Journal Entry 1 by JesseBC from Duluth, Minnesota USA on Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Excellent, character-driven novel about a 12-year-old girl learning about loving and letting go of her mother and growing into womanhood. Available. 

Journal Entry 2 by JesseBC at postal release in София / Sofia, Sofiya Bulgaria on Thursday, October 23, 2003

Released on Thursday, October 23, 2003 at postal release in Sofia, Sofia Bulgaria.

Off to begin its bookring journey in Bulgaria! 

Journal Entry 3 by JesseBC from Duluth, Minnesota USA on Friday, November 14, 2003

Order for the bookring:

bookmaniac70
arugh48187
buzzgirl
MandMsMom
luv2sewtjr
Kernow8
WarEagle78
OlysMom
ravenpartner
chaoscat60
 

Journal Entry 4 by bookmaniac70 from София / Sofia, Sofiya Bulgaria on Monday, February 02, 2004

The book arrived here at last! I liked very much the cover (so far:-)). I have two more bookrings to read and I shall try to be quick as possible. 

Journal Entry 5 by bookmaniac70 from София / Sofia, Sofiya Bulgaria on Friday, February 06, 2004

I started reading and could not put the book down.The story is very moving,without being sentimental.Elisabeth and Tilden-two teenage girls,move with their mother to live in her new friend`s house.Of course,they will be jealous of her mother,as they were the main focus of her life during the years.But things change,and the change is deeper than they could imagine.
It is a book about mothers and daughters,about being a teenager;about love and fear of loss;about care and illness.It is about white lies,and the wish to protect your children from reality.What I like most,is that everything sounds so true- the emotions of the girls,the way they react to moving into the new house,to her mother`s new friend,to her illness. A very powerful debut for the writer. 

Journal Entry 6 by bookmaniac70 from София / Sofia, Sofiya Bulgaria on Saturday, February 07, 2004

Finished it yesterday.Excellent book!Psychologically true (at least it sounds like this to me),good style of writing,well-pictured characters.I liked everyone in this book in a different way.I liked the Mother for her infinite love for her daughters,for her patience and endurance.I was feeling very sad for her that after beginning of a new life she had to cope with so much pain and eventually leave her family forever.Sometimes I wished that she would have been more open about her illness.It was obvious that the girls were suffering from uncertainty and fear of unknown.On the other side,she wished very much to protect them and keep them away from pain and loss.
I also liked Nick,her new friend.Akmost all the time we see him through the eyes of the girls...and of course,they are very critical of him,and blame him for stealing their mother away from them....but anyway,it was evident that he was doing really his best,he cared for their mother,for them.He was with her until the last moment.I think he was a very true image of step-father-to-be: willing to be good to the girls,overacting sometimes,making mistakes.
And the girls were...wonderful!

Thank you,JesseBC, for sending us this book.I`m glad I read it.

BTW,I have arugh48187`s address and she wrote to me that she was going to India for a month.We both think that if I send the book surface,it will arrive exactly for the time when she is back from her journey.

Planning to ship the book these days. 

Journal Entry 7 by bookmaniac70 at on Monday, February 09, 2004

Released on Monday, February 09, 2004 at Mailed to a fellow Bookcrosser in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

Mailed the book to next participant. 

Journal Entry 8 by AnonymousFinder on Friday, April 02, 2004

would like to see it find a reader

CAUGHT IN JERSEY CITY NEW JERSEY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

Journal Entry 9 by bookmaniac70 from София / Sofia, Sofiya Bulgaria on Saturday, April 03, 2004

This book had an unexpected catch.I received a mail from the man who works in the post office of New Jersey.The book arrived there without any wrapping and address indication- it was torn,and the man asked for the address to send it on.I mailed to him the address of arugh48187 and hopefully it will reach her after some time. 

Journal Entry 10 by JesseBC from Duluth, Minnesota USA on Saturday, April 03, 2004

Wow....I was wondering about this when I got the journal entry yesterday. Nice of the guy to take the time to try to locate the recipient. Did he say the book was torn? :-$ Bummer....how badly? Do we need to get a new copy to complete the ring? 

Journal Entry 11 by bookmaniac70 from София / Sofia, Sofiya Bulgaria on Sunday, April 04, 2004

The book is all right,Jesse,only the wrapping was lost.The man mailed me again yesterday.He intends to ship the book on Monday. 

Journal Entry 12 by arugh48187 from Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Tuesday, April 13, 2004

After a brief stop for sight seeing in New Jersey this book has finally arrived. I have a few bookrings in front of it, but I should get to it soon. 

Journal Entry 13 by arugh48187 from Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Monday, June 21, 2004

This book was beautifully written. The characters are extremely believable. I don't know how the author managed to get inside the head of a thirteen year old girl, but she has done a remarkable job of it.

I will be passing this one on as soon as I get an address. Thanks for sharing. 

Journal Entry 14 by arugh48187 at Post Office at 153rd and Garrett in Apple Valley, Minnesota -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, June 29, 2004

Released on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 at Post Office at 153rd and Garrett in Apple Valley, Minnesota Controlled Releases.

Mailed off to buzzgirl this morning. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 15 by buzzgirl from Dunnville, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, July 20, 2004

In my mailbox yesterday! Thanks! 

