Journal Entry 1 by candieb from Austin, Texas USA on Friday, January 06, 2006

FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Delia Hopkins has led a charmed life. Raised in rural New Hampshire by her widowed father, Andrew, she now has a young daughter, a handsome fiance, and her own search-and-rescue bloodhound, which she uses to find missing persons. But as Delia plans her wedding, she is plagued by flashbacks of a life she can't recall. And then a policeman knocks on her door, revealing a secret that changes the world as she knows it." In shock and confusion, Delia must sift through the truth - even when it jeopardizes her life and the lives of those she loves. What happens when you learn you are not who you thought you were? When the people you've loved and trusted suddenly change before your eyes? When getting your deepest wish means giving up what you've always taken for granted? Vanishing Acts explores how life - as we know it - might not turn out the way we imagined; how doing the right thing could mean doing the wrong thing; how the memory we thought had vanished could return as a threat. 

Journal Entry 2 by candieb from Austin, Texas USA on Thursday, November 23, 2006

For me, this was one of Picoult's better books. I like that it wasn't all tidied up, it left a lot of questions and I'll be asking myself questions about this book and what I would do in similar situations for a long time. Well done. I could have used a little less metaphors and a touch more character development, but I find that true in almost all of her books. Worth a read! 

Journal Entry 3 by candieb at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, November 23, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (11/24/2006 UTC) at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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RELEASE NOTES:

I'm mailing this out to boomda181 to restart a lost ring for morsecode -- I don't want this book back, so do with it as you wish after your ring/ray or whatever :-) 

Journal Entry 4 by morsecode from Buffalo, New York USA on Sunday, November 26, 2006

Journal Entry 5 by boomda181 on Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Arrived in the mail today, I will start it tonight. I am in need of a good read. Will journal more soon.

February 17th

I was not able to journal more until now. I love Jodi Picoult's books! I love how she forces me to see all the gray area in some moral dilema's through her characters. I never saw the twist at the end coming! Thanks for the opportunity to read this book! 

Journal Entry 6 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Monday, February 05, 2007

Arrived safe and sound today. I have a few rings before it. Not to worry. I will keep the ring moving. :) 

Journal Entry 7 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Another excellent Picoult read! This is one of my top 3 favorites of her's.

I too love how well she does the "grey". Although I had suspicions about the twist. I do feel a little confused about Ruthann. Obviously I've missed something..... even the questions at the end don't help. :)

I will be sending this on next week. Thank you for sharing! 

Journal Entry 8 by Brookler from Powell River, British Columbia Canada on Friday, March 02, 2007

Came today in the mail. Although a chunk of the wrapping had vanished, luckily the parcel was held together by the Canada Post label. The book seems to have survived alright, but it's a reminder to us all to use heavy-duty wrapping.

Thanks for the cute bookmark. I can't wait to read this! 

Journal Entry 9 by Brookler from Powell River, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Although I enjoyed reading this, some of the parts were just too ugly for me. I liked the way she tells the same events from different viewpoints, and does it so well that you sympathize with opposing points of view. Also, truth is presented as elusive, nothing and no one is simply good or evil, black or white.

A thought-provoking, complex book with a gripping story. I just wish she had left out some of the jail scenes. 

Journal Entry 10 by Brookler from Powell River, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Mailed today to kinedi by surface mail. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 11 by kinedi from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Arrived safely in Scotland. Thanks for posting it all the way from Canada. Am off on holiday at the end of the week so this comes just in time ! 

Journal Entry 12 by kinedi from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, May 17, 2007

Well, I started reading the first chapter narrated by Delia and when the police showed up to arrest her father, I had to put the book aside - at least I will for a while.

A wee 4 year old British girl was abducted about 2 weeks ago while on holiday in Portugal with her parents ,it's all over the news and most certainly has grabbed the nation as she is still missing. I feel that at the moment this book may hit too close to home and I had planned to take the book on holiday with me so please bear with me if I'm giving a two week break now.

A website has been set up www.findmadeleine.com and everyone hopes that Madeleine will be found safe soon.

I will update the journal soon. Thanks ! 

