Journal Entry 1 by musicalpenguin on Wednesday, August 10, 2005

INTERNATIONAL BOOKRING: STARGAZING (Memoirs of a Lighthouse Keeper)
By Peter Hill

Update: The ring has started again! (See Journal entry 21)

Megi53       Virginia, USA
buffra       West Virginia, USA
Cocobarks    Massachusetts, USA
amberC       Northern Territories, Australia
tagzbyjulie  Queensland, Australia
binkybuffy   South Australia, Australia
gadl         Paris, France
jazz-ee2     Mansfield, England
scotsbookie  Peebles, Scotland

Journal Entry 2 by Megi53 from Danville, Virginia USA on Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Got it today -- oooh, what a pretty book! It has gorgeous navy-blue endpapers with white outlines of birds, and several pen-and-ink type sketches and maps within the text.

Can't wait to get started on it but I'll probably have to wait until Sunday night to begin (tons of school obligations and a weekend trip loom...) 

Journal Entry 3 by Megi53 from Danville, Virginia USA on Tuesday, September 20, 2005

This was every bit as good as I expected! Some favorite parts:

(page 18)"The train journey from Dundee south to Edinburgh is one of the world's great railway adventures. It only takes about an hour, but in that time you journey across two astonishing feats of engineering. First there is the Tay Rail Bridge..."

Reading this description has seriously lit a fire in me to visit Scotland.

(page 193) "The blue sky that had watched over our sheltered lagoon was washed aside by a thousand tones of grey as Gauguin became Turner and silver foam stippled against a torpedo black canvas."

This example shows how much Hill's art background added to the narrative. I also appreciated his references to his night shifts as "Rembrandts".

Some of Hill's more unpleasant adventures involved rats on Ailsa Craig; birds on Hyskeir; and Lachlan the nudist lighthouse keeper. (Oh, and his nightmare about haggis was truly gross!)

The sketches were very nice throughout -- hard to believe Hill flunked drawing back in the 1970s.

At the end of this book, Hill mentions he's going to start collecting stories from Australian lighthouses. I'll have to keep an eye out for them!

Mailing to buffra this afternoon after work.

 

Journal Entry 4 by buffra from Columbus, Ohio USA on Monday, September 26, 2005

Received safely. I was out of town for the weekend and when I returned it was waiting for me -- what a nice welcome home!

I did a bad BCing thing and set aside the book I'd been reading to start on this one. I think it'll be a quick read, so I'm already PMing the next person on the list for an address!

Thanks for sharing this! 

Journal Entry 5 by buffra from Columbus, Ohio USA on Wednesday, September 28, 2005

What a beautiful, artistic book. Of his first night on the job at the lighthouse, Hill writes, “I lay in my bed thinking about the wind, trying to visualize its different nuances and strengths. I curled up in a tight foetal position, gripping Flann O’Brien’s The Third Policeman, and drifted towards sleep: ‘There are four winds and eight sub-winds, each with its own color. The wind from the east is a deep purple, from the south a fine shining silver. the north wind is a hard black and the west is amber. People in the old days had the power of perceiving these colors…’” Stargazing gives the reader the ability to capture -- however momentarily -- the magic of perceiving the colors of the wind.
Hill writes indulgently of his coming-of-age summer on the lighthouses. One can see both the distance that he has gained from his earlier perspective and, just as importantly, his fondness for his younger self. This is a true love story -- in part for a youthful generation, but mostly for the older generations that had the time and patience to shape one young man gently -- and those stories are wrapped in the over-arching love story Hill writes for the lighthouses and their keepers.
There is humor here, a quiet dry sort, as Hill recounts one of his more embarrassing lighthouse moments, “the lesser-spotted lighthouse keeper, naked, attempting to fly.” There is wisdom given and received. There is a poignant sadness for the loss of the manned lighthouses -- and the loss of their stories.
***

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and enjoyed getting lost in its time, place and imagery. I found myself wanting to go to Scotland, wanting to visit the lighthouses, and hoping -- very much hoping -- that Peter Hill does, in fact, continue to collect the stories of the lighthouse keepers from around the world and offer them to us in additional books. Please!

Right now, I just wanted to say that I'm mailing it off to Cocobarks today (Sept 28).

Thanks for sharing it! 

Journal Entry 6 by Cocobarks on Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Received in yesterday's mail. I'm so happy to get this. I'll start as soon as I finish what I'm reading now.
Thanks!

