! Psychoville (BOOKRING)

by Christopher Fowler | Horror |
ISBN: 0751516643 Global Overview for this book
Registered by rem_DYI-991976 on 4/18/2004
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
17 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by rem_DYI-991976 on Sunday, April 18, 2004
From the blurb:
'Growing up in suburbia was hell for Billy March. Only a friendship with a girl as damaged as himself saved him from the petty-minded savagery of the residents of Invicta Cross... Ten years later, as the town is voted Britain's favourite, a smart and welathy young married couple are an instant hit in the Invicta Cross community. So when the vicious pranks begin and one neighbour after another goes missing, no one suspects that the perfect couple in Balmoral Close might know something more than they're telling...

One of the reviews from Amazon:
Just brilliant would recommend it to anyone. One of those you can't put down and talk about far too much in the pub, to the point that your friends think you are going quite mad, over a book, for god's sake.

Oh and how can anyone resist a book where the Prologue is titled 'Increasing the Validity of Your Opinions with Explosives'?
The book that got me hooked on Fowler. You must read it!

Journal Entry 2 by rem_DYI-991976 on Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Book Ring Rules (Adapted from psychjo and kleptokitty)

1) Everybody should leave a journal entry when receiving the book and after the read! Please let us all know what you think about it...
2) Also PM the next person on the list for a mailing address and when that person doesn't answer within 7 days MAX! please PM the one after...
3) Everybody should also try to read the book soon (max - one month?)- but in a joyful speed. It's not about how many books someone can read within a certain amount of time - it's about enjoying it...
4) You can send the book via surface mail or airmail - that is completely up to you.
5) If you find you don't have the time to read it when it's your turn please PM and I'll move you to a later slot.
6) Enjoy :-)


Participants

Rachels-ratty (UK)
ffyrestarr (UK)
Lucycat (UK)
perfect-circle (UK)
yiremyahu (UK)
jords (UK)
tabyorky (UK)
myopicmeringue (UK)
LadyChass (UK)
fellraven (UK)
fuzzhead (UK)
auglaise (UK)
flambard (UK)
dodau (UK)
Zarylia (Poland)
Amaranta20 (US)
catsalive (Australia)
OutOfReach (Australia)
icekween01 (US)
catrionamoore (UK)
rillaith (UK)
CaterinaAnna (UK)
rmg (UK)
heles7 (UK)
NotJimSmith (UK)
LisaGriffith (US)
mnewman (US)
fireflywishes (US)
MandaJo (US)
jherusalem (US)

...
back to me (UK).

Journal Entry 3 by rem_DYI-991976 at via Royal Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, May 20, 2004
Released on Thursday, May 20, 2004 at via Royal Mail in send to a fellow bookcrosser, Bookring Controlled Releases.

On it's way to rachels-ratty to start the ring.

Journal Entry 4 by short-rach from Hucknall, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Friday, May 21, 2004
And I couldn't resist it could I?! Promise not to get ANY ideas - I'm an angel me ;-)

This is heading straight to the top of MtTBR, shall journal again once read.

Journal Entry 5 by short-rach from Hucknall, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Monday, June 14, 2004
I LOVED this.. as Nia said, with the prologue entitled as it is - how could I NOT like it!

The writing style got me hooked from the get-go and the 'twist' in the tail was unexpected. I loved the 'anti-suberbia' theme that runs throughout the book. Various phrases/paragraphs had me quite literally laughing out loud as the characters reminded me so much of various neighbours over the years! If only you could do to them what happens in this book ;-)

Shall get this on it's way as soon as funds allow... Don't panic Nia, should be next week at the latest lol

Journal Entry 6 by ffyrestarr from Warminster, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 22, 2004
this was amazing! great writing style and such an unexpected twist to the plot!!well i din't see it coming,but for those later in the ring there are clues before hand in the story that i just basically didn't notice!

oh, well, really good book even with the weird title, slightly disturbing too...

though i found myself cheering the couple as they bring down the neighbours!

sending to lucycat when i get her addy and funds permit - should be soon!

Journal Entry 7 by lucycat from Hull, East Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, July 1, 2004
Landed this morning, thanks so much! Looking forward to reading it shortly, and have arranged to pass it on to P.C. at the Unconvention - no doubt I'll see a couple of you there! ;O)

Update 10/9/04

Apologies to all for taking so long to journal this - as is evidenced by lovely Michelle's journalling below, I have at least passed it along in the meantime!

I'm going to go for a hidden spoiler here, as there are a few things I want to have a bit of a rant about without spoiling it for readers on down the line. Those who need to know can highlight the section below...

This book took me so long to get into...but when I got about ten pages in, I couldn't put it down.

I loved the bleak, hopelessly oppressive world of Invicta Close, and the Job-esque trials of Billy March and his family. I thought Christopher Fowler had a bit of the Gaiman about his writing - he seemed to be leading the reader right to the edge of the abyss along with Billy and April, but there was enough of a hint of future vengeance about the story to keep you reading.

