Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure (BOOKRING)

Registered by SwissToni on 2/2/2004
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
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21 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by SwissToni on Monday, February 2, 2004
"If someone called you a "googlewhack" what would you do? Would you end up playing table tennis with a nine-year-old boy in Boston? Would you find yourself in Los Angeles wrangling snakes, or would you go to China to be licked by a performance artist? If your name is Dave Gorman, then all of these things could be true...

Fuelled by a lust for life and a desperate desire to do anything except what he’s supposed to be doing (writing that novel and growing up), Dave falls under the spell of an obscure Internet word game--Googlewhacking.

Addicted to the game, and gripped by obsession, Dave travels three times round the world, visiting four continents and the unlikeliest cast of real-life eccentrics you’ll ever meet in what becomes an epic challenge, a life-changing, globe-trotting Googlewhack adventure.

A hostage to the vagaries of a search engine, Dave Gorman has become a 21st-century Dice Man throwing his fortune to the fates. The only difference is that the dice Dave rolls has three billion faces"

Bought this on the strength of "Are You Dave Gorman?" and was certainly not disappointed - it's funny. Very funny. Read it in one sitting funny. Enjoyed it so much, I thought I'd do a bookring with it...

Here are the participants:
Sunny27 (Aus)
awaywithfairies (Aus)
bookfrog (Aus)
tqd (Aus)
saine (Aus) skipped!
puppymummy (Aus)
Libertine101 (Aus)
FushMush(Aus)
crimson-tide (Aus)
NoodleBowl(Aus)
twinmaker (Aus)
auntymel (Aus)
kirst040 (Aus)
estherase (UK)
scarlett17 (UK)
kuju (UK)
lady-mondegreen (UK)
r-w (UK)
starry-starry (uk)
TimTheMed (UK)
wistfuldragon (UK)<-- book is here!
Koalabare (UK)
Dizzydormouse (UK)
Anfield (UK)
rainbowandrain (UK)
hey-miki (UK)
oblivious1980(UK)
spike1972 (UK)
Catrionamoore (UK)
GlasgowGal (UK)
Lorelei03 (USA)
Zmrzlina (USA)
fsr44 (USA)
Nut (Ire)
Menita (NL)
abrokenstarr (UK)



Then back to me!

Here are the rules:

1. When you receive the book, make a journal entry so we all get the thrill of knowing where it's at...

2. PM the next person in line for their address.

3. Read the book, and make a journal entry to tell us what you thought. The journal entry has to include your own personal Googlewhack - which you should also write in the book...

4. Make release notes/a journal entry to say when the book is leaving your hands and who'll be catching it next, and pop it into the post!

Any problems, ping me a private message!

7/3/04 - by the way, if you write your googlewhack down here, google will catch up with it and index it. That's progress for you, eh? (go check WICKETKEEPERS WALKMAN out on google to see what I mean). I'm happy for you to stick it down though, cos I want to know what you have gone for, and otherwise I won't know till I get the book back. Actually it made me laugh - I was trying to show someone what a googlewhack was too. Sigh.

29/08/08 - so where's this got to then? Is it ever coming home, I wonder?


Release planned for Tuesday, February 03, 2004 at Postal Release in Postal release, Postal Release Controlled Releases.

Let's get this show on the road... where better to start than in beautiful Australia (where I'm sure not enough bookrings start life).

Here's my googlewhack to get us going. Kind of appropriate to me I think:

"WICKETKEEPERS WALKMAN"

remember the rules folks! off she goes... over to you Deb...

Journal Entry 3 by sunny27 from Gympie, Queensland Australia on Friday, February 13, 2004
Hooray! Googlewhack arrived yesterday!

Journal Entry 4 by sunny27 from Gympie, Queensland Australia on Saturday, February 21, 2004
Okay - Dave Gorman is a very funny man, and it's nice to read about someone who has the freedom he does (ie. doesn't have to go into some god-forsaken office every day), but perhaps it's time our little Dave got a life?

This is a really funny book about another of Dave's obsessions with something other people can barely fathom. I flew through the book and haven't stopped trying to tell people about it ever since. Unfortunately, his tendency to throw a tantie when things don't always go his way turned me off a bit.

When I was looking for my own Googlewhack I decided to use one of SwissToni's words and one of my own. Maybe we can get our own 10 in a row?

My googlewhack? WICKETKEEPERS MORSEL

Journal Entry 5 by sunny27 at on Tuesday, March 2, 2004
Released on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 at sent to another bookcrosser in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Controlled Releases.

