Journal Entry 1 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Monday, August 23, 2004

A sequel to "Stones from the River", this story follows young Stefan Blau as he runs away to America from Germany as a young teenager. We see the lives of the Blaus in America mingle with those of their old friends and neighbours in Burgdorf, and see how the two world wars affect them all.

BOOKRING LIST
PM me if you'd like to join. Ring participants so far:

1. WhimzyKat
2. PJMom8025
3. JenVince
4. Nikel27 (Germany)
5. BookManu (Portugal)
6. CynthiaA (Canada)

RING COMPLETED. The book does not need to come back to me, so READ and RELEASE!

IMPORTANT NOTE: I have included a sealed envelope inside this book. It contains some stamps to help offset the cost of sending this book from the U.S. to Germany. If you are the person who is sending the book to Europe (JenVince), please take the stamps - they are for you. If you are not this person, please make sure the envelope is still inside the book when you send it to the next person in the ring. Thanks. 

Journal Entry 2 by whimzykat on Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Yippee! An excuse to stop reading a great plot poorly written!

(TBR Shelf: White Columns, Dark Secrets)

Seriously, I love Ursula and would proudly read her shopping list. 

Journal Entry 3 by whimzykat on Sunday, September 26, 2004

Ursula Hegi is amazing! She writes the most incredibly intimate epics, and in "Vision of Emma Blau" creates a parallel tale to her "Stones From the River". Her characters are so complete I would know them if I met them on the street. She describes events and motions in such unique lanquage, but so beautifully, the phrases remain in your heart. Time to send it on. 

Journal Entry 4 by whimzykat at Controlled Release in Fort Worth, Texas USA on Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Released 7 yrs ago (9/29/2004 UTC) at Controlled Release in Fort Worth, Texas USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

off to pjmom 

Journal Entry 5 by ID20080001 on Friday, October 01, 2004

I got the book today. Thanks. I have 2 books ahead of it, but I will get it out. 

Journal Entry 6 by ID20080001 on Friday, October 08, 2004

I will be starting on this book today. I'm very excited as Hegi is one of my favorite authors. 

Journal Entry 7 by ID20080001 on Monday, October 11, 2004

I am finishing up the book tonight and will get it in the mail tomorrow. I enjoyed this book alot. I really got into the story and the characters and liked how Hegi broke the chapters by years. 

Journal Entry 8 by ID20080001 on Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Mailed today. DC#03041070000016179317. 

Journal Entry 9 by jenvince from Scottsdale, Arizona USA on Sunday, October 24, 2004

This arrived safely yesterday. I absolutely LOVED Stones From a River so am thrilled there is a sequel.

I have a ring to finish ahead of this, then will dive in.

*Got the envelope with stamps. Thank you! How kind of you! I'll use them to upgrade to Global Priority rather than surface mail, so that this book won't spend a lot of time "on the road". 

Journal Entry 10 by jenvince from Scottsdale, Arizona USA on Sunday, November 07, 2004

Well, I have to be honest. I liked Stones From the River WAY more than I liked this book. I did think this was well written and the character descriptions were great. Just didn't like the story overall - this family sure had its share of issues. Glad that I had a chance to read it.

This has been mailed. 

Journal Entry 11 by nikel27 from Ginsheim-Gustavsburg, Hessen Germany on Tuesday, November 23, 2004

arrived safe at my house, looking forward to read this book

update:
thanks for letting me be part in this bookring, I liked this book, as I like reading about a family over some years...

Will be moving again soon.... 

Journal Entry 12 by nikel27 at Post Office in Book Ring, Ginsheim -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, January 06, 2005

Released on Friday, January 07, 2005 at about 8:00:00 AM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Post Office in Book Ring, Ginsheim Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

EnJoy the Book !!! 

Journal Entry 13 by bookmanu from Cascais, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Monday, February 07, 2005

This is the second time I'm trying to make a journal entry for this book...my earlier attempt was deleted...I have a virus on my PC which keeps generating annoying pop-ups AAARGGGGHH!

I should mention that it's a belated journal entry. I received the book sometime in mid-January. I can't fathom what happened. I discovered that it wasn't journalled on receipt when I went to my bookshelf to look for the next person on the list who as it turns out is the originator of the ring - Jamesmum. The book will be on its way 'home' soon....

I read 'Stones from the River' not too long ago. I found the sequel was a bit disappointing...in my opinion it seemed to be too slow in places and too fast in others.

As a previous reader has already mentioned, it was enjoyable to follow a family's period over a period of time. I found the ending interesting...it didn't end the way I thought it would. Overall,however I found that the book 'fizzled out' too much.

Will be on its way to Jamesmum as soon as I get her address. 

Journal Entry 14 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, February 16, 2005

BOOKMANU: One more person has been added to the ring after you. PM me for her address. Thanks. 

Journal Entry 15 by CynthiaA from Brantford, Ontario Canada on Thursday, February 24, 2005

Received it today! Thanks Jamesmum! 

Journal Entry 16 by CynthiaA from Brantford, Ontario Canada on Thursday, February 16, 2006

This was a good book, although not as good as Stones from the River, by the same author.

I wouldn't call this a 'sequel' although there is some character overlap. The two books stand alone though.

The strength of this book lies in its characters. Everyone is likeable yet flawed, but not overly-flawed. Some, more flawed than others. Some, more likeable than others. Even the "bit" characters are wonderful. I especially liked the way the characters interacted. How they loved and fought like real people -- the relationships were very believable.

My favorite character was Helene Montag/Blau. She was wonderfully human. Impetuous and dreamy, self-conscious and yet confident, petty and generous at the same time, loving but still holding back her love too. I would love her if I were ever to meet her in real life.

The story itself was fine -- it kept my attention and I liked the way the house became a character unto itself.

I struggled with the part of the story about Emma as an adult... it just didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the book, and I had a hard time immagining Emma allowing that to happen to herself. But maybe that's supposed to be the tragedy of it.

Anyhow, very good book. Ready to be shared by others.

 

Journal Entry 17 by DianaCoats from Hillsboro, Oregon USA on Monday, March 27, 2006

Cynthia, What a surprise to get "The Vision Of Emma Blau" in the mail from you today. Wonderful. It has been a very long time since I read "Stones From the River" and I'm wondering if this will be a good thing. I notice that authors has their own voices and hearts that need expressing and some parts of those resound with our own and some do not. I read an author due to the way she writes not what she is writing. Who knows, I might learn a thing or two or actually have a new opinion. Thank you to cliff, ron and rabck.com who bring us all together in an incredible way that has forever changed my life. 

Journal Entry 18 by DianaCoats at Wordstock - Bookcrossing Booth in Portland, Oregon USA on Friday, November 09, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (11/10/2007 UTC) at Wordstock - Bookcrossing Booth in Portland, Oregon USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

This book has been languishing on my TBR pile for too long. It is time to pass it along, and the Bookcrossing booth at Wordstock is a perfect place.