I have nearly finished this, which was given to me as a gift. I probably did not give it as much concentration as it deserved, but even on a non academic level, there is loads of fascinating detail, eg that Chinese languages are spoken differently but written the same (I never knew that!), and the complexities of Japanese. When reading this book it is recommended to have a companion to pester at intervals with Bryson's numerous witticisms and "well fancy that" titbits.

The ray list is:
Brunton11
em64
GateGypsy - currently here
anani-kalea
mickey81
Bookcloud

Posted to Brunton11 on 17 May.

Arrived today. Thanks very much midlifecrisis. I'm looking forward to this book as I've read a few of Bill Bryson's other books and really enjoyed them though I don't seem to chuckle as much as my partner when he reads them!

Thanks midlifecrisis for the chance to read this book. It was full of interesting facts, easy to read and raised a few chuckles.

I'll get it in the post to em64 this afternoon.

Got the book in the mail today and will start reading it straight away looks interesting. Thanks for organising the ring, midlifecrisis!

Interesting and entertaining read also for those who have learnt English as a second language. My mother tongue Finnish was mentioned a couple of times. Unfortunately one of the "facts" about Finnish Bryson mentioned was not true; ravintolassa (in the restaurant) is never ever used for swearing, there are a few dozen more colourful expressions to use (unlike Bryson hints, Finnish has a lot of swear words, there is even a dictionary of Finnish swear words). It is actually quite amazing how languages have developed and survived and moulded into what they are today. At times I got a bit irritated with Bryson when he was emphazising the superiority of English compared to other languages a tad too much.

I already have GateGypsy's address and will send the book to her later this week.

EDIT 26.6.2007

The book was mailed today to GateGypsy.

Arrived in the mail today. I'm looking forward to get to this, but I do have several bookrings ahead of it. Thanks for sharing, Midlifecrisis. I'll update when I've had a chance to read it!

I loved this book! It is the first Bryson book I've managed to read (I have a copy of Sunburned Country that I haven't cracked yet) and I'm so glad to have gotten the chance! I enjoy his sense of humour and treatment, as certainly this topic could have been very scholarly and dry, and although still as interesting, not nearly as entertaining! It had me laughing out loud, reading passages to my fiancé, nodding in agreement... I was fascinated by the first seven chapters, and thoroughly entertained by the rest. I felt some kinship with poor Reverend William Spooner, as I, too, suffer his affliction. My friends and I playfully called it "trouth mouble" (mouth trouble.) My friend Tami was fantastic at juxtaposing words (pinty mink instead of minty pink, dirk and darty instead of dark and dirty,) whereas my particular problem seemed to be in unwittingly substituting completely nonsensical words that started with the same letter (usually) into sentences ("someone's toilet exploded!" when I meant to say "tire" or "Sure, I'll share a shower" when I meant to say "salad," and everyone's favourite "Lemon the deer!" when, I swear to god, I had meant to say "Look at the cows!") Like Spooner, my friends often hang about, ears pricked and waiting for the next attack. It's good to know there's an official term for it ("Isn't there always?") -- metaphasis. I will have to pass that along to my friends.

I used some of the material in this book to help me support my first essay assignment in English this term asserting that text-messaging makes us, as English speakers, better communicators.

I'm PMing anani-kalea as soon as I've submitted this journal entry, and hope to have the book itself in the mail shortly after payday (Friday) this week.

Thank you, again, Midlifecrisis, for making a ring of this!

Gack! I forgot to journal that I'd already mailed this off last Saturday. I sent it the relatively speedy airmail way, but it'll still take a bit to get where it's going. I hope it's enjoyed when it arrives!

I have had a pm from Anani-kalea about this book. She is having problems, due it seems to having moved. However, she assures me she will be catching up with things before too long.

I finally got my belongings back so I can now move this book to my TBR pile. I am really looking forward to reading this.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sorry it took so long to send this out!

Received today, added to my TBR pile!

I will begin it as soon as possible.

I really love this author!

Thanks for the ring, it was really interesting and useful to me to improve my English!

The book will go ahead to the next reader soon!

Bookcloud was the last in the list for this ray but she's a little bit busy at the moment so I could start a sort of ring here in Italy and then let it free into the wild or pass it on to Bookcloud.

The new list:


lisolachenonce
Vanigliacocco
Franciek
stardust10
lupurk
LaVale

I received it by post today.
Thanks

Received

it's here!

This book is absolutely my cup of tea!
It talks about languages, it talks about my favourite one! English: its story, its rules!
A must!

This book is absolutely my cup of tea!
It talks about languages, it talks about my favourite one! English: its story, its rules!
A must!

Just received!I'm finishing another book and then will be its turn to be read!

20/04/2009
Oops..I just realized I haven't done the j.e. for the departure..
I found this book very interesting especially because it's not boring even if it talks about a matter that can turn to be boring!
I wish I have read it before doing the English Linguistic exam, it would have been very useful!

Just arrived, I'll read it as soon as possible ;)

I couldn't finish it. I found it really interesting in most parts, but a bit boring in others. I'd like to read it with more ease, but I've already kept it for too long, so I'll try to find a copy of the book somewhere else.
Thank you anyway for this beautiful ring!

It's here!

lasciato a casa di amici