Devil-Devil
22 journalers for this copy...
It's 1960 and Sergeant Ben Kella of the Solomon Islands police force is only a few days into a routine patrol of the most beautiful yet dangerous and primitive area of the South Pacific. Yet already he has been cursed by a magic man, stumbled across evidence of a cult uprising and failed to find an American snthropologist who has been scouring the mountainous jungle in search of a priceless erotic icon.
Mission educated, yet an aofia - the traditional peacemaker of the islands - Kella is forced to link up with Sister Conchita, an independent and rebellious young American nun, in order to track down the perpetrators of a series of bizarre murders...
Journal Entry
2 by
Tanamo at
Hinckley, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 17, 2013
I enjoyed this tale set in the Solomon Islands which is an area of the world I know nothing about. I enjoyed the main character particularly as he reminded me of someone I once knew whose life was similarly conflicted.
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3 by
Tanamo at
Troon, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, January 24, 2014
Released 10 yrs ago (1/24/2014 UTC) at Troon, Scotland United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed to another bookcrosser via the UK Wishlist tag game.
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4 by
pam99 at
Troon, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 28, 2014
thank you tanamo! arrived yesterday and I've started reading it already as part of the 666 challenge.
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5 by
pam99 at
Troon, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, January 30, 2014
brilliant - set in the Solomons in 1960, it's a murder mystery which manages to combine a great whodunnit with anthropology and a sense of the tensions in the run up to independence and the clash between old beliefs and the imposition of Western ideas. Hope this author's written more (the book hinted at a series?) as I'll be adding to my wishlist!
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6 by
pam99 at
Troon, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 4, 2014
this is going on an international bookray! Mailing list is below... if you need more than a couple of weeks to read the book and pass it on, please just make a JE to let us know, so that we know it's not lost or stalled!
1. bookfrogster - UK, mail anywhere
2. greenbadgers, UK, mail anywhere
3. askeladda, Norway, mail Europe
4. GronnLivsstil, Norway, mail Europe
5. Nordpirat, Sweden, mail anywhere
6. babelfisk, Sweden, mail ??
7. fifna, Netherlands, mail anywhere
8. icila, France, mail anywhere
9. Andrasthe, Austria, mail anywhere
10. bluezwuzl, Germany, mail anywhere
11. dani75, Germany, mail anywhere
12. sedna5213, Germany or France, mail anywhere
13. book-a-neer, Australia, mail Australia/NZ
14. billbooks, Australia, mail anywhere
15. kiwiinengalnd, NZ, mail Australia/NZ
16. edwardstreet, NZ, mail anywhere
17. spiegel, Brazil, mail anywhere
18. FeistyPom2Love, USA, mail US/Canada
19. NancyNova, USA, mail anywhere
20. kiki66, Germany
21. Sherlockfan, NZ
22. keeta1, NZ
...?
Journal Entry
7 by
pam99 at
Troon, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Released 10 yrs ago (2/4/2014 UTC) at Troon, Scotland United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
on its way to bookfrogster in Edinburgh
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8 by
bookfrogster at
Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, February 7, 2014
And it has arrived safely in Edinburgh! Thanks pam99. Will be starting this as soon as I get home from the internet cafe!
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9 by
bookfrogster at
Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, February 9, 2014
Oh, I loved this book. The plot was really good, as were the characters. Like previous readers I felt I'd learned a lot about the Solomon Islands. A testament to the writer is that I didn't feel like I'd been lectured to and there weren't any stilted explanations of Solomon Islands culture. I'll definitely look out for more by this writer. Thanks very much for offering this one pam99, as I don't know if I would have come across it otherwise.
I have Greenbadger's address so will be posting this tomorrow.
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10 by
bookfrogster at
Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, February 10, 2014
Released 10 yrs ago (2/10/2014 UTC) at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
And off it goes to Greenbadger as next on the list. Happy reading!
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11 by
greenbadger at
St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Arrived today, thank you! :)
Also I love the postcard you sent with it, bookfrogster.
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12 by
greenbadger at
St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Sunday, February 16, 2014
An excellent murder mystery set in the Solomon Islands in 1960, when there was still colonial rule. With murder, an old skeleton come to light, smuggling and a stolen carving there is trouble afoot on Malaita. Ben Kella is a Police Sergeant but is also the aofia (leader and peacemaker) of the Lau people, torn between two roles. With help, and sometimes hindrance, from Sister Conchita, a rebellious white nun new to the area, he must try to resolve the crisis. Gripping and full of local culture. I will be looking out for more.
