Journal Entry 1 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Monday, November 03, 2003

Journal Entry 2 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Friday, April 02, 2004

This Bookray is on it's way.
Mailed this morning 2nd April 2004 to eucalia in USA.
Enjoy. 

Journal Entry 3 by Eucalia from Snoqualmie, Washington USA on Thursday, April 08, 2004

I received this book in the mail today. It's next on my list to be read--I'm looking forward to it! 

Journal Entry 4 by Eucalia from Snoqualmie, Washington USA on Sunday, April 25, 2004

I finished reading this book this evening. Thanks, redhouse, for sharing this book with us! Here is my official review:

This is the story of a man named Jay and his relationship with a very special old man, Joe. The story alternates between 1999, when Jay is a struggling English author who moves to France on an impulse, and 1977, when Jay is a boy in England spending his summers with Joe.

I had a hard time getting into this book at first, perhaps due to the fact that the story is narrated by a bottle of wine. It seemed, though, that the author would forget this oddity for long stretches and then suddenly remember and insert an appropriate comment into the narrative.

After I got into the story though, it held my attention and I enjoyed it. Jay was a likable character and Joe was interesting (although at first I kept getting these two similar sounding names mixed up), but none of the other characters were developed much at all. The French town where Jay moved is the same town in which Chocolat took place and I felt as though I was expected to remember the major characters from that book as minor characters in this one.

The only other thing I didn't much care for with this book was the postscript. I felt it wrapped up the loose ends too neatly. Some loose ends don't need to be wrapped up. I would've been perfectly happy if these things had been left to my imagination rather than explained glibly in a page and half.

Overall, this was a cute story and an easy, relaxed read. 

Journal Entry 5 by Eucalia at Bookray in BOOKRAY, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, April 26, 2004

Released on Monday, April 26, 2004 at Bookray in BOOKRAY, Bookray Controlled Releases.

I mailed this book to sherria this morning. Thanks so much for sharing it with me, redhouse! 

Journal Entry 6 by Sherria from Stamford, Connecticut USA on Tuesday, May 04, 2004

This arrived today. I have a couple of other rings/rays to finish first, but I'll get to it as quickly as possible and send it on to the next person on the list. Thanks for sharing it! 

Journal Entry 7 by Sherria from Stamford, Connecticut USA on Monday, May 17, 2004

Finished this book over the weekend, and really enjoyed it. It took me awhile to get used to the parts told from the perspective of the wine bottle/narrator, but the author seemed to forget about that strange quirk for most of the book, so it wasn't a huge bother.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book - so human and flawed. Like others, I wish the author hadn't put in the epilogue to tie up all the loose ends. I rather liked the way things were left hanging. Afterall, these were fallible people, and there were myriad possibilities that could have occurred beyond the end of the story. I like having the option to fill in those blanks myself, rather than having them all tied up neatly.

The story didn't really suck me in, but it was very relaxing to read. I didn't stress or worry about anyone, but just let myself float along with them as they went about their lives. That's a nice change of pace from my usual mystery/thrillers.

I haven't read Chocolat yet, but I"m looking forward to learning more about some of the minor characters in this book who play a larger part in that novel.

Thanks for sharing this redhouse. I'm glad to have had the chance to read it. I'll be mailing it out to the next participant tomorrow.


 

Journal Entry 8 by stardustedangel from Pineville, North Carolina USA on Monday, June 07, 2004

Received this in the mail last week and have just started reading it today, now that I've finished up with one I was in the midst of from another ring:) Many thanks to redhouse for sharing the book! I'll post another entry once I finish the book.

 

Journal Entry 9 by stardustedangel from Pineville, North Carolina USA on Thursday, June 17, 2004

A little slow-moving at first, but wonderful once I got into it. I thoroughly enjoyed and will ship to snowmyst as soon as I know where to mail it to=) 

Journal Entry 10 by stardustedangel at post office--controlled release! in Pineville, North Carolina USA on Thursday, June 24, 2004

Release planned for Friday, June 25, 2004 at post office--controlled release! in Pineville, North Carolina USA.

shipped out this out to snowmyst today. happy reading! 

Journal Entry 11 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Sunday, October 24, 2004

This bookray appears to be stalled. A shame since it was my first. I had a PM from stardustedangel confirming she had sent it but no response from snowmyst
If I can get hold of another copy then I'll restart it.