Journal Entry 1 by Deerskin from Aberystwyth, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 21, 2004

I read this while away camping and found it totally unputdownable! A really cleverly written book, the twists made me laugh and the seperate threads of the story came together wonderfully at the end. Worth reading - I will probably share this copy in a bookray or ring.

Bookring members;

minx2012 (UK)
GlasgowGal (UK)
flipa (Finland)
alrescate (USA)
karendawn (USA)
Meralee (USA)

valery0306/ clawdette(USA)
raralovestoread (USA)
BlossomU (Portugal)
Axelp (Netherlands)

...and back to me! 

Journal Entry 2 by Deerskin from Aberystwyth, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, January 26, 2004

On it's way! 

Journal Entry 3 by minx2012 on Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Woooo! My first bookring!
I doubt they'll get any decent work out of me today; I'll be too busy reading. 

Journal Entry 4 by minx2012 on Friday, January 30, 2004

I'm about halfway through this despite struggling to find quality reading time in the busiest week of the year at work.
Loving it so far.
I love that there are several stories spreading through a good few generations in this book; a cross-generational plot is one of those things that really pulls me into a book. So this book is already up there with the likes of Jeffrey Eugenides' Middlesex and Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children - without being half as heavy going.
Marvellous. 

Journal Entry 5 by minx2012 on Saturday, January 31, 2004

When I got home last night I grabbed some toast and set about finishing this book.
It's even more marvellous than I thought it was before - GlasgowGal, you're going to love it. 

Journal Entry 6 by BC-08041015142 on Monday, February 09, 2004

Received in the mail this morning (9th February). Now 3rd on the TBR list! 

Journal Entry 7 by BC-08041015142 on Monday, February 16, 2004

I picked this up last night to read before I went to bed, and ended up finishing it in just 2½ hours (which could be a new "personal best" for me!).

This is a really lovely book. The story has just the right pace to it, with enough twists and turns to elicit (silent) "Oh no!"s and cheers. The story covers a number of different generations of the same families, and comes together perfectly at the end. It really surprised me how a story which is essentially about boys digging holes could be so engaging!

My only mild criticisms would be that some of the characters were a little two-dimensional. I like to be able to build up a good picture of the characters in a story and some of them in this book were glossed over a little. I would also have liked to know what happened to all the other boys, counsellers and warndens at the end ... However this did not detract that much from my enjoyment of the story.

I already have flipa's address, so this will be moving on to her tomorrow on my next run to the post office. Thank you Deerskin for letting me read this lovely book. 

Journal Entry 8 by BC-08041015142 at ... by mail :) in Sent to a fellow BookCrosser, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, February 16, 2004

Release planned for Tuesday, February 17, 2004 at ... by mail :) in Sent to a fellow BookCrosser, Bookring Controlled Releases. 

Journal Entry 9 by flipa from Kangasala, Pirkanmaa Finland on Friday, February 20, 2004

Holes are safe in Finland. After a sweaty cross country ski tour it was wonderful to get a good book to read. Next TBR. 

Journal Entry 10 by flipa from Kangasala, Pirkanmaa Finland on Monday, March 01, 2004

I just love this book (ok, I did know it, because I had read its Finnish already)! I like it, because it ends "fair", and I like how the writer puts everything together at the end. By the way, I think the Finnish translation was very good, because I felt exactly same after reading original and translation. I think, it is how it should be!

I know many people in different ages who like this novel. Including my husband and neighbours.

Now waiting, that alrascate sends his/her address. 

Journal Entry 11 by flipa from Kangasala, Pirkanmaa Finland on Thursday, March 04, 2004

Got the address and will send this to the USA today, if nothing comes between.
---
Edit 5.3.2004
Sent. 

Journal Entry 12 by alrescate from Strafford, Missouri USA on Sunday, March 14, 2004

After returning from a week away, I found this lovely book waiting for me under a large pile of bills. It is so nice to come home to a book! (I received another bookring right before I left so this one will be second on my TBR pile.) 

Journal Entry 13 by alrescate from Strafford, Missouri USA on Thursday, March 18, 2004

I finished this last night. It was a very quick read and quite enjoyable. I think this would be a great book for the age group it is targeted to. If I had read this at age 8 I don't think I would have been as bothered by the two-dimensional characters or the abrupt ending. I did like the way the author spread the connections through the generations. I would suggest this book for all ages as it can be enjoyed on many levels.

**The next person on the list is away until March 22nd. I will PM her then.** 

Journal Entry 14 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Monday, March 29, 2004

Arrived today. I'm reading another book right now, but I'm almost finished, so I'll read this one next. Thanks for sharing it. I've heard many good things about it, so I'm looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 15 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Saturday, April 03, 2004

What a cute book. I'd definitely recommend this to children as well as adults. I really liked how the plot lines twisted together at the end, even though I had already figured them out well beforehand.

Will send this on to the next person on Monday. 

Journal Entry 16 by karendawn at on Monday, April 05, 2004

Released on Monday, April 05, 2004 at Mailed to a fellow Bookcrosser in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

Off to the next on the list. Enjoy!

UPDATE May 9, 2004: Have PMed Meralee to see if the book arrived yet as it has been traveling for well over a month now. I have not yet received a reply. 

Journal Entry 17 by Deerskin from Aberystwyth, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, June 05, 2004

I have PMed Meralee again and have recieved no reply. I'll give it a little longer but it looks as though the book has gone missing.

June 8th: I have been PMed by indymomto2 who has very kindly offered to replace this book to continue the ring (now as a ray). I'll link to the new copy once in is travelling. 

Journal Entry 18 by Deerskin from Aberystwyth, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, July 08, 2004

Thnaks to the generosity of indymomto2, there is a new copy of Holes travelling to the remaining members of this ring (now a ray) here;

Holes

I hope everyone enjoys it.