Darwin: A Graphic Biography
Registered by CityOfLit1 on 2/6/2009
20 journalers for this copy...
Welcome to The Lost World Read 2009! You’ve got hold of a book that is part of the UK’s largest reading campaign. We’re celebrating Arthur Conan Doyle’s 150th birthday and Charles Darwin’s bicentenary. This is a specially-commissioned graphic biography of Charles Darwin. It's in the style of a comic book and is a new take on the life of the great man. As the subtitle says, it's "The really exciting and dramatic story of a man who mostly stayed at home and wrote some books"!
And, welcome to The Lost Book!
The Lost Book is a collaborative adventure in storytelling. It’s taking place online and anyone can join in. At its heart is an animated web series: the adventures of investigative journalist Aileen Adler.
There are loads of ways you can get involved and it won’t cost you anything. You can help us to write the story for the web series. You can join our special guest writer Jasper Fforde to reconstruct a stolen book in our weekly microstory competition. You can enter our soundtrack competition by creating your own music for the web series. You can produce your own animation.
And, you can read this book, tell us what you thought of it, give it away, and follow its journey. So join in, wherever you are, and have fun!
Darwin: A Graphic Biography is going to be sent out on a bookray. It will start its travels on Darwin's 200th birthday: Thursday, 12 February 2009. If you'd like to join, drop us a PM with your shipping preferences.
Bookray
Nell-Lu, UK (Int)
sudokugirl, Bosnia-Herzegovina (Int)
Vekiki, UK (UK/Europe)
WigglyWoods, UK (Int)
flambard, UK (Int)
KiwiinEngland, Ireland (Int)
eMeReS , Netherlands (EU) - not responding
okyrhoe, Greece (Int)
Hayes13, Italy (Int)
davemurray101, Australia (Int)
allthesepieces, USA (USA)
dakini6, USA (USA preferred, Int okay)
azuki, USA (USA preferred, Int okay)
nediamnori87, UK (UK preferred, Int surface mail)
Philosoraptor, UK (UK preferred, Int surface mail)
mafarrimond, UK (Int)
Oedde, Germany (Int)
Jean-Sol, Australia (Int)
tokorua, Australia (Int)
Esme-Weatherwax, Ireland (Ireland/Europe preferred, Int possible)
...
Please could you all do four things:
1. Make a quick journal entry when you receive the book.
2. Read and send on within four weeks - or make a journal entry to let us know how you're getting on if you need longer.
3. Make a journal entry when you've finished.
4. Use the cheapest method of shipping available.
And, enjoy the book!
Bookray
Nell-Lu, UK (Int)
sudokugirl, Bosnia-Herzegovina (Int)
Vekiki, UK (UK/Europe)
WigglyWoods, UK (Int)
flambard, UK (Int)
KiwiinEngland, Ireland (Int)
okyrhoe, Greece (Int)
Hayes13, Italy (Int)
davemurray101, Australia (Int)
allthesepieces, USA (USA)
dakini6, USA (USA preferred, Int okay)
azuki, USA (USA preferred, Int okay)
nediamnori87, UK (UK preferred, Int surface mail)
Philosoraptor, UK (UK preferred, Int surface mail)
mafarrimond, UK (Int)
Oedde, Germany (Int)
Jean-Sol, Australia (Int)
tokorua, Australia (Int)
Esme-Weatherwax, Ireland (Ireland/Europe preferred, Int possible)
...
Please could you all do four things:
1. Make a quick journal entry when you receive the book.
2. Read and send on within four weeks - or make a journal entry to let us know how you're getting on if you need longer.
3. Make a journal entry when you've finished.
4. Use the cheapest method of shipping available.
And, enjoy the book!
This is an entertaining quick read. It tells the story of Darwin's life and his ideas well - and it presents evolution very matter-of-fact-ly, which is how it should be. It gives a good (if necessarily brief) impression of how Darwin's work fitted in with other naturalists' studies, and how the ideas he was proposing were not new.
There's a slightly odd framing device whereby the story is told by some primates working for Ape TV. It's used mainly as a chance to get in a joke when things get too old-fashioned or discursive. But, one of the funniest sections is told in (I assume) Darwin's own words - his list of the pros and cons of marriage.
I'll get this ready to post to sudokugirl on Thursday.
There's a slightly odd framing device whereby the story is told by some primates working for Ape TV. It's used mainly as a chance to get in a joke when things get too old-fashioned or discursive. But, one of the funniest sections is told in (I assume) Darwin's own words - his list of the pros and cons of marriage.
