Journal Entry 1 by SheWhoReads from Athens, Georgia USA on Sunday, June 27, 2004

I adore this book! It's an excellent, really well-written fantasy novel about a young woman who goes off to college. It features witty dialogue, wonderfully drawn characters, political intrigue, and a clever plot. I was drawn in right away and I couldn't put it down until it was finished. Great story.

This book was set in an alternate universe -- some bits are clearly set in real places, like Paris, and other bits are set in imaginary places, like Galazon and Greenlaw. It's set in the late-nineteenth/early-twentieth century, and it feels authentically Edwardian. Stevermer's writing style convincingly mimics the literary style of that time period. In other words, don't jump into this book expecting fast-paced explosions of action. While there is plenty of action and adventure and daring escapades, the novel takes its time getting there. This is a subtle book. A slow book. A book to savor.

Also, don't be misled by the title into expecting Harry Potter-style antics. The magic taught at Greenlaw -- all the magic in this book, really -- is not showy. This magic is the stuff of metaphysics; it deals in intangibles.

All caveats aside, this book is absolutely wonderful. I love it to death, and I will undoubtedly re-read it many times in the future!

(Part of my love for this book is probably based on the fact that Greenlaw College, the fictional school of the title, is clearly based on the real-life school Bryn Mawr College, my alma mater -- Caroline Stevermer's alma mater as well. That added an extra layer of fun to the book, but even if you're totally unfamiliar with Bryn Mawr, you can still enjoy A College of Magics fully.)

Here's the blurb:

Faris Nallaneen is the heir to the small northern dukedom of Galazon; but until she reaches her majority, her despotic uncle rules with an iron hand. He has banished her to college, to keep her out of the country and out of his way. But little does he reckon on the specialty that is taught at the College of Greenlaw. That specialty is magic...and Faris shall prove to be an apt student indeed!

Ranging from the stone halls of academia to the elegent rooms of Parisian salons, A College of Magics is a tale both swashbuckling and intimate, of adventure, love, fortunes won and lost, and the lasting magic of true friendship. 

Journal Entry 2 by SheWhoReads from Athens, Georgia USA on Monday, June 28, 2004

Journal Entry 3 by huntersmith from Butler, Georgia USA on Saturday, July 03, 2004

Just recieved. Thank you.

7/5--I finished this yesterday. Delightful book. I hated to finish it and actually reread my favorite parts afterwards.

7/7--Mailed today! 

Journal Entry 4 by mamawolfie from Colony, Kansas USA on Sunday, July 11, 2004

Received this book on 7-10 and am half way through
So far a great book

7-14 Finished book and sent it on it's way to the greenlady in Australia.

I absolutely loved this book. Thanks ever so much for letting me join this ring.

 

Journal Entry 5 by dispelling from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Great timing! Just finished another bookring so I'll start this book straight away. 

Journal Entry 6 by dispelling from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Thursday, August 05, 2004

An enjoyable book and very charming characters! 

Journal Entry 7 by dispelling from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Sunday, August 08, 2004

Mailed Economy Air to Lpree. The post office indicated delivery would take approximately 3 weeks. 

Journal Entry 8 by Lpree from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Wednesday, September 01, 2004

This arrived in today's mail. I've got some other bookrings ahead of it, but will read this as soon as I can - I'm really looking forward to reading it!

UPDATE 9/15 - I started reading this last night and am already drawn in to the story. I expect to finish this in a couple of days. 

Journal Entry 9 by Lpree from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Saturday, September 18, 2004

I finished this book last night. What a great book! I really enjoyed the whole book. I like how the setting is a fictional area but other real countries are included in this world. I will certainly be on the lookout for more by this author. Thanks for sharing it!

I have sent a PM to Mytilusgirl for her address and hope to mail this out early next week.

UPDATE 9/20 - Sent surface mail to Mytilusgirl today. 

Journal Entry 10 by Mytilus from Plymouth, Devon United Kingdom on Monday, October 25, 2004

Arrived on Saturday..

I'm almost halfway through and enjoying it immensely. Thank you SheWhoReads and Lpree! 

Journal Entry 11 by Mytilus from Plymouth, Devon United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 26, 2004

What a super book. I loved the melding of fictional and real countries, just as I loved the setting and place of magic within the early 20th century. I'll definately be keeping an eye out for more by Stevermer.

Sent to Skyrider today.

Thank you SheWhoReads! 

Journal Entry 12 by Skyrider from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Friday, October 29, 2004

Just a quick post to let all this book's friends know that it's arrived safely. I won't get the chance to start it till Monday, but seeing all the positive comments on here I'm really looking forward to it.

Thanks SheWhoReads for sharing this book and thanks also to Mytilusgirl for sending it on. You're both stars!
 

Journal Entry 13 by Skyrider from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 06, 2004

Journal Entry 14 by myntti from Tampere, Pirkanmaa Finland on Friday, December 10, 2004

The book arrived in today's mail. Thank you, Skyrider. I have another bookring book to finish first, but I'll start reading this soon. 

