Blue Bedspread

by Raj Kamal Jha | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0330373862 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Heaven-Ali of Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on 6/9/2005
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23 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, June 9, 2005
An unusual book.

In a house on a calcutta street, lit by the half light of a yellow street lamp,lies a baby, one day old, wrapped in it hospital towel. In the next room sits a man, all alone writting.

Journal Entry 2 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, June 16, 2005
Controlled release
releasing by post to Syrin in RABCK

Journal Entry 3 by wingsyrinwing from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Came in the mail today.
Thanks so much for sending, Heaven-Ali, I'm sure it's lovely.
I'll read it asap and make some more travel plans!





Cover:
In a house on a Calcutta street, lit by the half light of a yellow street lamp, lies a baby, one day old, wrapped in it hospital towel. In the next room sits a man, all alone writting.

Who is this man, at once frightened and determined? What is he writing? Where has the baby come from and where will it go? Tonight, these questions will be answered when the man unravels the dark secrets he has carried all his life.


Journal Entry 4 by wingsyrinwing from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Tuesday, June 21, 2005
This is a story of a man coming clean with his life. A man sharing his life's story, trying to make some sense of it.

It was a bit difficult to read, because the action keeps changing between the present and the past: his story, his sister's, father's, mother's... and the baby's. But in the end these bits and pieces of information will unravel the story of his life and his future.

An unusual indian fiction, but interesting as ever.

Journal Entry 5 by wingsyrinwing from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Tuesday, June 21, 2005

The Blue Bedspread wants to travel some more, so I'm making it into an international bookring.


Rules:

  • Please make a journal entry when you receive the book, then read, review and release the book within 4 weeks of receiving it, to keep it going.


  • When ready to release the book, send a PM to the next person on the list asking for their address.


  • When the last person on the list receives the book, please PM me for my details, to return the book.


  • Most important of all: enjoy the book!


List:
  1. butterfly-noir (Lisboa)
  2. conto (Lisboa)

  3. begmartins (Lisboa)

  4. cristina-m (Lisboa)

  5. Witchie (Espinho)

  6. bookmanu (Lisboa)

  7. pennywhistler (London)

  8. redhouse (Suffolk)

  9. ScottishHoosier (Scotland)

  10. pammykn (Florida)
  11. rrrcaron (New Hampshire)

  12. deepdowne (Saudi Arabia)

  13. kinedi (Scotland)
  14. flajol (England)

[24/06/05] On its way to butterfly-noir


Journal Entry 6 by butterfly-noir from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Monday, June 27, 2005
arrived today.I'll try to be quick whit it.

obrigada syrin

Journal Entry 7 by butterfly-noir from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Monday, July 4, 2005
it's a beautifull book. At the same time simple and complex. Infortunatly I cant shake the feeling that I lost myself in the diferent pices and treahds of the story and wasn´t abble to tie all the lose pices at the end.


Journal Entry 8 by butterfly-noir from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Tuesday, July 5, 2005
next to conto...

Journal Entry 9 by conto from Lisboa (city), Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Thursday, July 14, 2005
Chegou! Chegou! Demorou um pouco, mas cá está!
Vou lê-lo rapidinho e... volto a dar notícias!

Journal Entry 10 by conto from Lisboa (city), Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Monday, July 18, 2005
(Sorry for the portuguese in the last entry, but I was just saying it had arrived and that I would try to be quick with it!)

Quite an unusual book indeed. I liked reading it a lot, but as others before me have said, a bit difficult to keep track... It needs a continuous reading and not a stop-now-and-continue-later one, or it gets to much confusing.
I think I would like to read it again sometime, but as for now... it has to continue it's journey, so... off it goes to begmartins (probably just the day after tomorow!).

Enjoy!

Journal Entry 11 by begmartins on Monday, July 25, 2005
Arrived Friday and I read it yesterday on my way to Lisbon. I wasn't really expecting a book about incest and sexual molestation. Guess having an Indian guy writing like this really came as a surprise (and I did some googling and apparently this is his first novel). The book tries to smooth things out (and I think it succeeds) by telling in a poetic kinda way, using metaphors such as trapped animals, together with language and aesthetics one would usually associate with bollywood movies lol (i.e. at least I think snowfall on Calcuta doesn't really happen lol). It was so strange that I still don't know where to place it exactly ^^

Thanks to syrin and conto... I'll try passing it to cristina-m next Tuesday at the BCLisbon meeting.

