The Wooden Sea
101 journalers for this copy...
I bought this trade paperback at the Friends of the Library Used Book Store in Wheaton, Maryland.
This is a very hard book to explain other than to say it is so typical Jonathan Carroll. His books are part humor, part mystery, part magic. They contain many admirable quotes. With this book, I had to stop and write lots of them down.
The main character is police chief Frannie McCabe who is called upon to solve the mystery of a couple's disappearance. He finds that some odd things keep showing up in strange places over and over (a feather, a dog, etc.) McCabe lives with his second wife Magda and her teenage daughter Pauline. The cast of characters then turn to the more bizarre. I'll leave the discovery of who they are up to you when you read the book. The end of this book touched me so much.
The author's ideas are wonderful. What I love about Carrol is that, after his story is told, he tells his readers (within the context of the story) the philosophical point he is trying to make. He wants to be sure his strange way of telling a story does not go over his reader's head. For that, I am grateful.
If you're new to this author...welcome to the wonderful and different world of Jonathan Caroll!
Begin International Bookray (05/17/04)
SqueakyChu (Maryland, USA) done
chlokara (Maryland, USA) done
Roadrunner (Texas, USA) done
ndspider (Georgia, USA) done
dhansen1019 (Wisconsin, USA) done
MollyGrue (Washington, USA) done
caligula03 (California, USA) done -- 1 year of travel
AceofHearts (Ontario, Canada) done
BlossomU (Portugal) done
Hero (Ireland) done -- stop # 10
dodau (England, UK) done
catrionamoore (England, UK) done
whitehorsy (Belgium) done
Olifant (Netherlands) done
eMeReS (Netherlands) done -- 2 years of travel
sheepseeker (Germany) done
le7 (Israel) done
graphi (Poland) done
Tessla (Sweden) done
Alvhyttan (Sweden) done -- stop # 20
katayoun (Iran) done
Sherlockfan (New Zealand) done
olered (Oregon, USA) done
istop4books (Minnesota, USA) done
OCcinderella (California, USA) done -- 3 years of travel
krin511 (Maryland, USA) done
blackadder75 (Pennsylvania, USA) done
Rrrcaron (New Hampshire, USA) done
Goddess-Of-Fire (Missouri, USA) done
acountkel (North Carolina, USA) done -- stop # 30
Joanthro (Colorado, USA) done
ruzena (Finland) done
iliotropio (Belgium) done
lunacia (Norway) done -- 4 years of travel
Deepswamp (Sweden) done
WelshHelen (UK) done
katrinat (UK) done
Moonwoolf (Portugal) done
mrbaggins1 (South Africa) done -- 5 years of travel
hyper7 (South Africa) done -- stop # 40
carol888 (Australia) done
FreePages (Australia) done
freelunch (Australia) done
RockDg9 (Australia) done
chirel (Finland) done
Sammaltassu (Finland) done
erpax (Finland) done -- 6 years of travel
polenka (Finland) done
minavain (Finland) done
Chania (Finland) done -- stop # 50
mafarrimond (Wales, UK) done
Ametisti (Finland) done
Niksu (Finland) done
Sfogs (New Zealand) done
ffortsa (New York, USA) done -- 7 years of travel
azuki (Florida, USA) done
WhisperedDreams (California, USA) done
Kally93 (Canada) done -- 8 years of travel
Stoepbrak (South Africa) done
therubycanary (Maine, USA) done -- stop # 60
imuzak12 (Texas, USA) done
eileenmelant (Texas, USA) done
hyphen8 (Hawaii, USA) done
judygreeneyes (California, USA) done
6of8 (Maryland, USA) done ---- 9 years of travel
Mom-Oyster (Maryland, USA) done
KateKinTail (Virginia, USA) done
ResQGeek (Virginia, USA) done ---- 10 years of travel
Basikilos (Pennsylvania, USA)
NancyNova (Pennsylvania, USA) done -- stop # 70
laure69 (France) done
Jotka (Germany) done
ULRK (Germany) done
zappelphilipine (Germany) done
timcorke (England) done
goldenwattle (Australia--Aust) done ---- 12 years of travel-- <--The book was here.
Please check out Post #180 for an updated list of this book's current travels.. Thank you, goldenwattle, for continuing to host this bookray!
Please note that this is a BC Top 100 Most Traveled Book! On 05/21/18, it was listed as #12.
This is a very hard book to explain other than to say it is so typical Jonathan Carroll. His books are part humor, part mystery, part magic. They contain many admirable quotes. With this book, I had to stop and write lots of them down.
The main character is police chief Frannie McCabe who is called upon to solve the mystery of a couple's disappearance. He finds that some odd things keep showing up in strange places over and over (a feather, a dog, etc.) McCabe lives with his second wife Magda and her teenage daughter Pauline. The cast of characters then turn to the more bizarre. I'll leave the discovery of who they are up to you when you read the book. The end of this book touched me so much.
The author's ideas are wonderful. What I love about Carrol is that, after his story is told, he tells his readers (within the context of the story) the philosophical point he is trying to make. He wants to be sure his strange way of telling a story does not go over his reader's head. For that, I am grateful.
If you're new to this author...welcome to the wonderful and different world of Jonathan Caroll!
