Turtle Diary (Bloomsbury Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Russell Hoban (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000 | ISBN-10: 0747548315 | ISBN-13: 978-0747548317

In the aquarium at the London Zoo, three sea turtles swim endlessly in 'their little bedsitter of ocean'. Two lonely people, William G and Neaera H, become obsessed with the turtles' captivity, and resolve to rescue them and release them in to the sea. William's and Neaera's diaries tell the story of how they achieve the turtles' freedom, and in the process re-define their own lives.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Russell Hoban is the author of many extraordinary novels including THE LION OF BOAZ-JACHIN AND JACHIN-BOAZ, RIDDLEY WALKER, MR RINYO-CLACTION'S OFFER and most recently, ANGELICA'S GROTTO . He has also written some classic books for children including THE MOUSE AND HIS CHILD and THE FRANCES books. He lives in London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Pub Ltd (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747548315
• ISBN-13: 978-0747548317
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,750,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful little book, October 22, 2007

By 

Jane Eyre "Born in the Wrong Century" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Turtle Diary (Bloomsbury Paperbacks) (Paperback)

I picked this book up on a whim. It was published in 1975 and is structured simply, with alternating diary entries from the whimsical souls of William G and Neara H, bookseller and children's author respectively. These are two people trapped within themselves, depressed and isolated, and so inured to their own routines that they are slowly being choked alive.

Until they go to the London aquarium and, separately, become aware of the turtles there, the magnificent turtles that must eventually be set free. Their chance encounter...and growing awareness of one another's intentions...set the stage for a revolutionary act.

This is a quiet, often very funny, slow-paced, but very rewarding book that I enjoyed greatly. It's about two peoples' interior world, and how an exterior action frees them from their own inertia. I absolutely loved it. In a world of hysterically touted, often badly written books, this little gem is an absolute keeper.

Set in London in a different decade (the 70's), I enjoyed reading about the city and the times as well (particularly hysterical is an evening William G. spends at a party held by a "rebirther").

I was sad to turn the last page. No higher praise can you give a good read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy This Book!!, December 1, 2008

By 

Adda - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Turtle Diary (Hardcover)

I love to read for the purpose of being transported to another place, time, or reality.
This book did just that and even though it is not always a happy place, or reality, it is always compelling.
I was very sorry for it to end. I wanted and still want to know more of William and Neaera!!!
You can pick this title up, in hardcover form, for just a penny!
It is worth infinitely more!!

3.0 out of 5 stars Turtle Diaries, July 4, 2009

By 

Donald W. Hines "Aloha-Don" (Sacramento, CA(N.H.)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Turtle Diary (Hardcover)

Not the most interesting translation of lonely people in this British book. It's a quiet melodrama that remains true to the blandness of the characters created in forming an alliance to perform and idealistic and noble rescue of our animal kingdom captive in zoo.