Housekeeping

by Marilynne Robinson | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0374525188 Global Overview for this book
Registered by debnance of Alvin, Texas USA on 7/26/2004
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
13 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by debnance from Alvin, Texas USA on Monday, July 26, 2004
TBR

Journal Entry 2 by debnance from Alvin, Texas USA on Monday, November 20, 2006
I would like to share Housekeeping with others. I'm going to send it out into the wide world next. I am offering it at BookCrossing, at the Forum (http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/3991376) as a bookray!



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HOUSEKEEPING BOOKRAY
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If you would like to join this bookray, please send a PM (private message) to debnance and I will add you to the list. Please be aware that this is an international bookray and it is very helpful if you are willing to ship overseas. If you have a hard time shipping overseas, you can let me know and I will try to place you accordingly on the list. The list of members will be listed below:


TENTATIVE ORDER FOR HOUSEKEEPING:
debnance...Alvin, Texas
KarenZero...Brooklyn, New York
sevedra...Canton, Georgia
TakYak...New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
tiatia...Springfield, Virginia
lauraloo29...Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
samulli...Weimar, Thüringen, Germany


Color code:
Blue=Has read the book and passed it on
Red=In transit to/has not journaled yet
Green=Has book now


As a member, you will receive the book from the person listed before you. When you receive the book, please make a journal entry at BookCrossing stating that you’ve received it. Please read it as soon as you can (don't rush; just be reasonable about the length of time). After you read the book, please journal again at BookCrossing with your comments.

When it you've finished reading the book, please PM the next person on the list to request their address. If you haven't had a reply from them after a week and two PM's, please move on to the next person on the list. I'd like to keep the book travelling reasonably quickly. Mailing the book by media mail is the least expensive way (or surface mail if it's sent overseas).

If any questions come up, please send a PM to me at debnance or an e-mail to debbienance@houston.rr.com.

Many thanks for your co-operation, and may everyone enjoy Housekeeping!


Journal Entry 3 by debnance at Postal Release in -- Mail, by hand, rings, RABCks etc, Texas USA on Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Released 17 yrs ago (11/21/2006 UTC) at Postal Release in -- Mail, by hand, rings, RABCks etc, Texas USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Off in a bookray to New York

Journal Entry 4 by KarenZero from Maplewood, New Jersey USA on Friday, December 1, 2006
Received safely. Will read ASAP!

Journal Entry 5 by KarenZero from Maplewood, New Jersey USA on Saturday, December 30, 2006
I enjoyed this book for the most part, although I didn't really care for Ruthie all that much! I'm interested in reading "Gilead" by this author as I've heard that is good.

Thanks for sharing the book, debnance! I've been trying to reach sistermadilou with no luck so I may have to go on to the next reader.

Journal Entry 6 by fkasev on Tuesday, February 6, 2007
I got this about a week ago through the bookray. I forgot to post! I haven't gotten to read it yyet. I should be able to read it over the weekend Feb 9-11. Thanks

Journal Entry 7 by fkasev on Thursday, February 15, 2007
An odd story. i just finished a few minutes ago and haven't decided if I liked it or not. The writing is lovely. Marilynne Robinson has a fantastic way with words. But, the plot wasn't very appealing to me. I am going to have to sleep on it and think about it some more. I am off to PM the next reader in line.

Journal Entry 8 by TakYak on Saturday, February 24, 2007
received today!

finished on 2/24

SOMEWHAT SPOILERY

I've read Gilead, so I was somewhat prepared for the exquisite use of language. Wow, Marilynne Robinson is good.

I still like Gilead better though, because the story in Gilead I found more compelling. The detached, lonely depression Slyvie and Ruthie found themselves in was, well...depressing.

I wonder if Ruthie and Lucille are the same person. The two sisters diverged so much, I began to think of one as the other's perception of what could have been. Lucille with sheer determination and concentrated effort pulls herself out of Slyvie's transient life. Lucille seems not to remember (or at least dwell on) the day her mother abandoned her. Maybe Lucille isn't real and is Ruthie's version what her life could be if she took control. But then, Ruthie's choice of a transient lifestyle at such a young age seems dreamlike to me and too much a mirror of Sylvie's behavior, and I wonder if Lucille is real and Ruthie is not but represents a piece of Lucille connected to her Aunt and Mother, and it's a piece Lucille had to let go of in order to survive. But this "piece" lives on in the form of a fictional Ruthie who accompanies Sylvie.

I may be overthinking this novel. But it's a novel that begs thinking and reading.

Also, what happened to Aunt Molly? Does she still live in China? Did she die?

I've pm'ed the next in line.

Journal Entry 9 by TakYak on Friday, March 9, 2007
sent yesterday to tiatia

Journal Entry 10 by tiatia from Fredericksburg, Virginia USA on Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Loved the book. Don't know what I was thinking as I didn't journal its arrival before I read it. Then thought I'd asked for the next person and it sat waiting. DUH... I got it mixed up with another book awaiting a BC ring address. Off to Lauraloo29 as soon as I confirm her address.

RE: the BOOK
I didn't enjoy Gilead so I wasn't sure I would like this. Maybe I like Syvie's depressed manic lifestyle more but I definately enjoyed reading this novel. I did wonder how Lucille grows up and if she ever rebels or just accepts the "norms" of the community.

Journal Entry 11 by winglauraloo29wing from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Monday, May 14, 2007
Arrived safe and sound today. I have a couple of books before it, but I'll keep it moving. Thank you.

Journal Entry 12 by winglauraloo29wing from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Tuesday, May 22, 2007
I cannot seem to get into this book. This has me slightly worried as I have Gilead in my TBR pile. Not to worry. :)

I'm trying to get a hold of the next person and will mail once I have their address.