Begin International Bookray (05/17/04)
SqueakyChu (Maryland, USA) done
chlokara (Maryland, USA) done
Roadrunner (Texas, USA) done
ndspider (Georgia, USA) done
dhansen1019 (Wisconsin, USA) done
MollyGrue (Washington, USA) done
caligula03 (California, USA) done -- 1 year of travel
AceofHearts (Ontario, Canada) done
BlossomU (Portugal) done
Hero (Ireland) done -- stop # 10
dodau (England, UK) done
catrionamoore (England, UK) done
whitehorsy (Belgium) done
Olifant (Netherlands) done
eMeReS (Netherlands) done -- 2 years of travel
sheepseeker (Germany) done
le7 (Israel) done
graphi (Poland) done
Tessla (Sweden) done
Alvhyttan (Sweden) done -- stop # 20
katayoun (Iran) done
Sherlockfan (New Zealand) done
olered (Oregon, USA) done
istop4books (Minnesota, USA) done
OCcinderella (California, USA) done -- 3 years of travel
krin511 (Maryland, USA) done
blackadder75 (Pennsylvania, USA) done
Rrrcaron (New Hampshire, USA) done
Goddess-Of-Fire (Missouri, USA) done
acountkel (North Carolina, USA) done -- stop # 30
Joanthro (Colorado, USA) done
ruzena (Finland) done
iliotropio (Belgium) done
lunacia (Norway) done -- 4 years of travel
Deepswamp (Sweden) done
WelshHelen (UK) done
katrinat (UK) done
Moonwoolf (Portugal) done
mrbaggins1 (South Africa) done -- 5 years of travel
hyper7 (South Africa) done -- stop # 40
carol888 (Australia) done
FreePages (Australia) done
freelunch (Australia) done
RockDg9 (Australia) done
chirel (Finland) done
Sammaltassu (Finland) done
erpax (Finland) done -- 6 years of travel
polenka (Finland) done
minavain (Finland) done
Chania (Finland) done -- stop # 50
mafarrimond (Wales, UK) done
Ametisti (Finland) done
Niksu (Finland) done
Sfogs (New Zealand) done
ffortsa (New York, USA) done -- 7 years of travel
azuki (Florida, USA) done
WhisperedDreams (California, USA) done
Kally93 (Canada) done -- 8 years of travel
Stoepbrak (South Africa) done
therubycanary (Maine, USA) done -- stop # 60
imuzak12 (Texas, USA) done
eileenmelant (Texas, USA) done
hyphen8 (Hawaii, USA) done
judygreeneyes (California, USA) done
6of8 (Maryland, USA) done ---- 9 years of travel
Mom-Oyster (Maryland, USA) done
KateKinTail (Virginia, USA) done
ResQGeek (Virginia, USA) done ---- 10 years of travel
Basikilos (Pennsylvania, USA)
NancyNova (Pennsylvania, USA) done -- stop # 70
laure69 (France) done
Jotka (Germany) done
ULRK (Germany) done
zappelphilipine (Germany) done
timcorke (England) done
goldenwattle (Australia--Aust) done ---- 12 years of travel-- <--The book was here.
Please check out Post #180 for an updated list of this book's current travels.. Thank you, goldenwattle, for continuing to host this bookray!
Please note that this is a BC Top 100 Most Traveled Book! On 05/21/18, it was listed as #12.
I received this book on a book rin on the 8th of May; unfortunately I got ill right after that and have been away from my computer. I am reading the book right now.
This arrived last week while I was on vacation. I'll get to it asap and then send it on!
This book is my first Jonathan Carroll book and I enjoyed it very much. I'm not sure I completely understood the message but I loved the writing. I had imagined him to be like Charles De Lint but his style strikes me as being more like Neil Gaimen - he even references Gaimen's Sandman in this book. I'll certainly be keeping my eye out for more from this author. This is off via Media Mail to its next stop. Thanks SqueakyChu for sharing.
I will send this wihtin a week!
I just received in the mail today and will read it next.
This was to weird for me. I just did not care for it. I will mail this book today!
Picked this up today. I have a few other rings in front of this, but I should get to this fairly soon. Thanks!
I loved this. There wasn't any resolution, but at the same time I'm happy with the way this book ended. I don't really want to say anything more about this book right now, but it was incredibly fantastic. :)
Journal Entry 10 by MollyGrue at In The Mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, February 27, 2005
Released 19 yrs ago (2/27/2005 UTC) at In The Mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Sent yesterday to Caligula03. Happy reading!
DC# 03022940000169565240
Sent yesterday to Caligula03. Happy reading!
DC# 03022940000169565240
Book has arrived. I'm looking forward to reading it.
If Joseph C. Lincoln had set down to write The Man Who Folded Himself he would have come up with something like what I'm currently reading. Fran, a small town chief of police, has found himself in the middle of a time traveling mystery / conspiracy where the fate of Crane's View rests on his ability to sort things out. The first chapter didn't do much for me but by the second chapter the quirky plot began to surface. By the third chapter I was hooked all the way through the epilogue which seemed like a tidy albeit somewhat ambiguous (as many time travel books are) ending.
Released 19 yrs ago (4/16/2005 UTC) at
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Mailing to Aceofhearts to get the ray moving again. :)
Mailing to Aceofhearts to get the ray moving again. :)
received in the mail today
TBR
TBR
What a wonderful quirky book. Carroll did explain a lot at the end of the book and as I am somewhat clueless I needed that. I enjoyed the strangeness but it did take a while to grow on me. Frannie is a great character who is in love with his wife, step-daughter and town. He is a delight to read about
mailed today
Just arrived, not too long a time since Canada! The bookmark is gorgeous!
I am finishing some other reads, plus other duties, it might take me a week or two to get this read. Will JE it as soon as I finish it, and will contact hero on the meanwhile.
I am finishing some other reads, plus other duties, it might take me a week or two to get this read. Will JE it as soon as I finish it, and will contact hero on the meanwhile.
Finally read, this has been a quite slow read for me, maybe because I could not really get into the story. Quirky and eccentric, the story did not work for me, I liked the ending which was what redeemed the book for me.
I got it packed and ready, will be sent to Hero tomorrow.
I got it packed and ready, will be sent to Hero tomorrow.
shipped to Hero today! Hope you enjoy it.
Arrived safely while I was away - with a really nice bookmark already in place! Thanks, BlossomU. It'll be a week before I can start, as I've a few books on loan before it, but will get to it soon.
I finished this a while ago, and have now posted it to Dodau, but never got a chance to do a JE. I find it hard to say what I thought of it in any kind of succinct way. I certainly found it very readable - engrossing, in fact, and liked the weirdness factor (though one plot point went a bit close to too far even for me), but found that somewhere along the line I lost trust in the author, when I started losing it in the characters. White font to avoid spoilers - just in case anybody has the least bit of interest in a few examples.
