Journal Entry 1 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, February 01, 2006

The blurb:

Ruth Ozeki's mesmerizing debut novel has captivated readers and reviewers worldwide. When documentarian Jane Takagi-Little finally lands a job producing My American Wife!, a Japanese television show sponsored by an American meat-exporting business, she discovers some unsavory truths about love, fertility, and a hormone called DES. Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, Akiko Ueno, a beleagured Japanese housewife, struggles to escape from her child-craving husband. When Jane's and Akiko's lives intersect, the deepest concerns of our time are illuminated: how the past informs the present, and how we live and love in an ever-shrinking world.

Lending to Childermass...but ajsdad wants to read this too, so it will come back! 

Journal Entry 2 by Childermass from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Friday, February 03, 2006

About a quarter way through. I love the style that this author writes in. Very very good. Will return as soon as exams are done:) 

Journal Entry 3 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Back with me...I think I will put it forward as a ring.

Here is the ring order:

classicfox
dittybopper
charlenemartel
titihood
Karenlea
bluehawaii218
Cinnamon-Girl
azuki
bakerwhencan

...back to me!

Please journal the book when you receive it so we know where it is. Please try and read the book within a month - if you can't, just PM me and the next person on the list so that we stay informed. Journal the book again when you release it and enjoy! You may never eat store-bought meat again!! (You have been warned!) 

Journal Entry 4 by ajsmom at controlled release in Postal Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, May 26, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (5/26/2006 UTC) at controlled release in Postal Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to classicfox via air mail. 

Journal Entry 5 by classicfox on Thursday, June 01, 2006

Received in mail today with beautiful post card from British Columbia! I will read and send on soon to next person in ring.

UPDATE: (June 12) Almost done with this; am enjoying it. I'll be sending it on soon to next person with a postcard from my state. 

Journal Entry 6 by classicfox on Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Um, what can I say but OMG---took me awhile to get into the book but when I did, WOW! I couldn't put it down. I knew that the meat industry was deceptive, but...to this extent?? But, yes I do believe the author, even though writing a novel, must have done alot of research and that the book is basically factual, if not completely. I've read other books that should have turned me off to meat for good, but were never quite successful. This may have done the trick. As ajasmom said, be warned--prepare to be disgusted, BUT entertained as well. This is a very interesting book and I highly recommend it. And if you like it, some others to read along these lines: "The Jungle", and "Fast Food Nation." Anyway, thanks so much for allowing me to participate in this ring--I'm very glad I did.
Sending to dittybopper, next on the list with a postcard of Ohio. 

Journal Entry 7 by classicfox at Controlled releases, Bookring in Munroe Falls, Ohio USA on Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (6/14/2006 UTC) at Controlled releases, Bookring in Munroe Falls, Ohio USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed today to dittybopper in Louisiana. 

Journal Entry 8 by dittybopper from Hammond, Louisiana USA on Monday, June 26, 2006

Received today and will get to it in the next week or so once I finish the bookring I'm currently working on. Thanks for passing this one along - looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 9 by dittybopper from Hammond, Louisiana USA on Saturday, July 01, 2006

Thanks for sharing this book with me. It is not one that I would normally gravitate towards when shopping at the bookstore and I was pleasantly surprised with Ms. Ozeki's writing style. Obviously she has done quite a bit of research on the subject of DES and the cattle industry - very interesting. I will PM charlenemartel for her mailing address and send it on its way in the next week. 

Journal Entry 10 by dittybopper from Hammond, Louisiana USA on Sunday, July 09, 2006

Mailing off to charlenemartel tomorrow (July 10) before I leave to go on vacation. Thanks for sharing this fantastic book with me ajsmom! charlenemartel - Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 11 by charlenemartel on Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Thank you Dittybopper for mailing this to me. It arrived with me on Friday and I can't wait to read it. There is one book ahead of it to be read and then I will read it and pass it on. It shouldn't take too long at all.

 

Journal Entry 12 by charlenemartel on Friday, November 17, 2006

OK, firstly, Sincere apologies for the delay in this ring. I am thankful that patience was shown by all and truly appreciate it. I feel terrible that it too me this long to solve some personal stuff but all is back on track and on that note, the next person has been messaged for their info so I can get this off in this mail as soon as I hear back!

As for the book, WOW! Thank you AJsmom for sharing this awesome book. I was moved on so many levels. It's not often you find a book that can move you so emotionally and yet give you so much to think about on a serious level too. I am not sure I can ever eat meat again, at least not without some serious research but a healthier lifestyle never hurts right?

