Journal Entry 1 by Secretariat from Carlsbad, California USA on Saturday, July 10, 2004

Beautifully written, often gripping, and always touching series of short stories which link together to tell the tale of a group of army soldiers during and after the Vietnam War as told through the eyes of one of their comrades. 

Journal Entry 2 by SqueakyChu from Rockville, Maryland USA on Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Secretariat has graciously sent me this virtual book to restart a stalled bookray of my own. Thank you sooooo much.

This bookray is open and accepting new members. To join, send me a PM with mailing preferences. Be aware that the mailing order is open to change at any time due to mailing preferences, geography or SqueakyChu's whim!

Begin International Bookray #2 (11/20/07):
Secretariat (California, USA) done
piggydiva (Kansas, USA) done
rangerfan (Oklahoma, USA) done
Flakes (Illinois, USA) done
amberC (Australia) done
Mary-T (Germany) done
Cross-patch (UK) done
Stubee (UK) done
KT-J (UK) done
Deepswamp (Sweden) done -- Stop # 10 -- 1 year of travel
bilbi (France) done
spaceystacey (New Jersey, USA) done -- 2 years of travel
ciloma (Idaho, USA) done
jumpingin (Canada) done
crimson-tide (Australia) done
cat207 (Australia) done
Esme-Weatherwax (Ireland) done
TiffanyAching (UK) done
pinkydinky (UK) done -- 3 years of travel
Ashleigh4985 (UK) done -- Stop # 20
LiniP (Germany) done
StewT (Germany) done
souram (Switzerland) done
bellivas (Greece--int'l) <--The book is here.
9/3/11: PM sent to bellivas to request a journal update on this book's status. (SqueakyChu)
4evagreen (UK--Europe/int'l)
teuffi (UK--Europe/int'l)
mafarrimond (UK--int'l)
sarabe1 (Sweden--int'l)
spoiledrotten (New Jersey, USA--US)
iwillrejoice (Florida, USA--US/Canada)
oppem (Oregon, USA--USA/int'l)
valpete (California, USA--int'l)
PJLBewdy (Australia--int'l)
<--Your name can be added.

If your name was deleted from the participant list, it was because you either did not respond to a PM or declined the book at the time it was offered. You may re-apply to join by sending a request with your mailing preferences to SqueakyChu.

Update - 10/17/09: The original copy of this book seemed stalled between South Carolina and Florida so we'll continue with this copy. 

Journal Entry 3 by Secretariat at A Fellow Bookcrosser in Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases on Friday, November 30, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (11/30/2007 UTC) at A Fellow Bookcrosser in Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent today to piggydiva. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 4 by piggydiva from Louisville, Kentucky USA on Monday, December 03, 2007

Received in the mail today . . . probably won't read it until 12/20. 

Journal Entry 5 by piggydiva from Louisville, Kentucky USA on Wednesday, January 02, 2008

The stories in this collection are told in circular fashion and blur the line between what is true and what is fiction. I liked the book, though not as much as In the Lake of the Woods--but it did give a unique and realistic perspective on the Vietnam war. Contacting rangerfan so I can send it on . . . 

Journal Entry 6 by BC20090206001 on Thursday, January 10, 2008

Came today from piggydiva, looks to be a great book.
I will finish up the book I'm reading now,then on to this! 

Journal Entry 7 by BC20090206001 on Friday, February 08, 2008

This was a very moving book,I'm so glad I got to read it!

The Vietnam war told in short fiction stories, but it feels like a true account.

 

Journal Entry 8 by BC20090206001 on Thursday, February 14, 2008

Mailed to Flakes on Feb 12 2008 

Journal Entry 9 by Flakes from Bloomington, Illinois USA on Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Arrived safe and sound. I've received another copy of this book, so I'll just forward this on to GateGypsy!:) 

Journal Entry 10 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Tuesday, March 18, 2008

One of 3 bookrings that arrived today. It may be a week or so until I read it. 

Journal Entry 11 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Moving stories. It may be fiction but feels like reality. It has taken me longer than expected to read. I couldn't read it in big chunks, I had to read small sections then walk away from it for a while.

Thankyou for sharing. I will post to Mary-T as soon as I have her address. 

Journal Entry 12 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Wednesday, April 02, 2008

I have Mary-T's address and will post this today. 

