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Snow Falling on Cedars
by David Guterson | Literature & Fiction
Registered by goatgrrl of New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Friday, May 14, 2004
Average 7 star rating by BookCrossing Members 

status (set by faeriemyst): to be read


12 journalers for this copy...

Journal Entry 1 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Friday, May 14, 2004

This book has not been rated.

I just picked up a second copy of this book (which I have yet to read) at a garage sale. So this copy is TBR, and the other is now available. 

Journal Entry 2 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, July 14, 2004

This book has not been rated.

A 1995 novel by David Guterson set on the fictional San Piedro Island, in Washington State's San Juan Islands, in 1954. (See map at left -- according to the map at the front of the book, San Piedro Island is located off the southeast tip of the real-life Lopez Island, approximately halfway between Victoria, British Columbia and Bellingham, Washington.)

While this is essentially a murder mystery, the historical context involves the involuntary internment of Americans and Canadians of Japanese ancestry during World War II. The mystery is set against the backdrop of fear, suspicion and racism that characterized that era (a good reminder, during turbulent times, not to slip down that very same path), and the emotional and ethical dilemmas facing the main characters seem very genuine. Snow Falling On Cedars is about love and longing across a cultural divide, about hearts that get waylayed in the aftermath of war, and -- very powerfully -- about the need for reconciliation in the post-war period. As is the case in his later novel, Our Lady of the Forest, Guterson's descriptions of Pacific Northwest climate, geography and flora are lush and evocative -- you can smell the cedar, taste the blackberries and hear the foghorns sounding from the pages of this book. A truly wonderful read.

There's a reading group guide for this book available online, courtesy of www.readinggroupguides.com. Snow Falling on Cedars was also released by Universal Studios as a film in 2000. Other excellent novels describing the treatment of Japanese-Canadians during WWII include The Electrical Field by Kerri Sakamoto and Obasan by Joy Kogawa. 

Journal Entry 3 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, July 20, 2004

This book has not been rated.

INTERNATIONAL BOOKRING

Rules of this bookring:
1. This is an international bookring -- if you join, you must be willing to ship anywhere.
2. Please journal the book when you receive it, and again when you mail it out -- that way, everyone will know the book's approximate location.
3. If you don't think you'll be able to read this book within a reasonable time of receipt, please let me know before it's sent to you by the previous reader, and I'll be happy to move your name down the list.
4. Whether you have read the book or not, please do not keep it longer than eight weeks.

Participants:
1. PreciousArwen - Fernão Ferro, Seixal, Portugal - rec'd July 27, 04; forwarded September 24, 04.
2. minabomb - Carcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal - rec'd September 24, 04; sent November 15, 04.
3. Atenea-Nike - Vitoria, Álava, Spain - rec'd November 22, 04; mailed March 1, 05.
4. ElliePEa - Aberdeen, Scotland, UK - rec'd March 27, 05; mailed September 24, 05.
5. Miss-R - Lingfield, England, UK - rec'd September 27, 05.
6. lady-anglophile - Kuwait - rec'd November 24, 05; sent December 9, 05.
7. shpriz1 - Brooklyn, New York, USA - rec'd December 13, 05; sent February 19, 06.
 

Journal Entry 4 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, July 20, 2004

This book has not been rated.

I'll be mailing this book to PreciousArwen in Fernão Ferro, Portugal today. I hope it won't take too long to reach you! Best wishes from British Columbia, Canada (at left: the Fraser River as seen from the top of my street.) 

Journal Entry 5 by CenouraDoLado from Seixal, Setúbal Portugal on Tuesday, July 27, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Already in Portugal! It's with me for now... I will read it and then make my journal entry.
It arrived today with some very nice gifts inside :))))))) 

Journal Entry 6 by CenouraDoLado at Encontro de Bookcrossers in Mafra, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Friday, September 24, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Released 7 yrs ago (9/25/2004 UTC) at Encontro de Bookcrossers in Mafra, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

At minabomb's hands, during our meeting in Mafra.
Sorry for keeping it for so long. I will make my coment later and add some pics. 

Journal Entry 7 by minabomb from Estoril, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Sunday, September 26, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Delivered in hands by PreciuosArwen. I'll start reading as soon as possible, problaby in the next week or so...then make a comment.... 

