, as he puts it, "There is a fatality in it - I seldom go to the place I set out for."
For me, one of the funniest (and most frustrating!) bits has to do with the discovery of a page of old French manuscript, used as the wrapping for some butter; our hero notices writing on it and begins to read it, and that story makes its way into the book - up to the point where the page ends! [The recent novel Cloud Atlas made use of fragments of manuscripts breaking off in mid-point as part of its nested-story structure, but it generally managed to fill the reader in on the missing bits somehow; Sterne doesn't bother. {grin}]
And perhaps that story-fragment is meant to give the reader some practice, as the book itself ends in mid-sentence, mid-scene, leaving the reader to imagine...
Journal Entry 2 by cat207 on Saturday, April 19, 2008
Picked up from the 'book buffet' at the London Convention.
I mailed this book home from Dover on 22/04/08 in one of three separate packages. One package arrived on 05/05/08. The other two have yet to surface. Thirteen books are 'lost at sea'. I will initiate an enquiry at the Post Office, but I don't hold out much hope.
This book is a full on stream of consciousness type narrative. Tales of adventure never quite get fully recounted as the author is then distracted by something else - normally a woman - and then he is off again on a different moral or philosophical tangent. I found the slightly old style language a little tiring to read and it brings back memories of tortured hours spent reading the classics at A-Level, something which scarred the literary side of my brain for life! Overall a nice read though although its not easy bedtime reading... Easier to get into than Tristram Shandy too!
This book is now reserved and will be posted on to Jozebedee at the end of the week.
Journal Entry 10 by shovelmonkey1 at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Sunday, September 27, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (9/28/2009 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Had a busy week so apologies to Jozebedee for not sending this on as promised. Now in the post and heading to you. Enjoy!
Arrived today - thank you very much shovelmonkey1 :) Thanks for organising this cat207 - I have a few other rays to get through first, but will be as quick as I can!
I struggled a bit with this book, and a lot of the references went over my head. Despite the notes I felt that I couldn't apreciate it fully. But, in general I found it quite an amusing account of the traveller and his amorous encounters. I would have liked a little more emphasis in the tales about the places visited, however it was such a small book, that my interest was held for just long enough to finish it. Not a favourite 1001 choice of mine, but glad for the opportunity to cross another off the list - thanks Cat! Have pm'd fluffy-owl to send this on.
Journal Entry 13 by Jozebedee at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Friday, January 8, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (1/8/2010 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
Quick update, I know I've had this book a while now, but I've had other rings/rays in front of it. Finished The Girl Who Played with Fire last night (a must read!!!) so will start this book tonight. Sorry for the delay!
Sorry, not good. The problem (if you can call it that) with reading a very good book, is that the next one you read, unless it too is very very good, cannot help but be mediocre. I read some of this last night and just felt I was wasting my time with it. Will post off to Luxembourg later today.
Journal Entry 17 by Fluffy-Owl at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (2/16/2010 UTC) at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posting off today, hope it travels well and arrives safely.
The book was waiting for me upon my return of a short holiday followed by a business trip.
As always, thanks cat207 for sharing and FluffyOwl for sending it to me!
21st MARCH UPDATE: Quick note to let everybody know that I have started this book and I have already read more than half of it, so will be finished soon!
I've liked the writing but, for my taste, there were too many digressions from the main point of the book (was it the journey??). In the end I've come to like the main character and find his way of dealing with women very amusing :-)
Quite a quick read.
I'll reserve this book for the 1001 books bookbox that I have been thinking of putting together for a very long time now...
Journal Entry 20 by Tubereader at Luxembourg / Lëtzebuerg, Kanton Luxemburg Luxembourg on Sunday, July 4, 2010
Adding the book to Shroffland’s and ApoloniaX’ Global Village Virtual Bookbox .
Journal Entry 21 by Tubereader at Luxembourg / Lëtzebuerg, Kanton Luxemburg Luxembourg on Saturday, July 24, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (7/24/2010 UTC) at Luxembourg / Lëtzebuerg, Kanton Luxemburg Luxembourg
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book has been posted today to Shroffland in the USA as part of the Global Village VBB. I hope you enjoy it!
Journal Entry 22 by Shroffland at Snellville, Georgia USA on Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Just received this selection from the Global Village VBB. Thanks, Tubereader, for sending it all the way from Luxembourg!
Journal Entry 23 by Shroffland at Snellville, Georgia USA on Friday, August 26, 2016
For bookstogive's General Literature VBB
Journal Entry 24 by Shroffland at Snellville, Georgia USA on Saturday, August 17, 2019
Removed from the VBB for general release.
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