I'll get this ready to post to sudokugirl on Thursday.
Journal Entry 5 by Nell-Lu at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (2/10/2009 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
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This is going travelling a couple of days early, so happy birthday Darwin for Thursday and happy reading sudokugirl!
This is going travelling a couple of days early, so happy birthday Darwin for Thursday and happy reading sudokugirl!
Journal Entry 6 by sudokugirl from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday, February 14, 2009
Arrived safely this morning :)
Journal Entry 7 by sudokugirl from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday, February 16, 2009
I started writing my impressions of this lovely little book but then realized Nell-Lu already expressed them so perfectly it would have been unnecessarily repetitive of me to write about the exact same things :) Either way, this was a very fun read.
The Lost Book project looks very interesting, thank you for sharing this. Book will be on its way to vekiki as soon as I have their address.
The Lost Book project looks very interesting, thank you for sharing this. Book will be on its way to vekiki as soon as I have their address.
Journal Entry 8 by sudokugirl at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (2/17/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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Sent to vekiki.
Sent to vekiki.
Journal Entry 9 by Vekiki from -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Recieved this morning... I have one bookring (also from TheLostBook spookily!) which I started last night so this ones next on the list and shouldnt take long
Journal Entry 10 by Vekiki at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Saturday, April 4, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (4/4/2009 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
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poped in the post today... sorry for hanging onto this for so long (because I recieved another bookring going to the same person and wanted to post both together)
poped in the post today... sorry for hanging onto this for so long (because I recieved another bookring going to the same person and wanted to post both together)
Received on Friday thanks, will read asap and send on.
Journal Entry 12 by WigglyWoods at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Friday, June 19, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (6/19/2009 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
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This was a good read, thanks for the opportunity I'm posting it on today.
This was a good read, thanks for the opportunity I'm posting it on today.
Received! Many thanks WigglyWoods. I'm looking forward to reading it and passing it on.
A neat and well-designed little book. Those anthropomorphic apes are annoying though, aren't they? Viva Darwin!
I have KiwiinEngland's address, so am passing it on.
I have KiwiinEngland's address, so am passing it on.
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To Dublin
To Dublin
Safely arrived. Thanks flambard for posting it on, and TheLostBook for starting the bookray. I haven't read comics since I was a child, so this will be an interesting experience.
I enjoyed this book, and a lot of details were passed on in a way that was easy to absorb. Interesting to note that if you didn't do well academically in Darwin's day you were packed off to become a doctor!!
I'm not sure who this book was aimed at, an adult audience who needed the distraction of a gimmick (the monkeys) and had to be told what circumnavigated meant.
I had no response from eMeReS, who seems to have book crossing activities on hold, so am sending this to okyrhoe.
I'm not sure who this book was aimed at, an adult audience who needed the distraction of a gimmick (the monkeys) and had to be told what circumnavigated meant.
I had no response from eMeReS, who seems to have book crossing activities on hold, so am sending this to okyrhoe.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posting this to the next person on the ring. I hope you find this book as interesting as I did
Posting this to the next person on the ring. I hope you find this book as interesting as I did
Arrived in Athens, Greece!
I enjoyed reading this, even though it reads as if it's an educational supplement for school than a 'real' graphic work (with artistic merit).
There were moments when I minded the didactic tone of the narrative presentation, especially at the conclusion when the debate regarding the teaching of the theory of evolution in American schools was covered. It's an important issue, and I do believe there's a world of a difference btwn theory/hypothesis/belief; I just didn't like the 'tone' in this segment. Maybe if the animals themselves were allowed to 'speak their minds' as they do in the rest of the book....
Reading this brief biography has piqued my interest in Darwin's travels, and I think I may look for an in-depth account of his life, adventures, and discoveries.
-------
On its way to Hayes13.
There were moments when I minded the didactic tone of the narrative presentation, especially at the conclusion when the debate regarding the teaching of the theory of evolution in American schools was covered. It's an important issue, and I do believe there's a world of a difference btwn theory/hypothesis/belief; I just didn't like the 'tone' in this segment. Maybe if the animals themselves were allowed to 'speak their minds' as they do in the rest of the book....
Reading this brief biography has piqued my interest in Darwin's travels, and I think I may look for an in-depth account of his life, adventures, and discoveries.
-------
On its way to Hayes13.
Arrived home to find this (and many others)!! Will get to it as quickly as I can.
Thanks for sending it along to me!!
Thanks for sending it along to me!!
