Journal Entry 1 by AlexInLeeds from Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, April 18, 2004

Classic Winterson.

A review from Amazon:

Written on The Body is a tender dissection of erotic love. The prose is like a poem, lush with wit and imagery, but behind the luxuriant relish of the words, there is a scalpel-sharp cut of emotions. Love and longing are the wounds through which Winterson's imagery flows. The novel begins with regret: "Why is the measure of love loss? It hasn't rained in three months ... The grapes have withered on the vine." The narrator is also suffering from a heart-stricken drought. She is grieving for the loss of her true love, Louise.
Louise has flowing Pre-Raphaelite hair, and a body besieged by leukaemia, her cells waging war: "here they come, hurtling through the bloodstream trying to pick a fight." But Louise is not dead, merely abandoned by the narrator with the best of intentions. As the lament continues, striking in its beauty and dazzling inventiveness, more of the love story is revealed. The narrator has been a female Lothario, falling in love, and out again, swaggering like Mercutio. But then she meets Louise, married to Elgin--"very eminent, very dull, very rich"--and is hopelessly, helplessly smitten: "I didn't only want Louise's flesh, I wanted her bones, her blood, her tissues, the sinews that bound her together." Elgin persuades her to leave for the good of Louise's health, and all is undone.

Winterson does not shy away from grief, or joy. She has acutely described how love can transform a life, but also destroy it too. But, for Winterson, where there is love there is hope: "I stretch out my hand and reach the corners of the world ... I don't know if this is a happy ending but here we are let loose in open fields." Eithne Farry

Synopsis
A novel of loss and love, and a philosophical meditation on the body. The novel explores the body as a physical entity and as an image of our innermost selves in order to reveal more about the phenomenon of love. 

Journal Entry 2 by AlexInLeeds from Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, September 17, 2004

Only got a couple of responses for this book so I'd be grateful if once it has been ringed it is released at a bookcrossing Meet or at an OBCZ or something. :)

Auglaise (UK)
Wilmar (Netherlands)
Zarylia (Poland)
Myopicmeringue (UK)
UrbanSpaceman (UK)
turquoisefloyd (UK)
Calvarez4 (US)
 

Journal Entry 3 by AlexInLeeds at book ring in Mailed to fellow bookcrosser, Postal Release -- Controlled Releases on Monday, September 20, 2004

Released 7 yrs ago (9/20/2004 UTC) at book ring in Mailed to fellow bookcrosser, Postal Release -- Controlled Releases

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On its way. 

Journal Entry 4 by Auglaise from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, September 23, 2004

Received yesterday. Thank you! 

Journal Entry 5 by Auglaise from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, November 14, 2004

This book had me from the first line. It took me a really long time to read it simply because I knew that I really needed an uninterupted stretch of time to read the whole thing, and arranging that is beginning to be difficult! I really liked this book, and several of my friends will probably be getting it as a Christmas present. I'll definately be getting my own copy. Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 6 by AlexInLeeds from Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, December 12, 2004

Hi, just an update. I'm not posting any books out between now and January 5th for fear of losing them in the Yule deluge of post. I'd like to ask that this book is held back till the 5th as well. Happy holidays, all. :) 

Journal Entry 7 by Auglaise from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, January 24, 2005

Much apologies, but finally being sent on today! 

Journal Entry 8 by Wilmar from Leiden, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Caught! (Thanks Auglaise :) )

Last year I enjoied reading Wintersons Gut Symmetries (it made it into my top 10 favourite books for 2004), so I'm really looking forward to this one. Winterson has to wait for a bit longer though... there are 2 other books I have to finish before this one.

You'll hear from me 

Journal Entry 9 by Wilmar from Leiden, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, March 05, 2005

Finished today.
I loved it, but liked Gut Symmetries better. That story in a way was more complex, I thought this one a bit 'common' (in case you can say such things about a Winterson story).
But as I said: I loved it. I think it's creative and passionate. While reading I was constantly longing for my boyfriend.

I hope to enjoy a lot more books by Jeanette Winterson!
Thank you very much daemonwolf for sharing and my apology that it took me a while to finish the book. I've posted it to Zarylia in Poland today. 

Journal Entry 10 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Friday, March 18, 2005

Just received the book today. It looks fabulous, and I can't wait to read it. I do have a couple other bookrings here so it may me a bit before I can get to it. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 11 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Paynesville/MN/USA - What an incredible book. I'm terribly sorry for taking such an extended length of time to read it. The best laid plans... I've finished the book now though, and am in awe. I aspire to be able to write with the lyricism the Jeanette Winterson seems to have mastered so well. This was my first Winterson novel, but in her first page my position as an acolyte was firmly established and "Gut Symetries" has been added to my ever-growing TBR list (thanks Wilmar! :-D). MyopicMeringue has asked to be skipped, and I am currently awaiting a reply from UrbanSpaceman. I'll post the book as soon as I've got an address. Thank you to everyone who has been so patient with me and given me the chance to discover my new favorite author!


Update 10/08/05 - Sent of to UrbanSpaceman today by slow boat so it should get there in 4-6 weeks. Thanks again! 

Journal Entry 12 by UrbanSpaceman from Kingston upon Thames, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, September 12, 2005

Waiting for me when I got back today - along with another 5 rings books... 

Journal Entry 13 by UrbanSpaceman from Kingston upon Thames, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Winterson writes in such a powerful and lyrical manner that I was immediately smitten. Although I actually finished the book a week ago, I have been been unwilling to end the relationship and have returned to it several times to reread favourite passages. Reluctantly, though, I realise it is time to move on. I'll be looking for more of Winteson's work, for sure. Thanks again to Nia for sharing this one. 

Journal Entry 14 by UrbanSpaceman from Kingston upon Thames, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, September 30, 2005

In the post to TurquoiseFloyd tomorrow morning. 

Journal Entry 15 by abitstormyout from Ely, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Sunday, October 09, 2005

Just back from Belgium and found this waiting for me! Thanks to daemonwolf for starting the ring and UrbanSpaceman for passing it onto me. It may take me a while to get to it (Mount TBR is rather towering atm!) but I'll get there in the end! 

Journal Entry 16 by abitstormyout at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 28, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (11/28/2005 UTC) at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Alas! My Mount TBR is looking worryingly high right now so I thought I better send this onto calvarez pronto. Godspeed, little book! 

Journal Entry 17 by calvarez4 from Oakland, California USA on Thursday, December 01, 2005

Arrived safely! Thank you! 

Journal Entry 18 by calvarez4 at Frank Bette Centre OBCZ, 1601 Paru St in Alameda, California USA on Friday, December 02, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (12/3/2005 UTC) at Frank Bette Centre OBCZ, 1601 Paru St in Alameda, California USA

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I will release this tomorrow afternoon at the Frank Bette Center OBCZ, in Alameda, CA.

I have never been, so this gives me a great excuse to go!
http://frankbettecenter.org/index.html