Journal Entry 12 by cristina-m on Tuesday, August 2, 2005
I received it from begmartins yesterday. I'll try to read it as fast as I can, because I've noticed that there is a long list of people behind me to read the book and I don't want to keep them waiting... Thank you, syrin and beg.

Journal Entry 13 by cristina-m on Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Sad story, strange writing, beautiful book...

I will send it to whitchie as soon as I have her address.

Thanks! :)


Journal Entry 14 by cristina-m on Friday, September 23, 2005
Seguiu hoje para a witchie. Boa leitura! :-)

Journal Entry 15 by Witchie from Espinho, Aveiro Portugal on Thursday, October 6, 2005
It's with me! On TBR pile, for now... Thanks, syrin and cristina-m!

Journal Entry 16 by Witchie from Espinho, Aveiro Portugal on Monday, April 3, 2006
I'm sorry I took so long!

I think this is an ok book, but not particularly stuning or fantastic. I quite liked it! I'm interested in indian literature and that's why I signed in. I must try some others... Thank you so much syrin!

Ready to travel again!

Journal Entry 17 by bookmanu from Cascais, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Sunday, April 23, 2006
Thanks Syrin and Witchie.

Received it on Friday.Looking forward to reading it. It's one of my 5 books,5 countries, 5 continents challenge books (set by SheepSeeker)

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3526048

Journal Entry 18 by bookmanu from Cascais, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Tuesday, May 16, 2006
An interesting read but a bit disturbing. Not the sort of story I was expecting but I enjoyed it nevertheless. The writing managed to create lots of pictures in my mind.

Mailed to pennywhistler yesterday.

Journal Entry 19 by rem_STP-921375 on Saturday, May 20, 2006
Thanks for the book. I shall read it asap, although I have a couple of other bookring books to read first.

Journal Entry 20 by rem_STP-921375 on Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Sorry for taking so long with this! I sort of enjoyed the book. I like Indian literature and I was interested in the story. The characters were interesting (although I don't feel I ever got to know them) and I loved some of the imagery. I just didn't really get that engrossed though - I felt like the book was keeping me at a distance.

I shall send this on a.s.a.p.

Journal Entry 21 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Thursday, August 31, 2006
Arrived this morning, thank you.
I'm going away for a week on Saturday and will be taking this book with me, so I confidently expect to be journaling it and posting it on sometime after the 9th September

Journal Entry 22 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Nice book! Thanks to everyone for passing it on.I have always been fascinated with all things Asian and I enjoyed this very much.
ScottishHoosier is away until 23rd September, so I'll be posting this to her as soon as she gets back.

Journal Entry 23 by ScottishHoosier from Westhill, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, October 5, 2006
Literally just came throught the door. Thank you for sending it, redhouse!

Journal Entry 24 by ScottishHoosier from Westhill, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, October 27, 2006
A very good and interesting read. I was a bit surprised by the ending, but think it is fitting.

I'm sorry I've had this book so long, but so many things have got in the way. So glad the kids are going back to school on Monday!

I have the next address, so will get this in the post by Monday at the latest.

Big thanks to Heaven-Ali and Syrin for sharing the book and to everyone else for keeping it going.

Journal Entry 25 by ScottishHoosier from Westhill, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, October 30, 2006
Off to the post office right now!

Journal Entry 26 by pammykn from Decatur, Alabama USA on Monday, November 6, 2006
Thanks rec'd today -- look forward to reading.

Journal Entry 27 by pammykn from Decatur, Alabama USA on Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Sorry this one didn't really engage me...may be my mood & focus on upcoming move, etc. At any rate I do appreciate being included in this ring/ray and will mail off to rrrcaron on Weds 11/22.