May 31 - Ftarazu has asked to be skipped. Will get the address of the next person.

June 5 - Sent to the next reader.

Journal Entry 13 by samulli from Weimar, Thüringen Germany on Friday, July 6, 2007
Arrived here safe and sound today. I see I'm the last person on the list at the moment, so I will take my time with it. Though, it being such a wee little book it will probably only take me a few hours to finish it once I get started...
Judging from the previous journal entries I am not really sure what to expect. ^.^

Journal Entry 14 by samulli from Weimar, Thüringen Germany on Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Hm, this was not quite the quick read I expected from such a slim book. It is a strange story, and a very melancholy one at that. I'm not sure I liked the mood it evoked in me.
But I have to agree with other readers that the language is exquisite and even though I usually do not notice such subtleties I found myself reading ever more slowly to savour the prose.
That said, I am quite sure I wouldn't wanna read this story again in the near future. It is just too sad and depressing.

Since debnance told me I am free to do with the book whatever I want, I will try to find some more readers for it to continue the ray.

Journal Entry 15 by samulli from Weimar, Thüringen Germany on Wednesday, July 11, 2007
I have found some more readers for the ray and hope to be able to add even more to the list:

klaradyn (South Africa)
samutsari (Sri Lanka)
...


I already have klaradyn's address and will post the book tomorrow.

Journal Entry 16 by samulli from Weimar, Thüringen Germany on Friday, July 13, 2007
Damn it, took a tad longer than I thought. But now it is finally on the way to South Africa.

Journal Entry 17 by klaradyn from Praha, Praha Czech Republic on Thursday, August 30, 2007
They seem to be arriving all at once! Will read as soon as I can and send on.

Journal Entry 18 by klaradyn from Praha, Praha Czech Republic on Sunday, September 16, 2007
What a strange reading experience this book was. The language was beautiful, and there were some lovely, surprising moments throughout the book. The plot and the "meaning" of the book is something I'm still thinking about - no fixed opinion or interpretation yet.

I'll send this to samutsari next week Tuesday or Wednesday.

Journal Entry 19 by klaradyn from Praha, Praha Czech Republic on Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Travelling to samutsari via airmail.

Journal Entry 20 by samutsari on Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Received this today! Have started on it already. Thanks samulli for continuing this ray and klaradyn for sending it. Will be posting in the forum if anyone wishes to be next...

Journal Entry 21 by samutsari on Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Just finished this book 2 days ago. I find it quite depressing but the characters are strange. I find the setting Fingerbone, even stranger. I can't say for sure if I like the story or not BUT I love the way Marilynne Robinson weaves her words, this is so deliciously well-written it took me a longer time to finish it. Her writing style reminds me of John Banville in his book, The Sea. I am posting this on the forum or yahoogroup to see who would want to be next.

Journal Entry 22 by samutsari on Thursday, November 1, 2007
mailing this off today to onniManni in Finland. Happy Reading!

Journal Entry 23 by wingmyrtilluswing from Pori, Satakunta Finland on Monday, November 12, 2007
Arrived safely to Pori, Finland today. Thank you samutsari! And thank you for the beautiful card! After I've read it I try to keep it moving here in Finland.

Journal Entry 24 by wingmyrtilluswing from Pori, Satakunta Finland on Saturday, February 16, 2008
After I'd read few pages I realized I’ve seen the movie (starring Christine Lahti) many years ago. It was still interesting to read the book.

The book is well and beautifully written. The story is sad, telling about loss and how two sisters and their aunt manage with their lives. It wasn’t easy to read and I can’t say I loved it, but it was worth reading.

I’ll send the book to Chania.

Journal Entry 25 by Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Oh, I can't believe it! This book came to me from onniManni as a "Finnish handbag-book" (books by female writers, chosen only by the first page of book)
and I was so pleased - this book has been in my wishlist for sometime and now I got it!

Journal Entry 26 by Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Sunday, July 20, 2008
Well, I suppose I agree quite a lot with previous writers - the language is lovely, and the story is a bit strange. But I did like it, quite a lot. This is one kind of survival story too, I was glad that it ended the way it did. In a way the book was sad, but on the other hand - well, the story seemed quite "right" for me.

Journal Entry 27 by Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Sunday, July 20, 2008
Reserving this for a special purpose!

Journal Entry 28 by Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Sending this to hippolein as a "secret book". Enjoy!

Journal Entry 29 by hippolein from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Thursday, October 22, 2009
Book arrived in Helsinki today.
looking forward to reading it, was a nice surprise!

Journal Entry 30 by hippolein from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Have to tell this was a very special book, some things would apply to our house too, some are so special that you hope they'll never happen to anybody in the world.
Very well written and with a touch for the alternative way of looking upon the world, I rather liked the book, even though it's a bit on the darker side of life. The writer manages to get you inside the world of the main characters and how it slowly evolves from what seems like a rather happy life (though not according to general standards of even our world these days) towards a complete getting to the other side of the scale.
It depends very much on each person individually if you would consider this book to have happy end or not, and also upon what your standards are for happiness. Lots of things stay open and the writer does give you a possibility to draw your own conclusions.

Thanks a lot for sharing this well travelled book, so clearly a bookcrossing book that it will continue to travel after this.

Journal Entry 31 by hippolein at -- Por correo -- In the mail --, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain on Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (3/9/2010 UTC) at -- Por correo -- In the mail --, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Went with me to the meet-up for someone to take it home.

Journal Entry 32 by wingAnneliswing from Kerava, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Hippolein got me convinced that I should read this book and now it is in Kerava. I'll read the book and let it continue its travels. This is very well travelled book already. Thank you for the book!

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