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13 by
greenbadger at
St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Released 10 yrs ago (2/19/2014 UTC) at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to Askeladda who is next in the ray. Enjoy! :)
Journal Entry
14 by
Askeladda at
Skien, Telemark fylke Norway on Wednesday, March 5, 2014
How exciting! I found this book in my mailbox, it looks very interesting! I will have to wait a week or two before I can start reading. Unfortunately more bookrings arrived at about the same time.. I'm half throught a bookring book from Haithi, and then there is one more bookring book before it's this one to go. But it looks like a book I will enjoy reading.
Thank you for sending it, greenbadger!
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15 by
Askeladda at
Skien, Telemark fylke Norway on Sunday, March 16, 2014
I liked this book a lot!!! A good combination of mystery, culture and fun. The native policeman and the catholic nun - so unlike as investigators, but like in the way they both choose their own ways. I also felt I learned some of the traditional culture and history of the Solomon Islands, fascinating. The book is just as colourfull as the cover and quite easy to read. It gave a really good relaxing from everyday life:)
Thank you for setting up this bookRay pam99, and greenbadger for sending it. Off to Grønnlivsstil over the weekend.
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16 by
Askeladda at
By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, March 17, 2014
Released 10 yrs ago (3/17/2014 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to the nedt reader.
Enjoy!
Journal Entry
17 by
GronnLivsstil at
Bryne, Rogaland fylke Norway on Saturday, March 29, 2014
Thanks a lot for letting me join this bookray. I've got another book to finish first, but I'll read it as soon as possible.
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18 by
GronnLivsstil at
Bryne, Rogaland fylke Norway on Friday, April 11, 2014
Finished it last night and I really liked this book. Perhaps a bit because it was set in a more exotic location. Learned a bit about the Salomon Islands as well. I'll send a PM to the next Reader and hopefully it will be travelling soon.
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19 by
GronnLivsstil at
Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Monday, April 14, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (4/14/2014 UTC) at Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to the next reader.
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20 by
Nordpirat at
Bromma, Stockholm Sweden on Friday, May 2, 2014
The book has arrived safely in Stockholm. Thank you!
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21 by
Nordpirat at
Bromma, Stockholm Sweden on Friday, May 16, 2014
I liked this book.
I signed up to the ray mainly because the story takes place in the Solomons. I know where to find them on a map, but I knew very little about them, so I thought it would be interesting.
I decided quite early in the story that I would not try to guess the plot; I felt I knew to little about the culture and the customs and in this case it felt like they were very interconnected.
I liked very much that history and culture and the custom ways of the islands were given to the reader by the way of weaving them in to the story itself a little bit at a time.
I would definitely want to read more books if this is a series!
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22 by
Nordpirat at
-- By post or by hand/ in person, RABCK , bookring/ray, Stockholm Sweden on Saturday, May 17, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (5/17/2014 UTC) at -- By post or by hand/ in person, RABCK , bookring/ray, Stockholm Sweden
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailing the book to babelfisk today.
I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!
(I'm so excited when I read the ray participant list! This book will be visiting so many places. And it will come pretty close to the Solomons. ("Close" compared to the distance between the Solomons and where I live anyway :-) ))
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23 by
babelfisk at
Jönköping, Småland Sweden on Monday, May 19, 2014
The book arrived safely today. Thanks Nordpirat for sending it. And thanks pam99 and Tanamo for sending it on this journey!
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24 by
babelfisk at
Jönköping, Småland Sweden on Friday, May 23, 2014
I really like this book! I like the characters, the plot and the setting. It's always interesting to learn more about other cultures. I'd like to read more books from the series!
I'll be sending it on to fifna as soon as I get the address.
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25 by
babelfisk at
Linköping, Östergötland Sweden on Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (5/28/2014 UTC) at Linköping, Östergötland Sweden
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to fifna. Happy Reading!
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26 by
Fifna at
Voorburg, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, May 31, 2014
Arrived safely today, thanks babelfisk, and thank you for the lovely postcard!
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27 by
Fifna at
Voorburg, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Sunday, August 3, 2014
Just checked to see how long I've had this book - 2 months, sorry! That's longer than I thought. But I've finished it an enjoyed it. As previous readers have said, it explains a lot about the culture without lecturing; it's incorporated in the story. Good story, likable characters. Very glad I read this, thanks for sharing! Off to get the next address.
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28 by
Fifna at
La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France on Monday, August 11, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (8/11/2014 UTC) at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to Icila!
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29 by
Icila at
Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Monday, August 18, 2014
Arrived this morning ! Thank you Fifna.