Posted to awaywithfairies today. Happy googlewhacking!

Journal Entry 6 by wingawaywithfairieswing from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, March 4, 2004
Received the book in the post today. Thanks sunny27. Look forward to reading it!

BTW, will be keeping the book until March 19 with SwissToni's permission. Will be going to see Dave's live Googlewhack show (the new extended version, apparently) in Sydney that night. Hope to get the book signed while I'm there.

Journal Entry 7 by wingawaywithfairieswing from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Friday, March 19, 2004
Really enjoyed this book. Have been looking forward to reading it since I heard it was being written. I can certainly identify with the "it's about time I grew up" theme. Like Sunny27, I found Dave's tanties a bit over-the-top but that's probably just his personality.

Actually finished reading the book last weekend but have been hanging onto it until today. Went to see the Googlewhack show last night at Sydney Theatre in Walsh Bay and got the book signed by Dave afterwards. Just a little thank-you to SwissToni for instigating this bookring!

My Googlewhack: CORNETIST TINNITUS

20/04/04 Have just checked my Googlewhack again and it is no longer one. Ten more websites have also appeared that were not there a month ago! FYI, the site I found was titled "My horn - my health, my happiness".

09/08/04 Another late addit! Was surfing Dave Gorman's website today and took a look at his Links page. Guess what? Bookcrossing is there! According to Dave, it's "a beautiful idea, beautifully rendered". Does his signing of at least one Bookcrossing copy of his book have anything to do with it? I hope so!

Dave Gorman

Journal Entry 8 by wingawaywithfairieswing at on Friday, March 19, 2004
Release planned for Sunday, March 21, 2004 at Postal Release in Sydney, Australia Controlled Releases.

Posted to BookFrog. Happy reading!

Journal Entry 9 by BookFrog from Albion Park, New South Wales Australia on Monday, March 22, 2004
*catch* Arrived today. Was reclining quite happily thinking no bookrings and three arrived today! Teach me! But very excited about receiving this signed copy! Now just got to install lightbulbs so I can read it!

Thank you!

Journal Entry 10 by BookFrog from Albion Park, New South Wales Australia on Friday, March 26, 2004
I have read Are you Dave Gorman and his co-writers book Join me by Danny W and now I have read this one.

It is quite unfathomable how people can get so obsessive but also amusing. I sort of sympathised with him on the growing up issue - though I can't go a beard to prove I am growing up - probably a good thing.

I would have liked to see his stage show - oh well onto finding my googlewhack now - I am sure there is a cryptic crossword around here somewhere but then I have to solve it and well that's no help! What to do, what to do, ahh textbooks!

I was sick when I read this and so haven't been sleeping well and one of my fevered dreams was I was googlewhacking - a bit scary I think!

Perhaps Dave should steer clear of drinking though he has done alright for himself, he gets to travel, he gets to put on stage shows and write books. I wouldn't want to grow up too fast if I was him.

Will give to tqd at Tuesday cocktails.

Journal Entry 11 by tqd from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Received from bookfrog at tuesday's cocktail evening.

Complete with Dave Gorman's signature, and other BCers' googlewhacks! Now I've got to start finding my own googlewhack!

Journal Entry 12 by tqd from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, April 10, 2004
Wow, this guy gets far too obsessed about things! (Says she, ignoring the toppling piles of books in the house...)

A fun read! Loved the wandering accent, the globetrotting, the alcohol induced stupidity.

I am a little scared that awaywithfairies made him sign this book. Is he going to become completely obsessed with BookCrossing now??

And my googlewhack: picaresque flummoxing (no whicketkeepers for me!)

Onto Saine next.

Journal Entry 13 by tqd from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Monday, April 19, 2004
Popped in the mail to puppymummy today! (Saine asked to be skipped.)

And I found another googlewhack, just to show off. "cremation pennywhistles" :)

Journal Entry 14 by puppymummy from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Thursday, April 29, 2004
Just received in Melbourne. I'm very curious to find out about googlewhacking....

Journal Entry 15 by puppymummy from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Friday, May 21, 2004
I'm halfway through, but I have already felt the need to search. I found a googlewhack the other day when I wasn't able to log into BookCrossing, but of course I've forgetten where I put that piece of paper and have just spent half an hour searching for a new one - and it worked!
"plagiarist xanth"
In terms of the book, I agree that he does get obsessed by little things, but it's still fun! The only problem is that I keep having to tell someone about the amazing coincidences that led to him visiting David Gorman's website, so I kept my partner awake last month and then had to ring my Dad today. I knew it was the sort of thing that Dad would be interested in hearing! But now you are all thinking strange things about my Dad.....
Should be finished soon.


