Journal Entry 1 by AngelChild from Rochester, Kent United Kingdom on Thursday, November 04, 2004

2ND COPY - PURCHASED FOR A RAY

WOW.....This book is brilliant, "unputdownable". I loved the fact that i was reading a "true" story. Poor Mary starts her life sadly and it's downhill from there! Can't really say anymore or i'll spoil it for you ;o)

Born in 1748 in working class London, Mary Saunders lusts for linen, lace and a shiny red ribbon that leads her to a life of prostitution - and a freedom unknown to virtuous young women. There are however, 3 rules of the London streets that she knows she must'nt ever forget: Never give up your liberty; Clothes make the woman; Clothes are the greatest lie evr told.

"Slammerkin is a fiction, inspired by the surviving facts of the real Mary Saunders life...."

I enjoyed this book so much that i'm going to offer it up as an International Ray.

RULES:

Please send the book to the next person on the list (PM'ing them for their addy) within 1 month. If you are unable to finish the book in that time please let me know so i can keep everyone updated.

Journal the book when you receive it and again when you send it on so we can all see where it is :o)

DUE TO THE HUGE RESPONSE FOR THIS RAY I HAVE MANAGED TO GET HOLD OF ANOTHER COPY (SO 2 BOOKS WILL BE CIRCULATING). IF YOUR NAME DOES NOT APPEAR BELOW PLEASE CHECK OUT THE JOURNAL ENTRY BELOW WHERE YOUR NAME WILL APPEAR!

1st Copy

Participants & shipping order for 2nd copy.....

annie-sunshine (USA)
karendawn (USA)
KiwiWonder (NZ)
gypsyrose02 (AUSTRALIA)
tantan (AUSTRALIA)
Readinator (AUSTRALIA)
Brujula (FRANCE)
nickel27 (GERMANY)
redhouse (UK)
caffcaff
CandyDarling (FINLAND)
 

Journal Entry 2 by AngelChild at Bookray in Bookray, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, November 07, 2004

Released on Monday, November 08, 2004 at about 7:00:00 AM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Bookray in Bookray, A Bookray Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sending to annie-sunshine in USA as first participant in this ray....

Hope you enjoy it :o) 

Journal Entry 3 by annie-sunshine from Indianapolis, Indiana USA on Monday, November 22, 2004

Just recieved the book today, cant wait to read it. 

Journal Entry 4 by annie-sunshine from Indianapolis, Indiana USA on Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Just finished the book. I loved the book except i was hoping for a for a different ending. Its definetly a book you cant put down. 

Journal Entry 5 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Wednesday, December 29, 2004

The book arrived today. Thank you! Although it barely got to me. The wrapping paper that was used to package it was all ripped up and the book was falling out, so I'm very thankful that the book arrived in one piece!

I just finished a book this morning, so I can get right to this one. I'm looking forward to reading it! 

Journal Entry 6 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Friday, December 31, 2004

A good book to end the year with. I didn't really want to like Mary, but I found myself liking her very much and having a lot of pity for her and hoping that things would work out for her. If only she had not longed so much for the red ribbon. How differently would everything have worked out? But then again, would her life have really been that much better had she not wanted the ribbon?

Awaiting KiwiWonder's address and will mail it Monday if I receive the address by then. Thank you for sharing this book! 

Journal Entry 7 by karendawn at on Monday, January 03, 2005

Released on Monday, January 03, 2005 at about 10:00:00 AM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Mailed to a fellow Bookcrosser in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

off to KiwiWonder via airmail (because it usually takes forever to get to NZ with surface from my past experience!) 

Journal Entry 8 by KiwiWonder from Auckland, Auckland Province New Zealand on Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Received in the mail today. I'm eager to read it, as soon as I finish what I'm reading now! 

Journal Entry 9 by KiwiWonder from Auckland, Auckland Province New Zealand on Saturday, January 22, 2005

I loved this book. I found myself relating very much to Mary... some of her experiences, despite being in the 18th century, mirror mine very closely. Similarly, she has many of the same longings I have... always wanting to better oneself and one's station, wanting for the seemingly "impossible" things but still doing everything in one's ability to make it happen.

I, too, ideally "wanted" a different ending, but similarly the Prologue starts near the end -- so I knew it was coming, and was prepared for it. In many ways, starting with Mary in gaol makes you wonder exactly how and why she ended up there -- there's so many chances, and reasons, she could be there is like a constant bit of foreshadowing.

The author is a very clever writer -- writes with a style that keeps the book moving, is literary without weighing the book down, and is extremely well plotted out. I've already added all of her other titles to my wish list!

Sending off to gypsyrose02 on Monday. 

Journal Entry 10 by KiwiWonder from Auckland, Auckland Province New Zealand on Monday, January 31, 2005

Okay, I was later in sending it than I thought I would be... but I can confirm it went in the mail, economy post to gypsyrose02, on 29/01/2005 

Journal Entry 11 by gypsyrose02 from Byford, Western Australia Australia on Monday, February 14, 2005

received as part of a ray. have been looking forward to reading this for awhile. thanks for inlcuding me. will journal again when finished. 

