Tom Robbins is among my favorite goofball authors. He's great for a juicy quick read--always surprising, hilarious, and lusty. He's not at his finest in this recent effort (2003), but it's still a fun romp. I have no idea how to describe what happens in this book. It's largely inexplicable, but involves a Japanese badger, MIA Viet Nam vets, and a woman named Bootsey, among others.

If you don't like reading profane language, this isn't for you. The first sentence of the book is "It has been reported that Tanuki fell from the sky using his scrotum as a parachute." That should give you some indication of the profanity, and also the generally bizarre way in which Robbins' mind appears to function.

maelstrommolly asked me for this book, which prompted me to offer it up as a bookring. She's first in line, I'm last.

Simple rules: Journal when you receive it. Read it. At some point while reading, PM the next person in this list for his/her mailing address. When you're done, make another journal entry with your thoughts on the book, then mail it off. Please try to finish within about a month of receiving it--it's an easy book to read (if it's not, that means you don't like it and don't have to finish it!).

Oh, and the water damage on the dustjacket? My fault, due to a mishap with a goldfish.

The list, first leg:
maelstrommolly
Ebumu (that's me)

Hmm, no takers on the bookring. Am I too honest to be a good salesman? Anyway, the book is (finally) off to Maelstrommolly (media mail Oct. 18). I'm sorry for the delay. For some reason I've had a hard time parting with this book. Maybe I liked it more than I thought?

Got this back in the mail today from maelstrommolly, who mysteriously ssent it back without reading it or making a journal entry. I guess this qualifies for the "shortest bookring ever" contest.

To anyone else contemplating reading this book: Although I didn't do a good job of selling this bookring in the forums, and although this isn't Tom Robbins' best work, please note that I rated this book 8 out of 10 for sheer short attention span reading pleasure. If you haven't read ANY Robbins before, don't start with this one. If, like me, you've read ALL of Robbins' other books... well, you're just going to have to read this one sometime. Maybe I shouldn't have quoted the first line in my earlier entry?

In answer to my lament in the Forum, this book has been given another chance to see the world, and have someone other than me post thoughts here! Here it goes, on its second leg. PM me if you'd like to be added:

The bookring. Second leg: -- Mailed to PCSAF on Dec 15
PCSAF (Portugal)
dodau (UK, mail anywhere)
nomadbooklvr (MA, mail within US)
Ebumu (back to me, NY)

Got it! I'll read asap. Thanks for the lovely postcard.

I have finished, but I didn't like it very much. Maybe you were right and I should not start with this one.
Just not my kind of reading.

Waiting for the address so that it can follow its way to the UK.

It was sent today to England. Enjoy!

Another author I've never read so looking foward to trying this later in the week.

I have to say I didn't like this much either. I found the plot confusing at times and to be quite honest I couldn't bring myself to care much about any of the characters. I hate giving bad reviews of books especially when someone has gone to the trouble of sending to me but I really wouldn't recommend this. Hopefully the people after me will like it more.

RELEASE NOTES:

Just rec'd today.

This arrived in my mailbox today, very neatly wrapped up. This one has a way of coming home without getting journaled. I'm betting other bookcrossers are just too polite to give it a negative review! Sorry this one failed to please. Don't let it dissuade you from reading Robbins' other works.