Timbuktu
14 journalers for this copy...
From the list of 1001 books to read before you die:Amazon.co.uk Review
"What was a poor dog to do?": This story of contemporary America--from the poet- wanderer's life on the streets to the world of "two-car garages, home-improvement loans, and neo-Renaissance shopping malls"--is told from the point of view of a "four-leg", Mr. Bones.
Following his critically acclaimed The New York Trilogy and The Invention of Solitude, Paul Auster's new novel is a sad and witty saga of a dog's life. With the imminent demise of his first master, Willy G. Christmas--on his way to "Timbuktu"--Mr Bones faces an uncertain future as a "lost" dog, an ownerless dog, a homeless dog.
Timbuktu is a tale of what happens, before and after Willy's death: the dilemmas of ethics and affection, of a man and a dog in search of love and friendship. In Mr Bones' dreams, Willy comes back, exhorting, advising, allegorising: "People get treated like dogs, too, my friend, and sometimes they have to sleep in barns and meadows because there's nowhere else for them to go." Like Mom-san, Willy's mother, "hunted ... down like a dog" in Warsaw. The connection is crucial to the novel; its sustained, but discreet, reflection on the vicissitudes of human--and canine--love and hate. --Vicky Lebeau --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Just finished re-reading this book - it's a lovely story all seen through the eyes of a very intelligent dog! (he understands what you say to him!) Full of charming insights and very moving. You follow 'Mr Bones' around on a journey after leaving his first owner and are introduced to other potential owners!
International Bookray:
arugh48187 (India) ship Int'l
Goddess-Of-Fire (USA).
ChiBoiler (USA) ship Int'l
lakelady2282 (Australia) ship Australia/int'l
Cat207 (NSW Australia) ship Australia/int'l
tqd (Australia) ship int'l
cally-c (UK)
beqi - (UK)
NICNIC2 (UK) - ship UK/Europe
rapturina (Netherlands) ship int'l
KanaPoutz (France) ship int'l
perryfran (US) Ship Int'l
aet (Finland)<--- here!
arugh48187 (India) ship Int'l
Goddess-Of-Fire (USA).
ChiBoiler (USA) ship Int'l
lakelady2282 (Australia) ship Australia/int'l
Cat207 (NSW Australia) ship Australia/int'l
tqd (Australia) ship int'l
cally-c (UK)
beqi - (UK)
NICNIC2 (UK) - ship UK/Europe
rapturina (Netherlands) ship int'l
KanaPoutz (France) ship int'l
perryfran (US) Ship Int'l
aet (Finland)<--- here!
Journal Entry 3 by Paws4Books at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, November 26, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (11/26/2007 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
On it's way to the first person on the list!
On it's way to the first person on the list!
Egads! It's a bookring bonanza here today. I was blessed with three of them today. This one is first in line after the book I am currently reading. It shouldn't take too long.
What a charming book. I loved the way that the book was written from Mr. Bones' perspective. I kind of got a bit lost in Willy's ramblings, but otherwise the book flowed pretty well. I thought that the ball got dropped a bit with Bea Swanson and Willy's writing. Whatever happened to both. I think it was too coincidental that Mr. Bones found Polly and Tiger and Alice. Not too many people I know would take in a stray that just wandered into their backyard. Maybe it's just me, but I would have freaked if I saw my two-year old son being so friendly with an unknown pooch. I thought it was funny that Polly would take her revenge out on her hubby by inviting the dog in the house when he made the ridiculous rule of no dog in the house. Good for her. You go girl. The ending was a bit unexpected and abrupt, but I guess when you are a dog and feel like death warmed over with apparently no options for improvement, there are very few choices.
Thanks for sharing. I have the address of the next participant, and it will go out on my next trip to the post office.
Thanks for sharing. I have the address of the next participant, and it will go out on my next trip to the post office.
Journal Entry 6 by arugh48187 at Post Office in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (12/11/2007 UTC) at Post Office in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
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Sending off to Goddess-Of-Fire who is next on the list. Happy Reading!
Sending off to Goddess-Of-Fire who is next on the list. Happy Reading!
Received in the mail- I'll start reading it immediately.
Thanks!
Thanks!
This was a very fast read. I enjoyed most of it, but I'm not sure I liked the way it ended. It seemed very abrupt. It was kind of sad too, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Thanks for sharing! :)
Thanks for sharing! :)
On its way to ChiBoiler!
Enjoy :)
Enjoy :)
This book just arrived in the mail. Great timing. I finished a book on the train on the way home.
Very cute story and a quick read. I loved how it was told by the perspective of the dog. I was prepared from other people's journals for an ending that I might not like, but was still taken off guard by it. Almost a little out of character.
Thanks, ekranda, for hosting this ray. I enjoyed it!
Will be mailing out on Monday to lakelady2282
EDIT: 1/15/2008 - sent book in the mail today! Happy Reading!
Thanks, ekranda, for hosting this ray. I enjoyed it!
Will be mailing out on Monday to lakelady2282
EDIT: 1/15/2008 - sent book in the mail today! Happy Reading!
