All Over The Map -- Global Weddings, Wandering and Pondering

Brilliant!!!
Brilliant story, brilliant humour, brilliant structure and absolutely fantastic characterisation. Very, very good read!

Excellent and what a romp! Like the male version of Eat Pray Love only better! backed with pleasure. Liz

This is hilarious! There is no choice but to back it!

Amy
Love Match

An excellent, funny and engaging piece of work, perfectly described. You really bring a clear picture of your setting to the reader's mind, but it's more than that. You furnish these setting with fabulous characters and stunning humour.

Backed with pleasure.
Abi xxx

This is so damn funny it's untrue, I had tears streaming down my face, bloody good job I chose to go without mascara today!!

If anyone doesn't think this is a good read, send them to me and I'll sort them out for you!!
Melxx
Impeding Justice

Return read (finally!):
Ok, so I'm up to wedding #18. It's a fascinating premise to juxtapose weddings with all the social commentary, but I suppose a lot of that (and philosophical musing) goes on at weddings, doesn't it? I think this book is definitely suited to people with socioeconomic, political, and even broader philosophical interests (ok, and maybe a bit of Canuck sensibility),  but I actually AM one of those, so this has been great so far. I'm enjoying it. 
I have to say, I lived in mtl for 5 years, and this has been a pretty fun exercise in nostalgia to read. I can really picture it. 
- I really liked the introduction of Lulu. I definitely read "Maudie Anglais cocksucker" in a québécois accent, and it was 10x funnier that way. 
-Just as an aside, I don't think I've ever met anyone who was studying electrical engineering and actually wanted to into it.
-Montreal’s existence peaked in ’76 with the Olympics, and then everything went to hell in a handbasket - I laughed because this is true. 
I really, really enjoyed the whole discussion on separatism. Fuckin' eh. 
- He wasn;t done yet (just a little thing, but the semi-colon should be an apostrophe)
I enjoyed reading about the first Gulf war. I don't know much about it (was 4 at the time), but it was good to learn about. Also, barbarocracy is a great word.
I went to the Maple Leaf pub last year! Shitty peanuts, honestly. 
- “What,” asked Roger cluelessly, “are you on about?” (I was thinking the exact same thing. After reading the dress/shoe description, I'm never getting married.)
- the ending of the chapter 4 (2?) was really well-written, I thought. The only other thing I was hoping to see from it was an expansion on the skimmed-over Europe travels, and how on earth you ended up working in India. Seems like those would be pretty neat stories.
Anyway, will try to get back to this soon.
Ellie

Three chapters in, and very impressed. I had a wry smile throughtout reading most of it, and a couple of out-loud chuckles.
The prose is very witty and irreverant, and the dialougue is likewise. Characterisation is strong, Lule in particular was great, and your MC is an engaging, funny central protagonist. The only real criticism i have is that some chapters, chapter 2 in particular, are quite long. I'm not surethey can be broken up due to the slightl episodic nature of the book, but perhaps they could be edited down slightly. That's a minor quibble though. Very good stuff overal, high stars and staying on my WL for a future backing.

All over the map

Great book Bob, I'm really pleased I've finally had chance to read it -sorry about that.
The book is written extremely well, its descriptive and its very visual.
You must have such a great sense of humour because I found it hilarious.
You have created such an interesting storyline and some amazing characters to go with it.
I saw no sign of edits.
Rated highly.
Ruby Middleton
(Will Ryan)

An amusing, descriptive and well written book. Your writing style is very impressive, dialogue are realistic with vivid charachters and narrative is at great pace. Highly rated.

Very nice and engaging story you have here. It has a nice and smooth flow, very witty with just the right added amount of humor, Highly starred and I will be keeping my eye on this 1

It has often been said that novels about work or at work are the most interesting and I think this is a cracker. If I'm right they work for some mail sorting company ready to despatch parcels. I like the idea of a worldly-wise man in the face of raw youth but what a way to sum up fourty-two years of marriage, I was howling so much I went back and read it again for another bout. So this is how Bobby Bo enters his brave new world? A really interesting start, that I know from the beginning, is gonna be a laugh. It's a pity Lulu isn't around for the duration. I will definitely back it and put it on my shelf. Not enough humour in this world. One thing I would point out is that in the UK 'lanky' is 'tall' anyway. Well done Bobby Bo. I will now go to bed and before I sleep, this is where I reflect. Excellent start young man.

