Journal Entry 1 by catrionamoore from Ellistown, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, November 26, 2004

Another Sense charity bargain 3 books for £1. The cover and title appealed, espeically as I am only 16 months from turning thirty myself.

Amazon.co.uk Review
Mike Gayle's previous novels My Legendary Girlfriend and Mr Commitment have already wittily chronicled living and loving among the twentysomethings at the end of the 20th century. As time marches on, Gayle's latest novel Turning Thirty deals with what happens when his characters reach that most dreaded of moments--the big three-o. Matt Beckford is reaching that time of life. At the age of 29 he thinks he has answered those two crucial questions you ask yourself as a teenager: "What am I going to do with my life?" and "Will I ever get a girlfriend?" Living as a computer expert in New York with the lovely Elaine, Matt thinks he's cracked life. But then both he and Elaine suddenly realise that their relationship isn't working. They split up amicably, realising that "biology is telling us there's no point in crying over spilt milk", and Matt heads back to his friends and parents in Birmingham. As his 30th birthday looms, Matt meets Ginny Pascoe, an old flame, or more accurately "a girl who was also a friend who I sometimes snogged", and things get more complicated as he realises that he's falling for Ginny--again. The transatlantic love triangle that develops between Matt, Ginny and Elaine is funny and refreshing, and lacks the usual angst you would expect from such a situation. As Matt enjoys the nostalgia of going out with old friends and loves, he also realises he needs to sort out his life, as 30 beckons. Turning Thirty is another sharp, funny and astute offering from Gayle, that won't disappoint his growing army of fans 

Journal Entry 2 by catrionamoore from Ellistown, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Monday, January 10, 2005

Nostalgia – 1. a yearning for the return of past circumstances, events etc. 2. the evocation of this emotion, as in a book, film, etc. 3. longing for home or family; homesickness. (Gk. Nostos, return; algos, pain).
Collins English Dictionary

Hopelessly romantic, single and approaching thirty Matt Beckford would be any woman’s dream catch. That is if he could find one to turn thirty with.

I find it hard to imagine anyone not enjoying following Matt, his impending milestone and trip down memory lane. The book is well written with chapters interspersed with email exchanges between Matt and his ex-girlfriend just giving you the impression that perhaps they have some unfinished business.

Turning Thirty reminded me of my own teenage angst and making a similar pact as Matt and Ginny with a very close friend at the time.

An ideal quick read with plenty of feel-good factor for anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with a happy ending. 

Journal Entry 3 by catrionamoore from Ellistown, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Monday, February 07, 2005

After checking the wishlists I decided to offer the book up as an international ring before retiring it either into the wild or my OBCZ.

Particpants

Flicki Germany INT
elhamisabel Germany INT
i-spy US
Breeni US US preferred
sunflowergalmmb US US
portable-solace US US
jenvince US INT
silverstarry US US
sharalsbooks US INT
bakerwhencan US INT
spaceystacey US US
icekween01 US INT <~~ Here
countessa-uk Egypt INT
blaisezabini12 Romania
Zenita Denmark EU
catrionamoore UK 

Journal Entry 4 by Flicki from Emden, Niedersachsen Germany on Saturday, February 12, 2005

Thanks so much, catriona! The book only arrived! I hope I'll get around to it soon but there are two rings ahead. 

Journal Entry 5 by Flicki from Emden, Niedersachsen Germany on Thursday, March 10, 2005

I had already read 'My Legendary Girlfriend' by Gayle - and found it... well... quite profane. This one was better. Not much better, but quite a good read. I was a little sad about the ending, though... but there's more wisdom to the book than one might think on first sight.

Am going to send this one on tomorrow, when the post-office reopens! :-) 

Journal Entry 6 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Recieved it just now.
Another ring arrived as well, so it may take some time till I finish it. I'll be as quick as possible!

Thanks catrionamoore and Flicki! 

Journal Entry 7 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Wednesday, March 23, 2005

I just finished it.

I wanted to read this for ages Don't know why but the story appealed to me.
I was right. I liked it. It wasn't breath-taking and it won't make it to my all time top 10 books but it was a good read.

I liked his views on certain things and it was well written.

I'll pass it on to i-spy tomorrow.

 

Journal Entry 8 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Thursday, March 24, 2005

It's on its way to i-spy,

Have fun! 