Journal Entry 28 by Rrrcaron from Lancaster, New Hampshire USA on Friday, December 1, 2006
Received this book in the mail the other day. I have a book in progress at the moment, but this one will be next!
Ruth

Journal Entry 29 by Rrrcaron from Lancaster, New Hampshire USA on Monday, December 11, 2006
This was one of the most unusual books I've ever read, yet I was captivated and read it in one sitting. I was somewhat shocked at the ending, yet somehow deep down I suspected the conclusion all along. I'm almost tempted to reread it, that I may understand more with a second reading, lol. I'm sending it to deepdowne in Saudi Arabia today as Jebbie74 asked to be skipped.
Ruth

Journal Entry 30 by harriscochin from Dubai, Dubai United Arab Emirates on Sunday, January 7, 2007
thanks ruth. i got the book in post yesterday. already started reading it:)

Journal Entry 31 by harriscochin from Dubai, Dubai United Arab Emirates on Monday, January 8, 2007
The thing I loved most about this book is its overall structure. The entire book is designed into stories. Each chapter is told as a story. What better way to express the facts of life when the audience is only a child – a two-day-old child. The storyteller writes down the story of his life through the night as the tiny girlchild lies fast asleep in the next room hoping that someday she will be grown up enough to read those truths that are in some way connected very deeply with her. He doesn’t speak out the story to her. Instead he sits silently at his table and writes. He writes, not only because she is not grown up enough to understand the spoken words but also because of the lesson he had learned in his childhood. That when words grow and grow inside you until they fill up your lungs and refuse to come out, and gulp down your breath making your lips quiver like in winter… and get trapped in your chest… you can always write it down…

pm'ed eatsletters for address.

Journal Entry 32 by harriscochin from Dubai, Dubai United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, January 9, 2007
eatsletters has requested to be skipped. pm'ed kinedi who's next in the list.

Journal Entry 33 by harriscochin from Dubai, Dubai United Arab Emirates on Sunday, January 14, 2007
i've sent out the book yesterday. it is already on the way to kinedi. enjoy!

Journal Entry 34 by kinedi from Rushyford, County Durham United Kingdom on Friday, January 19, 2007
Arrived very quickly in Scotland. Thanks so much for posting it all the way from Saudi-Arabia. Looking forward to reading this next.

Journal Entry 35 by kinedi from Rushyford, County Durham United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Certainly an unusal story ! It had me compelled to read on and on as I wasn't really sure where it was heading. I loved the way the brother (we never get to know their names) tries to tell the baby girl about her mother (his sister) and their life.The use of language is very beautiful but I did sometimes find the sexual abuses passages a bit disturbing though but all in all, a very interesting read. Thanks for sharing this bookring. Am awaiting flajol's address now so book will be able to travel on soon

Journal Entry 36 by kinedi at on Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Released 17 yrs ago (1/31/2007 UTC) at

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

In the post to Flajol now. Happy reading

Journal Entry 37 by flajol from Carterton, Wairarapa New Zealand on Saturday, February 3, 2007
Arrived in the post today. I'm tempted to jump right in, but I need to finish my current read first. Thanks for sharing, Syrin!

Journal Entry 38 by flajol from Carterton, Wairarapa New Zealand on Wednesday, April 25, 2007
I love the snapshot style of The Blue Bedspread. I found it confusing in parts - it's not always clear who the narrator is referring to, and he leaves lots of blanks for the reader to fill in, although that's not a bad thing. It's disturbing in parts, and made me feel really uncomfortable.

Onwards to Hellie as soon as I have the address.

Released 16 yrs ago (8/4/2007 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

No reply from Hellie, so as per Syrin''s wishes, this is travelling onwards.

Posted to another BookCrosser who has this on his wishlist. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 40 by wingmatlockjameswing from Old Dime Box, Texas USA on Monday, September 3, 2007
Reading next. Hope to have it read by end September. :)

Journal Entry 41 by wingmatlockjameswing from Old Dime Box, Texas USA on Saturday, October 13, 2007
Well, not September but close. Reading now and hope to finish relatively soon. :)

Did better than I thought and finished it over this long weekend. The book reminded me of my dreams - fragmented stories, hard to grasp themes, confusion over real and unreal.

Glad I read though.