Go Red Sox! 

Journal Entry 7 by Cocobarks on Friday, December 16, 2005

I adore this book. I think I will have to get my own copy. Thank you for letting me read it.

To be posted to AmberC in Australia. 

Journal Entry 8 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Thursday, December 29, 2005

arrived safely today.

what a beautiful cover.

i have a few before it, will read asap. 

Journal Entry 9 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Tuesday, January 31, 2006

for the first chapter i wasn't sure i was going to like this book. once he had his interview to become a light house keeper i was hooked. it is one thing i have always wanted to do.

i hope he does collect stories from Australian lighthouses.

posting to tagzbyjulie tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 10 by frangipanis from Rockhampton, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Book has arrived safely in the mail and has been added to my TBR pile ... thanks ... 

Journal Entry 11 by frangipanis from Rockhampton, Queensland Australia on Saturday, March 18, 2006

I thoroughly enjoyed this book ... what a magical experience it must have been for the keepers of the lights ... sad that they are now all automated and others miss out on the opportunity to experience what keepers of the past have ... 

Journal Entry 12 by binkybuffy from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Thankyou got the book Stargazing today and will journal again when I finish it. 

Journal Entry 13 by binkybuffy from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Sunday, June 11, 2006

Really enjoyed this book very interesting to hear these stories it makes you realise when you see lighthouses how it was'nt so simple as they look.
It makes me appreciate lighthouses more, we are going for a drive today to Cape Jervious, South Australia and I will take notice of the lighthouse there and think of the men that used to work in there.
Learning more everyday. 

Journal Entry 14 by gadl from Arcueil, Ile-de-France France on Friday, July 07, 2006

Hurrah! The book arrived this morning. Thank you! I can't wait to start reading it. I just have a book to finish this weekend, and I will then begin this one right away. (It will probably take me one month: I can't read English as fast as French.) 

Journal Entry 15 by gadl from Arcueil, Ile-de-France France on Monday, July 31, 2006

In the beginning I liked this book a lot. Discovering how lighthouse keepers worked, their routines, their eccentricities, was really nice. This "documentary" aspect is something I generally like in books. However I've been really annoyed by the never-ceasing references to bands, poets, writers, speakers, etc. of these times. I guess these references set some kind of atmosphere to whoever knows them, but as they are absolutely not part of my culture they just made me feel stupid (and then bored).

Anyway, I'm glad I could read it. Thanks for sharing it, musicalpenguin. I've mailed the book to jazz-ee2 this morning. 

Journal Entry 16 by jazz-ee2 from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Monday, October 02, 2006

I am really sorry, I have been reading this book and having almost finished it logged on to see who was next in the ring - and discovered to my horror that I hadn't journalled it to say I had received it...gasp! As I still have a little left to read, I will do so and then journal my thoughts on it.

November 06 - I have realised I forget to journal the book as I read and passed it on. I did enjoy the book, particularly the second half of it. I love the coastline, and now I'm seeing lighthouses (or at least books on them) everywhere! It is great to read a personal experience of a time and role that was about to be lost, and is now gone for good. 

Journal Entry 17 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Arrived this morning along with a lovely bar of chocolate. Thank you Jazz-ee2! This is #1 on mount TBR. 

Journal Entry 18 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 14, 2006

I loved this book. I come from the west coast of Scotland although I now live in the Borders. The book brought back wonderful memories of my childhood looking out towards Arran & Paddie's Milestone. The descriptions of the lighthouses, the keepers, the routine & the landscape transported me on a journey with Peter. I just spent a weeks holiday in Arisaig looking out over the islands of Rum & Eigg, so I felt close to the entire book.

I was discussing the book at work only to discover that one of my colleague's husband's was also reading & loving the book. I can think of a few people that would enjoy the book, so I will be buying a few copies & one for my PC collection.

Thank you musicalpenguin for the chance to read the book. It is now ready to come home to you. 

Journal Entry 19 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 15, 2006

This book has now finished its tavels & is on its way back to musicalpenguin. 

Journal Entry 20 by musicalpenguin on Monday, November 20, 2006

Stargazing has returned home! Many thanks to everyone for participating in this bookring, for your posts, and for keeping it moving. I'm happy you all enjoyed it, and hope it has opened up new thoughts and ideas.

I'm glad to see that the book is nicely worn - as a well-loved book should be. Nicely battered, pages well-thumbed and even handwriting indented on the front cover, where somewhere has leant on it to write something (in Greek, too!). Even a few cat hairs!

