Blurb:
Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day, digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.
It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment - and redemption.

I just loved this book. I am not sure if this is only due to my present mood, but anyway it is a wonderful novel - for kids, young adults, and adults. It is an easy read, the language is quite simple - but what a composition! It's a story of initiation, a family saga, a fairy tale - something of all that and more. The plot is not all realistic but all true and yet light-hearted. (Do I make any sense?) To put it in a nutshell: I was very much moved by this book and intend to pass it on to as many readers as possible.

Travels with Ink-heart's English Box.

I took the book out of the box and already started reading it.

A great story.
I listened to the (German) audiobook about 2 years ago but I still prefer reading the book. Makes it easier to go back a few pages and look for a name that you can't quite remember ;)

18.2. This book is now part of the Big Yellow English Bookbox

Taken from the Big Yellow English Bookbox and put on Mt. TBR.
Thanks. Looking forward to reading it.

A wonderful, wonderful story.
Please read ink-heart's entry above - I feel exactly the same.

Book reserved for Kikoyu.

RELEASE NOTES:

Seit heute unterwegs per Schneckenpost (vier bis acht Arbeitstage) zu Kikoyu.
Enjoy!

Kam heute mit der Post... Vielen Dank an SwissShutist auch für den amüsanten Beileger :-)

08.06.06
Ein richtig schönes Buch! Ich hab es mit Genuß gelesen, schlichte, fast zarte Sprache, soweit ich das als Nicht-Muttersprachler beurteilen kann. Und eine sehr schön verwobene Geschichte.
Recommended by heart!

RELEASE NOTES:

Auf dem Weg zu MrBennet

The book came running into me today - thanks for chasing it in my direction, Kikoyu!

Update 20 Nov 06:
I've so much enjoyed this read - started yesterday and couldn't put it aside until it ended...

It's concept reminded me of "World's End" by T.C. Boyle: A story takes place in a region where 100 years ago the main character's ancestors had lived. In flashbacks we learn about history - which takes effect on the present story. I really do like this style!

I'll take the book to the next MeetUp in Frankfurt.

No one was interested in reading this - so I took it home again. In the meantime, I tried to give it to an adolescent friend of mine - but she wasn't interested either.

RELEASE NOTES:

After I'd carried the book around for three days, I finally released it on the shelf for magazines at Wortner's.