Bob,
All Over the Map is an amusing account which makes me want to travel the world as you have. This was the first time I was introduced to the concept of a recycled wedding ring, but I'm all for preserving the environment.

Walden Carrington
Titanic: Rose Dawson's Story

- All over the Map -

(Based on chapters 1-4)

Oh good, I do love it when a book is so tightly put together and so well written that I don't have anything to offer in the way of constructive criticism. It means far less work for me in this comment box thingy.

For me, the best travel writing gives us a sense of place but doesn't get too distracted by that. A country is after all only as interesting as the people you encounter there so the best in travel writing has always been that which produces great character sketches for me. And All over the Map certainly has that in abundance. I knew I was in good hands from the very off as I got these great pieces of characterisation of Lulu and the narrator in the first chapter and Baba at the start of the second. Throughout, we meet different characters at the various weddings and they are sketched with equal skill and humour.

Humour is another fantastic aspect here. There are laugh out loud moments throughout.

I loved the intros to each chapter, giving us a sense of each weddong before we even got there. It also gives a great sense of continuity throughout.

The writing itself is tight and humour packed with great turns of phrase and observations throughout. Excellent, excellent.

This is going on my shelf as soon as I can manage it.

All the best with it,

Ross

This has fun written all over it. I laughed out loud many times. Certainly the most quirky and unique story I have read since joining the site. I get very tired of the same old, same old, so this was a wonderfully refreshing change. You certainly have a gift for painting a funny imagine and taking it up a notch to hilarious.

There were the odd points of over writing but I was laughing so much I was grateful for the breather. I'll never look at a wedding in the same way again.

Janny

Great concept, and wonderfully executed. You're a terrific narrator, and you draw the reader in instantly. I want ot go to every single wedding. They're such a novel and quirky way to get to know a culture - or in some cases, how cultures might clash.

I loved somed some of your images - pressed-panini dead animal comes to mind.

I am a big believer in the writer's maxim "show, don't tell," and I did find a few examples of telling. For instance "Tanya looked great. She always did." Why not describe how Tanya looks so we know that she looks great - to us and to you.

There were also a few cases of overwriting - you stepped on or explained your own joke. "It would be difficult to top that..." Not necessary to add that. The Justice Potter pornography line - leave it at that. No need to add "I'd know her when i saw her." We get it without that.

This has a lot of potential, and just needs a bit of tightening up. I'm giving you a very rare five stars and watchlisting for now.

And I do hope you'll check out Animal Cracker, another fun read.

All best,
Andi Brown

Hi
Good humor and intelligence in this work. You have an easy flow to your writing and your dialogues are crisp. Soon, I will read whole.

well witten and engaging piece of writting. a real joy to read...your narrative and dialogue also do their jobs well. on my watchlist...
read SEASONS...

One of the fresher voices I've read in a long time. I was at the end of the third chapter before I knew what happened. I found this engaging and interesting. The first scene, with the older packer and the young man...brilliant dialogue, excellent description that really brought me right into the setting. I like the situation of a worldwise young man looking back at a manual labor job, wherein the employees perhaps weren't worldwise in a certain sense but maybe had something to teach him after all. Your prose is excellent...moves right along with punchy word choice and it's never, never boring. Little bits of wisdom interspersed. Interesting characters. I'm intrigued with the use of music, although I think you should stick to one or two songs for each chapter, and I think that maybe you should consider inserting brief lyrics for those unfamiliar with the songs. The blend of different media, along with books, I think is interesting. Wondering how and if you'll draw any conclusions about the music, in terms of the story. Which leads me to my main issue with books that are biographical in nature...I think they should have some unifying idea, something the "character" learns, some main THING that makes it cohesive. Of course, life doesn't always happen like that but I think that memoir-type stuff should. Just my opinion and I haven't read enough to know if you've found something to unify your memories.

