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26 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by MadSkipper on Saturday, October 20, 2007
Bestselling story of poet's return to Turkey. Suspenseful political.
Journal Entry 2 by MadSkipper at WoolWinders: A Knitting Salon in Rockville, Maryland USA on Saturday, October 20, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (10/20/2007 UTC) at WoolWinders: A Knitting Salon in Rockville, Maryland USA
Being a fairly active BookCrosser myself, I don't usually make it a habit to catch other BookCrosser's wild releases, but I simply couldn't pass up this book by Orhan Pamuk. Not only had I already been on a bookring for the same book, but I also rated it among my top five reads for 2006. My original review can be found on post # 13 on this thread.
Don't panic! This book is yet destined to travel widely. Within the next few weeks, I will be sending it out into the world on its own bookray.
Thanks for the book, MadSkipper. You have excellent taste!
By the way, I no sooner finished reading copy #1 of this book than the author won the 2006 Nobel Prize in literature. Great timing, eh?
This book is now beginning its journey as an International Bookray which will remain open to new members at all times. The mailing order is subject to change at any time based on geography, mailing preferences, or originator's whim. To join, simply PM me with your mailing preferences.
Begin International Bookray (10/21/07): SqueakyChu (Maryland, USA) done UnwrittenLibra (Massachusetts, USA) done aunt-sophie (Quebec, Canada) done bookvole (UK) done Cross-patch (UK) done fushmush (UK) done wanderingstar8 (UK) done Tregossip (UK) done MrsJennings (UK) done LaPitchoune (Finland) done -- Stop # 10 ana-b (Netherlands) done -- 1 year of travel Sujie (Australia) done lauraloo29 (Canada) done ciloma (Idaho, USA) done JerrilynnL (Colorado, USA) done shellheap (New Hampshire, USA) done -- 2 years of travel pashmack (Florida, USA) done nancynova (Pennsylvania, USA) done thebookmistress (Canada) done Kathmeista (Taiwan) done -- Stop # 20-- 3 years of travel oppem (Oregon, USA) done deadsteen (New York, USA) done Caroley (UK) done -- 4 years of travel penelopewanders (Switzerland) done hazy_d (Ireland) -- 5 years of travel End International Bookray (03/17/13):
This bookray was ended as I received no further information about this book when it was ready to leave Ireland. PMs were not answered. Thank you, everyone, for participating! This book traveled for 6 years with 25 hops to 9 countries, including 7 states within the USA.
Okay, so this one was a toughie. Sorry for taking so long - I really couldn't get into it but plugged through and finished at a camping trip this weekend in Nobscot, Massachusetts.
Me + this book = not a good match. I am giving 3 stars purely for some amusing metaphors and Pamuk's penning of an novel that was obviously over my head.
Off to aunt-sophie this week. Happy hanukkah everyone!
Sent this on a snowy day in Amherst, Massachusetts to aunt-sophie in Gatineau, Quebec.
Journal Entry 8 by rem_VSP-560485 on Monday, December 10, 2007
Received today! I have another ring (which includes 2 books) to read after the book I am currently reading, and then it will should be this one's turn!
Journal Entry 9 by rem_VSP-560485 on Monday, December 17, 2007
Pamuk probably has won prizes because of how he managed to incorporate current issues in his work more than because he has a particularly captivating style... Well, if he does, it's just not one that appeals to me, I must say. Unlike the reader before, I didn't force myself and gave up after about one third of the book, which is, from my experience as an avid reader, about how long it takes for the story to drag the reader into it - if it ever does. But I am glad I had the opportunity to read one of his books, so thanks SqueakyChu for letting me join the ray!
I've PM'd pedriza06 for an address twice, but got no reply, so I've contacted the next person in line, bookvole, and finally got an address. Sent on Jan. 11, 2008.
Journal Entry 11 by bookvole from Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 5, 2008
This arrived yesterday from Aunt Sophie. I'm looking forward to reading it as soon as I've finished my current read.
Journal Entry 12 by bookvole from Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom on Friday, March 21, 2008
This is the second Pamuk book I've read, and I found this one even more enjoyable than "The Black Book.", the first of his works I read. Having visited Turkey a few years ago, I feel Pamuk completely captures the essential spirit of the country - it doesn't know whether it's Asian or European. Neither has it yet decided whether it is a secular society, or whether it can withstand the pull of Islam. Pamuk's style is so original; it is poetic, yet somehow journalistic too, with a hint of magic realism to it. To my mind, there's no-one quite like him writing at the moment, although some of Marques' work is reminiscent of Pamuks.
