Journal Entry 1 by deenbat from Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, October 01, 2004

I'm not usually very adventurous about trying new books and/or new authors, but I noticed this one in the book shop last night, and glanced at the first couple of pages. Here's an excerpt from what I read:
"Not that we are without amusement in Essex; quite the contrary! Aunt Elizabeth and I called at the vicarage yesterday and spent a stimulating afternoon listening to the Reverend Fitzwilliam discoursing on the Vanities of Society and the Emptiness of Wordly Pleasures. Aunt Elizabeth hung on every word, and we are to return and take tea on Thursday. I am determined to have the headache Thursday, if I have to hit myself with a rock to do it."

This amused me so much that I decided to buy it (not that I have time to read it!). It seems to be a sort of Jane Austen meets Harry Potter, which will either be amusing if well done or really terrible if it isn't. Stay tuned... 

Journal Entry 2 by deenbat from Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, October 02, 2004

This was delightful! A trifle long, perhaps, but great fun. I'll have to find out when the second book is due in pb... and think of creative ways to share this. 

Journal Entry 3 by Kyrissaean from Littleton, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, October 14, 2004

It's here! Sorcery was waiting in my mailbox this afternoon.

I'm halfway through The Joy Luck Club, but I'm tempted to jump right into this one. Not to say anything bad about Ms. Tan, but this looks so cute! Oh, decisions, decisions.... 

Journal Entry 4 by Kyrissaean from Littleton, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, November 07, 2004

I loved it! I'm a big fantasy fan, including both adult and young adult fantasy, so I had a feeling I'd enjoy this. The writing style was perfect--yes, very Jane Austen, but as you can guess from the excerpt in deenbat's journal entry, you can practically see the girls crossing their eyes and making faces in wry humor, or scribbling faster in haste to get their stories out, or sitting there with their mouths hanging open in remembered indignation as they're writing their letters back and forth. I guessed a lot of what was going to happen pretty early on, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story. It's very light, and very cute!

The book is written out as correspondence between two cousins, and something I found really fun was tucked away in a note at the end of the book. The two authors started writing this as a sort of literary exercise game--one wrote as Kate and the other as Cecelia, and they honest-to-goodness sent their character's letters back and forth to one another without knowing what was going to be written in the letter they'd get back. And that's how they wrote the whole book! When they realized they really had something, they went back and tightened everything up and published the story! When I read that, somehow I couldn't help but be even more impressed!

I will definitely check out the sequel! Thanks for ringing this, deenbat!

And I'm PMing for fizzfred's mailing address so I can send this off to it's next stop! 

Journal Entry 5 by Kyrissaean from Littleton, New Hampshire USA on Monday, November 08, 2004

On its way to fizzfred as of this morning! 

Journal Entry 6 by fizzfred from Sacramento, California USA on Sunday, November 21, 2004

I received this book in the mail on Friday and jumped right in. I've been so taken with it, I just couldn't put it down to write a journal entry. :) I am already half way through. I promise to journal again once I finish. 

Journal Entry 7 by fizzfred from Sacramento, California USA on Sunday, November 21, 2004

And, finished. I really couldn't put it down! I agree with Kyrissaean, it was easy to guess most of the outcome but I still loved this book. I love everything about it... the great premise, the way they wrote it, the characters, the magic, the silliness. I do have a couple questions about some loose ends that I didn't quite understand. It could be just me though. :) I can't wait to read The Grand Tour and I really hope there is even more to come. Thank you so much deenbat for sharing this fun romp!!!

Status Update: I have sent PMs to affinity4books on 11/21 & 11/30. I am patiently waiting for a reply. 

Journal Entry 8 by fizzfred from Sacramento, California USA on Wednesday, December 01, 2004

Sent off to affinity4books today. Enjoy!!! 

Journal Entry 9 by affinity4books from Bryan, Texas USA on Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Yay!! I've been looking forward to this one. It sounds light and amusing- just what I need at the end of the semester, a little fantasy. I was already tempted to start reading, but it will have to wait a few days until after my last final. Then I will devour it and send on its way. Thanks for sharing this attractive tome. And what a pretty bookmark fizzfred! 

Journal Entry 10 by affinity4books from Bryan, Texas USA on Sunday, December 19, 2004

Really enjoyed it... sorry to see it go! But it will be in the mail tomorrow for sure. This is an adorable and witty book with nice cover art as well. I was swept away in the story, a nice break from the hectic past week. I was curious about what happened to both the girls' mothers? I liked the romances, the resourcefulness of the girls, and the feel of a 19th century novel of manners combined with the magical aspect. My only problem was that sometimes I couldn't remember which cousin had done what or talked to whom, but it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book much.
Thanks for sharing, I'm glad I read this one! 