Journal Entry 16 by puppymummy at on Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Released on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 at Post Office in Melbourne, Australia Controlled Releases.

It actually took me a little while to get it finished, I kept picking it up and putting it down. I loved the googlewhack concept, but I think that Dave became a little too self-absorbed and the book became less interesting. However, I am one of those people who HAS to finish a book (even though my TBR pile is enormous) so I finally finished it. It is currently in the post on the way to Western Australia.

Journal Entry 17 by libertine101 from Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, July 6, 2004
Got it! I never even heard of the term 'googlewhack' until now....The things you learn through BC ;)

Journal Entry 18 by libertine101 from Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, July 14, 2004
I REALLY enjoyed this book! Found it very amusing and loved all the quirks and coincidences. Lets face it, Dave is either manic or just plain mad to do what he did! ;)
Pity he could not go into greater detail about his trip to China but apart from that, it was an enjoyable read.

In regards to Puppymummy's googlewhack.... I was rather bemused when I saw it because my real first name is Xanthi . But no, I'm not a plagerist! ;)
I'm currebtly trying to find my own 'whack and am having no luck! :< I'll keep trying....

EDIT: I found: libertine procavia

I looked atthe site and it looks like gobbleygook to me but I hope it counts!

Journal Entry 19 by libertine101 from Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Friday, July 16, 2004
This is off to FushMush next, as crimson-tide is not ready for it atm. When FushMush is finished reading it, she will send it onto crimson-tide. (Hope that's okay SwissToni!)

Journal Entry 20 by libertine101 from Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Off to FushMush now!

Journal Entry 21 by fushmush from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Monday, July 26, 2004
Received in the mail today. I'm in the middle of a bookray at the moment but this should be the next on the list.

When I went to see the show a couple of years ago I came home and found a googlewhack (http://www.fushmush.net/pics/miscellaneous/googlewhack1_large.jpg). Unforunately, it's not a googlewhack anymore :(

Journal Entry 22 by fushmush from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, August 12, 2004
I finished this this morning. I've seen the stage show so it was just a recap for me. It's like reading a book of the stage show! This being said, I actually enjoyed Googlewhack more than I enjoyed Are you Dave Gorman?. Too much repetition in Are you Dave Gorman?.

And I found another googlewhack :D. I've uploaded it as the journal entry picture so it remains a googlewhack. (the book gives you some good clues on finding googlewhacks as I found two googlewhacks straight away. Last time it took me at least half an hour!)

Update: Posted to crimson-tide on 23/08/04

Journal Entry 23 by wingcrimson-tidewing from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, August 26, 2004
Landed safely in my PO Box today. Is second on the list so will get to it soon. Have already been playing about with some googlewhacks, but would like to find one that makes more sense, so looking forward to reading the handy hints in the book.

Journal Entry 24 by wingcrimson-tidewing from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, September 16, 2004
Aaaarrrgh!!! My googlewhack just disappeared!

Obviously being the internet, things are always in a state of flux, but to lose the whack between finding it and posting here is a bit rich I thought. It has not gone from 1 result to 2, but has gone altogether. However I did take a screen shot (thanks fushmush) and shall try to get it on this entry as a picture. Also, if I name it here, then perhaps it will reappear as a googlewhack??

QUAQUAVERSAL EXPLORERS

I've almost finished the book and will find another "real" googlewhack and post again soon.

Edit: sorry the image is not very clear.

Journal Entry 25 by wingcrimson-tidewing from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, September 16, 2004
I also really enjoyed reading this. He is definitely a bit of an odd ball but a part of me envies the freedom to just up and off like that and follow your dream or obsession or whatever. In about the last third of the book, the chapters seemed to get shorter and shorter and more "task orientated", and I missed the personal touch and insights into the people he was meeting. And yes, at least *something* about China (apart from the three photos) would have been great. Overall a great read. Imaginitive, funny and interesting.

My replacement googlewhack is in the picture for this entry. Click on the pic to enlarge.

Posting off to noodlebowl today.


===== Update July 2006 =====

Not surprisingly, it ain't a googlewhack no more. Google now seems to be able to find 62 entries - quite a few of which are of the nonsense variety though.

