Not what I expected but enjoyable enough. I think I was swayed by the penguin connection as I'd been to a penguin sanctuary a couple of weeks before I bought it.

To be released at Bookcrossing Meet on 09/05/06

Picked up at the Leeds Meetup the other day. To be read soon.

I really enjoyed this book. Written in a matter-of-fact style (in translation) about very bizarre events, it was a very refreshing read. The main character, a writer, has a pet penguin that he keeps in his little flat, and the story describes what happens when he (the man, not the penguin) is given a job writing obituaries for a newspaper. I won't tell you anymore, because this story is so neatly written that there is no superfluousness - every word is pertinent, no frills, and I wouldn't want to spoil it for you. Suffice to say, it is a fine tale, touched with wry humour, and I would highly recommend it.

RELEASE NOTES:

I really enjoyed this book and loved the deadpan style of writing and the quirky, dark humour.

Thanks Alison! Looking forward to reading this one.

Really liked this little book, though it was quite dark and disturbing in parts. Misha the penguin was a wonderful character - strong, silent, dependable but ultimately fragile.

RELEASE NOTES:

planning to release at the November meetup in York

[DIFFERENT COVER]

Picked up at the York meet. Sounds interesting...!

well - as I'm not getting any closer to reading this any time soon, I thought I'd return it to a future York meetup to give it another chance at finding a reader there...

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

releasing at tomorrow's 'Animal-themed' BC Meetup in York...

Sounds so random... so I had to pick it up.

This book is bonkers, but not in a silly way. Just in a cracking good read way. It was such a well told story, and tied up so neatly and satisfingly at the end. I am impressed. Will have to read more of this guy's stuff.

This guy, Viktor, lives in the Ukraine with his pet penguin, Misha, whom he got when the zoo was giving away animals to people who could feed them. He gets a job writing obituraries for a local newspaper, and randomly some gangster man comes and asks him to write one for him... and then things get bad, bizarre and dangerous.

You did get such a feel for ex eastern block living. I could imagine him living in his flat in this concrete blob in a bleak grey landscape. There was a heavier military presence in the general running of the country than we're used, and so much corruption, whilst at the same time poverty and no social system really to speak of. Excuse any spoilers, but it's sad what happened to the penguin expert, considering what then happened to the penguin. Oh, and then the drinking. People would just come over for a chat or whatever and have a bottle of vodka or some other hard spirit. It's a cold, long winter, the local currency is rocketing and dollars are what people want to be paid in.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Am going to send this to Christchurch in New Zealand...