Journal Entry 13 by Mary-T from Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Saturday, June 14, 2008

This arrived today. Thanks for shipping and sharing. :))
I'm curious to read this. But it will take a bit of time.
... to be continued

26-July-2008
I'm glad I read this.
The book gives an insight into war from a very different perspective.
It was definately not fun - but I liked the stories though.

When the next address arrives, I will send it off again. 

Journal Entry 14 by Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, August 07, 2008

Thank you, Mary-T , it arrived safely here today. I posted a Lemony Snicket to you yesterday. The End!! Also, thank you very much, SqueakyChu for adding me to your list, and I shall try not to hold it up for long. 

Journal Entry 15 by Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Monday, September 22, 2008

Please accept my apologies for the time I have taken - it has been a madhouse around here recently!

What to say about this book? It certainly comes from the heart. The blurring of the truth/ fiction line works to disorientate the reader's mind and although I was pained by the content I felt the need for the book to be written. Clever, painful and so, so sad.

I remember meeting a US Army medic at this time on a train; he was so high I knew he was trying to blur the truths he'd witnessed - and he was just such a kid. This is the age old question - War? There is no answer, is there?

Going in the post today to Stubee. 

Journal Entry 16 by stubee from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Thursday, September 25, 2008

Thanks Cross-patch it's arrived ok. Plus a big thank you to SqueakyChu for starting this ray!

KT-J and I have a couple of rays before this one but we should get on to it pretty quickly.

EDIT (29/09/08): Started. 

Journal Entry 17 by stubee from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Friday, October 03, 2008

Absolutely loved this book, a great set of war stories that linked together to make an excellent collection. I’ll definitely be seeking out more of Tim O’Brien’s works.

This is my 65th 1001 book, so that’s a measly 6.49 % which as an western male means I have to read on average 22 1001 books a year to enable me to complete the list! Fingers crossed I guess!

Anyway thanks SqueakyChu for including me in this ring it’s very much appreciated.

Next up: Jonathan Safran Foer - Everything Is Illuminated (1001 book) - a bookring hosted by Cat207
 

Journal Entry 18 by KT-J from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Friday, October 03, 2008

Received from Stubee, thank you! I've just finished my current read so I will be starting this next. 

Journal Entry 19 by KT-J from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 14, 2008

I thought this was a brilliant book and I liked the writing style. The stories were really eloquently written, touching at times, horrific and sad at others, but ultimately a human account of a war and a remembrance of young people lost in a place and situation they didn't choose to be in.

I've read books about Vietnam before (Fancois Bizot's The Gate amongst others - which had a lot of the background to Vietnam even though it was about the Cambodian Khymer Rouge) but this book was a completely different account of the war and the far reaching effects on the people who were there.

Thanks SqueakyChu for sharing this, I will definitely look out for more of O'Brien's books after reading this. We have Deepswamp's address so this will be on its way shortly.

Edit 27/10/08: Sorry for the delay in posting but it was finally sent off today! 

Journal Entry 20 by Deepswamp from Oskarshamn, Småland Sweden on Monday, November 03, 2008

Arrived safe today with a beatiful postcard. 

Journal Entry 21 by Deepswamp from Oskarshamn, Småland Sweden on Sunday, November 30, 2008

Thanks!
I hate waar, even more after reading!
A touching lot of short stories, thank you!
(#180 1001 Books)
It will get on travelling tomorrow! 

Journal Entry 22 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Received today !

Thanks for sharing ! Nice kitten ;-)

You know, I'm a librarian. Our section's just removed its exhibition about the First World War and I've been working on this subject since March... Our collection is really huge about it with books and newspapers on this period and last summer I may have been looking at hundreds of documents.

It was really emotional to get nearer to the soldiers and the people at that time.

So, reading this book will add to my feelings about such nightmares... 

Journal Entry 23 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Sunday, December 07, 2008

I'm always impressed by writers who can put so much emotion with a few words...

I'm glad that you've shared this book, I didn't know this writer.

It was really interesting to read about the writing process of Tim O'Brien and how he mixes fiction with reality to make us nearer to the soldier's routine.

Before reading another 'ring about WWI I'll have a kind of "peace" with Maguire's A Lion among Men ;-) 

Journal Entry 24 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Friday, March 27, 2009

Yes, I did send the book to the next reader a few days I wrote the second journal entry...

