Precious Bane

by Mary Webb | Women's Fiction |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by FancyHorse of Montgomery, Alabama USA on 9/12/2005
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This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by FancyHorse from Montgomery, Alabama USA on Monday, September 12, 2005
Bought at a library book sale

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August 29, 2007
I just started to read this book last night. It is a Random House, The Modern Library hardback edition, first published in 1926 by E. P. Dutton and Company, Inc. It is in remarkably good condition for its age. The pages are a little yellowed with age, but there are no tears or dogears or markings. Even the book jacket is in good condition. There is an Ex Libris label stuck inside the front cover, with the name Leatrice McCaffrey handwritten on it. I wrote the BCID on the upper margin of this label.

I read this book (another copy) when I was a pre-teen or early teen. I found it in my mother's collection. I remember bits of it, but didn't understand the whole at the time. The bits I do remember have stayed with me all these years, and when I found it at the library sale, I was glad to have a chance to re-read it.

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(reserved for time-traveler, as a book trade)

Journal Entry 2 by FancyHorse from Montgomery, Alabama USA on Tuesday, September 4, 2007
I'm really enjoying this book the second time around. The descriptions of the land and wildlife are lyrical, almost poetic, and delightful. The descriptions of the people are insightful. The voice is the first person, that of an old country woman reminiscing about her girlhood, young womanhood, and first love. I love the quaint old English country expressions, and even recognize some as the origins of American country expressions still in use.

Prue is a gentle, thoughtful, imaginative girl with a facial disfigurement. Superstitious people in the community believe her to be bewitched, or a witch herself. Her brother, Gideon, is a hard-driving, ambitious young man.
He says to her, "You and me ha' got to work, Prue."
"I ain't afeerd of work," I said.
"Well, there'll be a plenty. I want to make money on the place - a mort of money. Then, when the time's ripe, we'll sell it. Then we'll go to Lullingford and buy a house, and you shall hold up your head with the best, and be a rich lady."
"I dunna mind all that about being rich and holding up my head."
"Well, you must mind. And I'll be churchwarden and tell the Rector what to do, and say who's to go in the stocks, and who's to go in the almshousen, and vote for the parliament men. And when any wench has a baby that's a love-child, you'll go and scold her."
"I'd liefer play with the baby."

About her brother, Prue says, "He was ever a strong man, which is almost the same, times, as to say, a man with little time for kindness. For if you stop to be kind, you must swerve often from your path. So when folk tell me of this great man and that great man, I think to myself, Who was stinted of joy for his glory? How many old folk and children did his coach wheels go over? What bridal lacked his song, and what mourner his tears, that he found time to climb so high?"

Journal Entry 3 by FancyHorse from Montgomery, Alabama USA on Saturday, September 8, 2007
I've just finished reading Precious Bane, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The ending was not entirely a surprise, as it was foreshadowed throughout. The "Precious Bane," the curse, was not Prue's harelip, as one might think. The curse of the land and the farm did not lie with her, even though her neighbors and the townspeople suspected her of being a witch. No, it lay at the feet of her hard-driving, ambitious, unfeeling brother.

I'll be sending it to time-traveler on Monday.

Journal Entry 4 by FancyHorse at United States Post Office in Daphne, Alabama USA on Sunday, September 16, 2007

Released 16 yrs ago (9/10/2007 UTC) at United States Post Office in Daphne, Alabama USA

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Sent in the mail to time-traveler.

Journal Entry 5 by time-traveler from Peekskill, New York USA on Monday, September 17, 2007
I received this today, thanks so much.

Journal Entry 6 by time-traveler from Peekskill, New York USA on Wednesday, April 16, 2008
I chose this book to read because Mary Webb is a new author for me. I thought it would be a challenging read and it was, in the beginning. Once I got used to the old style of writing, I really started to enjoy it. I didn't expect such an eventful story!

As a side note: I even enjoyed holding this book as I read it. Maybe it was the small size of it, or the type of paper used...I'm not sure. I'm very glad I had the chance to read it. Thanks again, FancyHorse.

I plan to wild release this (in a safe spot) for guinaveve's Keep Them Moving Challenge, and Danesnboxers' Never Judge a Book By Its Cover Challenge, (week 15 - picture of a building on the cover). I'm going to slip it onto the shelf of classics at the library's used bookstore. That way it's sure to find another appreciative reader! The bookstore is a non-profit organization that benefits The Field Library and is run by volunteers.

Released 15 yrs ago (4/18/2008 UTC) at Field Library Bookstore, 934 South St. in Peekskill, New York USA

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I slipped this onto the 'Classics Cart' when no one was looking! Picked up some great trade paperbacks while I was there.

Journal Entry 8 by aluvalibri from Lake Peekskill, New York USA on Saturday, October 25, 2008
I Picked it up at the Field Library Bookstore, where I go usually on Saturdays, with the intention of sending it to a friend of mine, who likes Mary Webb.
I was a bit surprised, though, when I saw the BookCrossing bookplate. I knew of BookCrossing, and I also thought the books should be travelling around the world, but I did not expect to find one in a bookstore where, obviously, it was shelved and put up for sale.
So, now that I know where it comes from, I shall not send it to my friend. I would like to send it travelling, but where?
I am not a BookCrossing member and, although I appreciate the spirit and intent, I am not interested in becoming one.
I love to keep the books I buy and read and could never send them travelling. Sorry.....
Now, could you please let me know how I can send "Precious Bane" to the next reader?
Thank you.

CAUGHT IN PEEKSKILL NY US

Released 15 yrs ago (10/27/2008 UTC) at Croton-Harmon train station waiting room in Croton-on-Hudson, New York USA

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I hope someone will bring it home, read it, and release it.

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