Dolls, Vol. 3
Registered by 
GoryDetails
of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 12/8/2012
This book is in a Controlled Release!
GoryDetails of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 12/8/2012 This book is in a Controlled Release!
5 journalers for this copy...
I got this slightly-battered ex-library copy of volume 3 from Better World Books. It continues the series of stories about "plant dolls", beautiful living dolls that respond to loving care, and wilt and die under neglect. I enjoy the artwork, the haunting quality, the variety of storylines from tragic to heart-warming, and the touches of humor.
This volume includes a story about people who turn into trees - something of a stretch even for this often-mystical series. A young man who's been diagnosed with this illness finds himself at a clinic where there are also several plant dolls, which makes a sort of sense; if people are turning into plants, why not research the plants who are capable of turning into people? But the story turns dark when a rumor arises that the cure for the tree-disease - is eating the flesh of a plant-doll... As usual, the story goes in unexpected directions, and I enjoyed it.
Another tale involves several people who all want plant dolls but can't afford them - so they decide to pool their funds and buy one, taking turns looking after it. As you can imagine, this doesn't go as planned!
In the replacement-goldfish line, one story has a young woman discovering that her father's bought a plant doll that looks like her; this one's more light-hearted than it sounds.
"Dreams of Flying High" starts out with heartbreak; a young man who's bought a doll to impress his editor, a woman he's in love with, finds himself tending it alone when she leaves to get married. He's no good with plants and neglects it, then in desperation seeks help from the man-in-the-shop - lovely little conversation there - and eventually finds a way to connect with the doll. Perhaps my favorite story in this volume.
"Emerald" takes some unusual twists in regard to a young gigolo's life-lessons gained after a traumatic experience with an unhappy plant doll - and a rather condescending ex-lover.
And the last story has to do with a girl who was kidnapped once, and whose parents have obtained a duplicate plant doll in hopes that it'll prevent future attempts. But there's more to the story than that - and while it looks like it might be a dark tale, this one actually turns out to be rather sweet.
Volumes:
Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three
Volume Four
This volume includes a story about people who turn into trees - something of a stretch even for this often-mystical series. A young man who's been diagnosed with this illness finds himself at a clinic where there are also several plant dolls, which makes a sort of sense; if people are turning into plants, why not research the plants who are capable of turning into people? But the story turns dark when a rumor arises that the cure for the tree-disease - is eating the flesh of a plant-doll... As usual, the story goes in unexpected directions, and I enjoyed it.
Another tale involves several people who all want plant dolls but can't afford them - so they decide to pool their funds and buy one, taking turns looking after it. As you can imagine, this doesn't go as planned!
In the replacement-goldfish line, one story has a young woman discovering that her father's bought a plant doll that looks like her; this one's more light-hearted than it sounds.
"Dreams of Flying High" starts out with heartbreak; a young man who's bought a doll to impress his editor, a woman he's in love with, finds himself tending it alone when she leaves to get married. He's no good with plants and neglects it, then in desperation seeks help from the man-in-the-shop - lovely little conversation there - and eventually finds a way to connect with the doll. Perhaps my favorite story in this volume.
"Emerald" takes some unusual twists in regard to a young gigolo's life-lessons gained after a traumatic experience with an unhappy plant doll - and a rather condescending ex-lover.
And the last story has to do with a girl who was kidnapped once, and whose parents have obtained a duplicate plant doll in hopes that it'll prevent future attempts. But there's more to the story than that - and while it looks like it might be a dark tale, this one actually turns out to be rather sweet.
Volumes:
Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three
Volume Four
This 4-volume set will be on its way to BCer megi53 in Virginia, to kick off the bookray. (See Vol. 1 for the mailing order.) Enjoy!
*** Released as part of the 2013 One Word Title release challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2013 One Word Title release challenge. ***
By the time I get to this volume, I should be comfortable with reading from right to left!
I appreciated the older people featured in two of the stories in this volume. The Garden of Arcadia was my favorite Dolls story so far, mainly because of the delightful elderly gentlemen waiting at the doctor's retreat to be turned into trees.
The "cougar" in Emerald was one of those characters it's fun to hate! I also got lots of laughs from the drawings of the doll in Dreams of Flying High in the Sky as she suffered from the un-self-confident guy's attempts to take care of her. Her frown as he clumsily bathed her, her wide eyes as she pitter-pattered away from his embrace -- so funny-looking!