One thing which really threw me out of the story was when McCabe was talking to his friend and said he didn't feel fear because you had to care about people or things more than he did to be afraid. Granted, a lot later he 'admitted' that he'd been wrong, when Magda was going to die of the brain tumour, but even at the time it didn't feel right to me, given his relationship with her. And the scene in which 'Gee-Gee' beat up the security guard for nothing and part of (older) McCabe was almost mourning the loss of that part of himself really bothered me. It seemed so unlikely that the younger person could have turned into the older one, mostly from going to Vietnam, as it seemed to be. Though I liked the ending, the part of my mind still worrying about that kind of senseless violence was not too happy about Gee-Gee being left with Magda and Pauline.
Anyway, very entertaining, and I'd been curious about Jonathan Carroll for quite so time, so I'm glad I read it. Thanks again to SqueakyChu and BlossomU for sending it my way.
One thing which really threw me out of the story was when McCabe was talking to his friend and said he didn't feel fear because you had to care about people or things more than he did to be afraid. Granted, a lot later he 'admitted' that he'd been wrong, when Magda was going to die of the brain tumour, but even at the time it didn't feel right to me, given his relationship with her. And the scene in which 'Gee-Gee' beat up the security guard for nothing and part of (older) McCabe was almost mourning the loss of that part of himself really bothered me. It seemed so unlikely that the younger person could have turned into the older one, mostly from going to Vietnam, as it seemed to be. Though I liked the ending, the part of my mind still worrying about that kind of senseless violence was not too happy about Gee-Gee being left with Magda and Pauline.
Anyway, very entertaining, and I'd been curious about Jonathan Carroll for quite so time, so I'm glad I read it. Thanks again to SqueakyChu and BlossomU for sending it my way.
Journal Entry 22 by dodau from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire United Kingdom on Thursday, November 17, 2005
Arrived yesterday but one of those days and forgot to journal it. Sorry. Will read next.
Journal Entry 23 by dodau from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire United Kingdom on Saturday, November 26, 2005
This was a great book. Funny, sad and very weird. It was quite hard to follow at times but despite the short ending very readable. I'll definatly be looking for more by this author.
Ok apologies for the delay with this. I pmed Miskablue who was next. Her bookshelf said closed but I wanted to make sure she didn't want it. The with Xmas things got forgotten. I've not pmed CatrionaMoore and will post this later this week.
Ok apologies for the delay with this. I pmed Miskablue who was next. Her bookshelf said closed but I wanted to make sure she didn't want it. The with Xmas things got forgotten. I've not pmed CatrionaMoore and will post this later this week.
Journal Entry 24 by dodau at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (1/4/2006 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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Journal Entry 25 by appletreen from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Sunday, January 8, 2006
The book arrived safely with me yesterday. Thank you dodau for passing it on, and thank you to SqueakyChu for oraganising the ring.
Journal Entry 26 by appletreen from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, January 19, 2006
Another enjoyable romp through the mind of Jonathan Carroll, who is fast becoming my favourite author.
I couldn't put this book down willingly, only begrudgingly, as it was just so good. It is virtually impossible to say too much without giving the story away. The way the story twist, turns and flips upside down and inside out is fascinating that the ending is so unexpectedly expected.
If I could changing one thing about the book it would be to "get closure" (for want of a better phrase)on Gee-Gee's story.
I have requested whitehorsy's address and will post the book on shortly.
I couldn't put this book down willingly, only begrudgingly, as it was just so good. It is virtually impossible to say too much without giving the story away. The way the story twist, turns and flips upside down and inside out is fascinating that the ending is so unexpectedly expected.
If I could changing one thing about the book it would be to "get closure" (for want of a better phrase)on Gee-Gee's story.
I have requested whitehorsy's address and will post the book on shortly.
Journal Entry 27 by whitehorsy from Hasselt, Limburg / Limbourg Belgium on Sunday, February 12, 2006
This book arrived last week at my parent's house and I've picked it up this weekend... started reading today and having reached page 114 I must say that I like it. :-) Although I have no idea where the story is leading... it's mysterious and I'm oh so curious to find out the rest!
Thanks for sending it along catrionamoore!
Thanks for sending it along catrionamoore!
Journal Entry 28 by whitehorsy from Hasselt, Limburg / Limbourg Belgium on Wednesday, February 15, 2006
I don't often read late in bed when I have to work the next day. But I just had to finish those last 20 pages, eventhough it was getting late. It was my first Jonathan Carroll book and I was pleasantly surprised. Sure it's a weird story but not in a bothering way... some things didn't make much sense and I'm sure the big message has been lost on me. But I really like his way of writing, it's very readable and entertaining... and funny.
I decided to join another one of SqueakyChu's bookrings, 'The land of laughs' by Jonathan Carroll, because I really want to read more of this author.
Thanks for sharing SqueakyChu!
I'll be sending this book to Olifant by the end of this week.
On its way since Feb.18
I decided to join another one of SqueakyChu's bookrings, 'The land of laughs' by Jonathan Carroll, because I really want to read more of this author.
Thanks for sharing SqueakyChu!
I'll be sending this book to Olifant by the end of this week.
On its way since Feb.18
Arrived safely today in Utrecht. Wonderfully packed! Pictures from a magazine: one of a wide, lonely plain and one with a castle on a steep mountain. Thanks whitehorsy, also for the card.
I've got three bookrings to go before I can start with this one. But maybe it's one of those books that squeezes itself to the top of the TBR-pile.
I've got three bookrings to go before I can start with this one. But maybe it's one of those books that squeezes itself to the top of the TBR-pile.
Sorry for keeping this book for so long. Real life caught up with me. Will send it on to eMeReS as soon as possible.
The book arrived today, loved the pictures on the envelope. I opened it carefully so that it can be reused, it would be a waste to throw it out.
This is the second book by Jonathan Carroll tyhat I will read. I was not totally taken by my first encounter (White Apples), but sufficiently intigued to give Carroll a second try.
