Journal Entry 1 by Ashleigh4985 from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, November 03, 2005

Read this book on holiday this year and really enjoyed it. Depressing but as its written from the point of view of young boys it avoids being a depressing read and is interesting. 

Journal Entry 2 by Ashleigh4985 at Mail in Mailed to another BookCrosser, A Book Swap! -- Controlled Releases on Monday, December 05, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (12/5/2005 UTC) at Mail in Mailed to another BookCrosser, A Book Swap! -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 3 by janiemac75 on Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Thank you Ashleigh4985 the book arrived this morning.
I'm going to start it as soon as I finish the bookring I'm on.
Hope you enjoy The Shining! 

Journal Entry 4 by janiemac75 on Tuesday, December 13, 2005

I just finished reading this book, thank you Ashleigh4985.

It wasn't my type of book, not really what I expected.
I'm going to pass it on to someone who will hopefully enjoy it more than I did. 

Journal Entry 5 by cats-eye from Bishop Auckland, County Durham United Kingdom on Sunday, December 25, 2005

Journal Entry 6 by cats-eye from Bishop Auckland, County Durham United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 03, 2006

i have posted this out to a fellow bookcrosser, as i received two copies throughout the holiday season and this one has more journal entries, so i thought it best to keep it moving!!
 

Journal Entry 7 by Melanie2474 from Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Friday, March 10, 2006

Journal Entry 8 by Melanie2474 at via Australia Post in Surface mail, A Book Relay -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (7/13/2006 UTC) at via Australia Post in Surface mail, A Book Relay -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Journal Entry 9 by zugenia from Hamilton, Ontario Canada on Thursday, July 27, 2006

This book arrived safely in Arkansas -- thanks for granting my wish! 

Journal Entry 10 by zugenia from Hamilton, Ontario Canada on Monday, August 07, 2006

I've seen the word "macabre" used a lot in reviews of Eugenides's first novel, and I think it's appropriate, but for all its darkness this is certainly a novel with a heart. The bleak cynicism of its portrait of middle-class cluelessness (a community's inability to understand or care for its teenage daughters; the flailing, insincere attempts to "deal with" tragedy through therapy and both official and inofficial memorials to untimely death; and the flimsiness of individuals' concern for their neighbors, in the 20th-century American suburbs that claim to be "neighborhoods," through which a desperate sense of fear and self-preservation is constantly breaking) is balanced by the uncharacteristic tenderness of the teenage boys who observe the five doomed Lisbon sisters with an unrequited longing that is the closest thing this lifestyle offers to true love.

I read Eugenides's second novel, Middlesex, a while ago, and enjoyed it very much, but I think I liked The Virgin Suicides better. I was trying to explain to Z what I liked better about it, fumbling with how Middlesex is sprawling and narrative-oriented and this is weirder and somehow about something other than the story, but it won't quite give up what, and he did a much better job of articulating what I was trying to say: "It sounds," he said, "like The Virgin Suicides is modernist, while Middlesex is Victorian." Duh—that's exactly it. And then this morning, I came across this interview with Eugenides (by his onetime student, Jonathan Safran Foer), in which he says,

I always say it like this: my generation of writers grew up backwards. We were weaned on modernism and only later read the great 19th-century masters of realism. When we began writing in high school and college, it was experimental fiction. I think now that a certain kind of academic experimental fiction has reached a dead end. Middlesex is a postmodern book in many ways, but it is also very old-fashioned. Reusing classical motifs is a fundamental of postmodern practice, of course, but telling a story isn't always. I like narrative. I read for it and write for it.

Journal Entry 11 by zugenia from Hamilton, Ontario Canada on Monday, August 07, 2006

On its way to lauraloo29 through another reverse wishlist relay. 

Journal Entry 12 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Thursday, August 17, 2006

Arrived safe and sound today. I love books that have travelled! Thank you. 

Journal Entry 13 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

I couldn't finish this book. I have seen the movie, but the book of course has so much more in it. I'm confused. 

Journal Entry 14 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Friday, July 27, 2007

Journal Entry 15 by nwpassage from Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Monday, August 13, 2007

Arrived today - thanks for including me laura! I''ll be starting this straight away... more soon! 

Journal Entry 16 by nwpassage from Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Monday, September 24, 2007

I'm so sorry I've kept this so long! I tried really hard, because this has been on my wishlist for so long, and I have heard such amazing things about it, but in the end, I just couldn't do it. It bored me and I just couldn't find any point to the story. :(

I would like to say thank you again to lauraloo for including me on this ring though, giving me the chance to finally try this book.

To make up for holding on to this so long, I have mailed it today airmail, so it should arrive in Germany very soon. Traveling. 

Journal Entry 17 by lilifin from Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Wednesday, November 07, 2007

arrived safely...thanks! will be read soon 

Journal Entry 18 by lilifin from Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Thursday, January 31, 2008

Thanks for sharing this great book! 

