Catch #239!

Another book from my June/July beach vacation has been found, just where (and when) I left it! An AnonymousFinder writes: "I found the book at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach SC. It was on a bench outside one of the retail stores, shortly after 5:30pm. We brought it to VA. My daughter who is 12 read it, but wasn't really fond of it."

The AF also reports that its journey is continuing: "Released Aug. 30th at the National Book Festival in Washington DC around 4pm." I know a few BookCrossers were planning to attend the National Book Festival—I wonder if any of them encountered this traveller?

Catch #238!

I spent the day dropping books in the Oakland and Shadyside neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh's bridges have become magnets for "love locks"—combination locks or padlocks that are attached to the wire mesh of the bridges by lovers declaring their undying affection for each other—so I thought leaving "Kramer vs. Kramer," a story about a bitter divorce and custody battle, would tell the other side of the story. It was the first book I left today and was journalled before I could even make release notes. The AnonymousFinder reports: "I was baked and was walking across the Schenley bridge and found this book! Humanity is fucking cool!!!!!!!!" Couldn't have said it better myself.

Stormy Persuasion, by Johanna Lindsey

Borrowed Kindle version from my local library because I just can't quit Johanna Lindsey's Malory series. "Stormy Persuasion," however, is not just a Malory tale, but a Malory-Anderson tale. I feel like I missed a book or two as there were characters I didn't remember—or maybe I skipped a book or two because reviews I read ranged from "meh" to "another rapist love story."

There were *lots* of characters in this one—Malorys, Andersons, good guys, bad guys—too many characters to keep track of while trying to remember their back stories, which rather took away from Judith and Nathan's story. Luckily (perhaps), I have a feeling I'll be reading the story again from Jack's point of view, as her storyline took an unexplored detour.

Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman

What the heck? How could I not LOVE this book the first time I read it in April 2010? Can you believe I wrote:

I wish I were more familiar with London so that I could properly enjoy this wonderfully descriptive and imaginative book. Having never been to London Above, much less London Below, I feel like I missed out on some of the nuances of the story locales. When I read fantasy books, it's much easier for me to imagine completely fictional worlds than to try to fit the fantastical into real-life cities, streets, and buildings. Nevertheless, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters, and Neil Gaiman's writing skills.

This time around, I still haven't been to London Above or London Below, but it doesn't matter. Neil Gaiman made them both come alive for me. Not only is he a better writer than I am, he is a better reader. He can read me any book, any day.