The Mouse that Roared: A Novel

by Leonard Wibberley | Literature & Fiction | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 1568582498 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingbookczukwing of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on 9/2/2004
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This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingbookczukwing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, September 2, 2004
I had a grand time in eighth grade, eons ago, when my junior high (middle school didn't exist as a concept in Missouri at the time) put on this play. I was stage manager, but had a bit part in the opening scene. "Auchtung! Must be Switzerland.", was the line...ah fame....

This is an OLD edition of this book. How old? Cover price reads 40 cents! It's now 13.95 in the bookstores. See what a bargain bookcrossing is!

This book was to be part of the Animal Challenge September 2004, but I have violated the rules by doing a controlled release, so am disqualifying the book. However, the beautiful logo remains and is courtsey of bookcrosser ngraced. Thank you!

From the Publisher
The basis of the 1959 film starring Peter Sellers, this classic cold war satire-cum-parable-cum-political farce was first serialized in the Saturday Evening Post almost 50 years ago, appearing under the title The Day New York Was Invaded. At the time, the U.S. was afraid of a nuclear attack by Russia — the idea of an attack by a small country was so absurd as to seem comical. Wibberley’s tiny European nation is furious about unfair U.S. trading practices, so they send an army to invade New York City, march up Broadway, and accidentally capture the world’s newest and most destructive bomb. Then they have to figure out what to do with it. A whimsical cross between Kubrick and Kafka, The Mouse That Roared is a quirky classic of world literature, a poignant tale of political morality, and a hilarious, ultimately triumphant portrait of international relations from the perspective of the little guy.

Journal Entry 2 by wingbookczukwing at on Thursday, September 9, 2004

Released 19 yrs ago (9/9/2004 UTC) at

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES: RABCK somewhere in the US. Maybe your mailbox???

I'm not asking forgiveness or permission! Just sending this out and having fun!!!

This book is going out on a special birthday mission (with Joanthro's help) to - whoops! can't say!
Pictured: the pile I took to the post office today. No wonder they like me.

Journal Entry 3 by Joanthro from Denver, Colorado USA on Monday, September 13, 2004
This book had a quick layover on its way to its final destination...

Released on a small parkbench at the end of Warren Place.

Journal Entry 4 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Monday, September 13, 2004
It's late at night on September 13. My brother-in-law, who works from 1 in the afternoon to whenever at night, is scheduled to come over for dinner and a movie for his birthday (family celebration was Sunday, in case you're wondering). Some time around 9 - 9:30, the doorbell rings, and Unk goes to answer it. They are taking a long time coming from the front door to the room where I am, so I finally go down the hall to meet them. Unk hands me two books in plastic baggies. I'm dumbfounded. Hornswoggled. Bumfoozled. And totally at a loss for words. I think I actually sputtered! I can see the little BookCrossing stickers on the covers, and I can see that both have animal titles. That's about all the information I can assimilate at the moment.

The brotha and Unk start telling me they were on the little bench on our front porch. I ask many questions, and still have a hard time comprehending. The first one I open is a book registered by Netstation, of whom I'm a huge fan. But this tells me nothing. The second one makes a little more sense as I see the name on the label -- "Bookczuk"! So I understand WHO, but not HOW.

Unk and the brotha go through how they saw the books again, and I still don't get it. Then it occurs to me to check the laptop in the living room. I do, after all, have the BCIDs! Then it becomes clear! Joanthro, my sneaky neighbor (and by "neighbor", I mean we live in the same city!), had a hand in this dastardly deed! The really funny part about that is that when I put together the Fumblerules bookring and put her last before me, I wondered if she might think that was a little creepy. She certainly never said she wanted to meet me, and some BookCrossers really don't want to meet anyone in person (which is totally fine with me). So who knew if she wanted to meet me? I've been thinking for some time that it was presumptuous of me to think she would be willing to meet me when she was done with it, and thinking the whole time that I needed to give her an "out", if she wasn't comfortable with it. Meanwhile, it turns out she's a stalker, and knows where I live! *LOL* Joanthro -- I *really* want to meet you now, and I don't want to wait for that bookring -- it could be next year if we wait for that!

Anyway, this is one of the most random and most fun catches I've ever had, and I thank all who participated in the deception :)

The picture is of the "park bench at the end of Warren Place" -- a little tiny bench on my FRONT PORCH! The cord you see in the picture is to the shop light I made Unk get to light it up sufficiently to take a picture :)

Thanks one and all for a truly surprising RABCK. Best yet! And you can BET I'm releasing this for the challenge!

Journal Entry 5 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Wednesday, September 29, 2004
What a fun book! Bookczuk, I almost just released it. . . but then I decided I needed to read it. I'm SO glad I did :)

My first thought -- very near the beginning -- was that this should be made into a play, or maybe a musical. The idea of the Duchess on a bike (check out the journal entry pic -- it's a close-up of this particular cover -- hopefully you can see the duchess on the bike!), the fourteenth-century chain mail and weapons, Tully Bascomb, and the monocle-wearing Count Montjoy, "without which [the monocle], he was wont to maintain, no man could claim to be fully dressed." in a show was so clear that I could see it unfolding as I read today :)

This book was utterly unpredictable and refreshing. I couldn't wait to read what happened next! The little tiny country (I mean duchy) of Grand Fenwick, their world-renown for a very good wine, and the absent-minded Dr. Kokintz (inventor of the Q-bomb) make this story delightfully entertaining. In addition, the current state of the world and America's "War on Terror" made this especially interesting. I loved the thought of the "Tiny Twenty" -- the League of Little Nations -- made up of countries including Iceland, Ecuador, Panama. and of course, Grand Fenwick. The author even entertains us by having the delegate from Ireland sitting next to the delegate from Israel. Due to the alphabetical seating arrangement, of course!

To see additional comments (SPOILER ALERT) please highlight below:

This book even has romance, and I loved Duchess Gloriana's proposal to Tully:

"I have an important matter to discuss with you," Gloriana whispered, feeling completely wretched. "It's a matter of state. But it's something personal too. It's more personal really than it is a matter of state."
"Whatever it may be," said Tully, "I will do all in my power to help."
"It's not really a matter of helping. It's a matter of cooperating -- of working with me."
"Working with you?"
"Yes. Well, not exactly that." She looked appealingly at the older Bascomb.
"You say it," she pleaded. "You say it, like they said it for you."
Pierce looked from her to his son. "Gloriana wants me to become her father-in-law -- that's it, isn't it?"
"Yes," Gloriana whispered.
"Her what?" asked Tully.
"Her father-in-law."
"Father-in-law! But you're my father."
"Precisely, and you are my only son."
Tully looked for a second from one to the other and then walked over to Gloriana and, taking her two hands, raised her to her feet.
"My father accepts proudly," he said, "his son humbly."


Oh, how sweeet! I loved it!

Thanks again, bookczuk, this was a treat all the way around!

Releasing tomorrow -- the last day of September -- for the Release Challenge. I almost hate to give it up, but if someone finds it who loves it as much as I, it will be a worthwhile release :)

Journal Entry 6 by Antof9 at Post Office - By Federal Center On Alameda in Lakewood, Colorado USA on Thursday, September 30, 2004

Released 19 yrs ago (9/30/2004 UTC) at Post Office - By Federal Center On Alameda in Lakewood, Colorado USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:


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