Journal Entry 12 by gypsyrose02 from Byford, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, February 24, 2005

i have to agree with everyone else. i loved this book. it was a very quick read because of the fact that you didnt want to put it down. spoiler alert: i wasnt expecting that ending at all. threw me right off. thanks for including me. just waiting to hear from tantan. 

Journal Entry 13 by tantan from Gympie, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Received in the mail yesterday. I've got a few things in front of this, but I'll be on to it as soon as I can. I'm looking forward to it! 

Journal Entry 14 by tantan from Gympie, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Wow!! I absolutely loved this. It included so much, yet was also such an easy read. I'm glad I took this one with us to Norfolk Island because it was such a great read for the plane trip back. I'll also be adding all of Donoghue's other books to my wish list. This will be heading off to readinator as soon as I have an address. 

Journal Entry 15 by Readinator from Woodend, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Received from tantan. Thanks caffcaff for sharing this one! Will read and pass on as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 16 by Readinator from Woodend, Victoria Australia on Sunday, April 24, 2005

This was a cracking good read, and it's always an absolute pleasure to find historical fiction/semi-fiction that is so well written. What a sad story.

Thanks so much, caffcaff for sharing the book. Shall pass on to CandyDarling when I have an address.

17/5/05: A further note to let you know where the book is. caffcaff let me know that CandyDarling wanted to go to the end of the list as she is rather swamped, then I found out nikel27 is on holiday to the end of the month. I'm currently seeking the address of brujula, the next participant on the list. Meanwhile, I've had to scoot back to my home town away from my books and computer, for ten days for a family emergency. I'm back, and things are largely okay again so I will get the book into the mail just as soon as I have an address! Sorry for the delays. 

Journal Entry 17 by Readinator from Woodend, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Book finally in the Post to brujula. Economy Air, so she should receive it in about 2-3 weeks. Thanks all, have a great day! 

Journal Entry 18 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Friday, June 10, 2005

Arrived today in my mailbox with a nice card from Melbourne!
Your french is great, Readinator!
You should join us in the french forum! (at least in the easy french thread!) 

Journal Entry 19 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Monday, July 11, 2005

I liked this book, although I found it very sad.
I kept hoping all through the book that Mary would make it, that she would settle and be happy, although I knew it wasn't so from the start, because of the prologue that states clearly how the story ends.

I'll mail it to Nikel27 today or tomorrow.

Thank you caffcaff for this ring! 

Journal Entry 20 by nikel27 from Ginsheim-Gustavsburg, Hessen Germany on Tuesday, July 19, 2005

arrived safe at my house.

update:
Start reading at the weekend

thanks so much for sharing this great book with me. 

Journal Entry 21 by nikel27 at Post Office in Book Ring, Ginsheim -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (8/15/2005 UTC) at Post Office in Book Ring, Ginsheim -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

EnJoy the Book as I did!!! 

Journal Entry 22 by coolboxuk from Chertsey, Surrey United Kingdom on Thursday, September 29, 2005

Gosh, what a long time it took this book to travel across the Channel! It arrived today, safe and sound!

Now I'm a bit confused, though, that nickel27 sent it to me because according to the list, it should have gone to redhouse..??? Is that where I'll be sending it on to? (That's when I've got around to reading it as I've just started a biggie which is also a ring...) 

Journal Entry 23 by coolboxuk from Chertsey, Surrey United Kingdom on Monday, October 10, 2005

I don't think I'm getting round to actually reading this which is why I had asked to be taken off - unfortunately, not in time... I'm going to pass it on anyway. Sorry for the hold-up. 

Journal Entry 24 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Monday, October 17, 2005

Arrived this morning, thanks to everyone. I'm a bit backed up at the moment but I'll try not to hold this up too long. 

Journal Entry 25 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Sent this to CandyDarling a couple of weeks ago. Sorry forgot to journal :) 

Journal Entry 26 by CandyDarling from Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Thursday, March 16, 2006

Received this book last week, sorry for the late JE! 

Journal Entry 27 by CandyDarling at Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Monday, October 04, 2010

I finally got around to reading Slammerkin, and my thoughts of the book are the same as the previous readers'. I'll elaborate below, but be warned, my review contains spoilers.

I related strongly to Mary, and kept hoping everything would turn out just as beautifully as she dreamed. I didn't know the book was inspired by a real woman named Mary Saunders, and I was very annoyed at the author for revealing in the prologue what would happen to Mary during the course of the book - I couldn't wholeheartedly enjoy reading about Mary's endeavors, as I kept expecting the worst. For me, the book would have been much better had I not known what would happen. Through the whole book I kept hoping the part in the prologue would come soon, and that Mary would somehow survive through it and get her happy ending. Other than that, I liked reading about 18th century England, and I was especially interested in the first part about London. The second part in Monmouth felt like a completely different book, only the heroine was the same.

I'm glad I had the chance to read this book, thank you. Slammerkin is now available, I'll try to find a new reader for it. 

Journal Entry 28 by CandyDarling at Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Thursday, October 07, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (10/7/2010 UTC) at Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm giving this book to a friend who expressed interest in reading it. 

Journal Entry 29 by koodaaja at Espoo, Uusimaa Finland on Thursday, October 14, 2010

Received from CandyDarling a week ago. Sorry for my delayed journaling.