I will post this to Cross-Patch tomorrow
Journal Entry 13 by bookvole from Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, March 22, 2008
This book has left me feeling sad. It is the loneliness of the tone and it reminded me of Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata of which I wrote 'Ephemeral is the word; I'm still grasping for the realities in the beautiful but lost meanderings of the mind. Sad story, sad lives .... but touching near-poetry.' and I feel the same about Snow. I need to read it at a slower pace and take many of the chapters as a single entity to absorb it all more completely.
I'll try to get it to the post sometime today. Thank you once again for getting the book this far and I wish it luck for the rest of the list.
Sorry for the delay. I was away on holidays. This was waiting for me when I returned. It is first on my TBR pile so I shouldn't hold it up for too much longer.
This was hard going and it took me a while to read it. It was beautifully written but it was long and drawn out. There are very thrilling scenes but they are few and far between.
Was it just me or did it seem to cover the same arguement over and over again? The ending didn't sit with me very well either. I really can't believe that Ka did the things they said he did.
I'm on holiday atm. Will send this book on when I get home.
I'm really sorry that I've hung onto this for so long. With regret, I've decided that I'm never going to finish it - at least this time - and I'll send it on tomorrow. There are lots of really good things about the book - I loved the opening, and the descriptions of the remote, snowy city it's set in - but I am just finding it really confusing. I think partly that's just my state of mind at the moment - I'm very busy at work and it's really hot in London at the moment so every time I get on a bus (where I do most of my reading) I just fall asleep. But I also spoke to a friend of mine who loves Orhan Pamuk and she said that she found Snow the toughest of all his books. She recommended My Name Is Red, which I actually own, so I'll try with that first and maybe come back to Snow at another time...
Thought it was an interesting and relevant book, with a strange feel to it. I didn't manage to finish it in the end unfortunately but have sent it on its way to Lapitchoune in Finland. Thanks for sending the book out SqeakyChu and MadSkipper.
Wow, this book has really been around! It's great to see this many entries. I'll try to do my share of writing once I get there. I received the book today, but I'm afraid it'll take a full month before I'll be able to pass it on (I've got another bookring duty to take care of before this). Too bad it's not snowing yet. Instead, we've been getting a lot of rainfall up here in Finland.
Ok, time for a new entry! I am sorry for stalling the ring. Thanks for letting me keep the book a little longer though, SqueakyChu. I tried to read this in the given time frame but couldn't get to the very end. Not even with the extended time. Why? Well, I guess it has something to do with the current state of affairs here in Finland.
There have been two school massacres in my country within less than a year. I have to deal with the unpleasant consequences of these sad events in my work every day. It really hasn't been easy. I had this book on my bedside table, but reading about a suicide epidemic and shootings before going to sleep only made me feel worse. So there was a lot of skipping pages for me. I really wanted to read the book and under more favourable circumstances I believe I might even have enjoyed the book. So, let this entry be an example of how time, place and theme can sometimes be totally incompatible.
In other words, I found this a heavy read, not only because of the violence, but also because of the political and religious content. Actually, Pamuk has rendered the subject of suicide as manageable as possible, in comparison. Headscarves are discussed, which is interesting. What troubled me most was the suicide theme. There is a lot of reasoning behind the suicide solution. Not only is it portrayed as a personal demonstration of pride, but also as a statement about religion and equality or as a reaction to surrounding violence. If a person knew exactly why she was committing suicide and could state her reasons openly, she wouldn't have to kill herself (p.396). Men kill themselves because they've lost hope of gaining anything (p.398). Suicide is a terrible sin. It's an illness that grows the more attention you pay it (p.75).
Bone-chilling, is it not? Necip's words comfort even a non-religious mind: God wants us to be happy in this world too. But that's the hardest thing (p.107). This is all so sad, so true. Such taboos are hard to touch on. Hence the name snow. Innocent white, bitterly cold, abstractly inhumane, all-forgiving snow.
Amid all the horror, snow stays to remind us about a universal truth: The sight of snow made her think how beautiful and short life is and how, in spite of all their enmities, people have so very much in common; measured against eternity and the greatness of creation, the world in which they lived was narrow. That's why snow drew people together. It was as if snow cast a veil over hatreds, greed, and wrath and made everyone feel close to one another. (p.111)
Since my reading was so strongly affected by my emotional state, I feel unable to give this novel any star ratings.
