They Who Do Not Grieve
10 journalers for this copy...
For the five books, five countries, five continents challenge.
From Amazon: Sia Figiel's powerful, poetic skills weave together the voices of three generations of women from two Samoan families. Their dream worlds and realities intermingle, just as the histories of each generation run through the next. At the center of the novel is the Samoan woman's tattoo, the "malu", believed to be brought from Fiji by Siamese twins. The ghosts of the twins watch over the women whose lives are stained by an unfinished tattoo. The shame and grief of not completing the tattoo ceremony go hand in hand with the shame and grief of illicit love and broken promises.
This book was a bit of a struggle to read and I think if it wasn't for the fact that I was using it for the 5-5-5 challenge I would have given up. I found the first section particularly challenging. This is possibly one of those books that require a second reading. I found keeping track of who was who a bit hard, thank-goodness for the family trees at the start of the section. Hopefully everyone will enjoy it more than I did.
From Amazon: Sia Figiel's powerful, poetic skills weave together the voices of three generations of women from two Samoan families. Their dream worlds and realities intermingle, just as the histories of each generation run through the next. At the center of the novel is the Samoan woman's tattoo, the "malu", believed to be brought from Fiji by Siamese twins. The ghosts of the twins watch over the women whose lives are stained by an unfinished tattoo. The shame and grief of not completing the tattoo ceremony go hand in hand with the shame and grief of illicit love and broken promises.
This book was a bit of a struggle to read and I think if it wasn't for the fact that I was using it for the 5-5-5 challenge I would have given up. I found the first section particularly challenging. This is possibly one of those books that require a second reading. I found keeping track of who was who a bit hard, thank-goodness for the family trees at the start of the section. Hopefully everyone will enjoy it more than I did.
This will be a bookray especially for the 5-5-5 challenge.
Participants in proposed order.
Purple-lilly -Australia (prefers to ship Aust only but will ship int. if necessary)
sheepseeker -Germany (International OK)
Ftarazu Portugal (prefers to ship Europe)<---HERE!
Xeyra Portugal (prefers to ship Europe)
bookmanu Portugal (ships international)
Alvhyttan -Sweden (international OK)
Lobodyke -USA (prefers to ship US only)
Ilios -USA (prefers to ship US/Canada)
Morsecode -USA (international OK)
Bookray guidelines:
You will know all the usual rules but
Please journal the book when it arrives.
*Please get it read as quickly as possible so that hopefully it gets around everyone before the end of the year.
Anyone else will be added in where possible but must be prepared to ship internationally.
Participants in proposed order.
Purple-lilly -Australia (prefers to ship Aust only but will ship int. if necessary)
sheepseeker -Germany (International OK)
Ftarazu Portugal (prefers to ship Europe)<---HERE!
Xeyra Portugal (prefers to ship Europe)
bookmanu Portugal (ships international)
Alvhyttan -Sweden (international OK)
Lobodyke -USA (prefers to ship US only)
Ilios -USA (prefers to ship US/Canada)
Morsecode -USA (international OK)
Bookray guidelines:
You will know all the usual rules but
Please journal the book when it arrives.
*Please get it read as quickly as possible so that hopefully it gets around everyone before the end of the year.
Anyone else will be added in where possible but must be prepared to ship internationally.
Journal Entry 3 by Purple-lilly from Heathfield, South Australia Australia on Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Arrived today, I had only just begun another book so I will put it aside and start this straight away, so it moves as quickly as possible.
Journal Entry 4 by Purple-lilly from Heathfield, South Australia Australia on Wednesday, February 22, 2006
I struggled through this entire book and did not enjoy it at all. If was not for the Olympic Challenge I probably would not have persevered beyond page 45. Depite boreal's hope I did not enjoy it more than her and will be very pleased to pass it on. Thankyou for the chance to read this in a ring boreal.
Journal Entry 5 by Purple-lilly at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Sunday, April 2, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (4/2/2006 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to sheepseeker as the next in the ring, I hope she enjoys it more than I did.
Sent to sheepseeker as the next in the ring, I hope she enjoys it more than I did.
Arrived today, thanks! I'm not hendertuckian but I'm definitely next on the list ;-)
Ok, you are right, it's not the best of books. Apart from not getting into the book, it didn't get any better within the next 50something page. After that I gave up. Sorry... Judging from another book I read for Tonga, the writing style in Oceania is a bit of a challenge throughout. I got another book by Sia Figiel ('Alofa') and hope to get through that one.As soon as I get the address the book will travel on to Portugal...
Arrived friday. I will start it asap and I hope I enjoy it!