Journal Entry 26 by noodlebowl from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Arrived safe and sound. Thanks! It was funny getting a note in the postbox for a parcel addressed to one N.Bowl - took me a while to figure out who that was!

Journal Entry 27 by noodlebowl from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Oh Holy crap, I still have this book! A thousand googly apologies. I enjoyed it though as I have seen Googlewhack live, it was like reading the screenplay or something similar. My googlewhack is not found yet, as it is no longer a google whack. Will find one though and edit my journal entry. Still what a way to make a living ey! Thanks to swisstoni! Off to Twinmaker next.

====posted today 30/12/04======

Happy New Years Eve! Apologies again for hijackiing this book for SOOOO long...

Journal Entry 28 by twinmaker from Winthrop, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, January 4, 2005
Arrived safely today, will read promptly. If I may, my googlewhack is ready and waiting, as of 4 minutes ago.

oshmigosh dinner

something my mother used to make and we children were forced to eat. Ok so it's not a proper googlewhack. Will keep on with the search!

Journal Entry 29 by twinmaker from Winthrop, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, April 12, 2005
I posted this late January to auntymel but forgot to journal - will chase her up, she has surely received it by now

Journal Entry 30 by Melissa_Brown from Preston, Victoria Australia on Saturday, May 7, 2005
yes yes yes... surely it has arrived! the minute i took it out of the parcel i sat down on the verandah to read. powered through half the book barely stopping to blink it is so damn engaging.

then stuff happened.

so i finally remembered to come over here and journal it's arrival, have already wasted way too much time looking for a googlewack, good to hear i am not the only one!

will shuffle my TBfR pile and then kickstart my TBP (to be posted) pile.

Journal Entry 31 by Melissa_Brown from Preston, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, August 17, 2005
More stuff happened. I think Dave is a bad influence on me! Better put this book in my bag and read it on the train instead of doing those crazy sudoku puzzles on the train.

Journal Entry 32 by kirst040 from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Arrived yesterday. Thank you. I have two to finish before I get to this.

I've already spent half the morning looking for a googlewack - I'd better get back to work....

Journal Entry 33 by kirst040 from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, November 2, 2005
Great idea and I did enjoy reading it, especially his observations of the people he was meeting but like a few people here I felt it lost momentum towards the end. Again, it would be nice to have the freedom to be able to follow your obsession like that.

I have spent countless wasted minutes looking for a googlewhack to no avail, I keep coming up with word lists. Anyway I'll keep trying and will report back once I get one.

Have PM'd estherase and will send on once I have her address.

Thanks for starting this swisstoni & fitting me in as a late starter!

Journal Entry 34 by kirst040 from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Monday, November 7, 2005
Mailing to estherase today 08/11. Should take between 2 - 4 weeks.

Journal Entry 35 by estherase on Monday, November 28, 2005
Hoorah! It got here: found it in my pigeonhole at work this morning... I'll let yu know how it goes..

Journal Entry 36 by estherase on Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Ooops, sorry- I know it's been a while: Christmas and a rereading of Owen Meany slowed me down. Plus my total failure at finding my own googlewhack- all my attempts gave me loads of those long lists of peculiar words. Sob.

Great fun book though...

Journal Entry 37 by Scarlett17 from Bexley, Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 10, 2006
This arrived today, with excellent timing because I finished the book I was reading during my lunch break at work and arrived home to find my next read (this!) on the doormat. I've already found my googlewhack, which is STURGEON WINDOWCLEANER.
Now I just have to read the book to find out about it!!

Journal Entry 38 by Scarlett17 from Bexley, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 11, 2006
I found this book most amusing and very easy to read. Oddly, when I was looking for my googlewhack, windowcleaners was in the dictionary but doesn't seem to be any longer. This doesn't seem to be something that has just afflicted me though, as several of the author's googlewhacks also contain words which are not underlined. The dictionary site must change! The only thing that spoiled it for me was the constant niggling thought that surely he ought to be doing something more constructive with his time that flying back and forth across the Atlantic on pointless missions!

Journal Entry 39 by Scarlett17 from Bexley, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Setting off to London tomorrow to Kuju.

Journal Entry 40 by kuju from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Oops forgot to journal when I received this book but I just finished reading it while in China. I saw Dave Gorman do the stage show of this book many years ago and it was fun to relive the adventure. Dave Gorman rocks, only he is capable of pulling off such stunts. I wish I was paid to aimlessly travel the world! I'll send it on as soon as I get the next addie.