Journal Entry 12 by lakelady2282 from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Monday, January 21, 2008
Arrived safely today. Thank Wendy and ekranda. It looks like the ideal book to take away to Tassie with me.
Journal Entry 13 by lakelady2282 from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, January 31, 2008
Actually I really liked the ending and I think it redeemed the book but it was such an odd work for Paul Auster to write that I just couldn't get past that fact to enjoy it. If it had been an unknown writer it wouldn't have bothered me. Sorry guys, thanks anyway.
Journal Entry 14 by lakelady2282 at to a fellow bookcrosser in by hand, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, February 1, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (2/1/2008 UTC) at to a fellow bookcrosser in by hand, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Picked up from lakelady2282 at dinner this evening - thank you, and thank you ekranda for sharing. X
Not quite up to Paul Auster's usual standards, but a quick, cutesy read.
Heading to tqd in tomorrow's mail.
Heading to tqd in tomorrow's mail.
Turned up in the mail today, thanks cat207! I've only got one bookring ahead of this, so I should get onto it fairly quickly. Looking forward to it.
A charming novel, I loved the dog's take on the world. Beware Chinese restaurants! And the fact that he could understand us, and could "talk" even if none of us understood him. Under the charming doggy level though, there was a lot of sadness: Mrs Gurevitch escaping the Holocaust; Alice with the holes in her heart; the unhappy Henry Chow; Penny's loveless marriage. And of course, poor sad mad Willy G. Christmas.
It was fascinating the way that Mr Bones became the sounding board for all of these people, they pour their hearts and hopes out to him, not realising that he can understand. But of course, being a dog, he only really understands himself (not even other dogs), and his one true love, Willy G. Christmas.
I haven't read much Paul Auster before, and I was surprised by the almost lightweight feel of the book. I suppose that's due to Mr Bones' happy doggy nature, he does seem to believe there is good in everyone and that he will uncover it, just by being the best dog he can. And it's hard not to agree with him!
Thanks for the chance to read this one, ekranda! I've got cally-c's address already, and I'll pop this one in the post asap (probably pay day, damned electrickery bills playing havoc with my bookcrossing budget).
And I am also going to see Paul Auster and Siri Hustvedt talk this Friday at the Sydney Theatre. Just thought I'd namedrop there. :)
It was fascinating the way that Mr Bones became the sounding board for all of these people, they pour their hearts and hopes out to him, not realising that he can understand. But of course, being a dog, he only really understands himself (not even other dogs), and his one true love, Willy G. Christmas.
I haven't read much Paul Auster before, and I was surprised by the almost lightweight feel of the book. I suppose that's due to Mr Bones' happy doggy nature, he does seem to believe there is good in everyone and that he will uncover it, just by being the best dog he can. And it's hard not to agree with him!
Thanks for the chance to read this one, ekranda! I've got cally-c's address already, and I'll pop this one in the post asap (probably pay day, damned electrickery bills playing havoc with my bookcrossing budget).
And I am also going to see Paul Auster and Siri Hustvedt talk this Friday at the Sydney Theatre. Just thought I'd namedrop there. :)
If you ever get a chance to see Paul Auster "in conversation" or giving a talk somewhere, do try to make it. He was really remarkably charming - he and Siri Hustvedt had the Sydney Theatre in the palms of their hands last Friday night.
He was asked tangentially about Timbuktu, basically about how he inhabits his characters when he's writing their stories, and that of course brought up Mr Bones. His reply: "Woof, woof".
And this book is now in the post to cally-c, air mail, so give it a week or two.
He was asked tangentially about Timbuktu, basically about how he inhabits his characters when he's writing their stories, and that of course brought up Mr Bones. His reply: "Woof, woof".
And this book is now in the post to cally-c, air mail, so give it a week or two.
Arrived this morning, thanks tqd for sending it on.
Will read next.
Will read next.
Really liked this, so unusual & very readable. Managed to read it all in one sitting whilst at the hospital yesterday waiting to have my wisdom teeth out! Lots of sad background stories though, but I like the way Mr Bones is treated as a confidant by everyone he meets - they seem to use him (in a nice way) to improve their lives.
Will PM beqi next for her address & get this on its way as soon as I look/feel human again!
Thanks to ekranda for sharing & tqd for sending it on!
Will PM beqi next for her address & get this on its way as soon as I look/feel human again!
Thanks to ekranda for sharing & tqd for sending it on!
Ekranda thought I would enjoy this book as I'm such a dog lover, so added me to this book ray. The book arrived safely in the post today. Many thanks for sending it on so quickly cally-c! I will start to read this after the BC Convention next weekend, so only on hold for a few days. Apologies for the delay. Hope this is okay with everyone :-)
Journal Entry 23 by Beqi from Daventry, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 23, 2008
I found this a quick and easy book to read, and I love the cover! I was surprised by the ending, as like others said, it was rather abrupt and I found it upsetting. I bought my boyfriend another Paul Auster book for one of his Xmas presents, so will hopefully read that at some point. Thank you for adding me to the ring Ekranda. I will now PM NICNIC2 for address to send this on.
Posted off to NICNIC2 today, by 1st Class.