Happy BookCrossing! 

Journal Entry 21 by musicalpenguin on Saturday, February 24, 2007

INTERNATIONAL BOOKRING
STARGAZING (Memoirs of a Lighthouse Keeper) By Peter Hill
NOW CLOSED

russp           Devon UK
madmadge        Dorset UK
platypussj      Colchester UK
IWISHIWAS       Co Durham UK
Amber-moon      Nottinghamshire UK
silvia-pco      Portugal
Kiki66          Germany
Ben-Nevis       Germany
wanderingstar8  London UK

debnance        Texas USA
Goddess-of-Fire Missourri USA
oi-reader       Ohio USA
ealasaidmae     West Virginia USA
GrannyAnn       NY State USA
Dusties         NY State USA

Journal Entry 22 by musicalpenguin on Friday, March 23, 2007

"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way!"

The bookring is finally kicking off, and I have sent the book to its first reader. I hope you all enjoy reading this book as much as I did.

Happy BookCrossing! 

Journal Entry 23 by russp from Tiverton, Devon United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 28, 2007

artrived today thank you, what atreat to have a properly wrapped parcel , looking forward to reading this book , but have to finish tracy chevaliers' new book first
thanks again
 

Journal Entry 24 by russp from Tiverton, Devon United Kingdom on Friday, April 20, 2007

what a lovely book to read this is , i read it sitting on a beach in cornwall (ah bliss)
it makes you think it a shame that there are no lighthouse keepers left . probably just as well or i,d be signing up lol

i have sent madmadge an im and will post it on when i hear from her

a great book , im sure everyone who reads it will enjoy it 

Journal Entry 25 by russp from Tiverton, Devon United Kingdom on Sunday, April 22, 2007

posted off to madmadge on saturday.
loved it , loved it, loved it,
the only trouble now is everytime i see a lighthouse i get a craving for digestive bicuits with cheddar cheese on 

Journal Entry 26 by madmadge from Christchurch, Dorset United Kingdom on Monday, April 23, 2007

Received from russp by post and waiting for me when I got home from work today. I've read a few pages already so hopefully it won't be long before it's on its way again. 

Journal Entry 27 by madmadge from Christchurch, Dorset United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 01, 2007

What a lovely read. Not only the story of Peter Hill's experiences working as a lighthouse keeper and of the wonderful characters he met but, for me, a nostalgic trip back to the 70s. You are inclined to forget the happenings of that era but this book brought back memories of my much younger days - the music, news items, clothing, hairstyles, etc, etc!
I have posted it off to platypusj today and hope she enjoys it too. 

Journal Entry 28 by platypussj from Colchester, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, May 03, 2007

Oh crumbs it's here!! I finished one bookring yesterday as another arrived through the letter box, then today Stargazing arriver - bookring are definitely like buses (and good men!!!). I will get on to this as soon as I've finished Turtle Moon, which shouldn't be long. Already I'm excited about reading this.

Madmadge, whatever you did it was magic ... ;0) 

Journal Entry 29 by platypussj from Colchester, Essex United Kingdom on Saturday, May 12, 2007

Deliciously nostalgic. I wonder if he ever did write a follow up, I would love to read more lighthouse keeper stories.

Thank you so much musicalpenguin, I probably wouldn't have read this if it hadn't been offered up as a ring with so many wonderful journal entries.

Sending to IWISHIWAS after the weekend. 

Journal Entry 30 by platypussj from Colchester, Essex United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Oops, after the weekend it was, just not the weekend I said!! Posted out to IWISHIWAS today 

Journal Entry 31 by IWISHIWAS from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham United Kingdom on Friday, May 25, 2007

Thanks for sendng this book to me, it sounds great, looking forward to reading it. More when I've finished.
10 June - This was a pleasure to read despite a few historical inaccuracies, I would love to have spent some time on watch in a lighthouse!! It would be interesting to read what Peter Hill did after that summer. Will post to next in line next week. 

Journal Entry 32 by IWISHIWAS from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Posted today to Amber-moon, enjoy! 

Journal Entry 33 by Amber-moon on Saturday, June 16, 2007

Arrived on Friday but this is my first chance to journal.Wow,what a well travelled book!Makes me feel quite special to be part of such a marvelous book ring. 