Journal Entry 15 by myntti from Tampere, Pirkanmaa Finland on Wednesday, January 12, 2005

A College of Magics was an entertaining book, but... I couldn't help feeling that the book could have been better. It didn't quite live up to its potential. With the exception of Faris, the characters were two-dimensional - even Jane and Tyrian were a bit "cardboardy". I would've liked to read more about the actual studies at Greenlaw - and learning more about the whole Warden thing would've been interesting. "...it was a charming tale of fantasy which was marred by not being well told" as Skyrider put it, and I have to agree with that. My rating: 6-7/10.

Thank you for starting this ring, SheWhoReads. The book is now on its way to MollyGrue. 

Journal Entry 16 by MollyGrue from Tacoma, Washington USA on Tuesday, February 01, 2005

I have a couple rings ahead of this one, but I will get to it as soon as I can. I started looking through it and now desperately want to bump it up in my hierarchy. :) Thanks! 

Journal Entry 17 by MollyGrue from Tacoma, Washington USA on Friday, February 18, 2005

Good book! Had a small bout of insomnia last night and managed to finish this. I'm looking forward to finding the sequal somewhere and reading it as well. Greenlaw sounds like such a fascinating place.... 

Journal Entry 18 by MollyGrue at in the mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, February 27, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (2/28/2005 UTC) at in the mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to Eucalia.

DC# 03022940000169565264 

Journal Entry 19 by Eucalia from Snoqualmie, Washington USA on Friday, March 04, 2005

I picked this up from the post office two days ago. Thanks for sending it to me! I will start reading it shortly! 

Journal Entry 20 by Eucalia at sent to bookcrosser in Mailed, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, April 09, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (4/8/2005 UTC) at sent to bookcrosser in Mailed, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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RELEASE NOTES:

I realized the other day that I've had this book for over a month already (how time flies!) and I hadn't had a chance to read it yet. I didn't want to hold up the ring any longer so I contacted the next person on the list for her address and mailed it out to her yesterday morning. I wish I had had enough free time to read it! 

Journal Entry 21 by Rrrcaron from Lancaster, New Hampshire USA on Saturday, April 16, 2005

I received this book in the mail yesterday. I hope to get to it soon!
Ruth 

Journal Entry 22 by Rrrcaron from Lancaster, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Sending this book to Georgia today. Sorry I held it so long, and I hope you all enjoy the read!
Ruth 

Journal Entry 23 by KF-in-Georgia from Marietta, Georgia USA on Saturday, August 06, 2005

Journal Entry 24 by KF-in-Georgia from Marietta, Georgia USA on Friday, August 12, 2005

Journal Entry 25 by KF-in-Georgia from Marietta, Georgia USA on Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Journal Entry 26 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Monday, August 22, 2005

The book arrived safely in Belfort today!
Thank you KF-in-Georgia! 

Journal Entry 27 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Thursday, September 29, 2005

A nice moral tale, where generosity and honesty wins over the lust for power.

I'll mail it to the next on the list as soon as I can get near a post-office!

Thank you very much for sharing this book. And sorry I kept it a little over a month. 

Journal Entry 28 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, October 10, 2005

Received this morning, thanks very much Brujula. My current book isn't grabbing me, so I'll start this later today. 

Journal Entry 29 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 12, 2005

I enjoyed this book, it was an entertaining read. I liked the characters, particularly Faris herself, and the plot was interesting. I agree with Myntti that the detail could have been improved upon, I wanted more information about Greenlaw and the Wardens. Everyone in the story already knew and accepted that there should be wardens, so why shouldn't we be let in on the secrets too? Ah well, perhaps that is what the sequels are for.

Thanks for including me in the ring SheWhoReads and I'll pass it onto the next reader as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 30 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, November 05, 2005

Sorry it's taken me so long to pass on this book! I Pmed gerengatt, but she asked to be skipped, so this will be on its way to Daemonwolf today. 

Journal Entry 31 by AlexInLeeds from Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Arrived in the post this morning. :) 

Journal Entry 32 by AlexInLeeds from Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, December 29, 2005

I have tried to read this a couple of times, see here for my book journal entry but can't settle down to read this at all. What I have read of the book is good but I just can't settle down to fiction when I am craving non-fiction and have it all around me! I will post this onwards as soon as I have an address. 

Journal Entry 33 by jubby from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, March 13, 2006

Oh, I am bad.

I still have this book, and I have not finished reading. I am so easily distracted, that I have been off doing/see/reading other things.

I have PMed Gwendy, and I will get this book into the post next week - I promise!

I am enjoying so far though.
It was not what I was expecting... 

Journal Entry 34 by jubby from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, March 18, 2006

I havce finally finished reading this one. Yay!

On the back of the book, above the barcode, it says for ages 10+. And, on the front cover we have Jane Yolen (a well-known childrens writer) telling us '[this is] a large step up from Harry Potter'. I am currently a childrens' librarian, and I thought that this would be interesting for work.