The only reasons I didn't give the book ten stars were that all of the endings seemed a bit dissatisfying (spoiler: run cursor over text to read: Why did Emerald never open her eyes??); and that there was no illuminating essay at the end.
The "cougar" in Emerald was one of those characters it's fun to hate! I also got lots of laughs from the drawings of the doll in Dreams of Flying High in the Sky as she suffered from the un-self-confident guy's attempts to take care of her. Her frown as he clumsily bathed her, her wide eyes as she pitter-pattered away from his embrace -- so funny-looking!
The only reasons I didn't give the book ten stars were that all of the endings seemed a bit dissatisfying (spoiler: run cursor over text to read: Why did Emerald never open her eyes??); and that there was no illuminating essay at the end.
Mailed from Ballou Park post office to the next person on the bookray.
Tracking number: 9114 9011 5981 8051 3803 98
Tracking number: 9114 9011 5981 8051 3803 98
Oh, this one's Canadian! (From a library in Prince George, B.C.)
I hope it won't mind waiting its turn.
I hope it won't mind waiting its turn.
I too enjoyed the elderly gentlemen in "The Garden of Arcadia"..and I can see where at a certain point in one's life turning into a tree might seem preferable to the alternative. The "cure" for turning into a tree, though..eww, creepy!
I found the young girl in "The Storm" interesting: sort of like Huck Finn, she finds "civilized" life rather stifling; perhaps learning more of her own history will help her find her place in the world.
I found the young girl in "The Storm" interesting: sort of like Huck Finn, she finds "civilized" life rather stifling; perhaps learning more of her own history will help her find her place in the world.
One deceptively small box with an impressive collection of intriguing dolls headed north today. See volume 1 for tracking number.
I've read this series years ago and remember loving it; I don't tire of looking at the intricate, painstakingly drawn illustrations. Am glad for another chance to read it again. Thanks for sharing!
It's fun to see how the author is able to create many different stories from the plant doll idea.
About the story of man turning into tree, it reminds me of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game series. In it there is a species which does have its second stage of life as trees, and the young ones will go and ask them for advice.
My favorite is Dreams of Flying High, because the chibi doll is so cute, and it is a good story.
About the story of man turning into tree, it reminds me of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game series. In it there is a species which does have its second stage of life as trees, and the young ones will go and ask them for advice.
My favorite is Dreams of Flying High, because the chibi doll is so cute, and it is a good story.
What times we have,
when thinking twice
about eating our vegetables.
when thinking twice
about eating our vegetables.
On to the next volume of the series! :)
I love the goldfish sized plant doll! That was so cute and it made me laugh. It was the first one that was just a plain old fun story, nothing to serious to it.
They also did a kind of story arc with the people that turned into trees. It was completely fanciful but I liked the concept and it's a unique view of a type of 'afterlife'.
And the story with the girl that had been kidnapped previously was very involved and unique. It was a story onto itself. I liked the ending of it. You couldn't be sure just which way it would go. :)
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I love the goldfish sized plant doll! That was so cute and it made me laugh. It was the first one that was just a plain old fun story, nothing to serious to it.
They also did a kind of story arc with the people that turned into trees. It was completely fanciful but I liked the concept and it's a unique view of a type of 'afterlife'.
And the story with the girl that had been kidnapped previously was very involved and unique. It was a story onto itself. I liked the ending of it. You couldn't be sure just which way it would go. :)
To those new to this site:
"What is BookCrossing?'
It's the World's Library. It's a smart social networking site. It's a celebration of literature and a place where books get new life. BookCrossing is the act of giving a book a unique identity so, as the book is passed from reader to reader, it can be tracked and thus connecting its readers. There are currently 1,217,936 BookCrossers and 10,415,496 books travelling throughout 132 countries. Our community is changing the world and touching lives one book at a time.
This book is yours to keep, or read and pass on. Whichever you prefer is always ok!
We hope that you'll leave a journal entry here on where you found the book, or what you intend to do with it, or what you think of it. Anything you like really.
Even better if you join the site and become part of our group!
If you do join, please put 'HI77' as your referring member! :D
