Journal Entry 1 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Have just finished this book and thought it was fantastic. It didn't take me long to get pulled into the story and wanting to know how it all turned out. 

Journal Entry 2 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Starting a bookring:

sqdancer (Canada) Intl
fsr44 (USA) Intl
Griete (Switzerland)
bacicoline (France)
pam99 (Scotland) Intl <--- Skipped??
FieryFairy (Wales) Intl <--- Skipped??
mance (Wales) <----- Currently Here
tiggsybabes (UK)
.
.
Back to me spiderchic 

Journal Entry 3 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Sent this on to sqdancer today - the bookring begins!! Enjoy everyone! 

Journal Entry 4 by sqdancer on Friday, March 11, 2005

Received safe and sound. I have three rings ahead of it, but I should have no trouble sending it on within a month.

I am looking forward to reading this one. Thank you for sharing.

 

Journal Entry 5 by sqdancer on Monday, April 04, 2005

Perhaps I just wasn't in the right mood for this book; but, I didn't find the characters engaging at all. I found that I really didn't care what happened to them; so, I am sending this book onward without finishing it.

Mailed this afternoon to fsr44.
 

Journal Entry 6 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Tuesday, April 12, 2005

This is always the way it goes...no bookrings for eons and then two arrive on the same day! Will do my level best to get this read and on its way to the next reader on time. 

Journal Entry 7 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Monday, April 18, 2005

I'm giving this a 10 because I don't have the heart to give it a 9. Call it 9 1/2. I thought it was brilliant, beautifully written and evocative. My only reservation is that I thought the brief parts which take place in 1978 were not nearly of the same quality as the bulk of the book which deals with WWI. Still, that's a minor quibble for such a stunning book. 

Journal Entry 8 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Monday, April 25, 2005

Sending to Griete. 

Journal Entry 9 by Griete from Bern, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Friday, April 29, 2005

Just got the book, thanks! (April 29)
Forwarded it to France (end of May presumably). Hope you get it soon! 

Journal Entry 10 by bacicoline from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Saturday, June 11, 2005

I received it 4 days ago when I came back from holiday.
As I have some exams next week, I will not be able to begin it until next sunday.
If I'm too long, don't hesitate to pm me and I will pass it on even if I have not finished it ! 

Journal Entry 11 by bacicoline from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Tuesday, August 02, 2005

well, I really really like this book !
But it's my first "serious bookk" in English. And it contains lot of vocabulary that I did not know...
Then I am veeeerrrryyyy slow at reading it.

That is why I guess I should buy me a copy of it and let the book continue his journey because I think it will take me another 2 weeks before I can finish it.
:(

I am really sorry for the time it took me ! 

Journal Entry 12 by bacicoline from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Tuesday, August 23, 2005

many many thanks, spiderchic !
I'm so glad you permitted me to finish the book because I looooved it !
Really !

The vocabulary was not easy for me but the story and the way it is told are so great !!!
I read some lines and was completely with Stephen... I even felt as if I was sharing his life during the war.

My english is not good enough to tell how much I liked this book, I found it moving and I learnt many things that I should have known about the English fighting with the French during the WW1.

Sending it to the next !
 

Journal Entry 13 by bacicoline from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Hello ! it's bacicoline again..
weel, pam would like to be skipped so I sent a PM to fieryfairy... 

Journal Entry 14 by mance from Newcastle Emlyn, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Just received - thanks bacicoline & spiderchic. Will endeavour to read very soon (just finishing a Narnia book!) 

Journal Entry 15 by mance from Newcastle Emlyn, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, December 19, 2005

Just finished - I wanted to read this having visited the Tunnels and Trenches on Vimy Ridge a few years back (well worth a visit BTW). It certainly was evocative of life in the trenches, and brought a 'no holds barred' picture of trench warfare.
Hovwever - like fsr44 I found the 1978 chapters a little weak, plus I felt strangely unmoved by the men's suffering. This comes from a bloke who inevitably sheds a tear at Remebrance Day Services. Maybe it was the space I was in, or perhaps (as my wife suggests), it's really 'chic-lit' and by concentraing on the romantic developments in Stepehen (and the other's lives) it underplays the senseless and meaningless waste that was the First World War. Interested in other reader's views...

Will contact skipped Bc'ers before contacing final ring member.

Thanks again Spiderchic 

Journal Entry 16 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Thursday, March 30, 2006

Received back home safe and sound! THank you everyone for a successful bookring!