I have got to tell you now, it is rather unlikely I will buy this book for work. I don't think our children will get all the literary references ('The Prince', 'Leviathan' and the works of William Shakespeare). I was also amused to note that hip flasks and cognac would appear when ever any character had a fright.

Hmm! And the simmering passions between Faris and Tyrian may be lost on the younger read too.

But, having said that, I really enjoyed this book.
As an adult I greatly enjoyed the strong female lead character, her wit and charm, and the historical references. I particularly liked the mention of St. Margaret and St. Michael up there covering each others backs (yes, I too had a Catholic education).

Sadly, I think that the author missed her market with this book. Yes, it is 'better' than Harry Potter, but then it is not a serialised childrens book. This is really for young adults upwards.

But, it would not take much for the writer to have fleshed the story out, and made it into a trilogy as Philip Pullman did with his 'Dark materials trilogy'. The comparrisions with J.K.Rowlings don't do Stevermer any justice. Lovie, you should get a new publisher!
If anything, her work is more in the same vein as Pullman.

A new format (smaller print, better quality paper and nice binding) and pitching at an open market would have done this author and book much better - sadly.

Thank you for sharing this great read with me. I really enjoyed it.
I have already posted it onto gwendy.

I hope she enjoys it as much as I did. 

Journal Entry 35 by jubby at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, March 18, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (3/18/2006 UTC) at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Posted off to gwendy. 

Journal Entry 36 by gwendy from Rochester, New York USA on Thursday, March 23, 2006

I really enjoyed the characters and plot of this book. At times the politics were a little much for me, but I stuck with it because I loved the rest. I really enjoyed the interesting "twist" at the end.. quite clever and different. Not sure how I am going to pass this on, was told by the ring-master I could do as I see fit! Thanks for sharing!

sending along to Erishkigal enjoy! 

Journal Entry 37 by Erishkigal from Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Tuesday, July 18, 2006

yay--arrived in today's mail--but so did a couple of rings, and I've beenpm'd that a couple more are on their way....so it may take me awhile to get to it. And it looks so gooooood..... 

Journal Entry 38 by Erishkigal from Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Oh, How I wish there'd been charcters like Faris Nallaneen to read about when I was young! "College" was other than I expected, and it took my brain a little time to make the adjustment, get into the rythm of the language, but once there, I was entranced by this alternate universe, and couldn't put it down. Fiesty Faris quickly won my heart.

I do agree with other readers that the author would have been much better-served to market this book for an older audience.

Thanks, gwendy-sorry I took sooo long to get to it, but know it was read by family in the meantime, wasn't just sitting on the pile. 

Journal Entry 39 by Erishkigal from Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Tuesday, October 21, 2008

This well-lovved book has sat on my shelf for far to long, waiting for the next someone to want it....it's had so many journals I just couldn't bear to leave it in the wild where it would most likely never be heard from again...

But now I've joined pkboo's Fantasy Bookbox ring, which should provide a perfect next-reader. Journey well, fiesty Faris! 

Journal Entry 40 by Greyflank from Brick, New Jersey USA on Thursday, December 11, 2008

TAKING FROM PKBOO'S SF/F BOOKBOX... 

Journal Entry 41 by Greyflank from Brick, New Jersey USA on Tuesday, April 28, 2009

This was a nice book, very enjoyable, but not as enjoyable as Harry Potter, as the bookcover critics claim. 

Journal Entry 42 by Greyflank at Snack Car in AmTrak to Montreal, -- Trains, Tube, Metro, Buses -- Canada on Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (4/27/2009 UTC) at Snack Car in AmTrak to Montreal, -- Trains, Tube, Metro, Buses -- Canada

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In the snack car... 

Journal Entry 43 by QueenBoadicea from Brooklyn, New York USA on Sunday, May 17, 2009

Yesterday, I saw this book on an outdoor table run by a local street vendor and noticed the little bookcrossing sticker on the outside right away. It was the first Bookcrossing book for sale I've ever seen. The subject matter didn't look too terrible so I decided to buy it. (Hey, it was only $1 so no big loss if I don't like it.) However, the summary by SheWhoReads is sufficiently enticing that I'm glad I made the purchase.

What a journey this book has been on for nearly five years! From the United States to Australia to Europe and back again, it's done quite a bit of traveling and held up remarkably well, all things considered. I'm curious to know how it wound up from a train going to Canada to a table in Brooklyn. Perhaps there were people who picked it up who didn't understand about the instructions on the bookcrossing label inside it and didn't leave journal entries.

I have two books scheduled to be read ahead of this one and one play that I'm hoping to finish before Friday. Therefore, it might be a while before I get to it. But I'll try to do so before the month is out. 

Journal Entry 44 by QueenBoadicea from Brooklyn, New York USA on Thursday, June 11, 2009

While I found this book entertaining, the constant bombardment in latter chapters of information about geography, astronomy, architecture, border disputes, politics, etc., made it a little too convoluted for light reading. It certainly doesn't make it something for younger readers nor is it entirely to my tastes. I am willing to let it go onwards in its journey if someone else wants it.