Journal Entry 13 by kinedi from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, June 11, 2007

Sorry about the delay in reading this book folks but in light of the abducted 4 years British girl Maddie McCann, it seemed to be a case of life sometimes being stranger than fiction and in the back of mind I was always thinking ''What if it was her story ?''
Anyway, ususally Jodi Picoult manages to show all sides of the story she is writing about, there is no strict black and white but for the first time I found myself picking a side quite easily and my gut feeling turned out to be right at the end (not giving too much away for other readers here) I do like the way every chapters is told by one of the main characters and you do see all points of view. I had however trouble picturing Andrew in jail and doing all the things he did - I thought that was a bit over the top and I am also not sure about the reason Ruthann was in the story (as interesting as it was to read) All in all, it was a gripping read and as mentioned before, it can happen in real life too.
I already have jaycee's address so I will post out the book to her some time this week. Thanks for organising this bookring morsecode ! 

Journal Entry 14 by kinedi at fellow bookcrossing member in by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (6/13/2007 UTC) at fellow bookcrossing member in by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

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Journal Entry 15 by Jaycee1972 from Belper, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Sunday, June 17, 2007

Received on Friday. Love Jodi Picoult so looking forward to this one. Thank you! 

Journal Entry 16 by Jaycee1972 from Belper, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Friday, July 13, 2007

A very gripping and thought provoking book which I thought was definately one of Picoult's best books (although I have enjoyed all those I read to date).

I did get a bit aggrivated though at some of the characters not being honest, especially Eric with Delia over the court case. I kept thinking 'just tell her how it is'! Having said that the whole truth/lies thing is a big part of the book so I understand why it was written that way. Like some of the other readers, I was not sure why Ruthann was included except for a bit of a diversion. I found it odd that Delia left Sophie with her after they had only known her for a couple of days but still.. I think I am ok with the jail scenes. The graphic nature of them made it more real but I agree with an earlier entry that Andrews involvement in various things seemed a bit far fetched although I have no experience of jail so who knows?

I couldn't wait to read this and it jumped the queue over other bookrings and is now ready to send on. I am pming OpheliaPhillips for her address. Thanks for sharing this everyone. 

Journal Entry 17 by Jaycee1972 from Belper, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Friday, July 13, 2007

Opheliaphilips asked to be skipped so pming chocdrop. 

Journal Entry 18 by Jaycee1972 from Belper, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Saturday, July 14, 2007

Posted to Chocdrop today. 

Journal Entry 19 by chocdrop from Derby, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Book arrived safely today. Thanks, Jaycee1972.

I'm not going to start this before I've read the new Harry Potter at the weekend, but I should get to it next week. 

Journal Entry 20 by chocdrop from Derby, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Sunday, September 02, 2007

Sorry for the delay in getting this read. This is the first Jodi Picoult book that I've read, but I will definitely be looking out for more.

I enjoyed the way the story was told from the different characters points of view and the drip-feeding of information, so your opinion keeps changing whether Delia's father was right or wrong in his actions.

A very thought-provoking novel.

I have PMed vzfamily for her address and will post as soon as I get it. 

Journal Entry 21 by chocdrop from Derby, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Monday, September 03, 2007

vzfamily has asked to be skipped, so I have PMed Guinneth for her address. 

Journal Entry 22 by chocdrop from Derby, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 04, 2007

I have Guinneth's address and will be posting tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 23 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, September 23, 2007

Journal Entry 24 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, October 14, 2007

Just a note to say that I'm about half of the way through this. Sorry it's taking so long! I had to finish another book before I could start this one and reading time is at a premium around here lately. :) 

Journal Entry 25 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Friday, October 19, 2007

Journal Entry 26 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Monday, October 22, 2007

Mailed to BooksnBeer today via USPS media mail. Enjoy!

Del. conf.# 0307 1790 0005 7424 8290 

Journal Entry 27 by BooksnBeer from Annandale, Virginia USA on Sunday, November 04, 2007

Found this waiting for me after a too short vacation to the carribean. This will be my second Jodi Picoult novel and I can't wait to start it - I totally enjoyed the reading experience of My Sister's Keeper. I will start this shortly - I have one other book in front of this one. 

Journal Entry 28 by BooksnBeer from Annandale, Virginia USA on Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Wow – I started, finished and put this into the mail and completely forgot to journal it. I really enjoy Jodi Picoult books. She doesn’t avoid looking at the difficult problems that we are presented in life. I also like the way she doesn’t present them all neat and pretty. Her situations are like we would be forced to deal with them in real life – a lot of gray. Because of that the characters are always very real, rich individuals.

One criticism I have is about the jail scenes – they almost pulled you away from the real story. They could have easily become their own story – with a plot within a plot – why did he know so much about jail?

The phase goes “life is stranger than fiction”, but not in Jodi Picoult’s books. In her books fiction is life.
 

Journal Entry 29 by BooksnBeer from Annandale, Virginia USA on Tuesday, November 27, 2007

I put this in the mail today. It is on it's way to Macewoman. 