This is the second book by Jonathan Carroll tyhat I will read. I was not totally taken by my first encounter (White Apples), but sufficiently intigued to give Carroll a second try.
I did not like this book at all. It was the second book I have read by Jonathan Carroll and probably the last.
I find it hard to pinpoint exactly what it is, but something in his style of writing bugs me immensly. The language is laced with metaphores and images and for me it was just too much. I kept reading on hoping that the story would somehow reward me at the end, but that didn't happen. Too many loose ends for that and some very corny insights from the main character.
Probably a matter of taste, I see some very positive reviews here as well, so maybe I have missed out on something, or wasn't in the right mood to read it.
The book is in the mail now to Germany for its next stop.
I find it hard to pinpoint exactly what it is, but something in his style of writing bugs me immensly. The language is laced with metaphores and images and for me it was just too much. I kept reading on hoping that the story would somehow reward me at the end, but that didn't happen. Too many loose ends for that and some very corny insights from the main character.
Probably a matter of taste, I see some very positive reviews here as well, so maybe I have missed out on something, or wasn't in the right mood to read it.
The book is in the mail now to Germany for its next stop.
The book arrived today - thanks for sending!
--> TBR
---
Edited 10. July 2006
I'm sorry, I just found out today, that I had not jet made my journal entry after reading the book.
I liked it very much, the characters are drawn very vividly and the story itself is witty, only a bit confusing at times..
Thanks for sharing, SqueakyChu!
--> TBR
---
Edited 10. July 2006
I'm sorry, I just found out today, that I had not jet made my journal entry after reading the book.
I liked it very much, the characters are drawn very vividly and the story itself is witty, only a bit confusing at times..
Thanks for sharing, SqueakyChu!
its here and its next up on my list!
thank you!
thank you!
this is my first carrol book and i didnt really know what to expect. thank you so much for introducing me to him!
I enjoyed the first 180 pp. very much. some really great quotes and characters!
but for some reason starting there (and Barry the Paramedic was the last straw there) i got turned off. it took me a while to get back into it. i was fine walking into a Dali reality until then, but that twist was too much for me. oh well. i was also not happy with the end.
it was a good read and i will be on the lookout for more carrol books.
waiting for graphi to send me her new address and then it will be on its way!
thanks fo sharing!!!
I enjoyed the first 180 pp. very much. some really great quotes and characters!
but for some reason starting there (and Barry the Paramedic was the last straw there) i got turned off. it took me a while to get back into it. i was fine walking into a Dali reality until then, but that twist was too much for me. oh well. i was also not happy with the end.
it was a good read and i will be on the lookout for more carrol books.
waiting for graphi to send me her new address and then it will be on its way!
thanks fo sharing!!!
sent to graphi today!
hope you enjoy it while enjoying your new place!
hope you enjoy it while enjoying your new place!
Journal Entry 37 by graphi from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Kota Kinabalu) Malaysia on Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Got it :D Thanks le7!
Journal Entry 38 by graphi from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Kota Kinabalu) Malaysia on Monday, October 23, 2006
I've just finished reading... and I don't know what to think! Definately it is not an ordinary book! you can feel the magic while reading it :) you can't forsee the ending, as there're many possible solutions.. and ANYTHING is possible... BUT on the other hand I was a little bit disappointed by the ending.. I thought everything would be clear at the end.. but nothing is! I finished reading and I want more! maybe that was the authour's aim :) anyway, the book is definately worth recommending to everyone! enjoy!
Journal Entry 39 by graphi at Mailed from Post Office in N/A, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, October 28, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (10/23/2006 UTC) at Mailed from Post Office in N/A, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
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I got the book for quite some time ago but didnt read until know and as always is Jonathan carroll very mysterious but oh so lovely...
I should have written this earlier but times do fly by sometimes. Anyway i really have to find more of Jonathan Carrolls books. And as i understand this book is sort of member of a kind of serie of books.. I think that White appels is one of those.
will be finding out the next persons adress and ship it as soon as possible.
/ tessla
I should have written this earlier but times do fly by sometimes. Anyway i really have to find more of Jonathan Carrolls books. And as i understand this book is sort of member of a kind of serie of books.. I think that White appels is one of those.
will be finding out the next persons adress and ship it as soon as possible.
/ tessla
I have sent the book to Alvhyttan.
enjoy!
enjoy!
Got this book in my mail today.
Thanks Tessla for sending it to me and thanks SquekyChu for organizing this ring!
I have read Carroll's book "The Land of Laughs" and loved that book, so I am really looking forward to read this book and hope it will be almost as good. :)
Thanks Tessla for sending it to me and thanks SquekyChu for organizing this ring!
I have read Carroll's book "The Land of Laughs" and loved that book, so I am really looking forward to read this book and hope it will be almost as good. :)
I like it! :)
I think SqueakyChu’s JE say a lot of what I feel and think about this book.
The really crazy parts in this book trigged my brain and I like that, I think this book can be an easy and fun read, but it can also be brainstorming.
Just some very personal thoughts I got (with white font to avoid spoilers) :
Lately I have been thinking a lot about my father and about that he must have been a very different father for my 21 year older half-brother, our father changed a lot during those 21 years because of things happening in his life and I think this book have helped me a little bit with this issue.
And to take part in a war, as the main character in this book did, that can really change a person and yet it’s the same person.
The main issue for me in this book is: Can I accept and like the person I have been, the person I am and the person I will be?
Thanks again SqueakyChu for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Now this book will travel to katayoun, I will send it on Monday Dec. 18.
I think SqueakyChu’s JE say a lot of what I feel and think about this book.
The really crazy parts in this book trigged my brain and I like that, I think this book can be an easy and fun read, but it can also be brainstorming.
Just some very personal thoughts I got (with white font to avoid spoilers) :
Lately I have been thinking a lot about my father and about that he must have been a very different father for my 21 year older half-brother, our father changed a lot during those 21 years because of things happening in his life and I think this book have helped me a little bit with this issue.