Journal Entry 19 by lilifin at Controlled Release in Postal Release, Mailed to another bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, January 31, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (2/1/2008 UTC) at Controlled Release in Postal Release, Mailed to another bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to Denny08 (Ahava wasn't interested any more) 

Journal Entry 20 by denny08 from El Paso, Texas USA on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Finally got this! Yay! I will put it on my next TBR stack! 

Journal Entry 21 by denny08 from El Paso, Texas USA on Wednesday, April 23, 2008

This book was extremely strange and different from anything I've ever read. Not at all anything like Middlesex. Thank you for sharing it and it is going out in today's mail to andersor. 

Journal Entry 22 by andersor from San Francisco, California USA on Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Received in the mail yesterday. Can't wait to read it.
Thanks for sharing!

Updated 5/8 - What an interesting story. A sort of mystery story where nothing is resolved... Clever choice for the author to write it from the boys' perspective.
I PM'd BlueStocking88, and they asked to be skipped.
I will send to the next person soon.

Updated 5/21 - This was sent to gecko4ever on Monday May 19. Enjoy!! 

Journal Entry 23 by gecko4ever from Rancho Cucamonga, California USA on Saturday, May 24, 2008

I received in the mail on Thurday and will get into it right away. Thanks for the ring. 

Journal Entry 24 by gecko4ever at U.S. Postal Mail in By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (6/3/2008 UTC) at U.S. Postal Mail in By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Going to the next person in the bookring.

I found this book to be a quick read. I enjoyed it. I watched the movie before reading it but still enjoyed the book more. It is told from a totally unique point of view. Enjoy and thank you. 

Journal Entry 25 by marsala from Chiswick, Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Arrived here safely today, thanks gecko4ever for sending it and thanks lauraloo9 for making a ray out of it. As usual the ringbooks are coming in herds and there are some books in line before this one, but I probably will finish it within 4 weeks.

I thought this was a very beautiful story. It is a very sad story, but also a very honest one. I like that the writer told the story form the boys perspective, it makes it a bit mysterious. It is like a big puzzles and you don't get all the pieces. 

Journal Entry 26 by marsala at per Post, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, July 03, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (7/3/2008 UTC) at per Post, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Send it to the next person in the ring. 

Journal Entry 27 by christina82 from Stege, Storstrøms Amt Denmark on Sunday, July 06, 2008

Got it yesterday in the mail.
I will read it as soon as possible - but need to finish Don Quixote first!( It shouldn't take long) 

Journal Entry 28 by christina82 from Stege, Storstrøms Amt Denmark on Sunday, July 13, 2008

Just finished reading this book - It's really great. I thought that it was very well written and after reading the first page I just couldn't put it down.

I will PM the next person on the list for an adress. 

Journal Entry 29 by christina82 at Areia, Porto Portugal on Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (7/23/2008 UTC) at Areia, Porto Portugal

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Will mail this later today. Hope I will arrive safely to Boirina who is next on the list.

Hope you enjoy it. 

Journal Entry 30 by boirina from Calvià, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Monday, July 28, 2008

The book got here today.

Thanks! 

Journal Entry 31 by boirina from Calvià, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Monday, October 13, 2008

The book has left for Stacers1973 today.

I haven't had the chance to read it. Life got in the way and I had to travel too much and work too much in the last few months. :(

I joined to send it over to the US, and at least I've managed to do it. :)

Hugs to all of you. 

Journal Entry 32 by Stacers1973 from Gladstone, Oregon USA on Monday, October 20, 2008

Got this in the mail today, thanks for passing it on Boirina ... sorry you didn't get to read it :(
I have one before this, so I will get to it soon! 

Journal Entry 33 by Stacers1973 at Gladstone, Oregon USA on Friday, November 14, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (11/14/2008 UTC) at Gladstone, Oregon USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

An interesting peek into the lives of both neighbors and adolescents. You don't really get any answers as to why ... but it is kind of a slice of life ... you just get to peek in at this one event/time and then wonder about the rest of it. While I wouldn't say the book was exactly enjoyable it was very good and I am glad I read it.

Mailed off to HunterRyu. 

Journal Entry 34 by HunterRyu from Elk Township, New Jersey USA on Monday, November 17, 2008

Book came in the mail today. Will read it within the next couple weeks. I really look forward to sharing this book with you all. Happy Bookcrossing! <3 

Journal Entry 35 by HunterRyu from Elk Township, New Jersey USA on Monday, December 08, 2008

Just finished with this book. Sorry it took so long, I work retail and got bum rushed with hours and little free time. It was a good book, but not my favorite. Some parts rambled on a bit about completely random tangents, and a couple chapters were just so incredibly long (chapter 3 is almost 100 pages) it was tough to do my normal read a chapter before bed. Overall I'm glad I got a chance to read it, but this wouldn't be anything I'd like a copy of for my keep shelf. It was interesting to read from a teenage boy's perspective, even though they were a bit on the obliviously obsessive creepy stalker side.

I have PMed missgyder and will mail the book shortly. 

Journal Entry 36 by HunterRyu at to the next participant, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (12/9/2008 UTC) at to the next participant, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'll be mailing this off to missgyder on my next trip to the Post Office. Happy Bookcrossing! 