Opposingly to what I was expecting, I actually enjoied the book...It was not the best read but it was quite ok. And it was a good opportunity to get to know a writer from Samoa. The writing style is very different but its still nice. What impressed me the most was the life story of all those women...
I will send it to Xeyra at most next week...
Thanks boreal...
I will send it to Xeyra at most next week...
Thanks boreal...
The book was sent only yesterday. During this time I moved and in all the confusion, the book was kept in a box until I found it last week. Im sorry for the delay!
It arrived. I will try to start is as soon as possible, considering the many people still in the bookring, but I am reading three books right now and so it may take me a while yet to pick this one up. If I see I'm not going to be able to read it in a timely fashion, I'll pass it on.
I tried reading this book during my vacations but just couldn't get into it. I got confused, the multiple repitions of words were rather annoying after a while, and it just didn't appeal to me. Couldn't get used to the author's writing style. I'll try to pass this one soon.
Thanks boreal and Xeyra!
Received it yesterday.I have another bookring ahead of this one but will try not to take too long so it can travel some more before the 5-5-5 challenge ends.
Received it yesterday.I have another bookring ahead of this one but will try not to take too long so it can travel some more before the 5-5-5 challenge ends.
This book came in the mail today.
Thanks to bookmanu who sent it and to boreal who bought it.
I will start reading this book tonight, I hope to get it read in a reasonable time and that it won’t be too much struggle. :)
Thanks to bookmanu who sent it and to boreal who bought it.
I will start reading this book tonight, I hope to get it read in a reasonable time and that it won’t be too much struggle. :)
I’m surprised! I expected this book to be a difficult read for me, but it wasn’t. I liked it!
This is a beautiful, both poetic and rough story about the sorrow and anger of some Samoan women. Here is a combination of old folktales, family history and the conflicts in today’s society.
I am glad I read it; I had thoughts about skipping it. :)
This is a beautiful, both poetic and rough story about the sorrow and anger of some Samoan women. Here is a combination of old folktales, family history and the conflicts in today’s society.
I am glad I read it; I had thoughts about skipping it. :)
This book will be sent to Lobodyke tomorrow.
Since the reviews on this book have been very mixed, I'm going to try to keep an open mind when I read it. I have read something else with a similar style of writing, and it does take some getting used to. I am currently reading one ring, and have another awaiting my attention, but I'll get to this as fast as I can so as to be considerate of those folks who are after me in the ray.
Like many of the readers before me, I found this book confusing and difficult to read. However, I continued for a couple of reasons: (1) I'd read books by Oceanic authors before, and this rambling, disjointed style seems to be typical, and (2) I did enjoy some of the character descriptions, especially Malu, and what I could garner of the intergenerational relationships. However, despite referring to the description on the back of the book, I could never understand the supposed theme of grief and the tattoo continuing through the book. It wasn't until the last couple of chapters that the author even referred to the tattoo. I'll send it on to Ilios as soon as I get an address.
Sent to Ilios today.
Delivery confirmation #0307-0020-0003-3320-7941.
Delivery confirmation #0307-0020-0003-3320-7941.
I received this book two days ago but didn't have a chance to journal it before. I am looking forward to reading this because it'll allow me to discover a new author and get a glimpse at the literature of Samoa. I am also using this book for my 5-5-5 challenge. Thank you for sharing this! I will be updating this entry as soon as I am done. I have just one bookring in front of this one, so I expect to get to it in the next 10 days or so.
UPDATE 8/14/07
I have been struggling with this book for the last month and I think it is time for me to pass it on. Like many others readers before me, I thought the style was confusing and inelegant. Despite having read 2/3 of the book, I still couldn't figure out the motivation behind the characters and couldn't make myself care about any of them. I emailed the next BXer in line to get this book moving again. I am glad of having had the opportunity to read something from a different country. Thanks for sharing!
UPDATE 8/14/07
I have been struggling with this book for the last month and I think it is time for me to pass it on. Like many others readers before me, I thought the style was confusing and inelegant. Despite having read 2/3 of the book, I still couldn't figure out the motivation behind the characters and couldn't make myself care about any of them. I emailed the next BXer in line to get this book moving again. I am glad of having had the opportunity to read something from a different country. Thanks for sharing!
morsecode asked to be skipped, so I guess I am the end of the line for this book. Boreal, what would you like me to do with the book? Would you prefer a wild release or a controlled one?
Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks again for sharing!
Journal Entry 22 by Ilios at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (9/10/2007 UTC) at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
sent at a RABCK. Enjoy!
sent at a RABCK. Enjoy!
This book arrived today. What a surprise! I am looking forward to reading it as I am very interested in Samoa and want to read a Samoan author!