Journal Entry 34 by Amber-moon on Friday, July 27, 2007

As a lover of lighthouses this book must have been written for me!!What a wonderful insight into Peters youth and experiences as a temporary keeper.I loved his descriptions of the other keepers,i wonder where they all are now?
I visited the lighthouse at Lizard Point,UK recently and having read this book i was burning with thoughts on what it must be like to have had a job in such wonderful places.I could imagine the characters and memories created there.
This book will truely stay in my mind for a very long time.Thankyou for sharing.
To be posted to silvia-pco tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 35 by Amber-moon at Posted to a fellow book crosser. in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Friday, July 27, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (7/28/2007 UTC) at Posted to a fellow book crosser. in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom

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Off to Portugal for a little bit of sunshine. 

Journal Entry 36 by silvia-pco from Murtosa, Aveiro Portugal on Thursday, August 02, 2007

Arrived! I'll try to be brief.

18th November - I'm sorry for been keeping this book for such a long time. I'll start readind it today and hopefully will pass it on within 2 weeks. Thanks!

16thFebruary - It has been "stalled" here for way to long. I started reading it but it wasn't catching my attention and my TBR pile is way to big... I'll send it along. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 37 by Kiki66 from Gauting, Bayern Germany on Monday, March 17, 2008

This book arrived today safe and sound...
thanks for the ring and sending it my way! 

Journal Entry 38 by Kiki66 at BookRing in -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Bayern Germany on Saturday, May 03, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (5/3/2008 UTC) at BookRing in -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Bayern Germany

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Journal Entry 39 by Ben-Nevis from Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Sunday, May 11, 2008

Recieved today. I am looking forward to it.

2009-09-20
It took me a while, but I really enjoyed it.
I like to hear about the sixties, although I am not that much younger it seems to be a different world.
I did not know what life on on light house was about, it was interesting to hear - especially that telling stories as a big deal on lighthouses. And I liked most of the sories told by the keepers. I will try to find more lighthouse keeper stories. 

Journal Entry 40 by wanderingstar8 from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 01, 2008

just received... looking forward to reading it! 

Journal Entry 41 by wanderingstar8 from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, October 19, 2008

My favourite thing that I learnt from this book is that lighthousekeepers tend to dream of the sea: "And then there were the dreams. Dreams that I still enjoy. Dreams of islands rising out of blue seas that reflected the golden setting sun. Dreams of gliding across those waters in a rowing boat with William Blake at the helm and Samuel Taylor Coleridge pulling up a lobster creel..."

As well as being a beautiful fact, I think that says a lot about what happens to you when you are on an isolated rock, keeping the lighthouse going: the way that the emptiness and magnificence of the sea becomes such a key part of your consciousness. Well, that's the way Hill tells it, anyway.

I found this a charming book (and all the more so because, since Hill's months as a lighthousekeeper took place in the 1970s, so you know that he wasn't doing it in order to get published - like, say, Angry White Pyjamas - which is a fun read, and similar to this in many ways, but you can't help feeling that Robert Twigger wouldn't have done it if not for the idea of getting a book out of it.)

Hill starts the book as a hippy art student, as opposed to routine and unthinking of people outside his generation as students generally are. But he quickly comes to realise that on the lighthouses, you can't manage without routine and without the companionship of your fellow keepers - however unlike you, and sometimes eccentric, they are. This gives this book a real heart - without this, it would still be an enjoyable collection of wacky stories and musings on reciting poetry to the open sea, but Hill's respect for the way of life and for his fellow keepers make it moving as well - and certainly made me regret that this way of life is no longer in existence.

Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read this! I think I'll be seeking out my own copy now... 

Journal Entry 42 by musicalpenguin on Tuesday, November 11, 2008

********************************************************************************

Stargazing has arrived home in Scotland and is going to take a well-earned rest before undertaking the second (North American) leg of its journey around the globe.

I'm also going to read Stargazing again myself, becuase it's been away for an unbelievable twenty months and hearing you all talk about it has given me a craving to re-read.

******************************************************************************** 

Journal Entry 43 by musicalpenguin on Sunday, March 22, 2009

Stargazing is ready to begin the second leg of its journey! I know it's been a while since it came back to me for a brief respite (is it really 4 months?), but we're starting again now.

Check your postbox, debnance, as it's on its way... 

Journal Entry 44 by debnance from Alvin, Texas USA on Monday, March 30, 2009

Ah! When I checked my mailbox today, what did I see? A parcel, so beautifully wrapped that I wanted to take a picture of it...a string around it and everything!

