Journal Entry 1 by MarciNYC from Howell, New Jersey USA on Sunday, October 10, 2004

A case of too many books, not enough time. As a result, this is going out to Colorado to join several others in the M-Bag to the Netherlands. 

Journal Entry 2 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Saturday, October 23, 2004

Caught for the m-bag going to The Netherlands. Marci’s box came while I was away on business. What a great welcome home box! I'm very concerned, as I want to read almost EVERYTHING in this box ;) 

Journal Entry 3 by Moem from Zevenaar, Gelderland Netherlands on Sunday, January 09, 2005

Another book from the great big surprise bag full of wonderful books. Thank you so much!
To be left at an OBCZ, or handed to another Bookcrosser.

Hmm... looks nice! 

Journal Entry 4 by Moem from Zevenaar, Gelderland Netherlands on Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Journal Entry 5 by Suzy26 from Delft, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Friday, February 11, 2005

I received this novel in the mail yesterday. Looks interesting. Thank you for sending it to me, Moem, and thanks to MarciNYC and Antof9 for sending this book in an M-bag to the Netherlands. I will let you know what I think of it before long. 

Journal Entry 6 by Suzy26 from Delft, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, February 26, 2005

From the back: Ruby Lennox begins narrating her own life at the moment of her conception, and from there takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the twentieth century as seen through the eyes of a girl determined to learn more about her family and the secrets it keeps. Kate Atkinson’s dazzling first novel named the 1995 Whitbread Book of the Year in England, is a darkly comic, deeply moving story of family heartbreak and happiness.

This book is made up of 13 chapters and 12 footnotes. In the chapters Ruby describes her life from the moment of her conception in 1951 till the moment of her mother’s death in 1992. The footnotes contain third person narratives about Ruby’s great-grandmother, grandmother and mother and various other family members. Sometimes it is hard to keep all these family members apart. The footnotes do not follow any chronological order, but they are always related somehow to the preceding chapter. In the beginning you think this is just a nice, straightforward story about a little girl growing up, but you couldnot be more wrong. There is much more to it than you think at first and there are some nice twists in the tale. The story is very funny, sometimes downright hilarious (the chapter about the holiday in Scotland made me laugh out loud), whereas some parts are really tragic and deeply moving (for instance chapters 4 and 11). All in all I liked this book very much and it is amazing to think that this was Kate Atkinson’s debut novel. I definitely want to read her other books.
 

Journal Entry 7 by Suzy26 from Delft, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Monday, February 28, 2005

Book was sent to Olifant today. 

Journal Entry 8 by Olifant from Porthmadog, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Book has safely arrived in Utrecht. Thanks!

Erm... it is a TRING, isn't it, Moem?! 

Journal Entry 9 by Olifant from Porthmadog, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, March 05, 2005

TRING or not, just read this book! I would recommend it to people who like dark humor and family saga's. I started and couldn't stop. And as Suzy26 writes: funny, hilarious, tragic and deeply moving.

Book will be sent to eMeReS, as slow as possible :-) 

Journal Entry 10 by eMeReS from Leiden, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, March 10, 2005

Behind the scenes at my museum: I seem to have started a collection of ring books, this one found a mate in the mail as well :)

I am tempted to sneak a little peek to get the feel of the book, but Olifant's entry seems a fair warning against that. Since, at the moment, I am last in line for this ring, I will give priority to the ones with more people waiting.

But I do hope that it won't be too long before I can get into this, it looks really good! 

Journal Entry 11 by eMeReS from Leiden, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Due to circumstances it was long before I got into this book, but I am glad that I waited for a good moment to start reading. What a wonderful book, I can only join the praise of the previous journalers. The jumping back and forth between the generations was a bit confusing, especially since I am never good with names. But it also emphasised the way in which the various histories are intertwined, I really loved that theme running through it all.

A few years ago I ordered another novel by Kate Atkinson (Emotionally Weird) through a bookclub, but I never got round to reading it. I even had it marked to register and release it unread through bookcrossing, since it had been gathering dust for a while already. I think I will still release it, but not before I read it. Let me know if anyone of you is interested as well, I can make it a ring then.

Let's see if more readers can be found for this one as well.
Edit: new readers have been found, I will hand the book over to janna2 this afternoon in Castricum. 

Journal Entry 12 by janna2 from Castricum, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Sunday, July 24, 2005

Thanks to MarciNYC for sending the book to the Netherlands and to eMeRes for taking it to the meeting in Castricum yesterday. I'm looking forward to read this book.
 

Journal Entry 13 by janna2 from Castricum, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Wednesday, August 31, 2005

What a lot of things can happen to a family in four generations and that all described in a fascinating manner! I liked the book very much and hope that dutch-flybaby will enjoy the book as well.
 

Journal Entry 14 by dutch-flybabe from Ede, Gelderland Netherlands on Saturday, September 03, 2005

Journal Entry 15 by dutch-flybabe from Ede, Gelderland Netherlands on Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Journal Entry 16 by Moem from Zevenaar, Gelderland Netherlands on Saturday, November 19, 2005

The book arrived home safely. Dutch-flybaby handed it to me at the meeting today. Thank you, ring participants!

This book will be released at an OBCZ, soonish. 

Journal Entry 17 by Moem at OBCZ de Grote Broek in Nijmegen, Gelderland Netherlands on Sunday, December 11, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (12/11/2005 UTC) at OBCZ de Grote Broek in Nijmegen, Gelderland Netherlands

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Op de plank. Kom maar halen.