And when vengeance arrived - it was bloody awful. No pun intended. It seemed like Fowler watched 'NBK', 'Heathers' and 'Love and a .45' a few times and then cobbled together a sensationalist, suspenseless ending, with a plot twist you could see coming a mile off. But why??

I'm probably being harder than I would have been on the ending had I not loved the incredibly down-beat first two-thirds so much. It just seemed like the ideas, alas, ran out before the end-papers began.


You can look again now...

Journal Entry 8 by perfect-circle from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Friday, July 30, 2004
arrived this morning with a lovely bookmark from Lucy.

Journal Entry 9 by perfect-circle from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 4, 2004
From the excellently titled prologue to the twist at the end, I was utterly hooked. I also loved the 'anti-suburbia' theme and was laughing and quietly cheering as some characters were brought down.

Brilliant and on it's way to yiremyahu soon.

Journal Entry 10 by perfect-circle at on Thursday, August 12, 2004
Released on Thursday, August 12, 2004 at Postal Release in Controlled release, England United Kingdom.

posted to Yirmyahu today

Journal Entry 11 by Yiremyahu on Sunday, August 15, 2004
Received safely. Thanks!

Journal Entry 12 by Yiremyahu on Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Interesting book. I didn't see the twist at the end coming at all...

Will be on its way when I get round to posting it.

Journal Entry 13 by Jords from Preston, Lancashire United Kingdom on Thursday, September 2, 2004
Sorry I haven't journalled sooner, however I've been away for the past 3 weeks.

Anyway, received with many thanks and will journal when read - along with the other billion that have arrived in my absence - EEEEEK!

Journal Entry 14 by Jords from Preston, Lancashire United Kingdom on Thursday, November 4, 2004
Wasn't sure I'd like this one, but wowzers!!!

Excellent, thanks for letting me borrow it (and sorry for holding things up), off to tabyorky next

Released on Wednesday, December 08, 2004 at about 5:00:00 AM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at fellow bookcrosser (England) in Postal Release (England), England United Kingdom.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent in the post - sorry for taking so long

Journal Entry 16 by tabyorky from Doncaster, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 10, 2004
Received in the post today. Will put in my tbr pile and pass on to the next person as soon as possible.

Journal Entry 17 by rem_DYI-991976 on Sunday, December 12, 2004
Hi, just an update. I'm not posting any books out between now and January 5th for fear of losing them in the Yule deluge of post. I'd like to ask that this book is held back till the 5th as well. Happy holidays, all. :)


Journal Entry 18 by tabyorky from Doncaster, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, January 6, 2005
Started reading this book.

Journal Entry 19 by tabyorky from Doncaster, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, January 23, 2005
Took me a couple of chapters to get in to this book but once I did I really enjoyed it. Found it hard to put down too.

Journal Entry 20 by tabyorky from Doncaster, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Posted book to myopicmeringue.

Journal Entry 21 by MyopicMeringue on Monday, January 31, 2005
Thanks, tabyorky - and thanks, daemonwolf, for starting this bookring. Looks like an interesting book - I'm looking forward to reading it. I have a couple of other bookring books to read first, but hope to finish them within the next couple of weeks, and then can get started on this one.

Journal Entry 22 by MyopicMeringue on Friday, June 10, 2005
Sorry for holding up the bookring - I've had this book way too long! Well, I have finally read it. I was actually a bit unsure whether I'd like it, as I've never read any horror before and wasn't sure what to expect - but I found it brilliant. I loved the satire on surburban life, and the bizarre humour that would pop up unexpectedly in the middle of all the suspense. The twist is great - the book is so fast-paced that I didn't think to stop and think about what the twist might be, but once I found out, it made perfect sense, and explained a lot of things that didn't quite make sense. Very cleverly done - the author has a terrific imagination.

I will be sending this book to LadyChass as soon as I get her address.

Edited to add: LadyChass has asked to be skipped from the ring, so I have PMed Fellraven, and am waiting for her address.

Journal Entry 23 by MyopicMeringue on Saturday, June 18, 2005
Posted to Fellraven this afternoon.

Journal Entry 24 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Received from MyopicMeringue in this morning's post. Thanks!

Journal Entry 25 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 28, 2005
After having been vaguely and mildly disappointed by Fowler's "Disturbia" earlier this year, I was tempted to give this one a miss despite having signed up for it at the same time. Having read it I'm glad I didn't as I found it much more satisfying than the previous novel. Maybe it's because I'm rather more familiar with the suburbia of "Psychoville" than with the central London of "Disturbia", and with the snobbiness of suburban drones with nothing to actually be snobby about.

I'd like to set out my thoughts and reactions in some depth but I suspect that it would be very difficult to do that without introducing spoilers to the detriment of later readers. So I'll just say that I liked it a lot and wait for fuzzhead's address to send it along.

Journal Entry 26 by fuzzhead from Oxford, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, July 2, 2005
Received from FellRaven yesterday.

Journal Entry 27 by fuzzhead from Oxford, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 15, 2006
A good read - pretty well paced until the end which I felt it all got a bit rushed.

Now on its way to flambard.