Journal Entry 8 by minabomb from Estoril, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Monday, November 15, 2004

8 out of 10

i've finished it...:-) sorry for taking so long...but better late then ever.
first i was a bit afraid that the book might be boring...but then i've start enjoying it.....despite the nauticals terms, it's an easy reading....and have a good imaginarium, descriptions of landscapes and of "deptness" of characters.
I recommend it.

Thanks goatgrrl for the opportunity. once more, sorry for taking so long..
i've the address of the next person, i'll send it this week ,if possible.... 

Journal Entry 9 by Atenea-Nike from not specified, not specified not specified on Monday, November 22, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Just got it! Thanks :) As soon as I finish with the age of innocence (and I'll finish it pretty soon, because I'm enjoying it very much) I'll get started with it. Don't worry, I'm a pretty fast reader. 

Journal Entry 10 by Atenea-Nike from not specified, not specified not specified on Friday, December 17, 2004

9 out of 10

A beautiful story about human beings, humand feelings and human passions; about love and forgiveness and hate and prejudice. A very decent story, one that talks with sincerity to one's mind and heart. It's been a pleasure to read it, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with the rest of readers in the list. I'll pm the next member right now and send the book as soon as I receive their address. 

Journal Entry 11 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, March 15, 2005

This book has not been rated.

PMd Atenea-Nike on March 15, 05 requesting an update on the status of this book. 

Journal Entry 12 by Atenea-Nike from not specified, not specified not specified on Wednesday, March 16, 2005

This book has not been rated.

The book is on the mail. It was mailed the 1st March 2005. I'm sorry for the delay, I had it all ready to be mailed but it got "forgotten" in my shelves until the next reader kindly reminded me about it. A bad case of absent mindedness for which I can't apologise profusely enough. I'm sorry. 

Journal Entry 13 by ElliePEa from Aberdeen, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, March 27, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Received book 20th of March and it's next to be read. 

Journal Entry 14 by ElliePEa from Aberdeen, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 11, 2005

6 out of 10

Took a few chapters to get into this book but I stuck with it. Overall, a good read with lots of detailed character history and it paints a very vivid picture of life in it's setting. However, without spoiling it for others in the ring, I was a little disapointed in the ending. 

Journal Entry 15 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, July 26, 2005

This book has not been rated.

PM received from ElliePea on July 26/05 indicating this book will be on its way to the next reader soon! 

Journal Entry 16 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Sunday, September 11, 2005

This book has not been rated.

PMd ElliePEa asking for an update on the status of this book. Thanks very much, Ellie, for any info you can provide. 

Journal Entry 17 by ElliePEa from Aberdeen, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, September 17, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Sorry to all waiting for the book. I have been very lazy chasing up the next person and apologise.
I've pm'd them again and the next person so, which ever one sends me their details first will be receiving the book. 

Journal Entry 18 by ElliePEa from Aberdeen, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, September 24, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Posted today (24/9/5) to Miss-R as no response from FieryFairy.
 

Journal Entry 19 by Miss-R from Lingfield, Surrey United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 27, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Thanks for passing this on! I'm halfway through my current book at the moment, as soon as I've finished that I'll start on this. 

Journal Entry 20 by Miss-R from Lingfield, Surrey United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 04, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Found while I was packing to move that I already had a copy of this book, so I'm going to pass it on to the next person. 

Journal Entry 21 by norafrvr from Kuwait, Kuwait Kuwait on Thursday, November 24, 2005

This book has not been rated.

received it today.. thanks! 

Journal Entry 22 by norafrvr from Kuwait, Kuwait Kuwait on Friday, December 09, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Has been sent to the next reader.. enjoy! 

Journal Entry 23 by shpriz1 from Brooklyn, New York USA on Tuesday, December 13, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Received it today. Oh, boy, this book has been traveling quite a lot. And it will keep on traveling. I'm about to go to Ukraine and I will take this book with me :) (I promise, I won't lose it there) 

Journal Entry 24 by shpriz1 from Brooklyn, New York USA on Tuesday, January 24, 2006

6 out of 10

To tell you the truth, I am not sure how I feel about the book. There were parts that I really enjoyed, and yet, there were parts that I felt were kind of "underdeveloped". I really liked the characters and I found that I was identifyng myself a lot with Hatsue and her desire to "belong". Since I was not born in the US, I do wonder what will happen to me and my family when and if the "new enemy" will have my face and my accent. It's a scary thought.
I gave this book only a "6" because I was really disappointed at the ending. To me that was the "underdeveloped" part of the whole story. I felt that it was moving way too fast and I was literally reaching for the breaks...
Nevertheless, I am glad that I read this book. I loved the scenery and the spirit of San Piedro Island.

