Seven Houses : A Novel

by Alev Lytle Croutier | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0743444140 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Lotusflower77 of Toronto, Ontario Canada on 12/26/2004
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18 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Lotusflower77 from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Sunday, December 26, 2004
Skillfully blending history with rich and sensuous imagination, Seven Houses chronicles a family’s sweeping journey through the twentieth century Turkey. Reading it is like running through a corridor of silk.

Going to LyzzyBee in Birmingham. I think we're trading 5 books in all. Can't wait!

Journal Entry 2 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, October 3, 2005
Received in the post from lotusflower77 today as part of our big book swap.

Thank you so much for such a good selection and the extras you sent too!

Note to self: pass to Tina when finished before offering on BookRing

Journal Entry 3 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, January 30, 2006
BOOKRING!

Usual rules apply...

Make a journal entry when you receive the book
Contact the next reader for their address when you are almost done
Post a review when you've read the book - please try to send it on within a month of receipt if you can
Make a journal entry or controlled release notes when you send the book on

PARTICIPANTS

musicalpenguin Scotland (anywhere)
Brookeworm Canada (anywhere)
ajsmom Canada (anywhere)
morsecode New York, US (N America)
Lpree Nebraska, US (anywhere)
Thursday5 Ohio US (US only)
Buffra West Virginia US (anywhere)
[[[katiesmama Florida US (US only) -ASKED TO BE SKIPPED]]
Jamesmum California US (anywhere)
totoroandmei Japan (Asia/Pacific preferred)
EDDI Australia (Australia)
RockDg9 Australia (anywhere)
Butterfly-noir Portugal (Europe)
Sirah Finland (anywhere)
[[[Xanapeq UK (UK) - ASKED TO BE SKIPPED]]]
AnglersRest UK (UK)
[[[Merimag UK (UK) - COULD NOT BE CONTACTED]]]
Scotsbookie UK (UK)
Heaven-Ali UK (UK) <--- it's here
Back to me!


Journal Entry 4 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, February 3, 2006
This one's ready to go - PM'd musicalpenguin for address

Journal Entry 5 by LyzzyBee at on Friday, February 3, 2006

Released 18 yrs ago (2/4/2006 UTC) at

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Posting to musicalpenguin on Saturday

Journal Entry 6 by musicalpenguin on Friday, February 24, 2006
Sorry - this arrived a couple of weeks ago but I forgot to post its arrival. WIll get down to reading asap. Currently third on Mount TBR! Lovely bookplate "Ali on the Beach" inside.

Journal Entry 7 by musicalpenguin on Monday, March 27, 2006

Journal Entry 8 by musicalpenguin on Monday, March 27, 2006
Enjoyed this to a certain extent. I thought it was an extremely interesting story, and I'm glad I read it. I loved the little snippets of Turkish history and culture. I often found myself confusing the different characters though. Maybe this was intentional? Who knows.

Anyway, PMing Brookeworm for address.

Journal Entry 9 by Brookeworm from Etobicoke, Ontario Canada on Thursday, April 13, 2006
Just arrived this morning. Is there anything better than peeking into your mailbox and seeing a book-shaped parcel nestled among the bills and junk mail. A wonderful way to start the day!

Journal Entry 10 by Brookeworm from Etobicoke, Ontario Canada on Wednesday, April 26, 2006
I always enjoy books about the history of a country told through the lives of a family, instead of stats and politics (history textbook stuff). The author's unique idea of using the houses themselves as narrators was very interesting, but short lived. The first house has the most destinct voice and is careful to only speculate at events that happen outside its walls. However, this vioce is diminished with the second house and pretty well abandoned by the others - including copius scenes which take place that are too far away for the houses to know about - until we get back to the first house again. It would have been much better if the author had been able to maintain her intended narratorial style all the way through, especially since the book is called "Seven Houses", which gives us that expectation.

The stories themselves are what you'd expect; stories about family, love, heartbreak, beauty, and loneliness. That isn't to say that they're clichéd or uninteresting, but they certainly do run the gammet of the usual female-oriented stories. Not surprisingly, some of it reads like the stories of Sheherazad in A Thousand and One Arabian nights, full of ghosts and secrets and jinns.

All in all, I enjoyed this book, although I'd had higher hopes for the writing style in general.

Released 17 yrs ago (4/30/2006 UTC) at A fellow bookcrosser in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Being sent on its way to ajsmom who is next in the ring.

Journal Entry 12 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Monday, May 8, 2006
Received today, thanks. Will get to it asap.

