OK, I finally read the copy I received from Bookcrossing. It wasn't awful, as I'd been led to believe by some of the comments in the Book Talk forum, but I'm not sure that I really understood it all.

The descriptions of the Alaskan scenery, and the true sense of 'wilderness' that I got from the book will stay with me for a long time, I think: perhaps much longer than the story itself.

RELEASE NOTES:

Taking this to the Coventry meet-up. If not picked up from the table I'll leave it on the OBCZ shelf.

This book is now sitting on the Bookcrossing shelf in Liquid, Coventry



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Picked this up to release into school book box.

RELEASE NOTES:

I don't read every Release Alert: they tend to arrive like buses after all, so it doesn't matter which one one decides to read, one from each batch is enough to tell the tale. The tale Friday's set told was that there was a Coventry Bookcrosser leaving a stack of books in the school niece 2 attends. Great! Maybe I could get some support in persuading book-mad niece (not to mention her elder sister)joined up at last!

ARB61, have I met you? I suspect not, since I seldom make Saturday meets, but you now know the plan!

Anyway, I logged off while ARB61 was still hard at work and returned next morning to find that a famous book was one of those going in the box. How better to get sister-in-law (who works at the same school) involved than to get her to filch it for me? As this journal entry attests, she did indeed do so and enlisted the services of my elder little brother to deliver it this evening. The plan to recruit nieces has also taken a step forward as I sent him away with a couple of books in return .

I therefore now have a copy of 'Wild Animus' ready to put on my shelf next to 'Somebodies & Nobodies' and to read at some point (probably Christmas-ish) so I can find out if I agree with the majority or with Netstation. Bets anybody?

I sort of sought this book out, knowing a little of its history, but not, at the time, just how bad many people thought it was. I'm sorry to say that I didn't think it was great either. I didn't think it was awful per se - I could see a certain fascination in the shamanistic blurring of identity - but it too coarse in its mysticism for my taste and with too little to counteract that.

Possible spoilers - highlight to read

I could not empathise at all with the complete submission to Animus/descent into self-destructive madness (take your choice of perspective) of Sam/Ransom, nor could I understand the role Lindy played in his revelation or her willingness to suppport him in so many ways for so long. And that is coming from someone with an uncanny ability to find and stick with partners who leave her broke (for those of you who know him, I feel duty bound to point out that Spike is one of the few who hasn't). Nonetheless Lindy did at least have enough of a backstory to make a little sense of her holding on when she had no hope of changing him, whereas we saw nothing of the 'raw' Sam to explain his developing monomania, unless one chooses to 'blame' the drugs - a far too facile (and inadequate) plot device. That so many of the community in which he found himself were, albeit eventually, impressed was also incredible: yes, a Messiah may be the most unexpected person, but Ransom's 'message' did not seem to be communicated to others, even Lindy, in any convincing or powerful way.

/end of spoilers

All in all, a shame - a compelling idea, with some wonderful descriptions of Alaska and real attempts to view things from the point of view of another creature (albeit with some slips), that is let down by characters that are totally subservient to the plot and style.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Taking along to today's meet up. If you're a Bookcrosser already, you know the drill. If not ...

Dear Reader,

If this is your introduction to Bookcrossing, welcome. Thank you for taking the time to call in here and tell us that you have found this book and, perhaps, what you have thought of it.

This book is now yours to do with as you choose. Keep it, pass it on, or leave it around for someone to find; but please leave the label so it can keep in touch with us. If you would like to share in its future travels, and find out what other people think of it, then do join us using the link at the top of the page: BookCrossing is free, private and fun!

And if you do choose to join, I hope you'll consider using me, CaterinaAnna, as your referring member.

Happy reading!

Caught at The CherryTree meet.Thanks to all for a great time.