Journal Entry 11 by affinity4books at postal mail in postal mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, December 20, 2004

Released on Monday, December 20, 2004 at about 11:00:00 AM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at postal mail in postal mail, A Bookray Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 12 by Lpree from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Friday, December 24, 2004

This arrived in today's mail. I made the mistake of reading the first few pages - now I don't want to put it down! But I do have a few bookrings ahead of this, so I'll have to wait. But hopefully it won't be too long of a wait. Please keep an eye on my profile to see where I am in my TBR list along with an estimated finish date for this book.

Thanks! 

Journal Entry 13 by deenbat from Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, December 30, 2004

ok, this probably very bad form, to break in like this, but I thought it was the easiest way to get in touch with all who have read so far...
Tonight I was a terrible spoiled brat; I bought the hardcover of The Grand Tour, the sequel to Sorcery & Cecilia!! I'll probably be done with it pretty quickly, and while I will almost certainly make it a PC, I will ring or lend it if anyone's interested...
I have so much to do in the next few days that I'm considering giving it to my husband to take to work so that I can't read it until I've gotten some things done!!! 

Journal Entry 14 by Lpree from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Sunday, January 02, 2005

I finished this book last night - what a great story! I like the letter format anyway and this fit the story very well. I too found it interesting that this book started out as "the letter game" between the two authors. I thought the ending was somewhat predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless.

I would certainly be interested in reading the next book if there is a ring for it.

I will PM the next person on the list and hope to mail this out sometime next week. Thanks very much to deenbat for starting this ring!

UPDATE 1/04 - This book was sent surface mail today to Flicki. 

Journal Entry 15 by Flicki from Emden, Niedersachsen Germany on Monday, February 14, 2005

This book just arrived! I'm really looking forward to it, but there are 3 rings ahead - I'll try to hurry up a bit! Thanks for sharing and sending, deenbat & lpree!

Update 03/11/05: Will start reading this tonight! 

Journal Entry 16 by Flicki from Emden, Niedersachsen Germany on Wednesday, March 16, 2005

I really, truly loved this book! :-) It was plainly great but I was a little disappointed about Cecy's choice in the end. Was it Cecy or Kate? That's the next point: Although I found them both highly entertaining, their characters were not easy to distinguish. Still, I feel like finally I'm up to reading Jane Austen now. :-) Every time I tried to do so before, I gave up in the middle of the book out of pure boredom. This magic thing is exactly what was missing from her books! ;-) Thanks sooooo much for sharing, this book was so much fun!!!!

I'll send it on whenever I get the next address. Besides, Frizzfred, I'm really drawn to your bookmark!!! :-)

UPDATE March 21st: Sent on today!! 

Journal Entry 17 by Auglaise from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, April 10, 2005

Received a few days ago, but did have time to journal. Thank you! 

Journal Entry 18 by Auglaise from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 13, 2005

I really enjoyed this, and, like most others, thought that the letter format fit perfectly! I'm very much interested in reading the next one. Thank you so much for sharing, deenbat! 

Journal Entry 19 by Auglaise from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, April 14, 2005

Being sent off today! 

Journal Entry 20 by Amanida from Chertsey, Surrey United Kingdom on Friday, April 15, 2005

I was driving home from work thinking "wouldn't it be great if there was a new book waiting for me" and there was!
TBR next. 

Journal Entry 21 by Amanida from Chertsey, Surrey United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Great fun - a fantasy world where magical powers and wizards are quite normal. The real world should be like this (or maybe it is and I have missed something along the way??)
Off to Jessibud at the weekend. 

Journal Entry 22 by jessibud from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Monday, May 02, 2005

I received this book on Friday and forgot to journal it. Oops, sorry! It looks like fun however, it may have to wait a bit as I have another ahead of it. I hope to get to it soon. 

Journal Entry 23 by jessibud from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Monday, May 16, 2005

Oh dear. I am sad to report that I am abandoning this book. I gave it a valiant effort (I took it with me on my long weekend, a 2-hour train ride, each direction, undivided attention) but it simply has not grabbed me. I find that my mind was wandering, and I am not remembering the characters or what is happening to them. Not a good sign. Luckily, this does not happen to me often but when it does, I must read the writing on the wall, so to speak and move on. There are simply too many other books waiting to be read.

So sorry. I really wanted to like this and indeed, I thought I would! Maybe it was my frame of mind, who knows....thanks, Deenbat, for the chance, in any case. Has anyone else expressed an interest or should I send it home to you now? 

Journal Entry 24 by jessibud from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Thursday, May 19, 2005

This little book is on its way home now!Mailed today 

Journal Entry 25 by deenbat from Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, May 31, 2005

and safely home again!
Thanks to all who participated - I think I'll reread it now!!