Journal Entry 13 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Monday, May 22, 2006
I enjoyed this book; I liked the idea that the narrator(s) was an inanimate object. I liked that one of the characters carried through most of the stories (although I had to consult the family tree on a couple of occasions), and that a well-known historical figure was involved with the family.

I don't have a lot to add to other reviews, really! I have PM'd morsecode for an address.

And might I just add that I love BookCrossing and the rings/rays feature - I'm sure I never would have read this book otherwise!

Journal Entry 14 by ajsmom at By Mail in A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Released 17 yrs ago (5/23/2006 UTC) at By Mail in A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases

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Sent to morsecode via air mail.

Journal Entry 15 by morsecode from Woonsocket, Rhode Island USA on Tuesday, May 30, 2006
This book arrived today. I have some other high-priority TBR on my plate so I'm not going to be able to send this out as quickly as I'd like, but I will definitely have it back on the road within a month.

Journal Entry 16 by morsecode from Woonsocket, Rhode Island USA on Saturday, June 3, 2006
I just finished this book and I really enjoyed it... I felt like I was on a journey of discovery.
The history of 20th century Turkey is woven into the story of one family, four generations of women.
I love the idea of the family residences as the narrators of the different sections of the novel (although, as some of the earlier readers have pointed out, the houses are omnipotent narrators and it does seem a bit strange that they can know about things that happen outside of their immediate vicinity).

I'm counting this book toward my big reading challenge for this year: the 5 Books, 5 Countries, 5 Continents challenge.

I'll be mailing this to Lpree next time I go to the post office.

Journal Entry 17 by Lpree from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Wednesday, June 14, 2006
This arrived in today's mail. I have a few rings ahead of this, but will read it as soon as I can. I'm looking forward to reading this as it really sounds like an interesting story.

Journal Entry 18 by Lpree from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Tuesday, July 25, 2006
First of all, I'm really sorry I've kept it for over a month now.

Now, on to the book. I loved this - I'm always fascinated by stories that take place in different cultures and different times. This book featured both. The narration by the houses themselves was a really unique way of telling this story. I think my mother will really enjoy this book as well, so I intend to go out and buy a copy for her birthday.

Anyway, thanks very much for sharing this book with me! I'll get it mailed out in the next few days.

Journal Entry 19 by Thursday5 from Columbus, Ohio USA on Monday, August 7, 2006
Book arrived in the mail today. (I love getting books in the mail!)
I am looking forard to reading it-the description on the back sounds interesting.

Journal Entry 20 by Thursday5 from Columbus, Ohio USA on Monday, August 14, 2006
I truely enjoyed this book-it was easy to read and hard to put down. Croutier spins a wonderful tale! This family saga gives insight into the lives of women from another culture, insight into recent Turkish history, the immigrant experience, and also into the universal experience of women. I will be buying this book to give as gifts to several of my female relatives. Thanks for sharing this book Lyzzybee.
I have sent a PM to dospescados and will send the book on as soon as I get the mailing address.

Journal Entry 21 by buffra from Columbus, Ohio USA on Tuesday, August 22, 2006
got it!

:)

Journal Entry 22 by buffra from Columbus, Ohio USA on Tuesday, January 16, 2007
After a few false starts and changes in the listings, it was mailed out to Jamesmum today.

Journal Entry 23 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Monday, March 12, 2007
Shoot - not only did I forget to log this when I got it, I also forgot it was a bookring. My apologies - it will be on its way very soon.

Journal Entry 24 by totoroandmei from Fukuoka / 福岡市, Fukuoka-ken Japan on Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Thanks for sharing. Looks good. Got a few books ahead of this but hope to get it done soon.

Journal Entry 25 by totoroandmei at A Fellow Bookcrosser in By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Released 16 yrs ago (9/10/2007 UTC) at A Fellow Bookcrosser in By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases

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Going surface mail.

Journal Entry 26 by EDDI from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Sunday, February 10, 2008
It's here! I was away overseas for 6 weeks and got back 2 weeks ago. Someone (husband!) had kindly opened the book and put it on the shelf without telling me.

Journal Entry 27 by EDDI from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Friday, May 9, 2008
I'm so sorry! I thought I had mailed this on to the next person months ago! Will send it on its way tomorrow.

Journal Entry 28 by RockDg9 from Toowoomba, Queensland Australia on Sunday, July 27, 2008
Arrived here today.

