The J.J. book is something of a re-hash of some books done by British SF/horror/mystery writer, Dennis Wheatley back in the 1970's. One is titled WHO KILLED ROBERT PRENTICE?, and another, THE MALINSAY MASSACRE. Both are murder mysteries. They are a lot of fun and include a series of separate fake newspaper clippings, maps, hand-drawn notes, railway tickets, fake arsenic pills, stamps, photos etc etc all inserted into the main books. They are quite brilliant (I'm sure J.J. knows who Wheatley is, and it's highly unlikely that he didn't see or know of Wheatley's books). They are tied together with a ribbon, as if they were an unpublished manuscript. (The pages look like someone typed them with an old manual typwriter, double-spaced on separate sheets of hole-punched paper.all tied together with that ribbon.) It is all very authentic looking (in fact, it's hard to believe that the newpaper clippings aren't from an actual newspaper!) The effect of all this makes for a very lively and fun book adventure.
Hi so I bought this book 3 years ago and still didn't read. I will probably start in a month or so but I learned about some suggestions... First read the Ship of Theseus. Second the annotations in pencil and their answers. Next you read blue and black. Then orange and green, finally you read red and purple. I guess that's it. It's a very intriguing book and such a beautiful work of art. I might be ready to read after 3 years postponing. 😂
I remember I used to love seeing people's comments in books. Once the library I went to had a big campaign to get people to stop it and had some books displayed. They just didn't understand it was a charming feature of libraries.
@@Bookspine5 I have tried it as well, but I can never get more than 100 pages in. One day I'll try and again and maybe skim the parts I'm not interested in.
Me too! When I first heard of this book, House of Leaves is the first comparison that popped into my mind. The plots are nothing alike, but they are definitely both unique to be sure.
I bought mine on Amazon. It looks like you can get it new for $35 or used for quite a bit cheaper. It's always been a little pricey because of all the inserts that come with it.
You've oversimplified it. There is the book Straka(?) wrote but we don't have access to that and most of us don't read Czech anyway. Then there is Caldera's translation which is problematic. Then you have the two readers going back and forth at least three times with their notes. Then there is the title. The venerable thought experiment asks 'If you gradually replace all the tangible pieces of Theseus' ship one by one over a period of time until there is nothing left of the original is it still 'The Ship of Theseus'? And if not, when did it become not his ship: after 1%, 50%, 99% or 100%. BTW, the thought experiment "Ship of Theseus' has its own Wikipedia page.
Ughhhh….just finished this mess and regretted it almost immediately. So much potential but it’s really just a fairly uninteresting mystery with the sub plot of another uninteresting and cheesy somewhat one-sided love affair blossoming between two lit geeks. Uggggghhhh.
The J.J. book is something of a re-hash of some books done by British SF/horror/mystery writer, Dennis Wheatley back in the 1970's. One is titled WHO KILLED ROBERT PRENTICE?, and another, THE MALINSAY MASSACRE. Both are murder mysteries. They are a lot of fun and include a series of separate fake newspaper clippings, maps, hand-drawn notes, railway tickets, fake arsenic pills, stamps, photos etc etc all inserted into the main books. They are quite brilliant (I'm sure J.J. knows who Wheatley is, and it's highly unlikely that he didn't see or know of Wheatley's books). They are tied together with a ribbon, as if they were an unpublished manuscript. (The pages look like someone typed them with an old manual typwriter, double-spaced on separate sheets of hole-punched paper.all tied together with that ribbon.) It is all very authentic looking (in fact, it's hard to believe that the newpaper clippings aren't from an actual newspaper!) The effect of all this makes for a very lively and fun book adventure.
I, surprisingly, have heard of this but havent ever picked it up. It does seem like a very interesting concept
I have to wonder if this was not only inspired by the old Dennis Wheatley books, but the ever elusive, mysterious VOYNICH MANUSCRIPT as well.
Hi so I bought this book 3 years ago and still didn't read. I will probably start in a month or so but I learned about some suggestions... First read the Ship of Theseus. Second the annotations in pencil and their answers. Next you read blue and black. Then orange and green, finally you read red and purple. I guess that's it. It's a very intriguing book and such a beautiful work of art. I might be ready to read after 3 years postponing. 😂
Thanks for the info!
I remember I used to love seeing people's comments in books. Once the library I went to had a big campaign to get people to stop it and had some books displayed. They just didn't understand it was a charming feature of libraries.
Ahhhhhwwwww I miss bookshelves... :( Anyways, yah I'll give "S" a dive :D
'' House of Leaves '' is good.
@@Bookspine5 I have tried it as well, but I can never get more than 100 pages in. One day I'll try and again and maybe skim the parts I'm not interested in.
This reminds me of House of Leaves...
Me too! When I first heard of this book, House of Leaves is the first comparison that popped into my mind. The plots are nothing alike, but they are definitely both unique to be sure.
Wow! That's a weird book.
Ive been hunting for this book where can i get it ?
I bought mine on Amazon. It looks like you can get it new for $35 or used for quite a bit cheaper. It's always been a little pricey because of all the inserts that come with it.
You've oversimplified it. There is the book Straka(?) wrote but we don't have access to that and most of us don't read Czech anyway. Then there is Caldera's translation which is problematic. Then you have the two readers going back and forth at least three times with their notes. Then there is the title. The venerable thought experiment asks 'If you gradually replace all the tangible pieces of Theseus' ship one by one over a period of time until there is nothing left of the original is it still 'The Ship of Theseus'? And if not, when did it become not his ship: after 1%, 50%, 99% or 100%. BTW, the thought experiment "Ship of Theseus' has its own Wikipedia page.
Oh wow! There are even more layers than I realized! I really need to actually read the book... haha.
Imma have to dedicate a whole month to this book
The Ship of Theseus is a real book actually!
I really need to try it again! Maybe this summer when I have more time!
Ughhhh….just finished this mess and regretted it almost immediately. So much potential but it’s really just a fairly uninteresting mystery with the sub plot of another uninteresting and cheesy somewhat one-sided love affair blossoming between two lit geeks. Uggggghhhh.
This makes me feel better about DNFing it the first time I tried to read it! I do hope to try again some time... just with lower expectations.
I think I would read the original story then go back 3 times to read all the notes
The idea is very strange. Great idea though.
The book within this book sucks so bad it ruins the rest 😂
That's good to know! I might just read the comments in the margins the next time I try to read it. :)