Thank you for sharing this book.
 

Journal Entry 25 by shpriz1 from Brooklyn, New York USA on Saturday, February 04, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Since Nekki2976 (the last participant) asked to be skipped from the original ring.
Goatgrrl, the organizer of the ring, advised me that I can do whatever I want with the book. Yay...So, in true Bookcrossing fasion I will organize another ray for this book. I will post the list of participants as soon as I find out who is interested.

2/19/06

The new bookray is about to start. The order is as follows:


1. Uppity
(British Columbia, Canada)


2. MissGrace
(Georgia, USA)


3. Mamikaem
(Missouri, USA)

book is here

4. c-a-m
(Sydney, Australia)

 

Journal Entry 26 by winguppitywing from Chilliwack, British Columbia Canada on Monday, March 06, 2006

This book has not been rated.

It was lovely receiving the book today .As I'm still in the middle if another bookring book, The Poisonwood Bible Miss Grace wil have to hang in there. I'm very much looking forward to reading this one. Thank you for the card. 

Journal Entry 27 by winguppitywing from Chilliwack, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, March 22, 2006

This book has not been rated.

The title of this book and the fact that it was set in the Pacific North West always appealed to me.I thoroughly enjoyed this discriptive book and its characters although I found the writing of the ending of the book somewhat hurried and thin.
The sending away of the Japanese people and the taking of their possesions is a black mark on the US and Canada and like one of the previous readers said "who will be the next enemy".
Tomorrow it wil be on its way by surface mail to MissGrace. 

Journal Entry 28 by MissGrace from Anderson, South Carolina USA on Wednesday, March 29, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Received today...along with a beautiful postcard of Vancouver (thanks uppity!). I am almost finished with my current book so I should be able to start reading in the next few days. 

Journal Entry 29 by MissGrace from Anderson, South Carolina USA on Friday, April 21, 2006

10 out of 10

The first few chapters of this book didn't have much appeal to me and I must admit, almost gave up on it. But I am so glad I did not. I absolutely loved the way Guterson so intricately wove all the different characters and their stories together. How, in each chapter, he introduced a new insights into his characters by revealing a part of their past. I have to admit, though, memories about the war were a little difficult for me to read. The last part of the book was a pleasant surprise; the blurb on the back descibes the book as a "masterpiece of suspense." I totally diagreed with that description until last night as I was nearing the end. I stayed up waaay past my bedtime because I just had to find out how it ended! I wasn't disappointed as other journalers seem to have been. Without giving too much away, I think it was an entirely appropriate ending.

Thanks so much for sharing! I have pm'd Mamikaem for her address and will get this book on its way soon. 

Journal Entry 30 by Mamikaem from Maryland Heights, Missouri USA on Monday, May 01, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Received this in today's mail. I have one ring in front of it, so will get to it as soon as I can. Thanks!

UPDATE: 05/14/06 - starting this today

05/22/06 - I'm almost finished with this. c-a-m has picked up her own copy of the book, so it looks like I'm at the end. I will either send it on another ray and do a RABCK with it. 

Journal Entry 31 by Mamikaem from Maryland Heights, Missouri USA on Friday, May 26, 2006

7 out of 10

Although there were many parts of this book that were excellently written, I found the overall story to be a drag. At times there was way too much detail, more than necessary, I felt. I did find the historical part interesting however. Since I'm at the end of the ray, I have decided to RABCK this out to faeriemyst who had this on her wish list. Thanks to all before me who passed this along! 

Journal Entry 32 by Mamikaem at Controlled Release in Maryland Heights, Missouri USA on Friday, May 26, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Released 5 yrs ago (5/26/2006 UTC) at Controlled Release in Maryland Heights, Missouri USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sending off to faeriemyst as an RABCK - enjoy! 

Journal Entry 33 by faeriemyst from Marietta, Ohio USA on Wednesday, May 31, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Arrived safe and sound today. Thanks so much for the RABCK, Mamikaem! :) 



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