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I really liked this "comic book" adventure, all grown up, of Darwin's life and work.... I learned a few things about Darwin that I didn't know before: that he was an avid "beetler", for example, nor did I realize that the famous story of "the third beetle" was about Darwin. (Now you'll just have read the book, wont you?)
My first "graphic" book! (I'm with Flambard, however... the apes were a little too cutesy!)
Forgive me if you find some sand between the pages... my son ambushed me with a frisbee ;-)
On to Australia!!
I really liked this "comic book" adventure, all grown up, of Darwin's life and work.... I learned a few things about Darwin that I didn't know before: that he was an avid "beetler", for example, nor did I realize that the famous story of "the third beetle" was about Darwin. (Now you'll just have read the book, wont you?)
My first "graphic" book! (I'm with Flambard, however... the apes were a little too cutesy!)
Forgive me if you find some sand between the pages... my son ambushed me with a frisbee ;-)
On to Australia!!
Journal Entry 23 by davemurray101 from Christiansted, US Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands on Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Hey guys. just recieved this one today. Thanks to the lost book and Hayes 13 (and for including the postcard). There is a dust problem at my place so sand will not be an isse. cheers
Journal Entry 24 by davemurray101 from Christiansted, US Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands on Wednesday, September 16, 2009
A fantastic educational book. Definitely should be put into every high school library. Beautifully written and illustrated - the whole truth about Darwin and Evolution.
Journal Entry 25 by davemurray101 at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, September 18, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (9/18/2009 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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sent to Pensylvania this afternoon
sent to Pensylvania this afternoon
This one came in a few days ago. I'm really looking forward to reading it...it looks like a heck of a lot of fun!
Thanks for including me!
Thanks for including me!
This book made me happy. That might seem like a weird thing to say considering the subject matter, but I’m a big geek for biology and any related topic.
Usually, I’m quick to spot factual errors in books like this one. I thought I might have found a minor error in one of the illustrations, but it was iffy and therefore negligible. I was pleasantly surprised with the integrity of the information in this book, and was impressed by the unique format in which it was presented.
Of course, I have to award the authors bonus points for acknowledging Bobby Henderson and The Flying Spaghetti Monster.
My only "complaint" is that the book doesn’t have an ISBN. I'd love to have a copy on hand to pass around the university, but I'm not sure I'll be able to find one. (Perhaps the authors might consider releasing another edition, teehee?)
Thanks for including me in this bookray. I'll be sending a PM to the next participant tonight, and I hope to have it in the mail soon.
Usually, I’m quick to spot factual errors in books like this one. I thought I might have found a minor error in one of the illustrations, but it was iffy and therefore negligible. I was pleasantly surprised with the integrity of the information in this book, and was impressed by the unique format in which it was presented.
Of course, I have to award the authors bonus points for acknowledging Bobby Henderson and The Flying Spaghetti Monster.
My only "complaint" is that the book doesn’t have an ISBN. I'd love to have a copy on hand to pass around the university, but I'm not sure I'll be able to find one. (Perhaps the authors might consider releasing another edition, teehee?)
Thanks for including me in this bookray. I'll be sending a PM to the next participant tonight, and I hope to have it in the mail soon.
Journal Entry 28 by snarkhunting at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Sunday, October 25, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (10/26/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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On its way to Alaska!
On its way to Alaska!
Received this from a neighbor today, apparently it had been delivered to her house by mistake. :0 Happy to have received a quick read in the mail, as i'm being bombarded by rings/rays lately. Will read and post off as soon as i have the address for the next reader. Thanks to allthesepieces for mailing and The Lost Book for hosting.
I did enjoy this short biography of Darwin, though i agree with most of the above that the apes were an interesting but odd story telling device. I also thought it was really great that this was published as a "free gift for Darwin's 200th birthday" and i'm glad to have been a part of this very special book's travels. Just waiting on an address before i send it on.
Journal Entry 31 by dakini6 at Sent To The Next Bookcrosser, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Friday, November 27, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (11/28/2009 UTC) at Sent To The Next Bookcrosser, Bookray -- Controlled Releases
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Posting of to azuki. Enjoy!
Posting of to azuki. Enjoy!
Book is here and thanks for the nice postcard and everything! I do hope to visit Alaska some day.
Lately I haven't had much time to read but should be able to send this on within a month.
Lately I haven't had much time to read but should be able to send this on within a month.
I think the little book does an amicable job of introducting Darwin's life and work in the few pages it has. I certainly learn a lot more than I knew.
