Journal Entry 1 by sarradee from Dallas, Texas USA on Monday, January 09, 2006

Received from Elle Magazine, when I was picked as a Juror for March 2005.

My review:
After her mother’s death in childbirth, Emilie Selden has been raised by her father in a state of sheltered isolation at Selden Manor. Her father has taught her much about science and alchemy but little of human nature; leaving her ill-prepared when a handsome, young admirer comes to call while her father is away on his annual visit to London. Imagine his surprise when he returns to find his daughter in disgrace. Fortunately for Emilie, her seducer Aislabie has agreed to marry her. Her father suspecting Aislabie’s motives refuses to accept the marriage and disowns Emilie when she persists. The newly married couple move to London, where Emilie discovers that married life isn’t what she expected, and neither is her husband. She returns to Selden Manor only to suffer yet another disappointment.

This is not a happy book, the themes of dashed romance and disillusionment dance throughout the pages. Emilie has to learn to be strong in the face of setback after setback. It takes all the strength of character and discipline that her father has taught her to come to grips with her present and future. This is a classic story of innocence and betrayal in the tradition of Tracy Chevalier.

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing to blaisezabini12 who won it in the Relayers Almost Live Swap #7. Sent surface, so it will most likely arrive sometime in 2007. :) 

Journal Entry 2 by blaisezabini12 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, January 21, 2006

Picked up today from the post office. It looks great! Thank you so much Sarra for mailing this book all the way to Romania:)
As soon as I finish reading it I am going to share it with the other relayers who wanted to read it!

25 January 06: for me this book was a page-turner - I just had to finish reading it:). But it wasn't very convincing from a historical point of view...even if Newton or Voltaire are mentioned (and also appear) in the story it's not enough to recreate the past. Most of the characters weren't developed enough and they didn't seem to belong to their time (and I am not speaking about the main character here - who the author considers a woman ahead of her time).
I prefer Tracy Chevalier to this author (even if the critics seem to consider their way of writing so similar):)
Now I'll have to wait and see if other relayers want to read this book.

Bookray
The only rule is that you keep moving the book in maximum 6 weeks. If there are any problems, you'll have to pm me and we'll work out something.
The list of participants.

morsecode, USA
FortyToo, USA
moraelyn, USA
LizzieM, Australia

27 March 06: mailed today! Enjoy morsie:) 

Journal Entry 3 by morsecode from Buffalo, New York USA on Wednesday, April 26, 2006

This book arrived safe and sound in Buffalo today. Thanks for sharing your swap spoils with us, blaise :) 

Journal Entry 4 by morsecode from Buffalo, New York USA on Sunday, May 14, 2006

First of all, I apologize for taking so long with this... I've had a ton of review assignments many of them historical fiction so I've had to put off reading this book.
Anyway, I just finished it and, I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. I had a bit of a rollercoaster ride with it... at first I liked it well enough, then I really didn't like it, then I started liking it better when Emilie started reading the notebooks, then I went back to not liking it, but then it ended on an up-swing for me.
In any case, this is definitely not a light-hearted book. Interesting historical fiction. The characters seem real enough (especially in their personal failings), but it was hard for me as a reader to sympathize with them.

An aside... I really like the cover art, it seems perfect for the book.

I'm planning on sending this off to FortyToo on Tuesday. 

Journal Entry 5 by FortyToo from Westfield, New Jersey USA on Thursday, June 01, 2006

This was probably delivered in the middle of last week. I just got it today. Am half-way through another book, but this will be next on TBR -- shouldn't be too long! 

Journal Entry 6 by FortyToo from Westfield, New Jersey USA on Friday, June 09, 2006

I liked this book. Once I started reading it, I wanted to keep on reading. There were some things about the characters that I didn't care for--they certainly aren't of the cute and cuddly variety, but they are interesting, and what happens to them is also interesting and not entirely predictable.

Thanks for sharing this, blaisezabini12! Will mail on to the next participant as soon as possible.

Added June 10, 2006 -- Shipped to moraelyn this afternoon--should arrive in 7-10 days. 

Journal Entry 7 by moraelyn from Rialto, California USA on Wednesday, June 28, 2006

I was on vaca for a little while. But it arrived, yeah! Looks good. 

Journal Entry 8 by moraelyn from Rialto, California USA on Friday, July 07, 2006

Finished this today. I enjoyed it, although I was miffed about a few parts. Also, I didn't want it to end where it did, I felt it should have continued for at least a few more pages! I agree with morsecode that the book was a rollercoaster... I liked it, I didn't, like, didn't, like, didn't.... Overall, I liked it.

I'm just waiting on an address to send it.