- Why "move over Botswana" ? I'm currently there with Mma Ramotswe. :)
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30 by
Icila at
Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Tuesday, September 16, 2014
I very enjoyed this book. If it's part of a series I'm looking forward to reading others.
I'm going to learn more about these interesting islands.
Thanks for sharing pam99 and good luck, whatever happens soon.
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31 by
Icila at
Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Friday, October 10, 2014
No news from Andrasthe after 2 PMs and and ISO on the forum. I try the next.
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32 by
Icila at
Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Monday, October 13, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (10/13/2014 UTC) at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to bluezwuzl in Germany.
Journal Entry
33 by
bluezwuzl at
Altdorf (Niederbayern), Bayern Germany on Saturday, October 25, 2014
The book arrived yesterday - thanks to Icila!
A very interesting book about a region you seldom hear from - apart from its being doomed by global warming...
I'd very much like to hear more from those islands far away and, of course, of Sergeant Kella ans Sister Conchita!
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34 by
Dani75 at
Rudersberg, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Sunday, December 7, 2014
The book has safely arrived yesterday and I´m looking forward to reading it!
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35 by
Dani75 at
Rudersberg, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Wednesday, January 7, 2015
I very much enjoyed reading this mystery set in the Solomons and do think that I learned quite a bit about this part of the world that I knew nothing about. I also liked the characters - Sergeant Kella and Sister Conchita are a great team! Hopefully there´ll be a sequel to this one :)
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36 by
Dani75 at
-- irgendwo in Baden-Württemberg, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Released 9 yrs ago (1/7/2015 UTC) at -- irgendwo in Baden-Württemberg, Baden-Württemberg Germany
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to sedna5213 by mail today :)
Journal Entry
37 by
sedna5213 at
Charlottenburg, Berlin Germany on Monday, January 12, 2015
The book arrived safely in Berlin and will soon be read.
Great story! Enjoyed the book a lot. It really makes want to visit the Solomons, although I'm not sure how much really has changed there since the 1960ties. Well, except that most probably everyone will have a mobile phone these days.
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38 by
sedna5213 at
Charlottenburg, Berlin Germany on Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Released 9 yrs ago (2/3/2015 UTC) at Charlottenburg, Berlin Germany
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book is on its way to Australia now. Thanks for sharing Pam!
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39 by
book-a-neer at
Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Saturday, February 14, 2015
Arrived yesterday. Will get on to it immediately.
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40 by
book-a-neer at
Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Sunday, February 22, 2015
Thank you again for letting me read this book. I've really enjoyed it. I liked that it gave a little more background on the culture/beliefs of the people of the Solomon Islands. It was very interesting to read about it and would like to read more about it.
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41 by
book-a-neer at
Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Saturday, March 14, 2015
Released 9 yrs ago (3/14/2015 UTC) at Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Handed over to Billbooks.
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42 by
Billbooks at
Melbourne Central New Little Library in Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Released 7 yrs ago (9/7/2016 UTC) at Melbourne Central New Little Library in Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Being released as part of the great downsizing cull of 2016
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43 by
Billbooks at
Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Saturday, October 8, 2016
Released 7 yrs ago (10/8/2016 UTC) at Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Handing over to Kiwiinengland at dinner tonight
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44 by
Billbooks at
Malvern East, Victoria Australia on Saturday, October 8, 2016
An enjoyable read mostly well written with a good lead policeman. I did find the nun annoying and really unbelievable as a nun my advice to the author would be to ditch her
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45 by
kiwiinengland at
Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Monday, May 8, 2017
Shot! Found this book under a pile of books :S Sorry for the hold up.
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46 by
kiwiinengland at
Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Monday, May 22, 2017
A fun romp, with details about a colonised island thrown in. There were a lot of characters, which could get a little confusing.
I wonder if in a few years time this story, along with others by the likes of Alexander McCall Smith will be seen as cultural appropriation.
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47 by
kiwiinengland at
Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (5/23/2017 UTC) at Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
After delaying this for far too long, the book will be handed to the next reader when they visit.
If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, take a few minutes to check out this very cool site. Bookcrossers LOVE books, and more than anything, they love to read books and then set them free for other people to find and enjoy. I would love it if you would leave a journal entry -- you can say where you found the book or how you liked it when you read it.
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48 by
Edwardstreet at
Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Delighted to have this passed onto me - will be perfect for the 666 challenge - I can see the home plate!
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49 by
Edwardstreet at
—- by hand, post, or courier in Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Friday, May 26, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (5/27/2017 UTC) at —- by hand, post, or courier in Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to Brazil as soon as I receive spiegels address. This was perfect for the 666 challenge. I live in Polynesia. This taught me ( though I do not know how accurately) a little about neighbouring Melanesia.