Journal Entry 9 by i-spy from Seattle, Washington USA on Sunday, May 15, 2005

Surprisingly fun book. Light read, but many very true points for those in the 29 1/2 age range. :)

Mailed out today. 5/23. 

Journal Entry 10 by Breeni from Rockwell, North Carolina USA on Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Yay! I can't wait to read this! I love the book label--it's beautiful! Will read and send on its way ASAP. 

Journal Entry 11 by Breeni at Mailed to BC member in Mailed to another BC member, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, June 05, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (6/5/2005 UTC) at Mailed to BC member in Mailed to another BC member, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

I have tried several times to get into this book, and have read about 120 pages, but it's boring me to tears! I dunno--maybe it's just not the right time for me to read it. Oh well, I'm gonna go ahead and pass it on. Will mail it out this week. 

Journal Entry 12 by sunflowergalmmb from Lincoln City, Oregon USA on Sunday, June 19, 2005

Received in the mail yesterday. I'll get to it as soon as possible! :)

Thanks! 

Journal Entry 13 by sunflowergalmmb from Lincoln City, Oregon USA on Wednesday, June 22, 2005

I finished this book early this morning. I enjoyed it for the most part, which surprised me because I was a bit hesitant to read it since I am still several years from 30, typically don't read books written from the male point of view and had read the review of the reader before me.

The book did make me think about goals I have set for myself and how life rarely turns out just as you plan it to in high school. I thought the main characters were well-developed and I was surprised by the ending. I cracked up everytime the author mentioned a previous classmate then put in () what he/she was predicted to be and what he/she ended up being. Funny stuff!

Thanks to catrionamoore for sending this ring out! It was a nice way to kick off my summer reading! :)

I have requested the next reader's address, but I have not heard anything back yet. I will give it a few more days and then probably move down to the next reader. I want to get this book on it's way as soon as possible! 

Journal Entry 14 by sunflowergalmmb from Lincoln City, Oregon USA on Monday, June 27, 2005

I requested portable-solace's mailing address a week ago and have not heard anything back. I also emailed catrionamoore for advice this weekend and haven't heard anything back, so I have gone ahead and requested spaceystacey's mailing address since she is next on the list. I don't want to be responsible for holding up the ring, so I'm hoping to find someone to send it to soon! :)

EDIT - Just heard back from spaceystacey and she would like to be moved down the list. I will now be requesting the address of jenvince. 

Journal Entry 15 by sunflowergalmmb at Postal Release in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Oregon USA on Monday, June 27, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (6/27/2005 UTC) at Postal Release in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Oregon USA

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I'm sending this one off to jenvince in AZ via media mail. Please note that portable-solace has been skipped and spaceystacey would like to move further down the list. 

Journal Entry 16 by jenvince from Scottsdale, Arizona USA on Friday, July 15, 2005

It's here! Will get to this as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 17 by jenvince from Scottsdale, Arizona USA on Wednesday, July 20, 2005

I leave Friday for three weeks (my wedding and honeymoon) and will not be able to get to this before then. Don't want to hold on to it for that long, so am going to pass it on without reading. Will mail today or tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 18 by silverstarry from Berkeley, California USA on Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Just received this in the mail today - can't wait to read it! 

Journal Entry 19 by silverstarry from Berkeley, California USA on Sunday, July 31, 2005

I just turned 30 a few months ago, so I have been looking forward to reading this book. It was a quick, fun read. Some parts of it seemed familiar (e.g. the quest to look up old friends reminded me of Rob calling his old girlfriends in High Fidelity) without being derivative. The urge to get in touch with old friends is something I can definitely relate to, and it was nice to see that his friends were happy to hear from him. I loved that every time he ran into someone he knew at the supermarket, he gave us both their "most likely to" and their present occupation. Aside from the interesting quest, there were some astute observations about life, love, and relationships. My one nitpick was that the author was not very good at capturing the American girlfriend's voice properly. A lot of what she said was very British (referring to "washing the crockery" instead of washing the dishes), and she was the most mature 22 year old I have ever read.

Thanks to catrionamoore for sharing this book! 

Journal Entry 20 by silverstarry from Berkeley, California USA on Friday, August 05, 2005

Mailed to sharalsbooks today!