Journal Entry 29 by RockDg9 from Toowoomba, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The premise of this book - of having the houses tell the stories - is interesting, but not done well. It could have made the book very unique if it had been carried out properly. I did like the writing style however, it's like the reader is viewing things through a veil. And the stories of the family along with the Turkish culture are fascinating.

I wouldn't have normally signed up for this bookring, but I'm glad I did.

Journal Entry 30 by RockDg9 at Toowoomba, Queensland Australia on Monday, August 4, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (8/4/2008 UTC) at Toowoomba, Queensland Australia

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Posted to butterfly-noir today.

Journal Entry 31 by butterfly-noir from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Saturday, August 23, 2008
the book arrived while I was away on hollidays so I didnt je rigth away.

I've started reading it last nigth, and I think I'm going to like it very much...lets see how it unfolds

Journal Entry 32 by butterfly-noir from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Wednesday, August 27, 2008
I've finished this book in 2 days. that means i'm recovering my good old reading speed!

the ideia of the houses was narrators was a promising and it is a interesting, well written book, but I can't shake the feeling it could've been better. like someone else qlready said the ideia of the houses narrating the story only really happens whit the first house, thats the only one that really was a voice and a personality. on the other chapters the houses are just an excuse.
another aspect I didnt like very much was the time jump on ambers history. there so many details that stayed untold.

in all I enjoyed reading the book and the author style, still I think the book could have another 100pages to tigth the lose ends, but I understand that the author porblably prefred to leave them hunging to combine whit the story's aura of mystery and magic.

I have sirah adress and will be sending the book her way soon.

thank you for the ring, it was a very interesting discovey

Journal Entry 33 by Sirah from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Monday, September 29, 2008
First of all, my apologies for not journaling earlier. I received the book some time ago and finished it today, but forgot to journal when receiving.

It took me time to get liking the book, but towards the end it opened up to me more and more touching. The strange connection why I wanted to read the book in the first place was the silkworms and the the total devastation of distinguished Smyrna- still in my mind since reading the Middlesex a few years back. The oriental theme is very fascinating and gets me connected with the books I wish to read.

I really loved most of the characters and felt deeply for them. I enjoyed the descriptions of times, places, costumes, characters, personalities... romantic and sensitive person as I am. During the last pages when Amber went see her Anne-Anne I couldn´t help shedding the tears.

Thanks for sharing the book with me. it was worth of reading.

I have contacted the next person for her address.

Journal Entry 34 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The book arrived while I was away on a business trip, I now have a few rings here, but should be moving within the month.

Journal Entry 35 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Monday, December 29, 2008
Sincere apologies, I have had this book ages, too long - delay caused by a host of domestics which I won't bore you with!

A lovely read, lots of details about Turkish history and culture.

I have PMed Merimag several times, with no response, so will send to Scotsbookie without delay today.

Journal Entry 36 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, January 3, 2009
Arrived this morning, thank you AnglersRest. I'm reading another ring at the moment & this will be next.

Journal Entry 37 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, January 25, 2009
I enjoyed this book, the story of a family through several decades in Turkey & America. I always like these kinds of books that have an unfolding family tale. I was however disappointed that the story didn't seem to told by the houses apart from a few brief sentences at the beginning of each part.

I have Heaven-Ali's address so will have this on its way asap. Thank you LyzzyBee for ringing the book.

Journal Entry 38 by scotsbookie at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, January 25, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (1/26/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Enjoy!

Journal Entry 39 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 27, 2009
oooh what a surprise another bookring I had forgotten all about signing up for - well it looks interesting and I will try and get to it as soon as possible.

Journal Entry 40 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, February 2, 2009
Overall I enjoyed the story of this Turkish family, which spans several decades and incorparates a lot of Turkish history. The device of having each house in which the family lives narrate the story is an unusal one - but in fact the only house with a distinct voice is the first house, in which Esma comes to live. I loved the story of Esma - and her lover, and none of the other other stories were as strong, although there were aspects of Amber's story I enjoyed too. There were also gaps in the story - and in the timeline - which I wanted filled in - what happened to Amber between her Parents return, and her own departure? What happened to Papatya after she and Amber are briefly reunited? A good read though, and one which will stay with me I think.
Thanks for sharing Liz : ) This will be coming home soon.

Journal Entry 41 by Heaven-Ali at by hand, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (2/11/2009 UTC) at by hand, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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If you have found this book, thank you for taking the time to look it up on the internet. Now please tell us what you thought of the book and what your plans for it are.

Journal Entry 42 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, February 12, 2009
Returned to me by Ali last night after over 2 years of travelling!

Thanks everyone who read and sent it on!

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