Journal Entry 37 by missgyder from Brooklyn, New York USA on Monday, December 15, 2008

This is going to the top of my TBR pile. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 38 by missgyder from Brooklyn, New York USA on Monday, January 12, 2009

An interesting read. I was fascinated by the use of the "royal we" as the narrator--I've never heard of a book using that voice before, and it was very interesting. Not sure how I felt about the whole thing, it was very odd, but a curious read.

Heading off to judygreeneyes. Thanks so much--I was stuck in the hospital while reading this, so it kept me great company!

USPS Tracking #: 9102 1501 3471 1522 4343 24 

Journal Entry 39 by judygreeneyes from San Diego, California USA on Saturday, January 24, 2009

This book has safely arrived in San Diego. I have 1 1/2 books ahead of it, but will get going as quickly as I can! I'm really looking forward to it, having loved Middlesex. 

Journal Entry 40 by judygreeneyes from San Diego, California USA on Sunday, February 22, 2009

This was an amazing story. All the time I was reading it, I kept saying to people "I'm reading the strangest book." I'm not sure exactly what to think of it, but it was certainly well told. How horrible, though, and sad, and unreal in many ways. I kept thinking that someone should have done something. I think that in our days, someone would. Child Protective Services would have gone into that house and seen the situation. The neighbors would have called after seeing how the girls were basically prisoners. I did find the point of view it was written in, a collective consciousness of young neighborhood boys, to be very odd and yet effective. I'll add to this entry later if I have more thoughts. I've PM'd the next person on the list. Zugenia's review above was quite good. 

Journal Entry 41 by AgdaAgulina from Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Sunday, March 29, 2009

The book is in Prague! And what a book! I have almost read it already... 

Journal Entry 42 by AgdaAgulina from Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Wednesday, April 15, 2009

This book arrived with the perfect timing when I was just getting sick and had to stay in bed few days. And it kept me very good company! I really enjoeyd it, this mix of dark tragedy spiced up with plenty of humour, just what I like so much. I also liked the boys-point-of view, which came across stronger than in the movie (as I remember it). And so many lovely details! Sad sad but so beautiful story. Thank you for sharing this book!

Next reader soon... 

Journal Entry 43 by AgdaAgulina at By mail, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (4/22/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book was sent on to the next reader! 

Journal Entry 44 by darkhorse4460 from Wallingford, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, April 24, 2009

Received today from AqdaAquilina. Thank you, I like your card that mirrors the cover of the book.

Middlesex was one of my favourite reads last year but clearly this is very different. Looking forward to reading it, next on my list after my current read.

Thank you for sharing. 

Journal Entry 45 by darkhorse4460 from Wallingford, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, June 01, 2009

Like others, I really had some trouble enjoying this book and took much longer than I should reading it. Its brilliantly written and very original but the subject matter just didn't engage me. I think I just couldn't identify with the narratorial point of view, that of adolescent male obsession with a group of adolescent girls - now an obessive memory for the men in their later lives. Yes the story of the Lisbon sisters is strange and surreal and macabre but told this way I found it just plain creepy, and not in a good way. I was much more interested in the girls than the male fantasies about them, so the lack of a wider insight into what was really going on left me feeling a bit cheated and then indifferent.

Middlesex was amazing but this one really didn't press any buttons for me.

I will be in contact with the next person in the ray very shortly. 

Journal Entry 46 by darkhorse4460 from Wallingford, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Just to say that I have not had any response from mazzlestar who is next in line for this book, so will try jozebedee instead. 

Journal Entry 47 by darkhorse4460 at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, June 13, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (6/13/2009 UTC) at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Book on its way to Jozebedee. Hope you enjoy it.

 

Journal Entry 48 by Jozebedee from Nantwich, Cheshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Thanks darkhorse4460 - it has arrived safely. I have a few bookrings in the TBR pile, so will get to this as soon as I possibly can :-) 

Journal Entry 49 by Jozebedee from Nantwich, Cheshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 25, 2009

I was really looking forward to reading this. I thought it was a good read, and it left me wondering about the mental state of the family. Very interesting concept for a book.
Thanks for sharing - I enjoyed it. 

Journal Entry 50 by Jozebedee at BOOK RING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (8/25/2009 UTC) at BOOK RING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending off now to K2005 who is next on the list. Enjoy! :-) 

Journal Entry 51 by k2005 from Oxford, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 09, 2009

I received this at the weekend and started reading it straight away but forgot to journal it, sorry! 

Journal Entry 52 by foxygirlACT from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Sunday, November 15, 2009

Just received in the post in Australia today. Thanks for the xmas card!

I am about to finish another book and will then get started on this one. thanks 

Journal Entry 53 by foxygirlACT at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (12/15/2009 UTC) at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending on as a RABCK with the blessings of the bookring organiser.

Be careful with this one, as it is a little worse for wear from it's travels (first few pages are loose).

Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 54 by catbot from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Thanks for the rabck!! Much appreciated, I love this book.