And to take part in a war, as the main character in this book did, that can really change a person and yet it’s the same person.
The main issue for me in this book is: Can I accept and like the person I have been, the person I am and the person I will be?
Thanks again SqueakyChu for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Now this book will travel to katayoun, I will send it on Monday Dec. 18.
thank you, the book is here, with a companion also! wow, will start reading in a week and update then.
sorry, forgot to update. have started reading the book and would hopefully be mailing it next week.
sorry for being a bit late, got this terrible cold. the book is finished and on it's way to sherlockfan.
and about the book, well it's different and i like carroll, but i think in a way you like to touch a loose tooth, you can't help it but it's also hurts a bit, i want to read because he goes a way i can't ever guess and got strange twists, and yet after each reading i feel down and black and moody!! thanks squeakychu for the ring and Alvhyttan for sending it. (and waving to hero and blossomu)
and about the book, well it's different and i like carroll, but i think in a way you like to touch a loose tooth, you can't help it but it's also hurts a bit, i want to read because he goes a way i can't ever guess and got strange twists, and yet after each reading i feel down and black and moody!! thanks squeakychu for the ring and Alvhyttan for sending it. (and waving to hero and blossomu)
Journal Entry 47 by Sherlockfan from Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Friday, March 9, 2007
This book was waiting in our mail box when we returned from a week away from home; the return trip by car that should have taken 9 hours, allowing for a one hour stop on the way, actually took 11 hours because of road works slowing things down mightily and the added effect of an accident.
By the time we arrived home, hot and cross, and found the book waiting I was really ready to slide into bed and enjoy it - and enjoy it I certainly did. What a great book. I found it completely riveting which is not in line with a lot of previous readers of this copy. I reluctantly turned out the light much later than was sensible and then snatched the book up first thing when I woke. So, less than 13 hours and I'd finished it. Now I need to go back and re-read some passages, and specially ensure that I did get the message.
This was my introduction to Jonathan Carroll and I'm delighted to meet him. Yes, it was a little weird but in a strange way realistically weird. While part of me knew that these things couldn't actually happen in the way described I suspended that sort of thinking and really approved of the way the story was put together. I found Frannie a very believable sort of character and really liked young Gee-Gee.
Certainly not everyone's "cup of tea" but for me it was a change from my favourite whodunnit genre and a rare venture into the Sci-Fi genre.
I've pm-ed SqueakyChu to join "The Land of Laughs" and certainly hope to find more of Carroll's works.
Don't remember where I first read about this Bookring but am certainly glad that I did. Thank you to all concerned.
By the time we arrived home, hot and cross, and found the book waiting I was really ready to slide into bed and enjoy it - and enjoy it I certainly did. What a great book. I found it completely riveting which is not in line with a lot of previous readers of this copy. I reluctantly turned out the light much later than was sensible and then snatched the book up first thing when I woke. So, less than 13 hours and I'd finished it. Now I need to go back and re-read some passages, and specially ensure that I did get the message.
This was my introduction to Jonathan Carroll and I'm delighted to meet him. Yes, it was a little weird but in a strange way realistically weird. While part of me knew that these things couldn't actually happen in the way described I suspended that sort of thinking and really approved of the way the story was put together. I found Frannie a very believable sort of character and really liked young Gee-Gee.
Certainly not everyone's "cup of tea" but for me it was a change from my favourite whodunnit genre and a rare venture into the Sci-Fi genre.
I've pm-ed SqueakyChu to join "The Land of Laughs" and certainly hope to find more of Carroll's works.
Don't remember where I first read about this Bookring but am certainly glad that I did. Thank you to all concerned.
Journal Entry 48 by Sherlockfan from Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Posted to olered today by Surface Mail.
Hope it arrives before too long, and safely.
Hope it arrives before too long, and safely.
Acoss the sea...across the sea...oh how happy we'll be!.........
This book arrived very quickly,especially for surface mail. Thank you very much Sherlockfan. Am reading two others so I won't be able to start right away! Am anxious...have read this author before and was delighted!
This book arrived very quickly,especially for surface mail. Thank you very much Sherlockfan. Am reading two others so I won't be able to start right away! Am anxious...have read this author before and was delighted!
This one was very strange - even for Jonathan Carroll......enjoyable?? Interesting yes. It did keep you wondering what next. Have emailed istop4books for the address to let this book travel on.
And mailed on 4-30-07
And mailed on 4-30-07
Arrived safely in Minnesota. Will be next on my list and after reading all the previous journal entries and never having read anything by Jonathan Carroll, I'm excited to see what all the hoopla is about!!!
Not only have I never read Jonathan Carroll, I don't think I've ever read this genre - although I'm not quite sure I know which genre it is. Sci-fi? Fantasy? Metaphysical something or other?
Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed Carroll's writing. I found his main character Frannie, at all ages, totally engaging and believable. I wish the relationship with his wife had been further developed, but loved the relationship with the stepdaughter as well.
I felt like I was a participant in someone's bizarre dream and read the book with that in mind. I tried not to figure anything out and just go along for the ride (partially because I just couldn't find the meaning behind the twists and turns in the plot). So I finished this last night and went on to have my own bizarre dreams!! :-)
I too felt unsatisfied with the ending.
Mailing on to Occinderella today.
Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed Carroll's writing. I found his main character Frannie, at all ages, totally engaging and believable. I wish the relationship with his wife had been further developed, but loved the relationship with the stepdaughter as well.
I felt like I was a participant in someone's bizarre dream and read the book with that in mind. I tried not to figure anything out and just go along for the ride (partially because I just couldn't find the meaning behind the twists and turns in the plot). So I finished this last night and went on to have my own bizarre dreams!! :-)
I too felt unsatisfied with the ending.
Mailing on to Occinderella today.
Just got it :)
5/30
It just keeps geting weider, I love it!
5/30
It just keeps geting weider, I love it!
