Journal Entry 1 by cat02886 from Warwick, Rhode Island USA on Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Great book. Going to offer as a bookray. 

Journal Entry 2 by cat02886 at Part of a bookray in Superior, Arizona USA on Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Released on Wednesday, November 03, 2004 at about 4:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Part of a bookray in Superior, Arizona USA.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent this book out as a bookray.
This is the list of people participating:
Arizonafrye
Megi53
Bunnybee
Zenus
Bunnylady
Firegirl
squirell818
knitwit
timollie5502
tnelson99 (can ship international)
BlueAmazon (CA-US only)
calvarez4 (CA-US only) ---ENDS HERE---

--NOW CLOSED-- 

Journal Entry 3 by ArizonaFyre from Superior, Arizona USA on Wednesday, November 24, 2004

I received this book earlier in the week via mail. The characters are enjoyable & quickly define a family in crisis, with the focus on a young teen's right to control the use of her body (i.e. bone marrow/cells/etc.) with regards to saving her older sister's life due to leukemia.

One quote from Anna (the main character) struck me as especially poignant:
"...water never stops moving. Rain falls, and runs down a mountain into a river. The river finds it way to the ocean. It evaporates, like a soul, into the clouds. And then, like everything else, it starts all over again."

Having recently suffered a loss in my family, I am reminded of the gentle (and not so gently) circle of life.

This books will continue on it's journey to Megi53 in VA today! 

Journal Entry 4 by Megi53 from Danville, Virginia USA on Thursday, December 02, 2004

What an attractive book! It arrived in the mail yesterday and I plan to start reading it this weekend (Dec. 4-5). 

Journal Entry 5 by Megi53 from Danville, Virginia USA on Saturday, December 11, 2004

A book I simply couldn't put down once I started reading it.

The relationship between the three siblings in the family was so realistic. The girls' interests, ballet and hockey, kept weaving through the story in an interesting way, and contributed to the wonderful ending. (By that I mean the ending on the very last page -- not the cop-out ending that made the transplant possible.)

Campbell's and Julia's romance made a nice counterpoint to the grim hospital trips and medical procedures. Brian's firefighting career was given a lot of space. All this lifted the book out of what could have been Danielle Steel type-potboiler-mode into solid good literature.

A book I won't easily forget.

Mailing to Bunnybee later today. 

Journal Entry 6 by Bunnybee from Amarillo, Texas USA on Friday, December 17, 2004

Just came in the mail today! I have been looking forward to reading this book after hearing all the great comments from people I know who have read it. I will start on it soon.

Thank you, cat02886 for sharing this book with us!

Update 12/18- starting on this one tonight. :-) 

Journal Entry 7 by Bunnybee from Amarillo, Texas USA on Wednesday, December 22, 2004

OMG what a great book this was!!! Not necessarily a happy book, but very intriguing and once I got started, I didn't want to put it down! (Did Megi53 just say that too?!?) I read each night until I was falling-asleep tired before I'd stop... and finished it in less than 4 days. That actually surprised me, since it's not a thin book- but it really does read easily and quickly.

Part of the mixed narrative style was hard to get used to- but at least each chapter was labeled clearly with whose narrative it was so there was no guessing by context (like I've experienced in some books). And it was interesting to be able get into each person's head by reading what they thought along the way, as opposed to the whole story being told from the point of view of only one person. It was interesting to note that the major part of the story seemed to be about Anna and her not feeling like she was her own person but yet we never got to hear any of KATE'S thoughts about any of it until the end. And then everything was clear and wrapped up.... and I don't want to be spoiling the book for anyone who might still need to read it- but it does keep you hanging on to the very end, wondering just what will happen.

Quite a topic for ethical discussions, that's for sure! And not a good situation with an easy answer by no means. VERY good and moving story.

I have the address for zenus but might not be able to make it to the post office til after Christmas, but it will be off on its way fairly soon. :-) Thank you again for the ring, cat02886! Now I know why so many people recommended this book! 

Journal Entry 8 by Bunnybee from Amarillo, Texas USA on Monday, December 27, 2004

Sent off today via media mail to zenus in Florida. Enjoy, and Happy New Year everyone! 

