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73rd out of 213 books
—
144 voters
Airmail
by
Naomi Bulger
Reclusive old Mr. G.L. Solomon's favorite things are single malt whiskey, Steve McQueen movies, and gingersnap cookies. He hates processed cheese, washing detergent commercials, and the way the teacup rattles in the saucer when he picks it up. Solomon has become accustomed to his lonely routine in Sydney, Australia-until the day he begins sporadically receiving letters in...more
Paperback, 108 pages
Published
March 10th 2011
by iUniverse.com
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This book is thoroughly entertaining, and I read it in one sitting. It is fast-paced but tender and often humorous, yet darker tones also show through and make it quite compelling. The book seamlessly weaves magic into reality, and vice versa, until it becomes hard to tell which is which.
It follows the lives of two very different people. First, there is a reclusive elderly man in Australia who lives his life by routine (he compares himself to TS Eliot's J Alfred Prufrock). He only gets out once...more
It follows the lives of two very different people. First, there is a reclusive elderly man in Australia who lives his life by routine (he compares himself to TS Eliot's J Alfred Prufrock). He only gets out once...more
Part epistolary confession, part Alice and Wonderland, part journey into madness, this quirky little book winds up being quite the philosophical handful. When I first began reading it, it reminded me of a clay animation film titled Mary and Max about an eight-year old Australian girl who randomly begins to write to an obese middle-aged man from New York with Asperger's syndrome. In Air Mail, the main character is a young woman, an ex-patriot from Australia living in New York City, randomly writi...more
Synopsis (Goodreads):
Reclusive old Mr. G.L. Solomon's favorite things are single malt whiskey, Steve McQueen movies, and gingersnap cookies. He hates processed cheese, washing detergent commercials, and the way the teacup rattles in the saucer when he picks it up. Solomon has become accustomed to his lonely routine in Sydney, Australia-until the day he begins sporadically receiving letters in his mailbox from a complete stranger. On the other side of the world, Anouk is a mentally delicate young...more
Reclusive old Mr. G.L. Solomon's favorite things are single malt whiskey, Steve McQueen movies, and gingersnap cookies. He hates processed cheese, washing detergent commercials, and the way the teacup rattles in the saucer when he picks it up. Solomon has become accustomed to his lonely routine in Sydney, Australia-until the day he begins sporadically receiving letters in his mailbox from a complete stranger. On the other side of the world, Anouk is a mentally delicate young...more
Anouk is currently living in New York City and writes letters about her life, sent via airmail, to a complete stranger in Australia. Mr. G.L. Solomon is that stranger. He's an elderly retiree and his life is centered around highly structured albeit empty days. This life of his is given a lift when he starts receiving letters from this strange woman in New York City. His life takes an unexpected turn when he the letters begin to state that they are being written from the "other side."
There's a bi...more
There's a bi...more
I'd actually give this 3.5 stars, but since I can't, I debated between the two and decided to go with the lower score only because of the way the novel moved.
This is a rather interesting book, accurately described in the summary, and quickly read in a few hours. For me, I found charm in the character of G.___L.___. An older gentleman set in his ways and his routines, randomly selected by Anouk for her to pour out her innermost thoughts. I think that alone is a rather interesting idea and one tha...more
This is a rather interesting book, accurately described in the summary, and quickly read in a few hours. For me, I found charm in the character of G.___L.___. An older gentleman set in his ways and his routines, randomly selected by Anouk for her to pour out her innermost thoughts. I think that alone is a rather interesting idea and one tha...more
AMAZING! I absolutely loved this book from word go! When I was asked to review this by Ms. Bulger, I was thrilled. Mostly I read pdf's, I'm all for saving an author postage (lol), but she was so kind to send me a physical copy - I was ecstatic.
The cover, I thought was so fantastic. I loved how it looked like one of the letters to Mr. Solomon.
The story itself was very intriguing to me as well. As I got towards the last few chapters of the book, I found myself holding my breath, I was flipping thr...more
The cover, I thought was so fantastic. I loved how it looked like one of the letters to Mr. Solomon.
The story itself was very intriguing to me as well. As I got towards the last few chapters of the book, I found myself holding my breath, I was flipping thr...more
This review was first posted @ The Australian Bookshelf
Airmail is really a novella not a novel as it is a nice quick read at just over 100 pages in length.
Airmail is a quirky and witty novella which introduces us to two unique characters; Mr G.L. Solomon an old bloke from Sydney and Anouk, a young woman in New York City. Mr Solomon lives a life of rigid routines right down to what time he checks the letterbox each day. Anouk is a neurotic and
entertaining character who is trying to make meaning...more
Airmail is really a novella not a novel as it is a nice quick read at just over 100 pages in length.