Journal Entry 54 by OCbelle at A Bookcrosser in A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, June 2, 2007
Released 17 yrs ago (6/2/2007 UTC) at A Bookcrosser in A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
sent to krin511
sent to krin511
Arrived yesterday - will probably start reading it later today.
I too found this book funny, weird and overall engaging. I liked the characters, especially Frannie, Gee Gee and George.
I received this in today's mail. I will be reading it after I finish the book I'm currently reading.
Excellent read! This story had so many plot twist and turns that it kept me guessing. It reminded me of a David Lynch movie. I thought it was a great book but I really didn;t like the ending. What exactly if Frannie looking for and why. It never really gets explained. I will be PMing Rrrcaron fir their address.
Journal Entry 59 by blackadder75 at -- By Hand or Post, Ray/ring, Rabck in Lebanon, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, June 22, 2007
Released 17 yrs ago (6/23/2007 UTC) at -- By Hand or Post, Ray/ring, Rabck in Lebanon, Pennsylvania USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Send book to Rrrcaron in tomorrow's mail.
Send book to Rrrcaron in tomorrow's mail.
Received this in the mail today. Have a few to read beforehand, but it shouldn't take long.
Ruth
Ruth
I loved this book! Although the plot was quite far fetched- I was enhanced and read the book in one sitting. I grew to admire McCabe and what he laerned about himself (himselves maybe I should say) in that all of who you are, from a child through adulthood, mistakes and tribulations, make up your entire self. I guess you have to read the book to understand what I just tried to say, lol. Anyways, thanks for sharing, it made for a very enjoyable Sunday, and I'm contacting the next in line and getting the book moving again.
Ruth
Ruth
For some reason I had the order mixed up. I contacted Gategypsy for an address, and she asked to be skipped. When I went back to see who was the next in line- it was Goddess-Of-Fire. I have contacted her and am waiting for an address. I guess you may want to remove Gategypsy from the list. Sorry about that. It will get moving soon- promise!
Ruth
Ruth
This came in the mail this morning. I''m looking forward to reading it.
Thanks!
Thanks!
I'm really not that sure what I thought of this book.
On the one hand I enjoyed it a lot, it was interesting and funny in some parts and it was a fairly fast read.
On the other I thought it was a bit hard to follow in places, and I really didn't think the ending was that great.
It was my first Carroll book, and I thought it was pleasant enough, but I'm not in any big hurry to read any more of his books.
Thanks for sharing though! :)
Mailed 9-04-07.
On the one hand I enjoyed it a lot, it was interesting and funny in some parts and it was a fairly fast read.
On the other I thought it was a bit hard to follow in places, and I really didn't think the ending was that great.
It was my first Carroll book, and I thought it was pleasant enough, but I'm not in any big hurry to read any more of his books.
Thanks for sharing though! :)
Mailed 9-04-07.
Received today.
Will get to it soon!
Thank you SqueakyChu for including me.
Will get to it soon!
Thank you SqueakyChu for including me.
This was a very odd book and not a book I would normally pick up and read. I was captured by the humor and the idea of this very strange plot. It’s unique qualities kept my interest. The story is about McCabe. He is a cop in the town he grew up in. He is on his second marriage to a woman he really loves and a step father to Pauline. It was nice to see a good relationship between the step-parent and step-child for a change. One day a strange, crippled dog wanders into town and McCabe adopts him. Only to see him die shortly after. This is the catalyst that triggers the start of a bunch of surrealistic events. I think I understood one of the lessons this book was trying to teach and that was, every part of your life is important and helps build you into the man or woman you will become. However, I think there was more to this book, a deeper meaning that I just didn’t get. And of course, the ending made me scratch my head and try and figure out all the loose ends. I can’t say I really loved this book but it was so odd, I know I will never forget it.
Thank you for including me in this ring.
Sending on to Joanthro tomorrow.
Thank you for including me in this ring.
Sending on to Joanthro tomorrow.
The book arrived safely in Saturday's mail and I received it late last night. It looks interesting....
I had never heard of this author, but since I have had so much enjoyment from SqueakyChu's other rings, I dove right in.
I am very glad I read this book. I was hooked in the first chapter by Carroll's writing style and how he slips in wry observations on life. I enjoyed sitting back and letting the characters and the story emerge as they wove through the mystery and the magic. I realize that is vague, but I don't want to ruin this for anyone who hasn't read it yet. Thanks so much, SqueakyChu, for including me in this ring!
Mailed to ruzena yesterday.
I am very glad I read this book. I was hooked in the first chapter by Carroll's writing style and how he slips in wry observations on life. I enjoyed sitting back and letting the characters and the story emerge as they wove through the mystery and the magic. I realize that is vague, but I don't want to ruin this for anyone who hasn't read it yet. Thanks so much, SqueakyChu, for including me in this ring!
Mailed to ruzena yesterday.
Sorry about the delay in this bookring. I forgot I have this book. Perhaps I’ll ask my doctor for a prescription for Tapsodil (see p. 123)...
Now I have read it, and I loved it. The principal character is Police Chief Frannie McCabe whose "life turned into a Salvador Dali painting"; he lives parallel lives, he meets his young him and his old him; his wife is both living and dead. And so on. Carroll’s imagination is inexhaustible.
I found this text funny - perhaps even a bit more mischievous than other novels by Carroll.
Yet it’s not just humour, nor just fantasy. The text gets close to one’s real life and serious things. It often occurred to me how important it is to accept all one’s ages; you are different and yet the same.
Also, Carroll makes his characters grow more humane and more loving in the course of the story. These are the beautiful features in Carroll’s novels that I have read before.
And of course! There is the dog! He always has the dog. (Just out of curiosity: in Finnish we say "there is a dog buried" when we mean "there is something fishy about it". It holds good that Carroll has "a dog buried" in his surrealist plots, and even to the letter in this case!)
Thanks a lot, SqueakyChu, for sharing the book. Looks like well traveled already but still going strong!