Journal Entry 41 by Lady-Mondegreen from Basingstoke, Hampshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 28, 2006
This arrived yesterday (sorry was unable to journal last night) - thanks for letting me join in.

I went to see the Dave's Googlewhack Live show a while back in Southampton Guildhall so it will be good to renew my acquaintance with this adventure and have a think about a googlewhack myself.

Actually my hubbie worked with Dave Gorman once.... not the ginger bearded one though! Hubbies colleague did get a letter inviting him to go to the show "Are you Dave Gorman?" and he decided that it was a bit suspect and chose to ignore the invitation despite everyone in the office (including hubby) egging him on to take part. Duh!

Journal Entry 42 by Lady-Mondegreen from Basingstoke, Hampshire United Kingdom on Thursday, April 27, 2006
OK, just about to send this one off on to R-W who is next on the list. I enjoyed reading this - very good fun. I had been to see the stage show in Southampton nearly a year ago now (a badge for R-W in with the book) and I must admit I enjoyed the live performance more than the book maybe because I knew what was coming next all the time but I could "hear" Dave whilst I read it all so that helped. Anyway, it made me laugh and that can't be bad. I had to cross out my googlewhack as I realised the spelling was incorrect which is probably why it only had one hit. I haven't yet found another and waste enough time on the flipping pc as it is so think I will leave it there....

Journal Entry 43 by R-W from Rotherham, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, May 4, 2006
I've been wanting to read this book for ages. I've read 'are you Dave Gorman' and I've read a couple of books by Dave's mate, Danny Wallace, so I'm real happy that this is at last upon me. Should get to it over the weekend.
Thanks for mailing it on Lady-Mondegreen, I'll be sure to keep the book and badges moving

Journal Entry 44 by R-W from Rotherham, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, May 13, 2006
Fantastic!

Now I have a problem, I've been searching for googlewhacks all week and can I find one? NO!!!!

This book will be on the move real soon

Journal Entry 45 by TimTheMed on Monday, June 12, 2006
First of all, apologies for the tardy update here. I've been too busy reading the book (Plus failed to read the guidelines regarding the ring.)

The book was amusing, well written *and* a good idea. (Unlike another cmedian's book I've read not that long ago who also went on a 'crazy' adventure following a drunken bet.)

Journal Entry 46 by WistfulDragon from Streatham, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Thank you for the book - I received it a few days ago, but have been suffering from labrynthitis (which is slowly improving), so have taken a while to journal it.

I've been trying to find a googlewhack, but so far with no luck. I did find one combination of words for which there were no hits at all - but I can't write them here, because then I'd have created a googlewhack, which is a bit of a cheat! Anyway, I might have spelled one of the words incorrectly.

Journal Entry 47 by WistfulDragon from Streatham, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 5, 2006
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but have yet to find my googlewhack!!! I'm PM Koalabare today, and hope to have one by the time I get their address. Not so easy with minimal internet access!

Journal Entry 48 by WistfulDragon from Streatham, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Oh dear. I've had the address for a few days now, and still can't find a googlewhack. I fear I may have to give up, which means I'll miss out on the inclusion. I shall be posting the book this Saturday; sorry for the delay.

Journal Entry 49 by WistfulDragon from Streatham, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, February 12, 2007
EEEK!!! I just found this book when having a clear-out - what is it doing still at my house?! Am taking it to the post office this afternoon - I can't apologise enough for the delay!

Journal Entry 50 by Koalabare from Fetcham, Surrey United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Arrived! Wow, I think this was the first bookray I ever signed up for - 3 years and loads of people later it's finally reached me!

Looking forward to it - will report back soon.

Journal Entry 51 by Koalabare from Fetcham, Surrey United Kingdom on Monday, February 26, 2007
This was a quick, fun read - I was mostly mesmerised by Dave Gorman's complete obsession, but there were interesting points along the way - in particular the evolution vs creationist viewpoints (I'm with Dave on this one).

What struck me the most was the number of people who were quite happy to invite this lunatic (albeit very nice, but how were they to know that?) Googlewhacker into their homes - I didn't know whether to be humbled by people's trust or awed by the potential risks....

Anyway, thanks SwissToni for organising this - and for being indirectly responsible for my spending far too much time at work searching for my Googlewhack. ;)

And here it is: Truncated Zebroids

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