Airmail is a quirky and witty novella which introduces us to two unique characters; Mr G.L. Solomon an old bloke from Sydney and Anouk, a young woman in New York City. Mr Solomon lives a life of rigid routines right down to what time he checks the letterbox each day. Anouk is a neurotic and
entertaining character who is trying to make meaning...more
Cover
To make the cover look like a postcard was ingenious. I think it original and shows the creative imagination of one smart individual.
Plot/Main Characters
Although this book was short, it causes a reader to think while, and after, reading it. It was definitely ... interesting and different.
Anouk is a strange person. She writes letters to a person she doesn't know and spills out all her feelings. I have yet to figure out why she includes a memento with each letter, but I do think it a neat ide...more
To make the cover look like a postcard was ingenious. I think it original and shows the creative imagination of one smart individual.
Plot/Main Characters
Although this book was short, it causes a reader to think while, and after, reading it. It was definitely ... interesting and different.
Anouk is a strange person. She writes letters to a person she doesn't know and spills out all her feelings. I have yet to figure out why she includes a memento with each letter, but I do think it a neat ide...more
Apr 03, 2012
1000 +
added it
Airmail.. is a very different type of book. At first glance you believe you are going to be reading about penpals and a murder mystery. This book takes you much deeper than that
and through so many twists and turns you may not even fully understand what you've read until after you've completed. I'm still not sure I fully understand what I read though I think
I have.
It's a very short and quick read. The book is so interesting that you'll quickly be turning the pages to find out what is happening...more
and through so many twists and turns you may not even fully understand what you've read until after you've completed. I'm still not sure I fully understand what I read though I think
I have.
It's a very short and quick read. The book is so interesting that you'll quickly be turning the pages to find out what is happening...more
This is a book that is so enjoyable, that it can easily be read in one sitting. I could not place this book into a single genre, it is a bit of paranormal and fantasy without ever fully setting foot into one of those camps.
I loved the cover, it is like you are stepping into the characters world without opening the book yet. As the book suggests the lives of the characters interact through letters and this brings a touch of humanity to the novel I feel.
Both the characters were very likeable. Anou...more
I loved the cover, it is like you are stepping into the characters world without opening the book yet. As the book suggests the lives of the characters interact through letters and this brings a touch of humanity to the novel I feel.
Both the characters were very likeable. Anou...more
Dec 15, 2011
Shriya
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who's looking for a flirtation between magical realism and existentialism
Recommended to Shriya by:
Goodreads
Shelves:
favourites
A fact: 'Airmail' is the kind of book any book lover would want to own just for its cover if not anything else!
A story: A girl sees a book on her Goodreads recommendation, falls in love with the cover and is mildly interested by the story-line. An indulging cousin buys his little cousin a book. A girl, after she finishes a book, is so lost in the story that she feels incapacitated to give it a fair review until someone else has read it, until she can chew the story and until she can r...more
A story: A girl sees a book on her Goodreads recommendation, falls in love with the cover and is mildly interested by the story-line. An indulging cousin buys his little cousin a book. A girl, after she finishes a book, is so lost in the story that she feels incapacitated to give it a fair review until someone else has read it, until she can chew the story and until she can r...more
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Guest post on pen pals by Naomi Bulger:
"Baby, write me a letter"
http://suddenlybooks.blogspot.com/201...
Review:
3.75/5
Airmail was a quick, quirky, fun little read. I really enjoyed both the main characters Anouk and G.L. Solomon. Anouk was so unpredictable and half the time it sounded like she was just going crazy. She seems to have insomnia most of the time so it really did make me wonder if she was in fact going bonkers. Then there is G.L. Solomon whose life up until he receives Anouks letters...more
"Baby, write me a letter"
http://suddenlybooks.blogspot.com/201...
Review:
3.75/5
Airmail was a quick, quirky, fun little read. I really enjoyed both the main characters Anouk and G.L. Solomon. Anouk was so unpredictable and half the time it sounded like she was just going crazy. She seems to have insomnia most of the time so it really did make me wonder if she was in fact going bonkers. Then there is G.L. Solomon whose life up until he receives Anouks letters...more
Airmail is a novella and it is delightful. I often take books of this size with me to the laundromat because they're the perfect length - long enough to keep me occupied through the laundry, but not so long that they're hard to juggle or difficult to pick up again after all the interruptions.