-ruzena
Now I have read it, and I loved it. The principal character is Police Chief Frannie McCabe whose "life turned into a Salvador Dali painting"; he lives parallel lives, he meets his young him and his old him; his wife is both living and dead. And so on. Carroll’s imagination is inexhaustible.
I found this text funny - perhaps even a bit more mischievous than other novels by Carroll.
Yet it’s not just humour, nor just fantasy. The text gets close to one’s real life and serious things. It often occurred to me how important it is to accept all one’s ages; you are different and yet the same.
Also, Carroll makes his characters grow more humane and more loving in the course of the story. These are the beautiful features in Carroll’s novels that I have read before.
And of course! There is the dog! He always has the dog. (Just out of curiosity: in Finnish we say "there is a dog buried" when we mean "there is something fishy about it". It holds good that Carroll has "a dog buried" in his surrealist plots, and even to the letter in this case!)
Thanks a lot, SqueakyChu, for sharing the book. Looks like well traveled already but still going strong!
-ruzena
Journal Entry 71 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Friday, February 8, 2008
And the book is now in Brussels. Thank you ruzena!
I've just had a look at the JEs and I'm really intrigued...
I've just had a look at the JEs and I'm really intrigued...
Journal Entry 72 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Sunday, April 6, 2008
Deliciously strange!
Happy reading lunacia!
Happy reading lunacia!
I was much surprised when I got a PM about this book, which arrived by mail today. I really didn't remember I joined up for this. To be read hen I'm done with the other bookring/-ray I'm reading.
Right - I'm going to start reading this now. The last couple of books I have read lately have been rather disappointing, I even gave up on one of them. I'm looking forward to read this, and hope it'll turn out somewhat better than the previous ones.
This was an absolute wonderful read! In some ways it reminded me of the books of my favourite author, Neil Gaiman, at the same time as it was different. I really liked how the elements of science fiction and fantasy was blended in to the story.
Thank you so much for letting me read this!
Thank you so much for letting me read this!
Due to all the public hollidays in May, I haven't been able to get to the post office to get an envelope yet. This book only just doesn't fit into the one I already have, so I'll have to buy a new one. :( Will send it as soon as I can get to the post office to get one!
Journal Entry 77 by 
lunacia
at A fellow bookcrosser in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, June 12, 2008
lunacia at A fellow bookcrosser in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, June 12, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (6/13/2008 UTC) at A fellow bookcrosser in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
After trying several post offices, I finally managed to get the right size envelope. I will post the book to the wonderful Deepswamp in Sweden tomorrow. I hope she'll enjoy the book as much as I did! Sorry about the delay.
Thank you for letting me read this!
After trying several post offices, I finally managed to get the right size envelope. I will post the book to the wonderful Deepswamp in Sweden tomorrow. I hope she'll enjoy the book as much as I did! Sorry about the delay.
Thank you for letting me read this!
OH! I am excited. A top 100 most traveled book!
Looking forward to read!
Looking forward to read!
A fantastic book, you are in a different world for some hours!
Thanks!
When I get WelshHelen adress it will travel.
Thanks!
When I get WelshHelen adress it will travel.
Arrived some time over the last two weeks - thank you, Deepswamp. Wow, this book certainly has travelled! I'm not getting much of a changce to read at the moment and, of course, three ring books landed while I was away, but I will get to it as soon as I can.
What a great book! Carroll is a new author to me but I'm now on the lookout for his other books. I loved his writing style and though some parts of the story lost me for a while, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I found the book funny, sad, inspiring and downright weird in equal measures :-) I loved the characters, especially Frannie and Gee-Gee - not surprising that I liked *both of them :-) and Carroll kept me guessing to the end. Great work!
I have katrinat's address and will post to this afternoon. Thank you so much, SqueakyChu, for organising the ring and very many apologies that I've had it so long.
I have katrinat's address and will post to this afternoon. Thank you so much, SqueakyChu, for organising the ring and very many apologies that I've had it so long.
Journal Entry 82 by katrinat from Southend-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, October 9, 2008
Arrived today, I have just started a new book, so should get to this one next week
Journal Entry 83 by katrinat at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (10/21/2008 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
sent saturday
sent saturday
Journal Entry 84 by Moonwoolf from Azambuja, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Saturday, November 1, 2008
Thank you very much to share this book with me. I'm looking forward to read it, although i have several ones to read before this one. But i try to put it travelling as soon as possible.
12-02-2009 => I'm so sory for keepng this book so long... I'm finishing one book, this will be next. Thank you for your patience.
03-03-2009=> Thank you for this opportunity, an excelent reading. This will keep traveling very soon to South Africa.
12-02-2009 => I'm so sory for keepng this book so long... I'm finishing one book, this will be next. Thank you for your patience.
03-03-2009=> Thank you for this opportunity, an excelent reading. This will keep traveling very soon to South Africa.
Released 15 yrs ago (5/8/2009 UTC) at Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Finally, on the way to South Africa. Have an excellent travel. :D
Finally, on the way to South Africa. Have an excellent travel. :D
Arrived in South Africa today after a long journey crisscrossing the globe - Thanks for sharing. I have got a couple to read before this but will get around to it as soon as possible
This book features amongst the top 100 most traveled books on Bookcrossing and I have calculated that the distance covered is 104 000 kilometers to date which equals 2.6 times around the equator. It is still in pretty good condition and I plan to make a livejournal posting about the book once I'm done with it
This book features amongst the top 100 most traveled books on Bookcrossing and I have calculated that the distance covered is 104 000 kilometers to date which equals 2.6 times around the equator. It is still in pretty good condition and I plan to make a livejournal posting about the book once I'm done with it
I absolutely loved this book and read a sort of review for it on my Livejournal where I also posted a photo of the book and what it looks like after its extensive travels.
http://mrbaggins1.livejournal.com/27306.html
Thanks for sharing and its going to hyper7 early next week.
http://mrbaggins1.livejournal.com/27306.html
Thanks for sharing and its going to hyper7 early next week.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Releasing it to hyper7 in Secunda South Africa today who is next on the list. I got one of my staff to give it an additional covering of contact plastic (we do this as part of a service to school libraries)as more protection to safeguard it on its onward journey. I hope that it will have a lot more readers on its journey.