I had a hard time as a reader, but I'm hoping the next person will have a more pleasant experience with the book.
Finally finished the book. Thanks SqueakyChu for letting me keep it longer. It was worth the while. The story needed all my concentration, but it was beautiful.
Journal Entry 29 by ana-b at Gouda, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, February 12, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (2/12/2009 UTC) at Gouda, Zuid-Holland Netherlands
Arrived safely yesterday, thanks ana-b. Lovely postcard - is that a rape field? I remember the saturated colour of those fields in Germany. Have one other ring book to finish but look forward to this as everyone thinks it's special.
Sorry to have this so long. I have tried several times to get into it, almost becoming engaged in it because of Ipek and undercover stuff, but I am preparing for an exhibition, and fully engaged there, so keep losing concentration. Don't know if it's the translation but the style seems stilted and awkward at times. I'll have to return to Pamuk, Nobel Laureate, when I'm less focussed otherwise. Thanks for relasing the book, MadSkipper and for the ring, Squeaky Chu. So pming lauraloo29.
I'm having a hard time with this book. I want to read it, but I have too many rings here and have to keep them moving. :) It will be on its way next week. I'm planning on a mid-week visit to the post office. Thank you for sharing!
I finised reading this one several days ago. It was a very hard read. I didn't really get captivated until the last third of the book. It certainly was not an uplifting read. Well written - yes. Happy - not even close. It was very political and confusing at first. Once I realized that I needed to recognize that everything anyone did had an ulterior motive it became easier for me to make sense of it. I liked how the author put himself in it, too. I had to smile every time I saw his name. I kept thinking that all of this was basically written in real time and that if I had to catalog my day it would probably take hundreds of pages, too. I found the description of the calmness of the snow a nice counter to the political wreck that seemed to dominate.
Journal Entry 36 by ciloma at Spirit Lake, Idaho -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (5/19/2009 UTC) at Spirit Lake, Idaho -- Controlled Releases
Oops - I am so sorry. Just logged in to get the next person's name to PM and I saw you sent a message looking for this? I assume to me? I didn't get any messages - so I didn't mean to be so secretive or ignoring. :-)
This is a fantastic book but was (obviously) a really long read for me. Just not enough "deep reading" time this summer. I have PM'd the next person and will send the book on soon...
Whew! Finally completed. I don't read the previous comments until I'm done and I see I am not alone in getting bogged down with it. That makes it sound bad. It is a great book but hard to read. It took several tried to get started. Then once I really got into it, I found myself flipping back a page or two trying to figure out what happened. Definitely took me longer than any book I've read so far. I am glad I stuck with it and finished. It's worth it (although a slight disappointment in the end -- the missing item never found and that was kind of it for the poet).
This is off to Shellheap today...
Journal Entry 40 by JerrilynnL at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (9/29/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
Arrived in today's mail. I'll get started on it later today (if I can wait that long!)
Thanks, SqueakyChu and all :-)
4/13/2010 Update. Life has been extremely hectic lately, and I've not had as much time to read as I'd like. Consequently, I am only halfway through. I'm looking forward to finishing it during the next week.
4/18 Another update. When the book arrived, it had a cracked/broken spine. Today I was reading along, and the book fell apart right in my hands. I'm going to have to tape it back together. Sorry :-(
I've finally finished! Life just kept getting in the way of my reading. But, I must say, that I found this to be an unusual book. I probably should not have read all of the previous journal entries prior to reading. I almost think that I took so long with it because I expected it to be slow and plodding. It's a bit difficult to explain my reactions to the book. It seems that I could not read too much of it in one sitting. I would read a chapter or two, then sit with what I'd read for days and days before going back, as if I needed to quietly soak up and ponder what I'd read. At about 2/3 of the way through, I thought about giving up on it. But, in time, I realized I could not. The characters and the complexities of Kars were calling me back. The setting and mood were so evocative - the snow almost becoming an ever-present character in this absorbing and often melancholy tale. Poor Ka. I wish we could have read some of those poems.
Thank you for sharing, SqueakyChu. I'm sorry I've kept it so long. I've send it off to nancynova (5/19/10).
