Journal Entry 1 by SqueakyChu from Rockville, Maryland USA on Monday, December 27, 2004

I purchased this trade paperback from the Friends of the Library used book store in Rockville, Maryland. It's a memoir of the author's rape as a college freshman.

This book is #11 on Cliff's Wish List this week. Due to its popularity, I thought I'd send it out as a bookray when I'm finish reading it. I'll make this book "next up" for me to read in order to get it in the mail in a timely fashion.

Begin International Book Ray (12/28/04)
SqueakyChu (Maryland)-- done
pashmack (Florida) -- done
tnelson99 (Missouri) -- done
cat02886 (Rhode Island) -- done
chambejd (Massachusetts) -- done
Aisling78 (Massachusetts) -- done
guinaveve (Ohio) -- done
Wiley90 (Wisconsin) -- done
tiffany7 (California) -- done
End International Bookray (01/12/06).

This Bookray traveled 13 months and had 9 stops.

Edit 01/15/06: My book seems to have disappeared in the mail. samulli has kindly offered to allow the remaining participants to join her Lucky bookring. Please note that she is running a book*RING* and will want her book back in the end. All remaining participants of this bookray have been notified by PM of the situation.  

Journal Entry 2 by SqueakyChu from Rockville, Maryland USA on Sunday, January 16, 2005

This is a most amazing book. I can't express what I want to say about it other than it is powerful, sad, educational, and a must-read for all.

I think the author is very brave in creating this work. It must have been a difficult task after all that she had already been through to relive this part of her life in a book for all the world to see. 

Journal Entry 3 by pashmack from Lake Worth, Florida USA on Saturday, January 22, 2005

Arrived in today's mail. I'll get started with it right away. Thank you, SqueakyChu. 

Journal Entry 4 by pashmack from Lake Worth, Florida USA on Wednesday, January 26, 2005

This book was, indeed, a very powerful read. I had thought at first that it might be upsetting or disturbing, but, reading on, found it empowering and life-affirming. I was thoroughly disgusted at how the perpetrator was able to manipulate the police line-up (and of course by everything else he did!) And it is appalling that some people still have the belief that rape victims are somehow responsible for the attack. It is not so difficult to understand why some victims avoid going through the courts. It was wonderful to read about someone who stood her ground as the perp's defense attorney tried to discredit her. Sebold writes on page 21, "No one can pull anyone back from anywhere. You save yourself or you remain unsaved." Her strength is admirable (as is her willingness to examine her own vulnerability.) Thanks, SqueakyChu for sharing this book. It will be off to tnelson99 in tomorrow's mail, as sdkelley has received a copy from someone else. 

Journal Entry 5 by tnelson99 from Festus, Missouri USA on Monday, February 07, 2005

I received this book last week in the mail and will begin it as soon as I am finished with the one I'm in the middle of....THANKS MUCH! 

Journal Entry 6 by tnelson99 from Festus, Missouri USA on Tuesday, March 08, 2005

I am in the middle of this book and trying to get through it quickly. I apologize for still having it, but I had another book in front of it that I needed to finish before I started this one and it's just not being a really quick read for me......will try to finish this week and move it along......THANKS 

Journal Entry 7 by tnelson99 from Festus, Missouri USA on Thursday, March 10, 2005

I tried and tried, but just couldnt get into this book. I think it's the the craziness of my life right now....I'm going to PM the next person on the list and get it out soon. THANKS! 

Journal Entry 8 by AnonymousFinder on Friday, March 11, 2005

Putting in the mail to cat02886 TODAY! Enjoy!  

Journal Entry 9 by tnelson99 from Festus, Missouri USA on Friday, March 11, 2005

OOPS! I forgot to sign in! That last journal entry is from me and I am putting this in the mail today to cat02886. THANKS MUCH! 

Journal Entry 10 by cat02886 from Warwick, Rhode Island USA on Monday, March 14, 2005

I received this in the mail today along with one other book for a bookray. I am in the the middle of reading a book and then I will get to the two that I received today. Thanks for sharing!! 

Journal Entry 11 by cat02886 from Warwick, Rhode Island USA on Monday, March 28, 2005

I have been pretty sick for the last few days. Haven't much felt like reading or coming on the computer. I am going to get back to reading this book in the next few days. I should be done soon. Sorry for the delay. 