Released 16 yrs ago (10/16/2007 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

postal release to Tarna of Finland

Journal Entry 43 by Tarna from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Thursday, October 25, 2007
The Blue Bedspread arrived safe and sound today. Thank you, matlockjames! It's on my wishlist and I can't wait till I've finished the ringbooks and other books I've got to read before this one.
If the rest of the book keeps what the first page promises, I'm gonna love this one.

Wow, this little book has traveled! I'll try to see that its journey will go on after I've read it.

Journal Entry 44 by Tarna at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Loved it. But I'm not sure if I'd call this collection of stories 'a novel' in spite of the frame story. (Was also wondering if it was the author or the publisher who wanted to do so.)
I got the impression that some (probably most) of the chapters were written as individual short stories, then brought together and edited to fit the frame story. Maybe that's why the author repeated some expressions—e.g. 'tasting unfinished sleep in your mouth'—which were unfamiliar at least to me. Mentioned only once, they would have been more effective.
I liked the language, the way the author composed his words and sentences into a story. Loved the frame story, a man writing his life-story to a newborn baby, telling her about their family, telling the motherless baby where she's coming from, giving her always so important roots.
It's not a cheerful book. There's violence and (sexual) abuse in the stories but sometimes they are part of life, unfortunately. Besides, I don't think that the concept of happiness or joy is that common in Asian literature or even in Asian life.
Years ago, when we still had the annual Philosophy Convention at the Tampere House, an Indian professor gave a lecture there. According to her, the presumption in Western cultures is that life should be good and happy all the time. And when it isn't, we get depressed. In Eastern cultures, on the other hand, life is expected to be hard and joyless. If and when something good happens, an Eastern person feels happy. This philosophy can be seen also in The Blue Bedspread. The overall tone in the stories is an unhappy one but there are some lovely shreds of joy in them. So the book is not depressing.
Thanks for sharing, matlockjames and all the previous readers! I'm sorry for keeping this book in my shelf this long but I'll try make sure it'll go on with its journey soonish.


Raj Kamal Jha at Wikipedia
Raj Kamal Jha at Emory

Journal Entry 45 by hippolein at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The book is now in Helsinki, will probably read it in the metro on the way to university and back. The start seemed promising!

Journal Entry 46 by hippolein at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Wednesday, August 18, 2010
A very special book, that keeps you stuck to the story, not because of the beauty, but because of what happens and how it is told. Not what you would take for a nice day off to relax, but I liked reading it.

Journal Entry 47 by hippolein at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Thursday, August 19, 2010

Released 13 yrs ago (8/20/2010 UTC) at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

"HEP"-book going to the person that requested it on the Finnish forum.
Enjoy the book!

Journal Entry 48 by wingJennynenwing at Pori, Satakunta Finland on Saturday, August 28, 2010
Requested this as "Hep"-book on Finnish Forum. Thank you hippolein!

Journal Entry 49 by wingJennynenwing at Pori, Satakunta Finland on Monday, November 8, 2010
I liked reading this book, but some parts were a bit confusing to me. Liked the rythm of the story and some parts of it I will remember a long time.

The book continues it's journey as Virtual surprise bag book, I hope the next reader will enjoy this too!

Journal Entry 50 by Astargatis at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Thursday, November 18, 2010
This book came yesterday and seems interesting. Thanks to Jennynen for mailing it to me!

Journal Entry 51 by Astargatis at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Thursday, August 30, 2012
I haven't read too much in English so I was glad the language in this book was quite simple but still beautiful. There were so many things and stories in the book that I'm not sure if I get it or not. I would like to read it again, but think I won't because I'm so slow with books in English.

Journal Entry 52 by Astargatis at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Monday, October 1, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (10/1/2012 UTC) at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I send this book forward to Pamina_81, 'cause she likes to read in English too :)

Journal Entry 53 by Pamina_81 at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Thursday, October 4, 2012
This book came today as a part of the monthly play in Finnish bc-forum. Actually I've read only about two or three books in English before this one... but I'm gonna try to read this book in Enlish too, at someday. Thanks anyway!

Journal Entry 54 by myntti at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Thursday, January 3, 2013
From our BC meet-up. Wow, this book has had many readers already.

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