In short...loved this. I think you should participate more here and you'd have a solid chance of doing well with this. It's very engaging, very well-written.

---Mary
The Qualities of Wood

ALL OVER THE MAP

Dear Bob,
This is my kind of book. Books don't get any better than this.
How did I miss it? The title, the pitch and the beginning "This is a work of f(r)iction..."
Gave this book six stars and put it on my WL.
I wanna buy it.
A zoomer

Again I read and again laughed and enjoyed. Stars to you.
Lara
Good for Him

You are totally fantastic, Bobby! :) How can I ever thank you enough for backing my memoirs book? :)
God bless you. :) Love, Susie :)

Hysterical humor. Worldly wisdom. Fresh. Bold. Original. Endearing characters. Crisp dialogue. Lyrical narrative. Thought-provoking theme. Top notch writing. A captivating read. Backed.

Perhaps you haven't been on this site long for surprisingly no-one much seems to have noticed this. ut it's a cracker! Excellent premise - wish I'd thought of it - and sophisticated writing throughout. You've only uploaded to 7 and perhaps that's wisest. I reckon a publisher will pick you you up. It's great and I'm happy to back
Lara
Good for Him

Smart, witty, punchy writing in a fresh, brazen, boisterous voice. A highly entertaining read.
Olga

ALL OVER THE POND
Original and very funny. This crosses many genre and should appeal to many as it has huge potential. Well done
Faith
THE ASSASSINS VILLAGE

Dear Bob

so funny really funny...It is so good to see that your book was well received. I have already commented and backed your book, and as at times the backing have not shown, i will back your again, just to MAKE SURE.
I do wish you the very best with your writing

Denise
The Letter

Dear Bob

It is so good to see that your book was well received. I have already commented and backed your book, and as at times the backing have not shown, i will back your again, just to MAKE SURE.
I do wish you the very best with your writing

Denise
The Letter

Excellent huge potential over all the mediums of book, films or series, well done. Paula Barrett (Cuthbert-how mean is my valley)

Great humour and wisdom in this work. You have an easy flow to your writing and your dialogue is exceptional. You've captured the French Canadian spirit well in the character of Lulu. I've known many like him through my years in the army.

This is very well done. Backed with pleasure!

Craig Ellis
The Sun and the Saber

Dear Bob
I live the book cover I know not many comment on this but I think it is important. it is the very thing that would attract a potential reader when in the stores competing with thousand of others, some very famous authors. So it worked for me. Your long pitch was the thing that grabbed me and forced me to read, and glad i am that i did I found this book hilarious, you have a gift a talent for humor and the thing i find really amazing is you can put it on paper, this is skill. congrats on this book and i feel sure it will be in my local book store.
I will carry on reading when you write more. I would like to get this book of yours backed to assist it on the climb to the top.
Backed for sure my me. ..I would really appreciate it if your would look at my book, COMMENT , and back it. If not that is OK also
The VERY best of luck with your book

Denise
The Letter

I hear Hollyword calling: considered the screenplay angle? Casting would be a hoot!

Brilliant and hilarious, Bob!

Bob,
Nice job very funny and like the bookending with Lulu at the very end.

Diane

A very original and funny idea. I particularly like the changes in style with messages from the intergalactic communicator. When It's complete it should be compulsary reading for all contemplating marriage. And even more so for those contemplating being a guest, haven't we all been to weddings which we just knew shouldn't be happening?
Backed
Robert Davidson
THE TUZLA RUN