Arrived safely. Have one bookray to read before this but should get to it fairly soon. Thanks for including me!
I'm not sure what to make of this to be honest. Is it a metaphor? Is it a fable? Should we be learning something about the way we live our lives by reading this story told from a dog's perspective? I don't know.
All the people that Mr Bones encounters have or have had problems in their lives - some serious and some not so serious. Mr Bones struggles to understand the human world from his doggy viewpoint but he can't, which ultimately leads him to conclude that life in Timbuktu with Willy is a better prospect than life of the real variety. And all I keep thinking is 'whats your point???'. I fear I've missed the finer philosophical points here :)
If anything its saving grace is that it was short. This is the second Paul Auster book I've read - I read Book of Illusions last year and really enjoyed it. So I'll definately continue reading this author even though I didn't really enjoy this novel.
I have rapturina's details so i'll eb seindg it out to her on Monday :)
All the people that Mr Bones encounters have or have had problems in their lives - some serious and some not so serious. Mr Bones struggles to understand the human world from his doggy viewpoint but he can't, which ultimately leads him to conclude that life in Timbuktu with Willy is a better prospect than life of the real variety. And all I keep thinking is 'whats your point???'. I fear I've missed the finer philosophical points here :)
If anything its saving grace is that it was short. This is the second Paul Auster book I've read - I read Book of Illusions last year and really enjoyed it. So I'll definately continue reading this author even though I didn't really enjoy this novel.
I have rapturina's details so i'll eb seindg it out to her on Monday :)
It's here! Thanks for sending it across the pond, NICNIC2. :D
I have two books lined up before I can get to this one, but I'm a quick reader with a week off from work, so I don't expect it to take very long. :D
I have two books lined up before I can get to this one, but I'm a quick reader with a week off from work, so I don't expect it to take very long. :D
I finished reading this on the train home today and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. I'm not really all that interested in dogs, and after reading the previous comments I feared it'd be too cutesy or something. But it was actually rather profound, I think. Some of the situations Mr. Bones found himself in gave me a lot to think about concerning human nature, and I enjoyed that. I even liked the ending, I don't think it would've been in the spirit of the book if it had ended with Mr Bones going back or something like that - then I would've found it too cutesy! :D
Thanks ekranda for ringing this book and bringing me one step closer to my goal of reading all 1001 books. :D
ETA: Sent to France on June 28th! Happy travels!
Thanks ekranda for ringing this book and bringing me one step closer to my goal of reading all 1001 books. :D
ETA: Sent to France on June 28th! Happy travels!
Journal Entry 29 by KanaPoutz from Cannes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France on Thursday, July 3, 2008
Arrived today, thanks!
Journal Entry 30 by KanaPoutz from Cannes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France on Wednesday, July 16, 2008
first this to say that I'm a big Paul Auster fan (would love to hear me one day like you did tqd, would be fantastic).
Totally with NICNIC2, I really don't know what to make of this book. It was quick to read, fairly enjoyable, but I still feel like I didn't get what this was about somehow.
I also agree with lakelady and cat27 that this is not a usual Paul Auster work, and I just couldn't figure where this book stands.
Still, some nice characters in this book, and I thought the ending was very appropriate.
Thanks for sharing, I'll mail this out to perryfran as soon as I get the adress.
Totally with NICNIC2, I really don't know what to make of this book. It was quick to read, fairly enjoyable, but I still feel like I didn't get what this was about somehow.
I also agree with lakelady and cat27 that this is not a usual Paul Auster work, and I just couldn't figure where this book stands.
Still, some nice characters in this book, and I thought the ending was very appropriate.
Thanks for sharing, I'll mail this out to perryfran as soon as I get the adress.
Received in today's mail. Thanks ekranda for including me in this bookray and KanaPoutz for sending it to me all the way from France! Looking forward to reading but I have a few in front of it. Will try to get to it soon.
This is No. 70 on the 1001 books you must read before you die list.
This is No. 70 on the 1001 books you must read before you die list.
I read this book in a couple of sittings and actually rather enjoyed it. Looking at homelessness from a dog's-eye view was really quite profound and unique. The story of Mr. Bones and his burnt-out owner, Willy G. Christmas kind of sucks you into the novel and holds your interest. After Willy collapses and is carried off to the hospital, I wasn't sure how the story would progress, but Mr. Bones adventures kept me interested. His fear of ending up as a meal in a Chinese restaurant and eventually ending up in suburbia makes you think how fickle life for both dogs and humans can be. I don't know if Auster was trying to impart wisdom or just tell an interesting story but in any event (even though I'm not really a dog lover) this tale of Mr. Bones/Cal/Sparky/Sparkatus was enchanting.Thanks ekranda for including me in this bookray. I have PMed aet but have not received a response. Will send this on as soon as I get an address.
Journal Entry 33 by 
perryfran
at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Thursday, August 28, 2008
perryfran at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Thursday, August 28, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (8/28/2008 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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Received address from aet so this is off to Finland. Enjoy!
Received address from aet so this is off to Finland. Enjoy!
Just got Timbuktu from the mail safe and sound! I will read it as soon as possible. Thank you!
