"At various points this book caould be called a post Cold-War thriller, a love story, a cult expose, a radio-show transcript, an island romance, a compendium of creation- myths, and a ghost story." (Blurb)

Contacted by Festivus after the Brisbane Writers Festival and advised that Festivus books were not released as per release notes - caught from BWF office at South Brisbane on Monday 8 November 2004.

Requested by caldron

At last! I've 'found' one of the mythical Festivus' books . . . :)

Look forward to reading & releasing

(still reading . . . )

took to a literary event with the Author at Riverbend Books of Bulimba tonight (with miss-muddie, Aangela, elisabethlily & Ben)
Have had the book signed by David Mitchell & dedicated - "To All Bibliophiles of Brisbane, David Mitchell, Brissie 2005"

Once read, intending to start a ring within Brisbane BXers; starting with elisabethlily :)

Very, very impressive . . . a major novelist in the making.

Book-ring participants ;

elisabethlily
roelina
Neesy (skipped; on hols)
viola7
ridgebacklover ~ omitted, unable to contact
CoffeeBron
Neesy (re-inserted)
elisabethlily
caldron


*edit
(viola7 was originally viola5)

Being passed to Elisabethlily at the monthly Brisbane MeetUp tomorrow at the Stones Corner Pub

Caught at the meetup, thanks Caldron!

I really loved reading this book. It is constructed with several, seemingly unrelated parts. I would become totally engrossed with one section, and then it would end, leaving me wanting more. And then it took awhile to adjust to the new section and style but again I would become hooked! I was also interested by the settings of the different sections, of which I have been to a few (including Okinawa), and the writing really brought those locations to life. It is a book that would benefit from repeated readings, even if it is just to really catch on to all the subtle links between the stories. I look forward to seeing what others think about this book, and I can't wait to read Cloud Atlas!

Released to Roelina at the Sunday meetup

Given to me at the Stones Corner Pub, Brisbane, as part of a book ring.

Still reading!

on its way to Viola7

It took a while but I've finally finished!
This is a brilliant and very unusual book by a young author. I found it difficult to get into at first and not easy to read - I didn't feel that the writing really flowed. But judging by his description of London, the author managed to capture the atmosphere of lots of different places as well as summing up many different characters quickly.

It is a set of disconnected stories about mostly unlikeable people - including a ghost who jumps into a Mongolian gangster; a husband in Hong Kong who has an affair with the Chinese maid; and a womaniser in London. The characters are very interesting and the descriptions of the different places are very evocative and vivid. Reading about Ireland in this awful heat made me want to run away to that beautiful, cool, green country straight away! I did think that David Mitchell, like David Lean in the film Ryan's Daughter, exaggerated Ireland's backwardness which was annoying.

Now I'm going to send this on and find David Mitchell's other book!

A quote that I liked: "Coffee is a drink for the body while tea is the drink of the soul."

What a fantastic book! Gripping and masterful from beginning to end. I too will be looking for David Mitchell's next book - perhaps a book ring is in order?

Mailing on to Neesy ASAP.

Back to me - thank you Coffee Bron for the book and lovely card!
I'm looking forward to reading this book. I believe everyone has enjoyed it so far so I hope I do too!
I love David's signature - I'm so happy to be a 'bibliophile of brisbane'!!

Happy New Year!

OMG! Now I know what everyone is raving about!
This is a fantastic book with in-depth characters. I love the idea of the linkage between the locations and characters. This is truly what the world is like.
Will pass onto elisabethlily for ben to read - hope this is ok caldron.
Neesy

Thanks Neesy, Ben is looking forward to reading this soon.

Back with Neesy - returned from elisabethlily.
This book is quite precious!
I'll take it to the BC social on Sunday 16 July at Park Road Milton.

Picked up at the monthly meet-up to pass onto Caldron at the BookWorms meet-up next Wednesday. Looks like a good book - might try and take a quick peek at it before I pass it on!

RELEASE NOTES:

Passing this book back to its rightful owner at the Brisbane BookWorms August meet-up.

Thank you to aleonblue & thanks to all who participated & enjoyed this work by an emerging and serious new talent.

I understand that DM has been installed as the short-priced favourite to win the Man Booker Prize this year (although, having said that, it's proven to be an albatross in recent times) with his latest book - Black Swan Green.