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50 by
Spiegel at
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil on Wednesday, July 19, 2017
The book has arrived safe and sound in Brazil. Thank you! I'm putting it on top of my TBR pile.
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51 by
Spiegel at
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil on Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Fun mystery (everything is better with nuns) and the two main characters were nice. I just wasn't entirely sold on Sister Conchita's experience with the local culture at the end; it seemed kinda pointless. I also expected her to play a larger part in the book, although now that I think of it, that wouldn't make much sense given that she's a foreigner in a completely new place, in the 60s.
It was interesting to read about the Solomon Islands, a place I didn't know anything about. The book prompted me to search for more info (yay, internet!).
And it's pretty cool that the book has been read by so many people! I'll be sending it along as soon as I get the next address.
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52 by
Spiegel at
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil on Friday, September 15, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (9/15/2017 UTC) at Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending the book on its way to the next person.
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53 by
FeistyPom2Love at
San Ramon, California USA on Sunday, October 1, 2017
Yay, this little book has made it safely to the USA from Brazil!
Wow, this novel has traveled far and wide. I love mystery novels, so this book should be a fun read for me. I enjoy discovering new authors too.
Thank you for the postcard, Spiegel!
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54 by
FeistyPom2Love at
San Ramon, California USA on Friday, November 17, 2017
I've started reading this novel and am enjoying it so far. I'm about 45% into this novel and will hopefully finish reading it by the end of the month. Just wanted to give an update on my reading status of it.
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55 by
FeistyPom2Love at
San Ramon, California USA on Thursday, December 7, 2017
I enjoyed reading this novel. The writing is good! The storytelling is good and the characters are fun.
I sent a private message to NancyNova requesting her mailing details on November 29th. I haven't received a reply from her. I'll another private message just in case she didn't receive the previous one.
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56 by
FeistyPom2Love at
Landsdale , Pennsylvania USA on Friday, February 2, 2018
Released 6 yrs ago (2/2/2018 UTC) at Landsdale , Pennsylvania USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed this off to the next reader on this Bookray!!
I've noticed that there are 5 other Bookcrossers wanting to read this novel as follows:
Boekentrol
souram
Arvores
kiki66
Sherlockfan
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57 by
NancyNova at
Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Sunday, February 11, 2018
checking in this book-ray.
Thanks to Feisty for looking up who this goes to next.
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58 by
NancyNova at
Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, March 3, 2018
Boekentrol - declined
souram - Switzerland
Arvores - Portugal
kiki66 - Germany
Sherlockfan - New Zealand
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59 by
NancyNova at
Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, April 13, 2018
Mystery set on the Solomon Islands. The map in the front was a plus so you didn't get lost. I also had read several Pacific Island books before this one, so that helped with understanding the native culture & the gap that Kella is straddling. Sister Conchita didn't have much of a presence in the book, but was intregal to solving the mystery.
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60 by
kiki66 at
Gauting, Bayern Germany on Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Sergeant Kella has arrived in Gauting - safe and sound.
Will start reading pretty soon.
thanks for sending it my way!
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61 by
kiki66 at
Gauting, Bayern Germany on Friday, May 4, 2018
I quite enjoyed this although I am not a crime novel person.
But to learn something about islands far far away is always worth reading.
I really liked Kella.. and the story about customs and signs and traditions clashing with Western believes.
Bonus was the map which I used quite often :-)
edit: I asked Sherlockfan for the address - but I've seen that the two readers before me didn't get the book? No interest?
Journal Entry
62 by
kiki66 at
Gauting, Bayern Germany on Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (5/14/2018 UTC) at Gauting, Bayern Germany
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
on its way to a land far far away ;-)
Happy Travelling!
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63 by
Sherlockfan at
Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Sunday, July 8, 2018
Sorry Kiki66 but I didn't record the arrival of this book maybe in May 2018. Now that I have finished it I need to record it and then pass it on. It was unfamiliar territory to me although not so very far away or different as I thought it might be. I did enjoy it and certainly felt the different flavour of the culture; similar in some ways to the Maori folk who were the original inhabitants of New Zealand but distinctly different in its own way.
It is not obvious from the previous entries on this book thread exactly where it should head to now. There is a comment by Kiki66 that two people above her did not seem to have read the book although there is nothing to show that they were asked for an address and did not respond. I'll try that then decide what to do with it.
I'm planning to attend an Australian organised BC convention in Hobart (Aus) in November so if nothing else develops in answer to my queries I'll take the book with me then.