I'm happy to have this book here. I'm a fast reader, so I'll start it tonight and probably mail it off to the next reader within the week. 

Journal Entry 45 by debnance from Alvin, Texas USA on Thursday, April 02, 2009

Peter Hill is a young, restless art student in the early 70’s when he discovers an opportunity to work for the summer as a lighthouse keeper. Lighthouse keeping is a mythical profession and lighthouses are mythical places. A job that no longer exists and a place that is all but unnecessary with today’s satellites and GPS. Still, it was great fun to travel with Hill to lighthouses around Scotland and visit with keepers there. It brought me to mind my summer working in Yellowstone Park around the same time. I’ve always thought that summer would make a wonderful book….

This was a lovely story.
 

Journal Entry 46 by Goddess-Of-Fire from Springfield, Missouri USA on Monday, April 27, 2009

This came last week and I forgot to journal it, sorry!
With it being so close to the end of the semester I'm pretty swamped at the moment, but I've started it, and will try to have it done within a week.
Thanks! 

Journal Entry 47 by Goddess-Of-Fire from Springfield, Missouri USA on Sunday, May 10, 2009

I thought this book was kind of dry at times, especially when he went on about bands and writers and things, but I really enjoyed all the stuff about actually being at the lighthouses.
Thanks for sharing!

PMing oi-reader. 

Journal Entry 48 by oi-reader from Toledo, Ohio USA on Sunday, May 24, 2009

Arrived safely yesterday. Thank you for sharing! I have 2 other rings ahead of this and will get to it soon. 

Journal Entry 49 by oi-reader from Toledo, Ohio USA on Friday, July 10, 2009

I apologize for keeping this so long. This was a very enjoyable read and I thank musicalpenguin for sharing! Reading how Peter matured while learning his job as a lighthouse keeper was entertaining, as was his lovely description of his fellow lighthouse keepers. Admittedly though, the chapter titled Hitchcock Revisited made my skin crawl a bit.

Off to ealasaidmae in the morning! 

Journal Entry 50 by oi-reader at :o), -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Friday, July 10, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (7/11/2009 UTC) at :o), -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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you are next. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 51 by oi-reader at :o), -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Friday, July 10, 2009

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

you are next. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 52 by ealasaidmae from New Orleans, Louisiana USA on Thursday, July 16, 2009

It's here. 

Journal Entry 53 by ealasaidmae from New Orleans, Louisiana USA on Thursday, July 30, 2009

I shouldn't even be awake now but since I am, I'm very glad I had this book as a companion. It's a wonderful story. I got a bit tired of the pop culture references; though I knew most of them sometimes I had to stop and think and that broke the flow of the story. But they also set the atmosphere so it's a toss up. It is a shame that this whole way of life has vanished. I have a couple of ancestors who were lighthouse keepers and my family still has wild stories about them. It definitely required a certain type of person and set of mind. Thank you for keeping this ring going, musicalpenguin. It's been great fun. 

Journal Entry 54 by ealasaidmae at St. Albans, West Virginia USA on Friday, July 31, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (7/31/2009 UTC) at St. Albans, West Virginia USA

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on its way to New York... 

Journal Entry 55 by GrannyAnn from West Henrietta, New York USA on Thursday, August 06, 2009

Received in the mail today. Thanks for sharing. I have one ring ahead and then I'll get started. This book looks great! 

Journal Entry 56 by GrannyAnn from West Henrietta, New York USA on Tuesday, August 25, 2009

I loved this book! I had no idea that there was such a bureaucracy around the Lighthouse service. It was quite a story. Peter had a summer to remember - learning the routine of being a keeper. I loved the fact that he learned to slow down and appreciate the glories (and scary parts) of nature and human nature. I have always loved lighthouses for their feelings of safety and home. The stories of the men who devoted their lives to the service are inspiring. I hope the author wrote more about this dying breed. It takes much of the romance away to know that the lights are automated now. Sometimes saving money and being more efficient are NOT the way to go.

Dusties has asked to be skipped. I'm waiting for a response from musicalpenguin to tell me where the book goes next. Thanks for offering this wonderful book. 

Journal Entry 57 by GrannyAnn at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, New York USA on Friday, September 11, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (9/10/2009 UTC) at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, New York USA

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Sent this book back to Scotland and musicalpenguin. Thanks for offering to share this lovely book. 

Journal Entry 58 by musicalpenguin on Wednesday, September 16, 2009