Journal Entry 28 by Flambard from Horsham, West Sussex United Kingdom on Thursday, February 16, 2006
Arrived! Many thanks - and thanks for the stickers and post-its too! Much appreciated!

Journal Entry 29 by Flambard from Horsham, West Sussex United Kingdom on Sunday, March 5, 2006
Well, er, since Psychoville is between Crawley and East Grinstead it must be, oh, say about 5 miles from here! To be honest it sounds just like Haywards Heath ...

The story was imaginitive and well realised, but I thought the pacing was erratic. The first half was lethargic and the last part too quick. I did laugh out loud at the chocolate cake though! And where did Prentiss get all that equipment?

Many thanks - moving on now...

Released 18 yrs ago (3/5/2006 UTC) at By Mail in By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Off to dodau in Bristol! Enjoy!

Journal Entry 31 by dodau from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Arrived yesterday. Next to be read

Journal Entry 32 by dodau from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 14, 2006
I've either read something very similar to this before or I've read this. It didn't click until over half way through and though I then knew the end of the plot it didn't spoil it much for me.

I've had no response to pms re this book so skipping a member.

Released 17 yrs ago (5/16/2006 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:


Journal Entry 34 by Amaranta20 from Seattle, Washington USA on Friday, June 9, 2006
This arrived in the mail. I'm in between books at the moment and I can't wait to read it.

Journal Entry 35 by Amaranta20 from Seattle, Washington USA on Tuesday, June 20, 2006
*SPOILERS*


This was pretty good. The ending was perfect. I loved how insane the girl was. Your typical book would have made her "eccentric" rather than "bat shit" and I appreciated the difference. I'm not entirely convinced that there was no conspiracy to speak of... What about the Prout woman making up the story about Billy's mother's fall in the grocery store? And not driving her to the hospital? And it's a load of BS to say that once the doctor found the money clip it was "too late to do anything" for Billy's father. The doctor could have gone to the gas station and explained his mistake and they probably would have given Mr. March his job back.

It was kind of sad to see poor Billy at the end, when you've been reading along feeling so satisfied for him that he's getting his revenge at last... I wanted him to feel wronged still and to do something about it, but it was interesting having things play out this way. The only other thing is, what about Graham recognizing "Billy"? Maybe it was just cause Graham heard him asking after "Oliver", so he assumed that it must be Billy?

I'll send this on soon as I get the next address.

Journal Entry 36 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Book received. Thanks Amaranta20.

Journal Entry 37 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Monday, October 2, 2006
Interesting and enjoyable reading if a little disappointing towards the end. I too found the first part a little slow but I loved the snobbery of the middle-classes - plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

I really expected more finesse in the exacting of revenge & I guess that was the plan but he lost the plot & made things very messy. I didn't see the twist - I missed a lot of the tips pointing to it - but I did wonder about the 'Red Diary' because I thought Billy had chucked it realising he wasn't going to retaliate.

I agree with Amaranta20, some of the events may have been coincidence but there was a certain amount of conspiracy. The March's weren't forced out by accident. The people involved had just convinced themselves otherwise because they didn't like the 'lower-classes' intruding on their neighbourhood. I think there was something in part one that said how little the Invicta Close residents considered the March's feelings, they were nothing & didn't deserve any consideration.

Thanks daemonwolf. I'll get this off the outofreach ASAP.

Journal Entry 38 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Posting to outofreach today.

Journal Entry 39 by outofreach from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Thursday, October 5, 2006
this book arrived in the mail early this morning. i didn't even know that the mail people are already delivering at around six o'clock in the morning.
however, i'm finishing of my bachelor degree right now and i guess, i won't be able to read it until november. i hope i won't hold the ring up too long. sorry for any inconvenience.
and thank you catsalive for posting the book to me...

Journal Entry 40 by outofreach from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, November 15, 2006
i really enjoyed reading this one.
it reminded me a little of chuck palahniuk's writing and quentin tarantino's films.

i will send it on to the next person in line as soon as i have their address. i already contacted icekween and catriona but both pulled out.

book is now on its way to sally in england 19/11/2006

Journal Entry 41 by Rillaith from Wokingham, Berkshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 8, 2006
The book arrived safe and sound while I was on holiday - so please excuse the delay!

I've actually had a chance to read it already - started yesterday morning on the train to work, and finished it before falling asleep (still in my work clothes!) last night. I found the first half of the book to border on tediousness - I knew a little of what to expect later on, and found myself wishing that they'd just hurry up and get on with getting there. (If I hadn't been a "captive audience" with 4 hours of commute for reading, I do wonder whether I'd have given up on it. It think not, but it would have been close.)

The second half was very neatly executed, although I found myself wishing that it had been drawn out more, rather than almost rushing through it, especially in comparison to the first part. I certainly didn't see the twist in the tail until it stung me, though, but the promised gruesomeness was there in spades. Very inventive, although all a bit rushed, and without quite enough drawing out of the spiralling out of control that's hinted at, the changes of plan not being apparent until we're told much later that they had been changes of plan, and so on.

Thanks for sharing!

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