Journal Entry 1 by bookfrogster from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 06, 2004

This is such a great collection of stories. There's a story for everyone. I plan to offer this as a UK ray. 

Journal Entry 2 by bookfrogster from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, July 08, 2004

Offering this as a UK ray. Names so far listed below

WistfulDragon
Glitterlover
mrsbridgewater
Amanida
Squirk
caligula02
chelseagirl
flajol
YowlYY
hshah 

Journal Entry 3 by bookfrogster at West Maitland Street Post Office in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, July 09, 2004

Released on Friday, July 09, 2004 at West Maitland Street Post Office in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom.

Released in to the hands of the Royal Mail to deliver to WistfulDragon. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 4 by WistfulDragon from Streatham, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, July 11, 2004

I plugged in the BC number, then went to look at how many stories there were. Next thing I knew, I'd read the intro and my network connection had gone.
I'm in the middle of reading another book, but this one has 179 stories! I wonder how long I can resist? 

Journal Entry 5 by WistfulDragon from Streatham, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, July 15, 2004

Not long as it turned out! This book is great, for the sheer diversity of the tales, and the composite picture it presents of a culturally diverse nation over a century or more of time. Not all of the stories are exciting - in many, nothing really happens at all - but they are all special, because they happened to a Real Person, who is allowing you to briefly touch their world.
Thankyou Bookfrogster! I hope to post to Glitterlover tomorrow - packing permitting! 

Journal Entry 6 by GlitterLover from Leyland, Lancashire United Kingdom on Saturday, July 17, 2004

Arrived this morning - thanks so much. Will have to keeep my husband off it - bribe him to join bookXing if he wants to read it. ;*) [evil laugh] 

Journal Entry 7 by GlitterLover from Leyland, Lancashire United Kingdom on Sunday, September 05, 2004

The sincerity and openness of the authors is moving. I became absorbed into the glimpses each person gave us sometimes having to break from the book to digest the lives I had read about.
I also remembered stories of my own. I haven't written them down, but it was cathartic to visit them again.
Paul Auster has done a wonderful thing for so many who have been heard and published in this book. He has also threaded them together beautifully leaving you all the emotions life brings at different times.
This has been an insight into American life and all things human.
I will be looking for a copy for my PC now.
DH read it at the same time as I did and he wouldn't speak until the end of a story. (didn't join Bookcrossing either!).
I shall deliver to mrsbridgewater next week. 

Journal Entry 8 by mrsbridgewater from Holybourne, Hampshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 08, 2004

Delivered this afternoon by Glitterlover - will read it as soon as I can! 

Journal Entry 9 by mrsbridgewater from Holybourne, Hampshire United Kingdom on Sunday, September 26, 2004

What a fabulous book. Great insights into American life, and life in general. The stories are all so different, all special, sometimes moving, sometimes comic, sometimes nothing much happens - but as they are all unique it feels as though one has shared a part of the writers' lives.
 

Journal Entry 10 by Amanida from Chertsey, Surrey United Kingdom on Thursday, September 30, 2004

Received and started enjoying already. It's going on a day trip to Holland with me today. 

Journal Entry 11 by Amanida from Chertsey, Surrey United Kingdom on Sunday, October 03, 2004

Yes, this really is as good as the former journallers say. Some stories made me laugh and some made me cry: I enjoyed all of them. Thank you, bookfrogster, for starting the ray.
Will be on its way to Squirk as soon as I can get to the post office. 

Journal Entry 12 by squirk from West Norwood, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 06, 2004

Arrived just as I am about to finish a book - yay! Thank you! 

Journal Entry 13 by squirk from West Norwood, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, October 18, 2004

Journal Entry 14 by caligula03 from Hayward, California USA on Friday, October 29, 2004

The book has arrived safe and sound. I will read it as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 15 by caligula03 from Hayward, California USA on Sunday, January 09, 2005

The stories are as varied as the regions that make up the United States, though they do share the sugary sentimentality of the typical Weekend All Things Considered radio story. You can hear the archives here: www.npr.org/programs/wesat/ and www.npr.org/programs/wesun/ and you can listen live online via a variety websites. I listen to: http://www.kqed.org. 

Journal Entry 16 by caligula03 at on Sunday, January 09, 2005

Released on Saturday, January 15, 2005 at about 1:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at chelseagirl in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing to Chelseagirl on 15 January. 

Journal Entry 17 by chelseagirl from Faringdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, March 05, 2005

This arrived safely yesterday, thanks Caligula02 ... ..... along with a gorgeous postcard, is that your artwork, Squirk? It's wonderful!! This book sounds really fascinating, I'll get on to it asap. 

Journal Entry 18 by chelseagirl from Faringdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, April 04, 2005

I'm afraid I really haven't got on with this book at all, sorry but I'm going to be the lone party-pooper! it sounds like this segment of a radio show is much like Radio 4's Home Truths, with "ordinary" people telling fascinating anecdotes from their "ordinary" lives. However, I have got about halfway through this book and haven't yet been topuched once by any of the stories. To me, most of them read like jokes without the punchline, and I keep finding myself at the end of yet another nothingy story saying, "Okay ..... and? What happened?"

I could plough on with this and get to the end but I'm afraid I have too many other books that I want to get on with, so I'm going to pass this one on unfinished. Sorry to be the lone dissenter here, but I guess you can't please everyone! Thanks for giving me the chance to read this, though!

I'll post this to flajol as soon as I have an address. 

Journal Entry 19 by flajol from Preston, Lancashire United Kingdom on Saturday, April 16, 2005

I've got three other rings to read before this one, but they're all light fantasy - so no fear - this will be on its way within the month! Having had a quick look at the beginning, it looks like the sort of thing you read thinking "just one more story" and before you know it, it's 3am. 

Journal Entry 20 by flajol from Preston, Lancashire United Kingdom on Friday, May 27, 2005

This took me a little longer to get through than I expected. It's worth it though.

The perfect dipping book. There's something in here for everyone, with stories that are sad, hopeful, joyous, funny, introspective, shameful, disturbing, quirky, nostalgic...

 

Journal Entry 21 by flajol at on Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (5/31/2005 UTC) at

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Posted to YowlYY. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 22 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Journal Entry 23 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Monday, February 27, 2006

A large collection of stories from all backgrounds, some sad, some with a happy ending, some truly odd and somehow sounding a bit made up?! Very well written indeed - thanks to the editing of Mr. Auster? It's a plus.
It's a book that is not made to be read in a go, and maybe this is why it took me too long to go through it.
Thanks to bookfrogster for the opportunity given to read it - it is now ready to go all the way to India to visit hshah. Happy reading!

PS: I loved Squirk's card - I had a colour copy made :) 

Journal Entry 24 by hshah from Mumbai, Maharashtra India on Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Received this yesterday. Thank you all for including me to the book journey inspite of it being a UK Ray.

Am inclined towards true life experiences, and am so glad to be able to read this! I have heard great reviews about the book and am going to start on this one as soon as i finish my current read.

Thank you Yowlyy for the lovely postcard!!!

 

Journal Entry 25 by hshah at Charity in Mumbai in Mumbai, Maharashtra India on Thursday, September 06, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (9/6/2007 UTC) at Charity in Mumbai in Mumbai, Maharashtra India

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Along with a few books, this one is going to a children's charity in mumbai.