Journal Entry 16 by buzzgirl from Dunnville, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Very sad story. Beautifulnever-the-less. Not as sad as the movie I just watched with Ro, called "Flash" about a boy and a horse. me and the Rosebud were like a couple of those cartoon characters, crying our eyes out, tears just spewing out ; ) I digress. I have held onto this book for too long...why? I thought I PM'd the next person...will check on it. 

Journal Entry 17 by MandMsMom from Stamford, Connecticut USA on Tuesday, December 28, 2004

I can't wait to read this. I used to be a work with Karin Cook's stepmother and have always wanted to take the time to read it. I am glad to be reading it in a ring because it gives me an opportunity to see what others thought of this book. 

Journal Entry 18 by MandMsMom from Stamford, Connecticut USA on Monday, January 24, 2005

Well, for anyone who hasn't shared a book with me before you must know something about me. I am a sucker for a first novel! I always feel that a first novel is some amazing story that the writer has always needed to tell. Some writers never write again and that's ok because they told the story that had been burning inside their soul.

This novel doesn't break my theory. What a beautiful story! Like Tilden and Elizabeth, I lived in denial of what was inevitable but I held on and took the journey with them. At times I found this book just too sad to deal with. Tilden always seemed unhappy. Although, she didn't always admit it she was in the constant shadow of Elizabeth. I loved the moments when she could break free and discover herself outside of their shared identity. I found the Uncle Rand storyline depressing and maybe unnecessary. It never went anywhere and only made me sadder. I wish I knew what happened to Tilden and Elizabeth later in life.

I will be sending this one to luv2sewtjr. 

Journal Entry 19 by luv2sewtjr from Greencastle, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Argh. I'm swamped right now, so I'm going to have to move this book along without reading it. :( I am making a note of the title so I can read it at a later time.

Thanks for including me, though.

**weeblet requested to be skipped** 

Journal Entry 20 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Friday, March 25, 2005

Arrived in England a couple of days ago - thanks! 

Journal Entry 21 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Sunday, May 08, 2005

A very absorbing novel - I've had my head stuck in the book for a large part of today finishing off the last 100 pages. It was interesting to read it from the vantage point of having been an adolescent girl, and being a mother of two daughters fairly close in age. My girls are only 4 and 5 at the moment - but I can imagine them growing up into Tilden and Elizabeth. However the enjoyment I got from picturing my daughters' future quickly changed into the sadness of wondering how life would be for them if I wasn't there, and also thinking that my own mother won't always be around. (Thankfully at present we are both healthy.) I've never experienced the loss of a close relative before and don't know how I'll cope with it. I usually try to avoid thinking about it.

Thanks for the poignant read. I'll be thinking about it when I do a 5 km "Race for Life" run in aid of a breast cancer charity later this summer. I've got wareagle78's address so will send it to her tomorrow hopefully. 

Journal Entry 22 by WarEagle78 from Hoover, Alabama USA on Sunday, May 15, 2005

This one just arrived in Alabama. Will journal again when read. Thanks for sending it on, kernow8! 

Journal Entry 23 by WarEagle78 from Hoover, Alabama USA on Saturday, May 21, 2005

Finished now and ready to send to OlysMom as soon as I get to the store for more mailing supplies.

I really wasn't emotionally prepared for this one. It reminded me in many ways of Elizabeth Berg - a high compliment for a first novel. The story wandered a bit, but that device actually worked in paralleling Tilden and Elizabeth's life. The last Berg I read was Talk Before Sleep, so the cancer element was another element handled with perhaps equal grace by both authors.

Thanks JesseBC for giving me a chance to read this. 

Journal Entry 24 by WarEagle78 from Hoover, Alabama USA on Wednesday, May 25, 2005

On its way to OlysMom in WA today. 

Journal Entry 25 by OlysMom from Mountlake Terrace, Washington USA on Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Received in the mail yesterday along with another bookring selection. Two at once! Whatever shall I do? 

Journal Entry 26 by OlysMom from Mountlake Terrace, Washington USA on Monday, September 05, 2005

I couldn't finish this. I just felt restless while trying. I sent it to the next person in the ring, but then I forgot to 'release it' here. (Symptom of that restlessness perhaps?) 

Journal Entry 27 by ravenpartner from Wells, Maine USA on Monday, October 03, 2005

Fast read - when I finally got around to it. Back into the ring. . . 

Journal Entry 28 by chaoscat60 from Tucson, Arizona USA on Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Found this in my mailbox 2 days ago and only now have a chance to journel in it. I'm hoping to start it this weekend it's up next on my TBR pile! Thanks.
 

Journal Entry 29 by chaoscat60 from Tucson, Arizona USA on Monday, October 31, 2005

Yjis was an interesting read for me since my mother had abandoned me. I really don't miss a mother-daughter relationship since I didn't know it. I did like the characters and enjoyed the book. 

Journal Entry 30 by chaoscat60 from Tucson, Arizona USA on Thursday, November 10, 2005

This is a bookring book I would like to return. I haven't heard from anyone about an address, I'm the end of the line. I will make it available if no one is intrested in it.
 

Journal Entry 31 by chaoscat60 at Postal truck at broadway and houghton. in Tucson, Arizona USA on Monday, November 28, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (11/28/2005 UTC) at Postal truck at broadway and houghton. in Tucson, Arizona USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sending back to the original owner to complete her bookring. 

Journal Entry 32 by JesseBC from Duluth, Minnesota USA on Friday, December 09, 2005

After more than 2 years and several adventures while travelling around the world, this one is back home for a long rest on the shelf. Thanks for sharing it with me, everybody.