Journal Entry 1 by AliceF from Coventry, Warwickshire United Kingdom on Saturday, June 04, 2005

Outstanding stuff from Orwell as ever. From the Amazon synopsis: "Whether puncturing the lies of politicians, wittily dissecting the English character or telling unpalatable truths about war, Orwell's timeless, uncompromising essays are more relevant, entertaining and essential than ever in today's era of spin." 

Journal Entry 2 by AliceF from Coventry, Warwickshire United Kingdom on Friday, June 10, 2005

On its way by post to LizzyUK. 

Journal Entry 3 by LizzyUK from Worthing, West Sussex United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Received as a RABCK from AliceF - thank you very much, I'm looking forward to reading it! 

Journal Entry 4 by LizzyUK from Worthing, West Sussex United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 21, 2005

I really enjoyed this little book. I did find myself a bit bogged down in the political section in the middle, but really enjoyed reading about Orwell's reasons for writing. I particularly liked his descriptions of childhood and youth and how he knew that he would be a writer, wanting to imagine that I could identify with some of his feelings.

I was also intrigued by what he considers to be the four motives for writing - egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse and political purpose. I think that my main motive for writing would be the first - "Desire to seem clever, to be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on grown-ups who snubbed you in childhood, etc. etc."

I'm now considering the best way to make sure that this book continues its journey! 

Journal Entry 5 by LizzyUK from Worthing, West Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, August 08, 2005

I am launching this book out on a mini Book Ray. The members so far are:

Morseman
Gooner
Tehuti

I will be sending the book out to Morseman in the next couple of days. Please journal the book when you receive it and to let me know when it has moved on. At the end it is up to the last reader to choose what happens to it. Thanks for taking part! 

Journal Entry 6 by Morseman from Bolsover, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Friday, August 12, 2005

Received in the post from LizzyUK and will pass it on when I've read it. 

Journal Entry 7 by Morseman from Bolsover, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Friday, August 19, 2005

Went in the post to Gooner today 24/08/05

I struggled with some of the political stuff, but finished it. 

Journal Entry 8 by Gooner from March, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Sunday, August 28, 2005

This arrived on Friday morning, and I spent an hour or so reading it, although I hopped from the eponymous first section to the last, entitled "Politics and the English Language". I'll be returning to the middle two, "The Lion and the Unicorn" and "The Hanging" in the next few days, so I can send it to Tehuti.

Thanks for ringing it, LizzyUK, and for forwarding it, Morseman.

Updated 14th October: Although I had the best of intentions, I did not return to it for many weeks. Other stuff intervened. Apologies to those after me on the list. I'm finishing it this afternoon and will post it off on its journey asap. 

Journal Entry 9 by tehuti from Treorci, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Sorry, I was in a mad rush before going away and have only now managed to journal receipt. I like Orwell a lot, look forward to reading the book and plan to pass it to meddyg when I finish. 

Journal Entry 10 by tehuti at Treorci, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Includes Orwell's famous rules for authors. An interesting summary of Orwell's political views. I do think though that he makes his points better in his novels and in Homage to Catalonia. 

Journal Entry 11 by tehuti at Dublin, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Ireland on Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Released 3 mos ago (2/21/2012 UTC) at Dublin, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Ireland

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Meddyg died before he could read this. Passed on to a friend during a wonderful stay in Dublin.