ALL OVER THE MAP
You've got an easy, almost conversational style, talking to the reader as if we're there with you at one of the weddings.
Your prologue set the scene. We learnt about you, touched upon the subject of marriage (via Lu-lu's wisdom!) and travel (via sorting boxes for delivery around Canada.) Written down like that, it doesn't sound much, but in your hands it was full of fun and good humour. I can see that you could make anything interesting because you notice small things about people and situations that others usually miss..
THen we begin travelling to the weddings. The characters feel real and the combination of music (revealing a lot about the place, date and the personalitiies of the couples) the range of countries and the conversations of guests made each wedding very different and memorable.
Along the way the narrator's own situation changes. You start as a electrical engineering student but by Chapter 6 , you're planning a book on weddings.
From the first wedding and the horror of Tanya's sudden interest in marriage, there's important lessons to be learnt. Things like: don't take a girl friend to a wedding and it's best for the nerves if you prepares a speech a little earlier than a few minutes before speech is due. Then of course there's the deeper advice about marriage itself, from the likes of Lu-Lu , Pops, Vijay and Kenneth. Very funny, very engaging and it makes good sense.
Bobby Bo is a great friend and a good listener to a whole range of conversations. There's talk about the economic state of Montreal after the 1976 Olympics , the Iraq war, Turkey's place in the E.U, agriculture, Britain's part in the Middle East situation, the benefit of tatoos, the win-win benefits of hedge fund banking, the global economy and the uncontrollable spending habits of materialistic wives! Plus a good many more diverse subjects, all dealt with in an amusing and entertaining tone that helps us learn more about the characters and also the narrator.
Humerous but wise and ultimately optimistic, this is a lovely book. It would be a great one to buy for my brother who is getting married for the first time aged 56 this October, having been bestman 5 times and has been going out with his fiance for over twenty years!
Only one very minor nitpick, which I see others have mentioned; I think the chapters may be too long. Could you break them up?
Well travelled, Bobby Bo. BACKED.
Cherry G.
The Girl From Ithaca

Hi, I've backed your funny book. The sort of thing I'd peep back at bits. I think you might enjoy Good for Him, set in WW2 and written from point of view of small boy.
Lara
Good for Him

Oh Bobby, I'm loving this! Keep reading snippets out to my husband, making him pause the telly. But he's laughing along with me (not annoyed at all by telly-pausing). It reminds me of when I was younger: inter-railing, spending a summer on a Kibbutz, travelling with friends, getting pissed in foreign countries... Such an enjoyable read.
Extremely backed xx

Hi Bob, Liked the line before the prologue. Lulu is a good introduction for his anniversary and a contrast to the narrator. The caterer uncle and the first wedding, keenly told, show the adeptness going on with the protagonist. I can see there’s much variety in this and I liked the details about the families of the engaged. The tone approaches that of the connoisseur. Well-written. Happy to shelve – Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

Bob -

All Over The Map . . . like a sophisticated rap poem, the words come in a rythm from some steady source of humorous observations. A celebration of endearing characters, I think even nasty ones would come over as endearing. Loved Baba and wanted to know more of her. I guess she appears again, but I had to stop reading, getting addicted.

Backed, Pia (Course of Mirrors)

Hi Bob,

I have backed your book because I was hooked by the pitch, loved the introduction and read on. Very funny, just what the doctor ordered.

How much more I read depends on time and commitment.

Enjoy everything and good luck.

Rusty Bernard
Psychiatric Evaluation

Bob, a great canuck romp. love the strong prose: clean, energetic.
on my shelf.
the more i like something, the more i look to pass on some "real" critique. sorry, not much to quibble about here. ;)
here's a VERY minor thought:
"permanent fixture, or lifer" - maybe "permanent fixture, a lifer" ?
very best wishes, andy

All Over The Map -- Global Weddings, Wandering and Pondering

Bob N. Boguslavski

Bob,
This is an interesting idea for a novel. Re your title "All Over The Map -- Global Weddings, Wandering and Pondering" - perhaps it should read " Global Weddings, Wanderings and Ponderings" ??

First line of long pitch - "Life’s a wedding for Bobby Bo. Having traveled to nearly 100, from Tenerife to Singapore..." I think the word "countries" or "places" or "cities" (whatever) might be missing after "100" ??

Bob, I am not doing in-depth or lengthy reviews anymore as a rule. If you look at my early comments on books I reviewed on the site, you will see that I used to read at least three chapters of every book reviewed, sometimes more, and write a fairly long, sometimes essay-style critique. I have been on the site for about a year now and have read many chapters from about 600 books or more. My eyesight has been affected by continuous electronic reading and with so many books on the site now and that insane pressure to constantly be reading and commenting and backing to keep arrows green, this is putting a strain on my life. I have a family with young children and resulting domestic responsibilities, career-related projects I am working on, as well as eight books on Authonomy to continuously edit and refine and the present modus operandi is no longer conducive to my reading and writing extensive comments.