I hope the book's arrived safely :-\ 

Journal Entry 25 by spaceystacey from Bridgeton, New Jersey USA on Saturday, October 17, 2009

WOW!!!! Just received in the post today. Will be reading while recovering from my surgery. Long 10 months getting here but it is well traveled.



03/28/2010 Ready to pass on. Poobah1 asked to be skipped; already has a copy of this read. 

Journal Entry 26 by ciloma from Spirit Lake, Idaho USA on Wednesday, April 07, 2010

This one arrived in the mail safely. Thanx for sending. Already started so it won't be long before I send it on. 

Journal Entry 27 by ciloma from Spirit Lake, Idaho USA on Friday, April 09, 2010

What a book. I hope that writing it was cathartic and healing. I found the gamut of emotions that the stories stirred had no boundaries. Bravo to Tim O'Brien for his craft. In the future I will not be passing up one of his books. 

Journal Entry 28 by ciloma at Spirit Lake, Idaho USA on Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/20/2010 UTC) at Spirit Lake, Idaho USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

(Finally) On it's way to jumpingin. (Sorry for the delay in shipping.) 

Journal Entry 29 by jumpingin from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, April 29, 2010

This arrived today. I am just reading another Bookcrossing book, and then I will get this one moving again as quickly as I can!

Thanks, ciloma, for the bookmarks, postcard, and article! 

Journal Entry 30 by jumpingin from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Sunday, May 23, 2010

I've just finished this book and I think I'll be carrying it within me for quite a while. I was a kid living in California during the Vietnam War and I knew several solidiers. One lived with my family after he got back. This book gave me insight into what their life was like there.

Once I have GateGypsy's address, I'll send this on.

Edit: I've tried various ways of contacting GateGypsy but I haven't heard from her. I've contacted crimson-tide for her address. 

Journal Entry 31 by jumpingin at North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Saturday, June 12, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (6/12/2010 UTC) at North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Since I couldn't contact GateGyspsy, the book is now on its way to crimson-tide. Travel safely! 

Journal Entry 32 by crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Monday, June 28, 2010

Arrived safely today along with a lovely postcard. Thanks jumpingin. I assumed it was coming surface mail, so was surprised when it turned up so soon! I have a few to read before it, but will trying not to hold up the proceedings for too long. Thanks again. 

Journal Entry 33 by crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Friday, August 06, 2010

A definite ten stars from me. I'm afraid I don't have the eloquence to be able to do this book justice in a review. Astonishingly brilliant will have to suffice. The language is simple; the overall effect kicks you right in the gut. Masterful storytelling and so humbly honest it hurts.
 

Journal Entry 34 by crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Friday, August 06, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (8/9/2010 UTC) at Balingup, Western Australia Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off across the continent to cat207. Posted Monday morning, 9th August.
Travel well. 

Journal Entry 35 by cat207 at Newcastle, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Arrived in today's mail. Thank you crimson-tide, and SqueakyChu. 

Journal Entry 36 by cat207 at Newcastle, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, August 22, 2010

Another beautifully written but tragic book about war. I think I need to read something a little lighter next.

I've PMed wendyv for an address. 

Journal Entry 37 by cat207 at Newcastle, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Wendyv asked to be skipped so the book is heading off today to Esme-Weatherwax in Ireland. 

Journal Entry 38 by Esme-Weatherwax at Limerick, Co. Limerick Ireland on Thursday, September 02, 2010

got the book. The husband is reading it now and I will read it after him but not to worry he is flying though the book. He will make a separate JE but under my account as he does not have his own account nor does he want one. Ohh just a note he says the book is good so far. The book is slightly water damaged but other then that still in good order considering how far it has traveled and how many have read it.  

Journal Entry 39 by Esme-Weatherwax at Limerick, Co. Limerick Ireland on Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Husband's review: Excellent first-hand account of the visceral nature of war and its aftermath.  

Journal Entry 40 by Esme-Weatherwax at Limerick, Co. Limerick Ireland on Sunday, October 10, 2010

" You can tell a true war story if it embarrasses you. If you don't care for obscenity, you don't care for the truth; if you don't care for the truth, watch how you vote. Send guys to war, they come home talking dirty." This is a fantastic book in fact in my view it goes into the list of must read books about war along with All Quite On The Western Front. I am going to get my own personal copy of this book and plan on rereading it a few times in my life.