DC# 0304 1070 0002 4158 5105 

Journal Entry 21 by sharalsbooks from Chandler, Arizona USA on Sunday, August 14, 2005

Received in the mail today. Have been looking forward to reading this one for awhile. I will read as soon as I finish the current book I am working on. Thank you for including me! 

Journal Entry 22 by sharalsbooks from Chandler, Arizona USA on Monday, August 22, 2005

I've started the book today and am going to PM the next person for an address. 

Journal Entry 23 by sharalsbooks from Chandler, Arizona USA on Wednesday, August 31, 2005

This was the first Mike Gayle book I have read and it will not be my last. I found the story to be full to the brim of nostalgia and reunion. It reminded me of relationships in my own life that have passed me by. I was reminded how we all change, sometimes for the better, as we get older and that my own "turning thirty" brought out a lot of anxiety in myself.

I have to say that my favorite part of this book is the advice that Matt so sagely dispenses:

"1. Don't take anything for granted because when it's gone it's always too late.
2. Look after your mates --- and they will look after you.
3. The only thing in life that gets easier the older you get is the ability to fall asleep in the middle of a conversation.
4. Never move back in with your parents --- it's always a bad idea.
5. And, finally, don't go to the pub unless there's somewhere to sit down.
But basically it's all just common sense."

I would be interested to see these characters revisited as they approach 40. :o) 

Journal Entry 24 by sharalsbooks at Bookring in n/a, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (8/31/2005 UTC) at Bookring in n/a, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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RELEASE NOTES:

This book is on its way to bakerwhencan in California. Happy Reading! 

Journal Entry 25 by bakerwhencan from San Francisco, California USA on Thursday, September 08, 2005

arrived today! Thank you! I will journal after reading. 

Journal Entry 26 by bakerwhencan from San Francisco, California USA on Thursday, November 03, 2005

I sent this off to SpaceyStacey today. I'm sorry for my terribly long delay.
It was a great, fun read that makes me remember how hard growing up is! Thanks for sharing this Catrionamoore.

 

Journal Entry 27 by spaceystacey from Bridgeton, New Jersey USA on Friday, November 11, 2005

Received in the post yesterday. Will get to over the holidays.

Humorous,easy to read book. Will look for others by this author. 

Journal Entry 28 by icekween01 from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Monday, January 09, 2006

This was a really fun book. An easy read, which was both humorous and entertaining. Not much depth but very enjoyable. A nice distraction. I would like to read the other books by this author as, I'm pretty sure I would enjoy them as well. Thanks so much for offering to share this book for a ring. I enjoyed it and glad I had the opportunity to read it.

Will be passing it on to the next person as soon as I get their address.

Peace and Happy Bookcrossing!! 

Journal Entry 29 by icekween01 at Mailed to fellow Bookcrosser in St. Louis, Missouri USA on Monday, January 09, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (1/9/2006 UTC) at Mailed to fellow Bookcrosser in St. Louis, Missouri USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

sending to blaisezabini12 as I couldn't get in touch with countessa.

ENJOY! 

Journal Entry 30 by blaisezabini12 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, April 28, 2006

This well travelled book finally arrived in Romania. Thank you icekween01 for mailing this to me and thank you catrionamoore for organising the ring!

29 April 06: this was a funny book - in some parts I was laughing out real loud:) But there was something I didn't quite enjoy: the way in which Matt reexamined his feeling and the way in which he changed his mind ALL THE TIME. True, this added to the suspense of the story but as this is a lad-lit:D it wasn't that necessary.

I will pm the next reader for the address right now.

2 May 06: mailed today. 

Journal Entry 31 by Zenita from København K - City, København Amt Denmark on Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Arrived today 

Journal Entry 32 by catrionamoore from Ellistown, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Sunday, June 25, 2006

This book has finally arrived home safely, thank you very much to everyone who took part oner the last sixteen months. I'm not entirely sure what to do with this well travelled tome but if I haven't had any bright ideas before I go on holiday in August I will take it to release in the wild there. 

Journal Entry 33 by catrionamoore at Ellistown Community Centre - OBCZ in Ellistown, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (7/11/2006 UTC) at Ellistown Community Centre - OBCZ in Ellistown, Leicestershire United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

To be left on the bookcase in the community lounge.