Got it today. A few books in front of it, then it's turn. Will perhaps take pashmack's advice and not try to devour it in one sitting, but instead parse out the chapters, interspersed with a lighter read. Will j/e again when I start it.
Journal Entry 46 by NancyNova at Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, June 10, 2010
The book has made it into the train commute bag - will be started later tomorrow after I finish "Deliverance Dane". Also moving it's status to reserved, so I can find it again to send it along!
Journal Entry 47 by NancyNova at Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, June 17, 2010
A few days away from finishing this book. PM'd the next on the ray.
Journal Entry 48 by NancyNova at Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, June 21, 2010
Still reading. The book is definitely well used, so I limit my reading to the train commute and when I'm home to the kitchen table...so it's taking me longer. About 3/4 done and PM'g the next on the ray.
Journal Entry 49 by NancyNova at Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Long, tough read. It took me 3/4 of the book to finally figure out that the narrator was the author, and the last chapters FINALLY pulled things together. I didn't like the protagonist (he was so lifeless, weary and dull), nor any of the other characters, who all had their own hidden agendas.
I've read some other books with politics, warring factions and controversy, particularly from that part of the world, but I don't think any other book was so gloomy. Perhaps it was the translation, or perhaps that was the mood the author was trying to portray. It's hard for me to imagine WHY this book is on the 1001 list. But, unlike some others, I did finish it!
Journal Entry 50 by NancyNova at Toronto, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (6/23/2010 UTC) at Toronto, Ontario Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
A book ray - handle with care - this book is starting to LOOK like it's done a lot of traveling, which it has!
Journal Entry 51 by thebookmistress at Toronto, Ontario Canada on Sunday, August 1, 2010
Received this book in the mail as part of a bookray a couple of weeks ago. Just finished reading. This might be my first Pamuk book, and now I am looking for more. I am not a huge fan of magic realism, but Pamuk also brings so much more. A fascinating glimpse of Turkey outside Istanbul and Ankara, where modernity and secularism fight with religion and ancient traditions, and Ataturk's dream of a Turkish identity confronts Kurdish national aspirations. The farcial and the tragic combine in an intruiging story. I just wish the narrators were either sympathetic or trustworthy.
Journal Entry 52 by thebookmistress at Toronto, Ontario Canada on Thursday, September 16, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (9/10/2010 UTC) at Toronto, Ontario Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Gone by mail to Kathmeista.
Journal Entry 53 by Kathmeista at Taoyuan, Taoyuan County Taiwan on Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Just received this in the post - would be a very appropriate read if I were somewhere colder right now. Luckily the coldest it gets here is 8 degrees!
Thanks for this bookray SqeakyChu!. Looking forward to reading it.
Journal Entry 54 by Kathmeista at Taoyuan, Taoyuan County Taiwan on Monday, March 7, 2011
This book took me a long time to get through. It was like walking along a street covered in snow - beautiful, enchanting, fraught but slow going and hard work. It was one of those books that demanded time and attention, not something that could be quickly read and put aside. This was a book that was determined to tell me the story, sit me down in the tea houses of Kars, lean in uncomfortably close and make sure I heard every single word. And I did, but at the end of it I have this horrible grasping feeling that I haven't managed to fully understand the effect of it all.
This is a book that is going to stay in mind for a long time and one that I'll be pondering over for quite some time yet. It introduced me to ideas and things that I hadn't known before but are clearly politically relevant (I saw a BBC World news item whilst reading this about the integration of Turkish immigrants into German society) as well as expanding my ideas on some things that have been with me for a while (Muslim society and it's relationship with the West).
Thanks very much for sharing this book with me. I'm sorry it took me so long to read it! I have messaged the next reader in line and will send on as soon as I have the address.
Journal Entry 55 by oppem at Hermiston, Oregon USA on Thursday, March 24, 2011
This book arrived in my mail box today ... thank you Kathmeistra for sending it on to me. I have one book to finish reading, then this one will be next in line.
