Journal Entry 1 by wyldetwo from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Synopsis
Henry Chester, a domineering and puritanical Victorian artist, is in search of the perfect model. In nine-year-old Effie he finds her. Ten years later, lovely, childlike and sedated, Effie seems the ideal wife. But something inside her is about to awaken. Drawn by her lover, Mose, into a dangerous underworld of intrigue and blackmail, she meets Fanny Miller, the brothel-keeper, and her shadowy daughter, Marta - murdered ten years ago on the day of Henry's weekly visit...And as friendship becomes possession and Henry's secret past is revealed, Effie and Marta plan their revenge together.

This was passed to me by my mother for BookCrossing. I'd like to read it sometime but my TBRs are piling up and there's more in the post, so thought I'd offer it on a ring.

PM me with your postal preferences if you are interested. 

Journal Entry 2 by wyldetwo from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Participants in the ring:

LindyB28 (UK)
nocton4 (UK)
Barefootmum (UK)
VLR (UK)
Gembear (UK)
cloggy (UK)
Heaven-Ali (UK)
detailista (UK)
.
.
and back to me 

Journal Entry 3 by LindyB28 from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Monday, October 03, 2005

Thanks Jen; I can start this ring straight away having just finished another book this afternoon. I'm looking forward to reading Joanne Harris's pre-Chocolat work. 

Journal Entry 4 by LindyB28 from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 05, 2005

This novel is captivating. Despite some grating idiosyncracies in the period detail, the device of splitting the narrative between 4 first person narrators weaves a suspense that impels the reader to discover the fate of the troubled heroine Effie. The fragmentation of perspective from this narrative devise enacts the laudanum-drenched condition of Effie's mind.

I'll PM the next person in the ring and send it on. 

Journal Entry 5 by nocton4 from Lincoln, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Journal Entry 6 by nocton4 from Lincoln, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Monday, November 21, 2005

This proved to be alittle too dark for me ... it could be that my brain went to the book with a typical Joanne Harris read in mind ( even though I knew it wasn't ) and therefore was disappointed.

Sending on its way.

Denise x 

Journal Entry 7 by VLR from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, December 05, 2005

Received end of last week thanks to nocton4. 

Journal Entry 8 by Gembear from Banbury, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Received today in the mail. As I too have signed up for too many book rings and rays that have all arrived together I shall endeavour to read this as soon as possible. 

Journal Entry 9 by Gembear from Banbury, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, March 10, 2006

Apologies for taking so long to get to this book. I found it a very difficult read, swapping from one character to another was very confusing. The subject matter also didn't appeal to me much. It's off to CloggyUK now. 

Journal Entry 10 by cloggy from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, March 17, 2006

Thanks Gembear, the book arrived safely with me this morning. I've got a couple of ringbooks ahead of this one, but should get to it next week - unless is sneakily makes its way to the top of the pile of course. 

Journal Entry 11 by cloggy from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, March 27, 2006

I found the first quarter of the book very interesting and a great read. Didn't have too much problems with the different first characters and I thought that gave you a good contrast between the way different people viewed the same events.

After that, it got a little too much 'magic realism' for me. Still, I enjoyed reading it, Harris' writing style makes for such easy reading.

PM-ed Heaven-Ali for the addy and should get it moving soon. 

Journal Entry 12 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Arrived safely today, I have to finish another ring book, and then I'll get on to this. Looks intresting! 

Journal Entry 13 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, April 01, 2006

I really enjoyed this. I was worried after reading the blurb on the back, and the other JE's here that I wouldn't, certainly I often find, mystical shadowy, ghostly novels irritating. However, I throughly enjoyed this book. I thought the four 1st person narrators particularly clever, the author has created a shadowy dream like world through we encounter some dark and disturbing things. It's quite difficult not to forget that the author of this book is the same as wrote Blakberry Wine and Chocolate etc.

pming detailista for her address 

Journal Entry 14 by detailista from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Recieved today, thanks :)

 

Journal Entry 15 by detailista from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Took this on holiday with me and it fitted the bill perfectly as a holiday read. Thank you, I really enjoyed the story though at times it felt like there were far too many ideas fighting for space.

Ready to post back to Wyldetwo. 

Journal Entry 16 by wyldetwo from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, October 27, 2006

Have finally got round to reading this book.

I found it dark but captivating; very confusing at times, but eventually I learned not to try to interpret everything I was reading rationally and to just go with the flow. It really drew me into a mystical, shady gothic world.

 

Journal Entry 17 by wyldetwo at Hudson's, 122-124 Colmore Row in Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, October 27, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (10/28/2006 UTC) at Hudson's, 122-124 Colmore Row in Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

I am bringing this to Saturday's meet-up. If not taken, it should end up on the OBCZ shelf. 

Journal Entry 18 by angellica from Worksop, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Monday, October 30, 2006

Picked up at the meetup on Saturday

Thanks!