Going to ship it to TiffanyAching this week.  

Journal Entry 41 by Esme-Weatherwax at bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, October 14, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (10/14/2010 UTC) at bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to Scotland!! 

Journal Entry 42 by TiffanyAching at Burntisland, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, October 18, 2010

arrived at the weekend and was quickly borrowed by the husband who has nearly finished it already.

Have one book to read before this but this will get read after that 

Journal Entry 43 by TiffanyAching at BOOK RING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Monday, November 22, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (11/22/2010 UTC) at BOOK RING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

thanks for sharing, both myself and the hubster enjoyed this

off to Pinkydinky 

Journal Entry 44 by pinkydinky at Melksham, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Arrived today. Will get to it as soon as possible. 

Journal Entry 45 by pinkydinky at Melksham, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 07, 2010

What a fantastic piece of writing. The way he repeated scenes over and over showed how these details stuck in the minds of those who witnessed truly horrific sights.  

Journal Entry 46 by pinkydinky at sent by post, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (12/8/2010 UTC) at sent by post, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off on it's travels once more. 

Journal Entry 47 by Ashleigh4985 at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 14, 2010

This arrived today, I am reading another book at the moment but should be able to get through it quite quickly and start on this one before Christmas.

Thanks for sharing, from reading all the comments here looks like it is going to be an interesting read. 

Journal Entry 48 by Ashleigh4985 at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Just finished this this morning, I thought itwas amazing, the stories of young men trying to cope with a war they didn't want to be in were very moving.

I will PM LiniP now but am off on holiday tomorrow so will probably have to wait until im back before I can send it.

Thanks for sharing. 

Journal Entry 49 by Ashleigh4985 at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (12/29/2010 UTC) at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to the next reader..... enjoy! 

Journal Entry 50 by LiniP at Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Just got this book in the mail. I will start reading it once I have finished the book I am currently reading which is also a ring book. 

Journal Entry 51 by LiniP at Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Sunday, January 09, 2011

I am glad I got to read this book even though I expected something totally different. Some of the abbreviations were a little difficult for me to understand as English is not my mother tongue. I especially liked the repititions in the book and coming back to the same stories at a later stage. I will send the book on to the next person this week.

Edit 11.1.11: The book is on its way to StewT. 

Journal Entry 52 by StewT at Leipzig, Sachsen Germany on Sunday, January 23, 2011

Thanks for posting this book on. Arrived just in time, as I had finished another book. Am just starting to delve into it. Will keep you updated. 

Journal Entry 53 by souram at Genève, Genève Switzerland on Friday, March 18, 2011

Thank you StewT, the book arrived today :) 

Journal Entry 54 by souram at Genève, Genève Switzerland on Monday, March 28, 2011

I agree with Ashleigh4985, I find it moving.  

Journal Entry 55 by souram at Genève, Genève Switzerland on Tuesday, April 12, 2011

"It wasn't a war story. It was a love story."
I liked this book. 

Journal Entry 56 by souram at Genève, Genève Switzerland on Monday, April 25, 2011

Ready to be mailed to bellivas. 

Journal Entry 57 by souram at Genève, Genève Switzerland on Monday, April 25, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (4/26/2011 UTC) at Genève, Genève Switzerland

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

From Switzerland, Geneva to Iraklion, Crete island, Greece.
Bonjour, vous venez de capturer un "livre en liberté" !
Vous avez bien fait de regarder sur www.bookcrossing.com en utilisant le numéro BCID de ce livre.
A présent, vous pouvez:
- signaler votre découverte, avec une brève note
- donner votre avis sur le livre, à tout moment
- libérer le livre "dans la nature" ou le faire circuler plus loin (don, prêt...) quand vous l'aurez lu

(quoique Daniel Pennac ait admis le droit de ne pas lire dans ses Droits du Lecteur)

Welcome to bookcrossing !
Bookcrossing ? register, read and release books, make the whole world a library.
Now you have found the book and you visited the bookcrossing site. You can write a short note to tell you found the book + write what you thought of the book (like, dislike) and later you can set the book free so it keeps traveling :) 

Journal Entry 58 by bellivas at Heraklion, Heraklion Greece on Thursday, May 12, 2011

i received it some days ago but haven t been able to start it!