Journal Entry 56 by oppem at Hermiston, Oregon USA on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Well, I just finished reading this book.... It took me far longer than most books and was most definately NOT an easy read; at least not for me. I did enjoy the book but also found it laborious, rather confusing and quite depressing..... ( & if I am honest a lot of it probably went over my head !!). Reading this book about 3 days in the life of Ka, isolated in a remote Turkish village in the N.E. of the country by a coccoon of snow was like looking at a snapshot of the political & geographical contridictions of modern day Turkey. It is a country that straddles East & West & in many ways finds it hard to know where it belongs.. I know that he was often writing in a quite 'tongue in cheek way' but the humour that was probably there just went over my head & I was left with a despondent feeling about humanity & whether we will ever be able to get along. As you can tell this book DID make me think and I will look for more books by Orhan Pamuk - but maybe not in the immediate future. The condition of this book is not great but considering its amazing travels I think it looks pretty good.... I will try to have it travelling again by mid week. Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Journal Entry 57 by oppem at New York City, New York USA on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (4/6/2011 UTC) at New York City, New York USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This book is on the move again - was put into post this morning heading to New York...
Journal Entry 58 by deadsteen at Cortlandt Manor, New York USA on Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Arrived..... will get to it very soon.
Journal Entry 59 by deadsteen at Cortlandt Manor, New York USA on Wednesday, June 8, 2011
I've made 2 attempts to get into this book and its just not working. I will contact the next person on the list and try to keep it moving.
Journal Entry 60 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, September 19, 2011
This arrived while I was on holiday so apologies for the delay in journaling it. I had quite a few books arrive from different sources while I was away so I've got a bit of a backlog. I'll get to this one as soon as I can, but it may be a couple of weeks.
Edit Dec: Reading now
Journal Entry 61 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 20, 2011
I rather liked this although I found it heavy going in a couple of places. It took me a couple of tries to get into it before I managed to read it. I think I needed to be in the right frame of mind for this particular book.
Apologies for the delay in reading this. I've now PMd penelopewanders and will hopefully get it moving soon. Thanks for starting the ring SqueakyChu.
Journal Entry 62 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, January 9, 2012
Released 12 yrs ago (1/10/2012 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted airmail.
Journal Entry 63 by penelopewanders at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
This ring skidded in today - and the book looks like it's been round the block a few times! I suppose it stands to reason if it's been travelling since 2007 - I just hope all the pages are still there. It arrives in time to queue behind a few other rings here, but I'll try to get to it soon. Thanks so much for making this available.
Journal Entry 64 by penelopewanders at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The best part about reading this book is that practically the whole time I was reading it, it was snowing like crazy here in the mountains. So every now and then I could gaze out the window just like Ka. Other than that I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. I had first heard of this author when I was remotely involved with a European Young Readers' Award ceremony - My Name is Red was one of the six books shortlisted for the prize. I had ordered all six, but Pamuk's book did not arrive before the meeting so I didn't get to read it ahead of time. Later I tried to send it down to our country place to read at some point on holiday, but it was stolen out of our car (with about twenty-five other TBRs!!) while the car was parked waiting for the ferry. So I haven't read that one which I was very intrigued by. When I saw this offered as a bookcrossing ring, I signed up right away. At times I very much enjoyed this, but after a while felt like I was looking into a mirror across from a mirror and the multiple reflections were dizzying in the long run. There was a certain amount of poetry, but when I tried to discern a piece of writing I found really moving or beautiful, I could never quite put my finger on anything - like trying to hold onto a snowflake - at the end my fingers were just wet, but there was nothing I could really say, "yes, this I really like." I could not identify with the characters, neither male nor female - the constant pessimism of the hero was wearying,the women seemed calculating and one dimensional. Knowing ahead of time so much of what would happen was an interesting approach, but it added to the mirror within mirror effect. Looking out at the snow falling as I write this, I can say I did enjoy the descriptions of the snow and the feeling of isolation. I was glad of the opportunity to read this. Thanks so much for making it available!
The next in line has asked to be skipped, I'm waiting for the next address.
Journal Entry 65 by penelopewanders at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Monday, February 20, 2012
Released 12 yrs ago (2/20/2012 UTC) at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
After two skips and a bit of a stay here in the Alps - (but given the title and the quality of the snow we've got here just now, who could blame anyone or anything for wanting to dally a bit here?) this is finally headed over to Ireland. Thanks so much for making this available. Enjoy!
Journal Entry 66 by hazy_d at Dublin, Co. Dublin Ireland on Friday, March 9, 2012
Book arrived today, will get on it straight away and will let you all know how i get
UPDATE
Try as i might i just could not get into this book, i never reached farther than a few pages. so with a heavy heart im am giving up and have PM'd the next on the list. will send off as soon as i have details.
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