I DO NOT DO BLIND BACKINGS. I have backed your book ONLY AFTER reading your pitches AND first HC chapter or prologue upload. My backing means I was impressed by your piece and believe your book has potential and deserves an HC review. I hope you will pay me the courtesy of looking at mine and if you think it has potential, back it if you feel like. It’s up to you and your assessment, and of course, your conscience.

If however you leave me a comment on the Somnambulist which clearly indicates you have read it or parts of it, AND the comment is helpful and/or substantive, I will make the time and take the effort to leave you an indepth comment on yours as well.

In the meantime, I was honoured to have given your book a spin on my shelf, genuinely believe it has potential and I wish you the best in finding a publisher.
Zan

Bob,

I don't know quite where this work sits, but it's an easy read and kept me smiling.

Lulu reminded me of an old guy I worked with in a chocolate factory (though he was a Pakistani).

The song list for the first wedding takes me back to about the same time.

Again, I really don't know what to make of this f(r)iction, but, as I said before, it made me smile. What more can you ask for?

Backed.

V ery unique. Very fresh. and backed with pleasure.

Brilliant!!!
Brilliant story, brilliant humour, brilliant structure and absolutely fantastic characterisation. Very, very good read!

Dear Bob --

This is wickedly funny stuff, and a nice break from serious themes -- although underneath the wit, your tale has a poignancy we couldn't miss about the institution of marriage. We loved your Baba, too; we knew exactly what her look would be like in response to those "poorly expressed words". Our main suggestion so far: consider shortening some of your very long paragraphs (in chapter two - 3 in the upload here) especially. The narrative is good, it would simply be more digestible in smaller chunks. This is a mechanical issue, however, and easy to resolve, so we're very pleased to offer our support for All Over the Map. -- Delhui, The Long Black Veil

This is hilarious! There is no choice but to back it!

Amy
Love Match

You have an original voice, hard to turn away because it rolls along like a freight train. Great imagery, wonderful word usage and punchy dialogue. I love the outline of this, Bobby Bo's adventures and impressions as he hops from wedding from wedding. Funny, unique---I'm happy to back this.

---Mary
The Qualities of Wood

Hi Bob,

I`ve enjoyed reading what you`ve posted so far, it`s fun, lyrical and packed with great imagery, you have a talent for descriptive writing. Now for the quibbles - I think that your first sentence isn`t doing your prose any favours, it`s a bit clunky, also it`s unneccessary to tell the reader that your character is 18 and then clarify that he`s been hired as (YOUNG) muscle. But I really did enjoy this and will most certainly come back and read more...Backed with pleasure.

Good luck,
Cerys (Bradan)

A vicarious pleasure ride across the world, as well as a view into the, er, minds of boys and men. Loved reading it - keep those chapters coming, Bobbo!!

"Babs"

Love the idea of Lulu being the brains of the operation. It takes talent to make an account of shifting boxes interesting. Can't analyze how you do, but it's so. 'Flying under the flag of God' is an excellent phrase.
It's unusual for a man to write about weddings. But there are always lots of people there so it's an excuse to write about them too. That's why I love this book, it satisfies my nosiness. Simple, funny, sweet and eloquent - that's your writing. Frictional and accitentionally should become accepted words. Backed. Lynn

Hi Bob,

This is a great draft, I look forward to reading it again when this site has taught you even more than you already know!

Good luck.

Kind regards,

Jodi.
x-Evalesco-x

Excellent character painting. There is a strong and wild life running through the narrative.This is certainly farce with a heavy thump. I read up to chapter 4 and only stopped to get on with other, brilliant. BACKED

Hi Bob,
Backed for a great opening chapter. I can relate to the whole not-getting-married thing.
Lucy

Dear Bobby, thanks for the invitation to look at your work. Well it certainly does not dissapoint. Your pitch is really goo and sets the stage for reading. I have backed it on the strength of your pitch, and will return with further comments once I have read. Please bare with me however, I have a mountain of reading commitments, but I will return ASAP.
Backed with pleasure
Helen
The Last Dream