I will be looking for other books by this author I think. The style of writing, the authenticity of the characters, the down to earth storyline. It all just came together so perfectly and is one of my favourite reads I think. 

Journal Entry 13 by Karenlea from Glendale, California USA on Monday, December 25, 2006

Caught!!! This was sitting in a pile of mail from yesterday that my husband forgot to mention. He just pointed it out and I got a very nice Christmas Eve surprise!!! I should be able to start this within the week. Thank you for sharing!!! 

Journal Entry 14 by Karenlea from Glendale, California USA on Sunday, December 31, 2006

This was an excellent last book of 2006. I enjoyed every minute of it, even the disgusting descriptions of the slaughter house. Although the story had many hysterically funny moments, it ended up rather dark towards the end. The book wasvery original and creative. I am going to be on the look out for other books by this author.

A huge thank you to ajsmom for sharing this wonderful book. I will have it posted to the next reader on Thursday, if not sooner. 

Journal Entry 15 by bluehawaii218 from Washington, District of Columbia USA on Wednesday, January 17, 2007

I received the book today! I can't wait to start reading it - thanks for sending it on :) I hope to read through it fairly quickly, balancing it with my school reading. 

Journal Entry 16 by bluehawaii218 from Washington, District of Columbia USA on Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Wow, thanks for sharing the book! It was so interesting and the writing is well done.

I've sent it off to Cinnamon-Girl today.

Tracking Number: 0103 8555 7499 7990 6188
at http://www.usps.com

Thanks again! 

Journal Entry 17 by Cinnamon-Girl from Sharpsburg, Georgia USA on Saturday, March 31, 2007

Received today - thanks! I'll read asap and then send it on ... 

Journal Entry 18 by Cinnamon-Girl from Sharpsburg, Georgia USA on Wednesday, April 18, 2007

What an enjoyable book! I was a little unsure if the main topic could be handled in a fictional format and still manage to be entertaining. Ozeki definitely succeeds and incorporates several other equally compelling storylines into her cautionary tale. You can read more of my comments here. Thanks for including me in the ring, ajsmom!

Mailed off to azuki today - enjoy! 

Journal Entry 19 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Thursday, April 26, 2007

Yay it's here! And I thought it'll never reach me. Thanks everybody for passing it on. I have a few bookrings to attack first but this will be cherished. 

Journal Entry 20 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Tuesday, July 10, 2007

First of all, my apologies for keeping this book for so long. I was halfway through it when I went on a month-long trip to China. I didn't bring the book along least I lose it (which in hindsight was lucky as I got badly rained on one day and my bag was totally drenched) and enjoyed it too much to forward it without finishing the tale.

I signed up for this bookring because of my interest in the "unsavory truth about meat", but this novel delivered much more than I expected. It feels like a ride into unknown territory. You don't quite know what the next turn will lead you, but you are always in for a pleasant surprise as you move from one scenery into the next. Ozeki is really defted with her pen; she captures a scene like a camera lens, so vividly that you can "see" it. Especially outstanding is the scene about the young girl on wheelchair.

It's amazing how Ozeki can write a fiction on a subject as serious as agribusiness exploitation and managed it so entertainingly. There was not a moment that the story felt preachy or dry, even though the message comes through loud and clear.

Thanks ajsmom for sharing this excellent read. BTW Cinnamon-Girl, excellent book blog! This book will be heading to its last stop, bakerwhencan.
 

Journal Entry 21 by bakerwhencan from San Francisco, California USA on Thursday, August 02, 2007

Arrived today! Thank you for sending!

I have a few books to read before this. Will journal once read.
Looking forward to it. Although, I''m a meat eater and a little scared... 

Journal Entry 22 by bakerwhencan from San Francisco, California USA on Friday, September 14, 2007

Like some others said, this book was so much more than I expected. First, it was much more serious than I thought it would be. What struck me is the scope of women's and cultural issues the author deals with. Then the meat info-- I learned a ton! It's got me thinking a lot.

It was slow for me in the beginning, but hung in there and it was worth it. The relationships with men were darker than I expected...

Thank you very much for including me in the ring! This is now on the way back to ajsmom- mailed today!

 

Journal Entry 23 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, September 27, 2007

Received today, thanks everybody! It's so nice to have a successful bookring like this.