Enjoy - It really is a very special read.
Releasing it to hyper7 in Secunda South Africa today who is next on the list. I got one of my staff to give it an additional covering of contact plastic (we do this as part of a service to school libraries)as more protection to safeguard it on its onward journey. I hope that it will have a lot more readers on its journey.
Enjoy - It really is a very special read.
How awesome is that? This book has been traveling around the planet for more than 5 years!
I have one book to read before this one, but it shouldn't take long.
Thanks Mrbaggins and SqueakyChu!
Finished it last night, and it is a very interesting book. It tapers off a bit toward the end, but there are some really special quotations in there!
Journal Entry 91 by hyper7 at -- Controlled Releases --, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, August 6, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (8/6/2009 UTC) at -- Controlled Releases --, Western Australia Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off it goes to Australia, have a nice journey, little book!
Off it goes to Australia, have a nice journey, little book!
Journal Entry 92 by Carole888 from Perth City Centre, Western Australia Australia on Friday, August 14, 2009
The book has arrived safely!! Thank you to hyper7 and SqueakyChu ..... I am in the middle of another book but will get on to it soon ........ Wow! Its been travelling for 5 years!! I love the colourful stamps of the package, hyper7 ......I will be saving them ......... :)
Journal Entry 93 by Carole888 at book ring/ray, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (8/25/2009 UTC) at book ring/ray, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES: This is my very first Jonathan Carroll book and I must say that I have never read anything like it before. I quite enjoyed the trip into the surreal ...... never knowing what unexpected thing was to be around the corner! The book is now leaving the West and travelling to the other side of Australia. Thanks so much to everyone who has helped it travel (so good to read all your journals, including mrbaggins1's calculations!) and a huge thank you to SqueakyChu for starting it off on this journey and including me on the ride.
Journal Entry 94 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, August 31, 2009
"The Wooden Sea" has arrived in Canberra! Capital of Australia!What a trip this book has been on. It looks like it has been just about everywhere else, but here ;-)
Thanks to Carole888 for posting it from the other side of the country. Thanks also Carole888, for the wonderful Murdoch Uni, Salty Wetlands bookmark :-)
This was one of the first bookrays that I signed up for when I joined bookcrossing back in 2007!
I'm looking forward to the book, but it is one of 11 bookrings/rays that have arrived at my doorstep in August! Not to fear, I've read 7 of them already so the book joins a short-ish queue and I should be able to read it in September, if I can keep to my "best laid" plans. :-)
Journal Entry 95 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Friday, September 18, 2009
My husband, who was recovering from the flu, and I spent a lovely Spring morning sitting in the sun while I read the first 30 pages of this book, and he grinned in all the right places. We had to stop for lunch and were inspired to have a BLT sandwich like Frannie in the book. The next week I thought, I’ll just take this to work and get a picture of it in front of The Lake or somewhere around Canberra. Then I promptly lost it! I thought great, this book goes the equivalent of twice around the world comes to me and I lose it! I NEVER lose books! To cut a long story short it eventually turned up again a week later in the boot of my car. Sort of, appropriate if you know the plot.
I quickly took a photo of it the next day near the lake and if you look closely just beside the sailing ship on the front cover, I think I managed to get Parliament House in the picture, really all you can see is a small looking flag that sprouts out of a space ship like structure above the trees.
Then took a few days to finish the book. This story is quite a ride. I found Frannie to be a bit like a male Stephanie Plum in this Magical Realism type of plot. Very original!
Thanks SqueakyChu for sharing it, and thanks to everyone else before me who has sent it on its way.
Now to continue it’s travels. Next week the book is going off to Freelunch. The Bookcrosser who introduced me to the phrase “Outside of a dog a book is a man’s best friend, Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read” Groucho Marx.
Journal Entry 96 by FreePages at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, October 5, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (10/5/2009 UTC) at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The Wooden Sea is, finally, off in the post to Freelunch!
Sorry for the delay, hubby also wanted to finish it and he did over the long weekend.
Thanks Squeaky for sharing this book and it has been great fun being part of a book that is on the 100 most traveled book list. Currently it is 28th on the list.
Happy further journey to North East Australia, such a shame I can't deliver it personally.
Enjoy
:-)
The Wooden Sea is, finally, off in the post to Freelunch!
Sorry for the delay, hubby also wanted to finish it and he did over the long weekend.
Thanks Squeaky for sharing this book and it has been great fun being part of a book that is on the 100 most traveled book list. Currently it is 28th on the list.
Happy further journey to North East Australia, such a shame I can't deliver it personally.
Enjoy
:-)
received today, thanks FreePages - and thanks to everyone else who preceded me in this ring.
I enjoyed the first two books in Jonathan Carroll's Crane's View Trilogy and I'm looking forward to this one. I imagine I'll get to it in a week or two.
I enjoyed the first two books in Jonathan Carroll's Crane's View Trilogy and I'm looking forward to this one. I imagine I'll get to it in a week or two.
I really enjoyed this book - I'm glad I was able to read the complete trilogy in order as the first two books helped set the scene and further rounded out the character of Frannie McCabe. I'm sure it would have been quite enjoyable if read on its own though.
Jonathan Carroll certainly has a way with words, this book was full of clever/insightful passages I would have written down if I was the type to ever go back to such things.
I have RockDg9's address and will be posting this book on by the end of the week. Thanks again to all who have come before me in this 'ring
Jonathan Carroll certainly has a way with words, this book was full of clever/insightful passages I would have written down if I was the type to ever go back to such things.
I have RockDg9's address and will be posting this book on by the end of the week. Thanks again to all who have come before me in this 'ring
Arrived here today - thanks freelunch and squeekychu.
This is one of those books where if you try to describe the plot too much, you ruin the book for someone else. So I'll just say that it's fantastic. The characters are fantastic, the situations are fantastic, the plot is fantastic. I loved it.