Journal Entry 9 by AnonymousFinder on Sunday, January 02, 2005

surprize in the mailbox! Will read asap and send it on! Thanks. Oh and Happy New Year!

CAUGHT IN OVIEDO FL USA 

Journal Entry 10 by zenus from North Salt Lake, Utah USA on Friday, January 21, 2005

The premis of the story was thought provoking. Was surprised I didn't cry. Must have been the style of the writing. I usually boo hoo with these types of stories. I did enjoy it though and hope you will too Bunnylady. 

Journal Entry 11 by BunnyLady from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin USA on Saturday, February 05, 2005

Rec'd this in yesterdays mail. Will be my next read.

2/11/05
Finished reading this last night. It will be on its way to Firegirl today if I can get her addy before I go to the Post Office. Thanks for sharing your book with us cat02886. 

Journal Entry 12 by Firegirl from Annandale, Virginia USA on Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Caught today in the post. Despite my avalanche of new books from the RABCK sweeps, this actually came at a good time as I just finished a book last night and hadn't decided what to read next. This answers that question! I'll read it and move it on down the line. Thanks for the ray! 

Journal Entry 13 by Firegirl from Annandale, Virginia USA on Thursday, March 10, 2005

WOW, was that a good book. I'm so glad I had the free time to read it as quickly as I did -- I didn't want to put it down. I really liked hearing the story in so many voices and am very impressed that the author managed to move back and forth in time and change narrators so often and still not lose the reader. Excellent writing. I liked all the characters and felt sympathy for all of them; it's interesting to read something that has no real "bad guys". I really liked the whole concept too; very, very though-provoking. And what a twist at the end! All in all, definitely an excellent read. I almost asked to be skipped since my TBR pile is so high, but I'm SO glad I didn't. Thanks very much, Cat02886, for sharing this.
 

Journal Entry 14 by Firegirl from Annandale, Virginia USA on Monday, March 14, 2005

Journal Entry 15 by squirrel818 from Tafton, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Received in the mail today. I will read it asap. 

Journal Entry 16 by squirrel818 from Tafton, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, March 24, 2005

This book addressed a few interesting ideas, it really got me thinking.However, I feel like the author took the easy way out with the ending. I would have liked to see the debate resolved in a different way. 

Journal Entry 17 by squirrel818 at fellow bookcrosser in Yardley, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, March 25, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (3/25/2005 UTC) at fellow bookcrosser in Yardley, Pennsylvania USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 18 by knitwit from Yardley, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Arrived safely today. I shall begin reading tomorrow after I finish my current book. Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 19 by knitwit from Yardley, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, April 01, 2005

Like several readers before me, I couldn't put this one down once I started it. I casually picked it up last night just to "read a few pages" and here it is 24 hours later and I'm finished. This is my favorite read of 2005 (so far) and I can't believe it's the first thing of Jodi Picoult's that I've read. Why hasn't she been on my radar before? I love the way she developed her characters and the way she developed the back story as the current action unfolded. I may have to purchase my own copy of this one.....

In the mail to timollie5502 on Saturday, 2 April 2005. 

Journal Entry 20 by timollie5502 from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Got this today in the mail. I have one other in front of it, but will start it soon. I look forward to it! 

Journal Entry 21 by timollie5502 from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, April 08, 2005

Well, I have to agree with everyone else, this story was amazing.
I especially enjoyed how the sections were divided between all of the characters in the story using different fonts - that was a very creative touch.
My favorite section is also in one of Anna's sections, where she talks about how she would like to think that humans made it to earth. It just was so creative, and seemed to tie in so well to her situation...
I am renewing my thought that I want to read everything that Jodi Picoult has ever written!

Mailed this out Tuesday 4/12 to tnelson99. 

Journal Entry 22 by tnelson99 from Festus, Missouri USA on Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Received in the mail yesterday and will get to it in the next few weeks......THANKS MUCH! 

Journal Entry 23 by tnelson99 from Festus, Missouri USA on Thursday, May 12, 2005

Life is just too busy right now and I dont want to keep holding onto this book, so I'm sending it on to BlueAmazon today. Enjoy and thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 24 by BlueAmazon from Gaithersburg, Maryland USA on Monday, May 16, 2005

thanks so much for this book! received yesterday [when I got home from airport] and will start today!

