A light-hearted novel about an ordinary girl who finds herself dissatisfied with the role expected of her by her fiance - although she doesn't initially realise this, she finds her body reacting in certain ways, through the food she eats.

It's kind of weird and symbolic - and yet very ordinary and everyday as well. I found it interesting and different.

This book is about to be sent on a bookray. Here is a list of the participants (in tentative shipping order):

1. cyrclark (Canada)
2. lilkandystar (Canada)
3. KarinAlyssa (Canada)
4. karendawn (USA)
5. gwendy (USA)
6. sgscarcliff (USA)
7. pchemphd (USA)
8. Rrrcaron (USA)
9. lorit5 (USA)
10. lonerunner (USA)
11. zafferoni (USA)
12. squirrel818 (USA)
13. Bunnybee (USA)
14. Brujula (France)
15. Manda77 (UK)
16. caffcaff (UK)

Released on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 at International Post in postal mail, A Bookray Controlled Releases.

This bookray has begun. Sorry for the delay, folks. I have mailed the book to cyrclark today.

Happy reading, everyone :-)

Received in the mail today as part of a bookray from MyopicMeringue.
Will read and mail to the next participant in the next few weeks.
Thanks!

This was a wierd book-pretty funny at times.

The story line follows two roommates, one becomes engaged (and her body soon starts rejecting food) and the other wants to plan to have a baby (and not have a father involved).

I thought the character develoment was very good, and the story line was ok, but didn't much care for the ending. Was left wanting a little more.

That being said, this has been my second Atwood book I've read and she doesn't disappoint. I love her writing style, and her gift for story- telling.

Everyone should try to read Alias Grace by her, it is fantastic!

Released on Friday, July 16, 2004 at post office in snail mailed to a fellow bookcrosser as part of a bookring, Bookring Controlled Releases.

going in the mail today to lilkandystar! Enjoy!

just received today :)

This book was too funny :)
the symbolisum of food was quite addicting cause for awhile i was starting to feel as if my meat was mooing at me....lol
Great book

Waiting for respond to pm, will mail asap

Released on Thursday, August 05, 2004 at bookring in Lorraine, Quebec Canada.

was mailed to KarinAlyssa today, enjoy

I received this ray today and I promise to journal again when I'll be finished. I have to rings before this one, but they seem to be read quickly. Thanks MyopicMeringue for sharing it and for lilkandystar for posting it to me.

I usually am in awe of Atwood's writing, but this novel didn't seem like an Atwood. I enjoy it, but not as much as I enjoyed her other novels and short stories. The writing was almost flawless, but I had to take breaks while I was reading because I was having a headache. There were too many things happening and my poor head was confused because my opinion on Marian and Ainsley kept changing. I wasn't sure what to think about them. At a point, I was pitying Marian, then I thought she was crazy, then just simple girl or insensitive or overly sensitive. After finishing the book, I'm not sure who she is or what she's after.

The food part was really interesting because I don't eat meat certain days because I think of the animal before. I thought it could have been more developped though. But my favorite part was when Marian was with "the family", I love them. I love the symbols, but there were a lot of them. I'll definetely read that book again in some years to see more clearly what I probably missed. As for the rest, it was a good novel, but not a great one.

Thanks again MyopicMeringue for sharing this book and I should send this book on Wednesday to KarenDawn.

The book arrived today. Thank you! I'm reading another book right now, but I'm almost finished, so I'll be starting this one soon.

There are so many layers in this book, most of which I have yet to unpack. It would take at least another reading or two to do so. What a bland existence women had to chose from. I found it rather disturbing to see how completely women were consumed by men (thus the food metaphors, especially the woman cake, were quite apt).

I was intrigued by the switch from 1st person in Book 1 to 3rd person in Book 2 and then back to 1st person in the short Book 3. I didn't have to search very hard to figure out the reason the switch had occurred. At the end of the book, Marian thinks, "I was irritated with him for not wanting to discuss what I was going to do myself. Now that I was thinking of myself in the first person singular again I found my own situation much more interesting than his." During Book 2, Marian becomes completely subsumed in Duncan's life and just allows her own life to happen around her instead of doing anything to move herself forward.

This book definitely bears further thought; however, I'll be sending it off to the next reader on Monday.

i just adored this book.. and have a new contender for favorite author. thanks to all for not rushing me along.. it's been a busy season (or so), and i very much appreciate the opportunity to finish the book. it's worth the wait you'll see!

on its way to the next 12/30-

I received in today's Mail. I look forward to reading. I will it soon and get it in the mail with in a month.

thanks for sharing

I finished the book and waiting for an address to mail on (I asked about a week ago and am asking again today).

I enjoyed the book. It is not what I expected. This was more of a Chic lit book than I had expected. And Chic lit, I don't think, was not around then. I think Marian needs to find better men and roommates.

I received this book in the mail yesterday. I have a few rings ahead of it, but I will try and get to it as soon as I can.
Ruth