Journal Entry 30 by macewoman from Winston Salem, North Carolina USA on Thursday, November 29, 2007

I have quite of few of her books in my Mt TBR, but I haven't read any yet. Looks like the time has arrived. :D I'm finishing up a book right now and should be starting this tomorrow or Saturday.
Thanks to all for passing the book along! I'll be back with a JE when I finish it. 

Journal Entry 31 by macewoman from Winston Salem, North Carolina USA on Saturday, January 05, 2008

For the most part I enjoyed the story, but I found the changing viewpoints distracting. Because of this it was impossible for me to sit down and just read. I kept having to remind myself of "who" I was and what the circumstances were at the time.
Personally having a niece and 4 nephews that I adore, I have a hard time seeing the gray here, but I know legally he was wrong. I hope that I could put their lives above my own if it was needed.
On to the positive. The discussion of memories and how they can change or become lost was thought-provoking. It made me think back to some memories I have from early childhood (nothing bad here just a perspective thing).
Also, the point that history is an amalgam of everyone's memories reminds me of how differently my sisters and I remember our childhood. (I still think they were bigger pests than they do :D)
Thanks morsecode for sharing.
Boogal asked to be skipped and kelwood has PMs turned off. I put an ISO in the bookring/rays forum a month ago and I updated it now.
I'll be mailing the book out to morsecode in the next day or so. Thanks again for including me in this ring. 

Journal Entry 32 by morsecode from Buffalo, New York USA on Monday, January 14, 2008

This book arrived in Buffalo just in time to be read in preparation for my next book club meeting!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the ring and especially to candieb for providing this copy when mine went missing. 

Journal Entry 33 by morsecode from Buffalo, New York USA on Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult was chosen as a filler when it took longer to set up our voting than we expected. Having read a number of Picoult's other books (Keeping Faith, Mercy, My Sister's Keeper, Nineteen Minutes, The Pact, Plain Truth, and The Tenth Circle), I was sure that Vanishing Acts would be good discussion fodder.

The issue at hand in Vanishing Acts is whether it is ever acceptable to kidnap a child.

One thing that we all agreed on is the Picoult tried to cram way too much stuff into this book. The novel could have easily been made into two and there wouldn't be so much to distract from the main story. (Honestly even though Fitz was a main character, he really didn't need to be in the story at all; then there was Ruthann...)

Since Picoult's general modus operandi is to take an issue and blur the lines so much that you really can no longer see it as a black-and-white issue it was interesting that that wasn't the case in this book (at least with the main issue, Andrew's antics in jail are a different matter entirely). As a reader, your support of Andrew and his decision never really wavers throughout the book.

What I found most interesting about my book club discussion is that most members who hadn't read Picoult before were interested in reading her other books, while most of the members who had read her before were ambivalent about reading her in the future. 

Journal Entry 34 by morsecode from Buffalo, New York USA on Sunday, February 17, 2008

I'm putting this book in the Everybook Virtual Book Box on Bookobsessed.com 

Journal Entry 35 by morsecode from Buffalo, New York USA on Saturday, May 03, 2008

This book is back to the UK today. It's going to purple-pixie who selected it from the Everybook virtual book box on BookObsessed.com. 

Journal Entry 36 by purple-pixie from Nuneaton, Warwickshire United Kingdom on Thursday, May 08, 2008

Arrived safely this morning, thank you Morsie! 

Journal Entry 37 by purple-pixie from Nuneaton, Warwickshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Is the kidnapping of a small child always wrong? And is it always wrong to lie those we love? I defy anyone to read this book and not have their assumptions challenged. Having said that I found my attention drifting a little during the passages set in the jail, but still a really good book.


 

Journal Entry 38 by purple-pixie at Forest Cafe OBCZ in Salcey Forest, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Monday, September 01, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (9/1/2008 UTC) at Forest Cafe OBCZ in Salcey Forest, Northamptonshire United Kingdom

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Releasing sometime today. 

Journal Entry 39 by retromonkey at Milton Keynes, A Bookgroup member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (3/5/2009 UTC) at Milton Keynes, A Bookgroup member -- Controlled Releases

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Releasing to celebrate 'World Book Day' 2009. 

Journal Entry 40 by retromonkey at Milton Keynes Library in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Released 10 mos ago (7/27/2011 UTC) at Milton Keynes Library in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom

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Topping up the virtually empty bookcrossing shelves in central library. 

Journal Entry 41 by MKlibraries at Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 27, 2011

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