Ms. Bulger has written an eccentric and beautiful story of loneliness and connection. Some may find it slightly surreal, except it's not - not when you've been paying close attention to the world around you....more
Ms. Bulger has written an eccentric and beautiful story of loneliness and connection. Some may find it slightly surreal, except it's not - not when you've been paying close attention to the world around you....more
Airmail is an enigmatic yet engaging journey from the ordinary to the surreal.
In Sydney, Australia, Mr G L Solomon lives a life of quiet routine, sipping tea and whiskey, watching daytime television and hissing at his neighbor's cat. Yet every so often an envelope arrives in his mailbox containing a rambling letter and perhaps a trinket, from a stranger in New York. Anouk lives in a small apartment in Manhattan and writes letters to Mr G L Solomon in a desperate bid to anchor herself as she beg...more
In Sydney, Australia, Mr G L Solomon lives a life of quiet routine, sipping tea and whiskey, watching daytime television and hissing at his neighbor's cat. Yet every so often an envelope arrives in his mailbox containing a rambling letter and perhaps a trinket, from a stranger in New York. Anouk lives in a small apartment in Manhattan and writes letters to Mr G L Solomon in a desperate bid to anchor herself as she beg...more
I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. I wanted to give 5 stars but the storyline was lacking. I felt it needed more fleshing out and with this being a short book the author had opportunities to do just that. Normally I would not rate a book so high when the storyline is a bit absent but the author’s writing voice is the real reason I kept reading and would recommend it to anyone. This author knows how to write with personality and entertainment. I look forward to reading the author again.
When reclusive Mr.G.L. Solomon's lonely existence in Australia is surprisingly interrupted by mysterious letters from Anouk in NYC, a magical story begins to unfold. Naomi Bulger's quirky, creative writing style delivers a perfect combination of suspense and delight in this quick read. Nothing is predictable! I am eagerly looking forward to the next published work from this new voice in literary fiction.
it's a short little book. I read it twice, hoping to pick up what I thought I had clearly missed on the first read. After the second read, I came to the conclusion that I either am too dumb to follow the author's disjointed narrative and odd metahporical imagery or the book just didn't make any sense. I'm choosing to believe the latter.
*update 8-11-11*
I received a very nice note from the author thanking me for reading her book and for giving my honest opinion, even though she was sorry I didn't...more
*update 8-11-11*
I received a very nice note from the author thanking me for reading her book and for giving my honest opinion, even though she was sorry I didn't...more
The story seemed interesting and the book started out with several plot points that caught my interest right away. But the writing was so amateur that I had a hard time finishing this book. Much of the imagery was muddled and the story line, rather than being mysterious, was lost at several points. Frankly, it feels as if the author either got a bit tired and just hurried the story along to be done with it, or was struggling to fill a minimum page count. A good first effort, but this could have...more
May 19, 2011
Cheryl
marked it as to-read
Grabbed from Goodreads ad! Looks interesting! Kim and Debbie... check it out!
Oct 05, 2011
Mel
added it
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway and really enjoyed it. Was planning to read it before winning it and now definitely recommend it. Loved the collision of the 2 different worlds and how Naomi unpacked both of the main characters and really showed two very different stories but managed to make them into one.
This is an 80 page quirky kind of read with an interesting premise. I liked the marbles holding stories.
Enjoyable reading yet difficult to review without 1) writing a synopsis which I rarely do or 2) giving away spoilers. It is a good read.
Read/listen to my review here:
http://alchemyofscrawl.blogspot.com/2...
http://alchemyofscrawl.blogspot.com/2...
Jun 07, 2011
Anne
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who likes magic realism
Shelves:
magic-realism,
australian-fiction
Very different and I really liked it. Great holiday read
Apr 17, 2013
Morgan
marked it as to-read
Apr 14, 2013
Katie
added it
Mar 28, 2013
Anupama Gumber
marked it as to-read
Mar 17, 2013
Stephanie
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| The Indie Exchang...: Books, chocolate & ceramics - international giveaway | 1 | 6 | Oct 27, 2011 04:53pm |
Naomi Bulger is an Australian journalist who moved to New York City for adventure and found love instead. She now lives in Australia with her new family.
Her debut novella Airmail hit the stores in April 2011. She is the author of non-fiction books Talk Without Being Interrupted and Seventeen Summers, and her poetry was included in the Australian Poetry Encouragement Award anthology in 2002. She h...more
More about Naomi Bulger...
Her debut novella Airmail hit the stores in April 2011. She is the author of non-fiction books Talk Without Being Interrupted and Seventeen Summers, and her poetry was included in the Australian Poetry Encouragement Award anthology in 2002. She h...more
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