Journal Entry 12 by cat02886 from Warwick, Rhode Island USA on Monday, April 04, 2005

I am done with this book. I have PM'd chambejd for the address. Waiting for a reply. 

Journal Entry 13 by cat02886 at controlled release bookray in -- Airports and planes, Georgia USA on Thursday, April 07, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (4/6/2005 UTC) at controlled release bookray in -- Airports and planes, Georgia USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to chambejd. Great book. So sad for her.
 

Journal Entry 14 by chambejd from Worcester, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, April 14, 2005

I received this in the mail a couple of days ago and have been pulled into it already. Thanks for sharing it with me! 

Journal Entry 15 by chambejd from Worcester, Massachusetts USA on Sunday, April 24, 2005

I finished this book up today...what an incredible story! Thanks again for sharing this book. It will go in the mail tomorrow to the next in line. 

Journal Entry 16 by Aisling78 from Essex, Massachusetts USA on Friday, May 27, 2005

This book arrived earlier this week, but I've been sick so I hadn't even journaled to say I'd received it safely until now (I'm sorry about the wait...) I have one book to finish first and then I can start this one. 

Journal Entry 17 by Aisling78 from Essex, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, June 30, 2005

Oh boy -- I read this book and set it on my computer desk to journal, then we did a major rearranging of furnature in that room so this book, along with several others, ended up in a pile on the floor besdie the desk, out of sight and out of mind. I contacted the next in line, opheliadrowned, who asked to be skipped, so I'll be sending it off to guinaveve tomorrow mornign before work.
This was a disturbing book, horrifying to read what Alice Sebold experienced, not only the rape itself but it's aftermath, how it completely altered her life. At the same time it was a powerful story -- she was determined to do everything she needed to be sure that this monster would be prosecuted and punished for what he did to her.
Thank you, SqueakyChu, for sharing this book as a ray. It was thought-orovoking and haunted me even after I finished the last page. 

Journal Entry 18 by guinaveve from Mason, Ohio USA on Monday, July 18, 2005

This came in the mail for me a week or so ago while I was out of town. I will read it after my current read. Thanks. 

Journal Entry 19 by guinaveve from Mason, Ohio USA on Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Alice jumps right into the account of her rape at the very beginning of the book. It was a jolt for me to read the horrid details so graphically, especially without any sort of intro. I think it was the way to go with this book though. The blow is not softened at all and the reader knows immediately what s/he is dealing with.
This is a very emotional narrative, and remembering that it is all non-fiction made it all the more so. I was apalled by the rapist. The things he did to her were awful.
What was also disgusting was the defense attorney. I know everyone is entitled to a fair trial, but it seems that truth and justice have gotten lost. The defense attorney spent most of his time not trying to prove the rapist innocent. That was not possible, so instead he tried rapid fire questioning and other techniques to confuse the victim, Alice. What goes on in courtrooms currently sickens me. It is not about presenting the facts anymore, it is about who puts on the best show. It is all done under the guise of a fair trial for the accused, but a fair trial, in my opinion, is not done by a slight of hand and smoke and mirrors from the attorney. A fair trial would be an honest display of facts. Sorry to get on rant in the middle of a book review, but the trial difficulties stood out for me.
I hope that the narrator has managed to get past her ordeal as much as possible.
I have the next bookray participant's address and will be sending this off in the next day or two.
Thanks for starting this bookray SqueakyChu. This book is unforgettable.
 

Journal Entry 20 by guinaveve at Fellow BookCrosser in Postal release, Postal Release -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, July 28, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (7/29/2005 UTC) at Fellow BookCrosser in Postal release, Postal Release -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 21 by Wiley90 from Sheboygan, Wisconsin USA on Tuesday, August 02, 2005

The book arrived in the mail today. I will start on it tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 22 by Wiley90 from Sheboygan, Wisconsin USA on Thursday, August 11, 2005

This is powerful!
I will send it on as soon as I get info from aloneagain. 

Journal Entry 23 by Wiley90 from Sheboygan, Wisconsin USA on Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Mailed the book to tiffany7. 

Journal Entry 24 by tiffany7 from San Francisco, California USA on Saturday, October 22, 2005

Thank you for mailing this to me Wiley9! I received and read it. It was a very powerful book; I enjoyed the read. I will contact pulpmode to mail it on.