 

Journal Entry 25 by BlueAmazon from Gaithersburg, Maryland USA on Monday, May 16, 2005

I had a day off today so got to read this right away.

This was quite a good book, though I think that was more due to the thought provoking topic, which was given fair play from all sides, than to the quality of writing. A bit on the type of Jacquelyn Mitchard [Deep End of the Ocean], a definite tear-jerky type. I can see Michelle Pfeiffer revving up for her role now. that doesn't mean I didn't like it, just that it wasn't the greatest thing ever.

Written from all points of view. I believe Anna [13 year old] had the truest voice. One of my favorite parts of hers:
Here's my question: what age are you when you're in Heaven? I mean, if it's Heaven, you should be are your beauty queen best and I doubt that all the people who died of old age are wandering around toothless and bald........I figure that maybe you get a choice. You fill out the application form that asks you if you want a star view or a cloud view, if you like chicken or fish or manna for dinner, what age you'd like to be seen as by everyone else.

What a great question to contemplate! The side plot of Campbell, her attorney, and his 'secret' illness, just struck me as a ploy. not at all necessary.

Got calvarez's address, so can mail off tomorrow! thanks for the ring! 

Journal Entry 26 by BlueAmazon from Gaithersburg, Maryland USA on Tuesday, May 17, 2005

mailed to calvarez today. it will be interesting to see how long it takes media mail to get from Palos Verdes to Newport Beach, about a one hour drive down the coast...


usps confirmation/tracking number is: 0304 1560 0002 2855 4245.

hope you like the book, C! 

Journal Entry 27 by calvarez4 from Oakland, California USA on Tuesday, May 24, 2005

My Sister's Keeper arrived safely this afternoon! I first read Jodi Picoult this year, as part of the A-Z "New to Me" Authors Challenge, and I thought I would give another of her books a try :)

I will read this soon, and pass it along.

Thank you to cat02886 and BlueAmazon! 

Journal Entry 28 by calvarez4 from Oakland, California USA on Thursday, May 26, 2005

I am surprised at how quickly this book went for me, considering that it's over 400 pages :) [although that seems to be a common trend for all of us, so far]

The premise of the book is fascinating, and deals with so many different medical dilemmas and absolute heartbreaks that families face. I spent a lot of the book furious with Sara for being so blind to Anna's feelings and needs -- but how could we judge her? My thoughts and feelings have been expressed by so many of the readers before me on this ray.

Like BlueAmazon, I found the romance between Campbell and Julia to be unnecessary, and a bit distracting. And yet I really liked Julia's character, so go figure :)

My only gripes:
As I mentioned in my last journal entry, I read The Pact earlier this year, one of Picoult's earlier novels. The basic plot of that story is that a teenage boy stands trial for the "murder" (read: assisted suicide) of his girlfriend. Another story in which the characters all face an impossible moral dilemma, with the major climaxes coming in the courtroom, with the main character taking the stand. In The Pact, I found the courtroom "revelation" to be terribly lame -- but with this book, oh god. I was so disappointed that Picoult's plotline followed along such a predictable pattern, because I really wanted to be surprised by the ending. Instead, come page 300 or so, I was able to predict the rest of the book. Easily. I had no idea that Picoult was a formulaic writer -- and perhaps she isn't. Perhaps these two books are just similar, but only having read these two, I don't have another for comparison.

I loved Anna and Julia, my heart went out to Kate with every page...but I can't help but be disappointed with the predictable ending.

I have offered this book to appaloosatb, since it is on her wishlist. I will mail it off once I have the address!

 

Journal Entry 29 by calvarez4 at Controlled Release in Byron, Minnesota -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, May 26, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (5/26/2005 UTC) at Controlled Release in Byron, Minnesota -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

This book will continue its travels, and is on its way to Byron, Minnesota. Enjoy, appaloosatb!! It's a wonderful book!
 

Journal Entry 30 by appaloosatb from Rochester, Minnesota USA on Saturday, June 11, 2005

This has arrived, thanks so much! I have added it to Mount TBR and hope to read it very soon.