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A very lighthearted time travel story. The writing is quite good, witty and very intelligent, but at the same time I found the story to be somewhat tedious. I kept finding myself wanting this book to be over with.

The story focuses on time traveler Ned Henry, who has been making time jumps too often and starts to get the equivalent of jet lag (time lag) so the powers that be decide that he needs a little R&R. He also needs to get away from the woman who is funding the current project of the time-traveling team, looking for a piece of Victorian clap trap called the Bishop's Bird Stump. So his bosses decided the only safe place for him is Victorian England, where he is to meet and make contact with one of the time-traveling agents back there. Ned finds himself in Oxford, where he meets Verity Kindle, who has made a terrible mistake in sending something forward in time which is a huge no-no. So Ned has to set things right so as not to mess things up in the future.

The detail, the characterization and the Victorian setting are all great. The story is very silly; at times I found myself thinking of Alice in Wonderland while I read this book.

If you want serious time-travel literature, this isn't it, but I very much enjoyed all of the standard fare of time-travel cliches employed by Willis in her book.

I liked it, but it just failed to reach out & grab me. Maybe someone else will enjoy it more.

Released on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 at bookczuk's obcz in Charleston, SC, bookczuk's obcz, charleston, sc Controlled Releases.

kidnapped en route to the OBCZ. Will journal when read. I know other family members will want to read this, too. Thank you, quinnsmom. You have just successfully, singlehandedly, filled up the space I made on my shelf from my last set of RABCKS! : )

I won't recap the story...Quinnsmom did a grand job of that. She was reminded of Alice in Wonderland- I kept thinking more of "The Importance of Being Ernest" meets Lord Peter Wimsey.

An enjoyable book- particularly when linked to the technologies in the Doomsday Book. I liked all the Victorian details. What a society! I can barely keep straight how to set a table now. I'd be a total horror in the Victorian world. At first, I found the book a little hard to get into, but it definitely picked up.

Some of the details I liked- the concept of being time lagged, the origin of jumble sales, the bringing in of Christie and Sayers, the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime, Cyril and Princess Juju, English eccentricity, and attention to actual historical details.

And, (now I am displaying my ignorance) is there really a book about three men and a boat? To say nothing of the dog...

Finished just in time to start on a bookring that is due to turn up in my mailbox any day now. Thanks, quinnsmom!

PS Pictured here is the Cathedral as it stands today. The picture in the previous entry (placed today) is the Cathedral immediately after the bombing.

On loan to my brother who, with his wife and adorable 4 year old son, is visiting for a few weeks. They are staying out at Folly Beach, which is about 10 minutes from here and the next island over. It is fondly known as "the edge of America". The picture is of the the beach. Sure I can't tempt you, quinnsmom?!

Given to a visiting friend, who likes quirky things, including my family!

My friend got more interested in the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, and began reading my copy (coincidentially from Quinnsmom.) Next thing I know, he'd gone out and bought a copy to take home with him. I think it was just fear of journaling that made him get another copy!

October 13,2004
Will be sending this as a RABCK to MAryZee when I send her a ring book and a book for her OBCZ. I know she liked The Doomsday Book, so I hope she'll like this one and either keep it, pass it on, release it or put it at her OBCZ. In other words, sky's the limits!

Found this when I unpacked the box (!) from Bookczuk (that's Book-chuck) today. I was just recently looking at this at the bookstore, cause I recently read Willis' Doomsday Book and really enjoyed it. I've also got Lincoln's Dreams on my TBR pile. Looking forward to reading this one, before I pass it on.

I enjoyed this book, although I think I did like Doomsday Book a bit more, probably just cause I liked that historical setting a bit more. Never been much for the Victorian period, but that may change now ;) It did take a while to get started (I kept wondering where the story was going until we met Verity, then I was completely involved with it), but the ending certainly wrapped up quickly.

I'm signed up for a bookring of Jerome K. Jerome's book Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) - looking forward to it and I wanted to be sure to read this one first. There were many literary allusions in here, some I totally got, and others although I caught the reference, I wasn't as familiar with. This book has made me want to read some of Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Whimsey mysteries. And I think I'll have to read a few more of Agatha Christie's, too!

Not sure yet where this is going next. Could be the book fair, or a RABCK, or the OBCZ, or even a wild release! Stay tuned.

11/17 update - Sending off tomorrow to KimKerry (who has this on her wish list) to thank her for sending books to me for the book fair.

I found this big surprise in yesterday's mail! I've read Willis' "Doomsday Book" and "Passage" which were both good and yet very different. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Thanks so much, MaryZee!

This was a wonderful book that kept me laughing AND in suspense. This is the third Willis book I've read, and like her others, I felt a good 20% of the book could have easily been eliminated. However, overall the story, characters, and writing style were superb.

Thanks again, MaryZee

I hope that like some of Willis' other characters, I run into Ned, Verity, Cyril, and Princess A again.

Will release for the Animal Challenge in September.

RELEASE NOTES:

Thank you for catching this book! Please let us know that you've found the book and where you might re-release it when you're done. You don’t have to read it, though!

You may remain totally anonymous if you choose. The site is totally free, there are no strings and no spam involved. If you choose to join up, I hope you will consider using me, KimKerry, as the one who referred you.

Released for the September, 2006 You’re Such an Animal Challenge

I chose not to read the book; it didn't peak my interest. I do like the idea of bookcrossing.com though, and hope I will catch another book of interest to me in the near future. I will release the book somewhere in San Diego.

CAUGHT IN CORONADO CALIFORMIA USA