Negative Space

by Zoe Strachan | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0330485784 Global Overview for this book
Registered by sueb4 of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on 5/8/2005
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9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by sueb4 from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Sunday, May 8, 2005
Synopsis
A fierce and vivid story of grief and the search for identity, from a brilliant young female voice. Dying at twenty four is unnatural. But that's what Simon did, leaving his sister in shock, alone and haunted by the past. In the harsh but strangely comforting anonymity of Glasgow, she moves dazedly from artists' studios to smoky pubs, clutching at comfort wherever she can find it, in drink or sex. Her already fractured world seems now to have been torn apart, as she struggles with the question of whether secrets are better exposed or buried. But an unexpected trip to Orkney at last offers a change in her tense and frightening world. NEGATIVE SPACE is a harshly honest yet beautiful novel, and one of the most powerful debuts of recent times.


Journal Entry 2 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, July 4, 2005
I picked this one off the heaving table at the Unconvention. It's set in my native Glasgow which is always a favourite for me.

Journal Entry 3 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Wow, what a fantastic book. I sat up late last night just to finish it!

The book follows the young, female narrator after the sudden death of her younger brother. It's probably one of the most honest accounts of grief I have read in a long time. She tries to ignore the loss by indulging in drinking, drugs and sex. Her brother was an artist and she was an artist's model so the two seemed to have a strong bond. The book is written from the first person narrative which allows us even more insight into the character's thoughts and feelings.

One thing I noticed in the last few pages is that the narrator's name is not revealed until almost the last page. At this point, some sort of closure surrounding her brother's death has been suggested so I was wondering if this was related.

This is probably one of the best discoveries I have made this year.

Journal Entry 4 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 14, 2005
This book is going off on a bookring! Usual rules apply. Journal the book to let us know when you've received it. Try to read with 1-2 months and then journal the book again so we know what you thought of it!

List so far:
Bookfrogster - Edinburgh
Scotsbookie - UK
Nice-cup-of-tea - Switzerland
Catwoman - Canada
Sunflowergirl - UK


and then home to me :-)

Journal Entry 5 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, September 25, 2005
I'm passing this onto bookfrogster at today's Glasgow meet up.

Journal Entry 6 by bookfrogster from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Caught at the Glasgow meet up. Nearly finished it, and loving it so far. It's as good as you said it was Drusillamac!

Journal Entry 7 by bookfrogster from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, September 29, 2005
Really enjoyed this book. I'd forgotten Drusillamac's comment about the main character's name, but as soon as she says what it is you realise it hasn't been mentioned once before in the novel and it really strikes you. Definitely one of the best things I've read this year.

Journal Entry 8 by bookfrogster at West Maitland Street Post Office in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, September 29, 2005

Released 18 yrs ago (9/29/2005 UTC) at West Maitland Street Post Office in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Off to the lovely scotsbookie as the next person on the list. Happy reading.

Journal Entry 9 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, October 3, 2005
Picked up from the post office this morning. I've a few rings with me at the moment but will get to this soon.

Journal Entry 10 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, October 29, 2005
A great read - I laughed & I cried with the lead character as she comes to terms with the sudden dath of her much loved brother. I felt it had a reality that rang very true.

Will PM NCOT for her address.

Journal Entry 11 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, October 31, 2005
Postal release to Nice-cup-of-tea today

Journal Entry 12 by nice-cup-of-tea from Zürich, Zürich Switzerland on Friday, November 4, 2005
Just received in the post today from scotsbookie, with a lovely postcard, thank you! Will read and journal immediately :-)

Journal Entry 13 by nice-cup-of-tea from Zürich, Zürich Switzerland on Wednesday, November 9, 2005
I too enjoyed this book, but have to admit being dry-eyed thoughout :-)
Can't really add much to everyone else's entries, so will post this to catwoman as soon as possible!

Posted 11/11/5 B Post

Journal Entry 14 by Catwoman from Sherwood Park, Alberta Canada on Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Received in the mail today - thanks for the extra treats nice-cup-of-tea! I'll start this either tonight or tomorrow night.

Journal Entry 15 by Catwoman from Sherwood Park, Alberta Canada on Monday, November 28, 2005
I thought the author did a good job of moving between the present and the main character's memories. I liked how the character slowly realized that she was beginning to accept her brother's death and was able to move on with her life. I also found the sudden appearance of her name quite striking after not seeing it for the entire book. I was also glad that the author didn't get bogged down in a bunch of pat phrases to explain her grief or her thoughts. The character seemed more real as a result.

Pm'ing Sunflowergirl for her address.

Journal Entry 16 by Catwoman at on Saturday, December 3, 2005

Released 18 yrs ago (12/1/2005 UTC) at

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to sunflowergirl to continue the bookring.

Journal Entry 17 by sunflowergirl from Carlisle, Cumbria United Kingdom on Sunday, January 29, 2006
I received this book a few days ago but have been unable to journal it as I can’t access the Bookcrossing website from my home computer at the moment. I’ve now got my boyfriend to sign in as me on his computer in order to journal some books. I’ll read this book as soon as I can and will journal it again once I’ve read it.



Thanks for sharing.

Journal Entry 18 by sunflowergirl from Carlisle, Cumbria United Kingdom on Thursday, February 9, 2006
I read this book in one sitting, I could not put it down. I loved the way it was written and I completely sympathised with the main character. The descriptions of her feelings after losing her brother were so vivid, I think I cried through a lot of this book. I lost someone who was like a sister to me and this book became so real to me because of that. I didn't become destructive in the way this character does but I still damaged myself in other ways. The book is so true and so painful with it. It is a book that I will seek out again in the future, I may even buy a copy for my Permanant Collection, I liked it so much!

I rarely give a book ten out of ten as I always (maybe stupidly) feel that that score has to be reserved for the books that really get to me rather than books that were just good or that I just enjoyed. This story will stay with me for a long time to come.

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this ring, I'd never heard of the book before I joined your ring so I am really grateful that because of you I found it! :o)

* * * * * * *

I already have your address so I'll send the book back as soon as I can.

Journal Entry 19 by sunflowergirl from Carlisle, Cumbria United Kingdom on Friday, February 10, 2006
I posted the book today by 2nd Class Post.

Journal Entry 20 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, February 13, 2006
The book arrived safely home this morning. Thanks to everyone who took part, this was my first successful ring! At the moment I'm not too sure what I'm going to do with this book. I may use it as a RABCK or send it out on another ring.

Journal Entry 21 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 13, 2006
I am sending this to Lelly as a trade. She has kindly agreed to send me 'The Hours' to revive a stalled bookring.

Journal Entry 22 by lelley from Scarborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, June 18, 2006
gratefully received.
ty.

Journal Entry 23 by bookjunkie1 from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Canada on Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Received in the mail today from lelley as a trade. Thanks a lot!!

Journal Entry 24 by bookjunkie1 from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Canada on Sunday, September 24, 2006
This was a surprisingly quick read. I sometimes had to translate the "Glasgow" language/slang to suit my own.

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