I am waiting to hear back from the next reader and then I'll mail it on. Thanks for sharing this book. And I really like the words on the backcover: "Don't be a trilobite - make sure your family evolve into superbeings by keeping this book, lending it or giving it away." I guess all of us bookcrossers will become flying gurus...
Happy New Year to you all!!
I am waiting to hear back from the next reader and then I'll mail it on. Thanks for sharing this book. And I really like the words on the backcover: "Don't be a trilobite - make sure your family evolve into superbeings by keeping this book, lending it or giving it away." I guess all of us bookcrossers will become flying gurus...
Happy New Year to you all!!
Journal Entry 34 by nediamnori87 from St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, January 21, 2010
This book arrived this morning I very much look forward to reading it soon but as is the way I have several rings ahead of this to read but I should get to it soon.
Journal Entry 35 by nediamnori87 from St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 27, 2010
I really enjoyed this. As a basis for an understanding as to where the theory of evolution comes from I can't think of a more entertaining way than this. I thoroughly enjoyed the cartoons and some parts had me chuckling out loud.
The full history of Darwin's life and arrival at his "On The Origin Of Species" is set out in a clear and comprehensive way detailing various experiments he carried out as well as Darwin's own personal life.
I especially appreciate the back cover and so as I don't want to be de-evolutionised I am giving this book straight to Philosoraptor. Thank you for organising the ring!
The full history of Darwin's life and arrival at his "On The Origin Of Species" is set out in a clear and comprehensive way detailing various experiments he carried out as well as Darwin's own personal life.
I especially appreciate the back cover and so as I don't want to be de-evolutionised I am giving this book straight to Philosoraptor. Thank you for organising the ring!
Journal Entry 36 by nediamnori87 at St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 27, 2010
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Given to philosoraptor
Given to philosoraptor
Journal Entry 37 by Philosoraptor from Haywards Heath, West Sussex United Kingdom on Thursday, January 28, 2010
Was handed this by nediamnori, from her chuckles and smiles I think I'm going to like this one :D
Journal Entry 38 by Philosoraptor from Haywards Heath, West Sussex United Kingdom on Friday, January 29, 2010
You soon find out that this is a short, light-hearted comic meant to inform and be passed on, like a fat pamphlet, to spread awareness about the importance of Darwin and the facts of evolution. I, however, was expecting a big ol' graphic novel so felt saddened when this came to an end quickly. It's well drawn, funny in places and the history around Darwin is fascinating. It's serves as a great introductory look at Darwin and I'm thankful that "intelligent" design and creationism are swiftly binned for the tripe they are, though I would have liked a more staunch scientific position against religion and a clearer account of Darwin's non-belief in a creator rather than leaving his beliefs ambiguous. I also thought on occasion the authors had their own agenda (anti-video game and anti-hunting it appears!) but I'm mostly impressed by their knowledge and presentation of Darwin's place in history, I only wish it was more in-depth so I can continue reading.
Journal Entry 39 by Philosoraptor at St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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Sent on today to mafarrimond, enjoy!
Sent on today to mafarrimond, enjoy!
The book has arrived safely. I will read asap. Thanks.
Afeter reading a number of lengthy books recently, this was an enjoyable change to reading style. I enjoyed the graphics. An interesting read. Thanks for sharing.
Journal Entry 42 by mafarrimond at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, March 21, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (3/19/2010 UTC) at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Posted to Oedde
Posted to Oedde
Oops, I forgot to journal this when I got it. I have finished reading it now and will send it on soon.
I enjoyed reading about Darwin in such an unusual way.
I enjoyed reading about Darwin in such an unusual way.
Journal Entry 44 by Oedde at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (4/13/2010 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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It's on its way to Australia again! Have a wonderful journey.
It's on its way to Australia again! Have a wonderful journey.
Arrived in Melbourne today on a cold and sunny Winter's day.Thanks for sending it all the way down under!
I have a large book to finish first then I'll get onto this one, probably in a couple of weeks or so.
I have a large book to finish first then I'll get onto this one, probably in a couple of weeks or so.
I read a biography of Darwin last year and it was really interesting. This graphic novel was a great way to go through the life of this incredible man again. I'm not so sure about the gorillas doing the narration, but the graphic style gave the opportunity to bring a lot of information together - and it was a quick read, very welcome after the long novel I had just finished.
I posted it today and it's already left cold, wintry Melbourne on its way to tokorua in New South Wales.
Thanks to the Lost Book for including me in this bookring.
I posted it today and it's already left cold, wintry Melbourne on its way to tokorua in New South Wales.
Thanks to the Lost Book for including me in this bookring.
Thanks for sending this on.
