The mice will play

by Edward O Phillips | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 1896332056 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 9/10/2004
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6 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, September 10, 2004
I'd already registered a copy of this book, but when I saw another one for sale on a sidewalk bookseller's table in New York (where I'd gone for the YagoMeet!), I had to pick it up; this way I can share Phillips' work and can cut-and-paste the journal entry! [Caveat: when buying from sidewalk book sellers, check the condition. I found out that the last couple of pages of this book had apparently been mangled a bit - by a kitten, a careless reader, or elves, I can't say. I've repaired the pages with book-repair tape and they're quite legible, but it was a bit of a shock!]

I simply love Phillips' "Sunday" series of comedic-suspense novels about 50-something gay lawyer Geoffry Chadwick (click here to see BC listings for these), and was eager to see what Phillips was like when he was writing about someone else. And oh, this book was fun! It really ought to be filmed - except that it would have to be directed by Preston Sturges or Ernst Lubitsch, neither of whom is with us any longer. The narrator is Gemma Johnstone, a beautiful woman who's just reached 45 and is attempting to avoid noticing that fact. Her tone is very much upper-class-perfectionist with a hint of street-smarts; she's lived primarily to bring happiness to an assortment of very wealthy men, but her tendency to live for today means she hasn't made provision for a future without such benefactors in it. When she finds herself in need of a short-term job to stave off the bill collectors, a friend suggests that she become the companion of an elderly lady for a couple of weeks, and against all expectation the two women hit it off splendidly. This kicks off a round of escalating activity, with plots, plans, houseguests, and flirtations popping up; there's a nice mix of the expected and the unexpected, and a great deal of enjoyment along the way.

I will say that I found the narrator's voice a bit too stagey here and there, and the writing didn't flow quite as naturally as in the "Sunday" series, but I think this book was intended to be more flamboyant and less realistic; in any case, the few flaws didn't bother me much, and were outnumbered by the laugh-out-loud moments (and a few very poignant ones, especially for those of us who are having to face reaching "a certain age" ourselves). I recommend this one.

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, September 10, 2004
Bookray/ring instructions:

When you receive the book, please journal it, and PM the next person in line for their address so you'll have it ready when you've finished the book.
Note: even if you've sent books to that person before, please PM them before mailing this one, to confirm that the address is correct and that they're able to take on a bookring book at this time.
Try and read the book promptly - ideally, within a month of receiving it. (If you expect to take longer, you can request to be put at the end of the list. If you find you're swamped with other books when the person before you contacts you about the bookring, you can ask to be skipped, and then let me know whether you'd like to be moved down the list or dropped entirely. If you receive the book and find it's taking longer than you'd planned to get through it, I'd appreciate an update in its journal entries or on your profile, just to let me and the other participants know you haven't forgotten it.)

When you're ready to pass the book along, please make another journal entry containing your comments about the book and stating where you've sent it, and set the book's status code to "traveling". [If you find that you're having problems contacting the next person in line, or don't think you can manage to mail the book as originally agreed, please let me know; I'll be glad to try to work something out.]

***

Participants, in mailing order:

Shadie [Illinois]
mojosmom [Illinois]
ds3233 [Arizona]
AwesomeAud [Canada]
...

Journal Entry 3 by Shadie from Indian Trail, North Carolina USA on Friday, December 3, 2004
I totally enjoyed this book. The idea of a *kept woman*, if you will, becoming a companion for an older lady was quite hilarious...and was pulled off well. It was wonderful to see the fullness of life she brought into the home with her.

Sending off to mojosmom next!

Journal Entry 4 by Shadie from Indian Trail, North Carolina USA on Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Mailed off to mojosmom. Enjoy it!

Journal Entry 5 by mojosmom from Chicago, Illinois USA on Thursday, December 23, 2004
I've enjoyed Phillips' Geoffry Chadwick books, so I'm curious about this book, which is not from that series.

Journal Entry 6 by mojosmom from Chicago, Illinois USA on Monday, December 27, 2004
This book was tremendous fun despite its flaws. At certain points, Gemma seems a bit too clever and good to be true, and her nemesis, Christine Blake, a bit too one-dimensional. However, I laughed a lot, and, oh dear, I can't say too much without giving away the end, but I will say some things were unexpected and a bit sad, but other things were very nice even if one could see them coming a mile away (though Gemma couldn't!).

Gory is quite right, this would make a splendid screwball comedy, right down to the cat fight! I wonder what comes next for Gemma and . . .

I am waiting for ds3233's address, and will pass the book on as soon as it arrives.

Journal Entry 7 by mojosmom at on Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Released on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 at about 5:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Mailed to a fellow Bookcrosser in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

The mice have been sent off to play with the next person on the list.

Journal Entry 8 by ds3233 from Sun City, Arizona USA on Saturday, January 8, 2005
Bookring. Received today from mojosmom. Thanks

Journal Entry 9 by ds3233 from Sun City, Arizona USA on Wednesday, January 12, 2005
I enjoyed the book quite a lot. This is my first experience with this author. He handled the depiction of these people well. Gemma and Helen were convincing as growing friends. I was somewhat disappointed in the ending, but can't say why for fear of spoiling it for others. If you want to know my thoughts, PM me. Will send the book on to the next person on the list tomorrow.

Journal Entry 10 by ds3233 from Sun City, Arizona USA on Thursday, January 13, 2005
Sent to awesomeaud in Ontario - next on bookring.

Journal Entry 11 by AwesomeAud from New Dundee, Ontario Canada on Monday, January 31, 2005
It was so nice to open my mailbox to find this book in it! Thank you so much, and it is next in line on my TBR!

Journal Entry 12 by AwesomeAud from New Dundee, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, February 8, 2005
I finished this book a few days ago, and I loved it. I wish I could meet Gemma in person. The little glimpses into her past are quite fascinating. As Helen says "It is women like you, who don't tell tales, who are the ones with tales to tell".

I'm the last one on the bookring list, so I think I'll take it with me to the next Meet-up, and see if anyone there wants it.

Journal Entry 13 by ailien from Woodstock, Ontario Canada on Thursday, February 10, 2005
I got this today at the Waterloo meet up.

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