Journal Entry 1 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Saturday, March 26, 2005

'1997: the year Blair was elected, and Diana died; and the year that changed everything for Charlotte, Karen, and Nan.
Charlotte is doing her 'A'-levels. And she's pregnant. Karen, her mother, is thirty-three; now she is about to be a grandmother. How chuffed is she about that? And then there is Nan, who isn't so bothered about her granddaughter's pregnancy - she has other things on her mind. Where is she again?' 

Journal Entry 2 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Friday, July 01, 2005

Starting a bookring:

Participants so far:

SpikesMom USA (US)
cheli-garza USA (US)
sp4home USA (Pref US)
Luintaurien USA (Pref US)
Jebbie74 Canada (Pref US)
grindingqueen US
mystic-nz New Zealand (AU/NZ) <---- Currently With
Leigh-Anne Australia
meldc France (Intl)
YAJENOSI Luxembourg (Intl)
PrincessJCM Ireland (Pref Europe)
rachels-ratty UK (UK)
.
.
.
.
Back to me Spiderchic 

Journal Entry 3 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Sent to SpikesMom today. The bookring begins, enjoy everyone! 

Journal Entry 4 by WestofMars from Mars, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, July 11, 2005

Arrived today and I dropped everything and started reading. I'm on page 43 and liking it so far, although at times it's hard to tell who's speaking. I'll get a hold of the next on the list now, though, so I can pop this puppy in the mail as soon as I'm done.

Thanks for doing this, spiderchic!!!!! (and I LOVED that package you sent it in!) 

Journal Entry 5 by WestofMars from Mars, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Hmm. I was disappointed in this, which surprised me greatly. With such a wonderful title, how could it fail to please?

I had two major problems with the book: first was the use of multiple narrators. While it was easy enough to tell Nan apart from Charlotte and Karen, it was near impossible to tell the other two apart. I suspect I missed out on some pivotal plot points because of my confusion.

And second was the pacing of the story. It takes too long for things to happen, and when they just start to, the narrative switches to one of the other characters and her story.

There were a number of good lines and delicious silliness in here, but it couldn't overcome those two problems. 

Journal Entry 6 by cheli-garza from Dallas, Texas USA on Monday, July 18, 2005

Just got in the mail today. I've already peeked between the pages & it looks interesting, although something turned me off. I can't tell you what it is though. That could be a major spoiler! Maybe I'll refer you to the page number when I come upon that part again while reading. :)

Spicderchic, what a nice coaster! Wouldn't it be nice for each person in the ring to use it? That would be something linking us all while we read the same words in our own spot in the world. Since I'm in Texas and it's a tad warm out here, I'll skip the hot chocolate & go for the ice-cold sweet tea instead!

(Going off to make a pitcher...) 

Journal Entry 7 by cheli-garza from Dallas, Texas USA on Thursday, July 21, 2005

Spiderchic, I'm so sorry, but there was a bit of an accident with the book. It's still in one piece, but is a tiny bit water-damaged. At least it's not iced-tea damaged. See, we have a little above-ground pool & invited some of the neighborhood kids over to swim. One of them just didn't understand that he had to stay off the top edge. Well, he leaned on it & the force of the water flowing over the edge swept his little self out too. I was sitting poolside reading & luckily grabbed him before he landed head-first on the brick patio. Well, the kid's fine, but the book got splashed a bit. The water totally wet the first 20 pages & the edge of the rest. Many, many apologies for the book. If it's any consolation, I really think it gives the book that added bit of character. I think I'll try taking an iron to it before sending it on its way. (When it gets back to you, if you think it looks really bad, please PM me!)

Regarding the story itself, it was great! Or stories, should I say. Unlike Spikesmom, the change of characters viewpoint didn't bother me too much. However, it would have been a much smoother read if they had used a different font for each of these three women!

Oh yeah, that part that turned me off? I changed my mind. That's what you get when you peek ahead, right? Anyhow, it was on p. 140. I'm all for choice, but it still turned me off. Then when I read the whole story up til that point, I understood & empathized a bit more. BTW, D. sounds adorable.

Other thoughts: the part about the dark haired boy breaking Charlotte's heart reminded me of the movie with Drew Barrymore, Riding in Cars with Boys. And the story of sweet little Jimmy was just so touching. I wonder if Charlotte ever puts it all together. And no, I don't believe in ghosts! Anyhow, this is going out in the mail to sphome tomorrow.

Thanks tons for this ring, it's well worth the read. Two thumbs up! 

Journal Entry 8 by sp4home from Valley Center, Kansas USA on Friday, July 29, 2005

The book has arrived. I have one book to finish before I start this book. I will edit this journal entry after I have read the book. Thanks spiderchic for sharing the book.

Edited 13Aug05: I didn’t particularly care for this book. The author’s writing style was inconsistent (in my opinion) and at times difficult to follow. I would have liked the main characters to have been developed a little further…and some of the secondary characters could have been left out because they didn’t add much to the story and I found them distracting. I did however just love the title! There were small bits of wisdom and insight scattered throughout the book, but they were far and few between. 

Journal Entry 9 by sp4home at in the mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, August 13, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (8/13/2005 UTC) at in the mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

This book is off to York, NE, USA. USPS tracking # 9102010521297516712139 

Journal Entry 10 by Luintaurien from York, Nebraska USA on Friday, August 19, 2005

Got it today. Thank you. Will read and pass it on ASAP. 

Journal Entry 11 by Luintaurien from York, Nebraska USA on Monday, October 31, 2005

Good book. Thanks for the chance to read it. 

Journal Entry 12 by Luintaurien at -- By Hand or Post, Ray/Ring, Rabck in York, Nebraska USA on Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (1/10/2006 UTC) at -- By Hand or Post, Ray/Ring, Rabck in York, Nebraska USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 13 by Jebbie74 from Oshawa, Ontario Canada on Monday, January 23, 2006

Oh dear! How come all the bookrings land on your door at the same time, I wonder? LOL Well, I do have my own copy of this book, but maybe I'll quickly read this one before passing it along. I'll put it on the top of the small pile. 

Journal Entry 14 by Jebbie74 from Oshawa, Ontario Canada on Thursday, January 26, 2006

What a wonderful story! I have to admit that I was a bit cheesed off with how they hurried through the end of it, but I guess that's what would make for a sequel :)

PMed grindingqueen twice and had no response....moving onto the next participant :) 

Journal Entry 15 by Jebbie74 from Oshawa, Ontario Canada on Monday, March 06, 2006

Sorry this took so long to post, but it is now on it's way to New Zealand :) 

Journal Entry 16 by mystic-nz from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Friday, May 19, 2006

Thanks Jebbie74. I am moving soon so will have to pack the book away until my new house in Christchurch. Looking forward to reading it though.