I received this book from Harper Collins as part of their First Look Program. Upon sharing my good fortune I had several people share an interest in the story. And so my first ever Bookring was born!

Here's the list so far:

- cestmoi, Mississauga, Ontario
- jessibud, Toronto, Ontario
- aine-eireann, Halifax
- Terristem, Montreal <-- here
- arwen-galadriel, Edmonton, Alberta
- sqdancer, Spruce Grove, Alberta


I'll probably just go with this order as it is all domestic.

This book made me feel very sad. Marina is slipping into Alzheimer's and lives mostly in her memories. While this is sad in and of itself, her memories are only of the memories of the artwork that one hung in the Hermitage; she describes what used to be in the frames.
It's also a love tory, of art and of her husband for her.

Arrived today. I'm so excited to be part of this bookring! Its next up in my TBR pile so I will probably start it tomorrow or Saturday at the latest.

Will journal more as I read it.

Thanks again.

A very haunting story. I enjoyed it although it was very sad, it was also very uplifting and hopeful. Marina, an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer's, relives her memories from war time Russia and the treasures that were in the museum that was her home and her work, and more importantly, her sanity.

Cestmoi handed this book to me today. I am really looking forward to reading it and I will start it tonight!

The human mind is such a mysterious and unknown territory! As I wandered back into Marina's memories with her, I marvelled at what remained and what disappeared. I was fascinated by the way the author was able to slide almost seamlessly from the present to the past, as one detail, here, and another, there, can trigger and replay a memory so vividly.


It reminds me of how, when we dream, often seemingly random snippets of our daily lives come together to form dreams that make no sense when we try to piece them together and understand them, in our waking hours. And how, sometimes seemingly random snippets of several dreams suddenly make themselves known to us throughout the day, even if we can't remember the entire dream. I have always wanted to know and understand how this works. Dean doesn't really explain it (that wasn't her intent) but she gives us a glimpse of it, from the inside and while the story is a sad one, I found it quite fascinating.

Sent on today to Aine-eireann in Halifax. Thanks, momunit, for including me in this bookring.

Just wanted to let everyone know that the book arrived safely in Halifax on Friday but Aine-eireann is currently having computer problems and until they are sorted out (hopefully, this week), she is unable to access bookcrossing or the internet in general. She is only able to use her Outlook email and so that's how I found out.

She will journal the book properly once she is back in the land of the addicted... um, back online, ;-)

Computer problems resolved. As jessibud wrote, I received "Madonnas" on Friday, May 13. Reviews here are very favourable, so look forward to reading it.

I've just finished this beautifully-crafted novel, and, strangely enough, a painting analogy came to mind in reference to it...impressionist, soft-focus. While the paintings described are in vivid detail, I felt the story itself was quiet and gentle. It's as if (for me) Marina's loss of memory and internal wanderings in an 'otherworldly' place were painted on a soft impressionistic canvas. There's an ethereal beauty to the story. When I came to the last page and realized that Debra Dean had used her grandparent's love affair and Alzheimer's illness as inspiration, it added another dimension to what I had just read of this sad and haunting story. She has inserted a thread of love and care throughout, which has come from her own heart. Dean uses the term 'shepherding' in thanking those who had been instrumental in 'shepherding this book'. I can imagine it was a journey of both love and sorrow for her as she wrote, and having that support along the way was comforting.
Thank you for including me in this bookring.
Will be in touch with Terristem.

Mailed to Terristem today May 29.

Thank you Aine- eireann! Received at the beginning of the week, and currently reading! So far so good! Grabbed my attention from the beginning!