Journal Entry 1 by 4-lele from Elmhurst, Illinois USA on Saturday, April 01, 2006

Another great book by Alexander McCall Smith! I'm looking forward to more in this series!

Journal Entry 2 by MarysGirl from Brooklyn, New York USA on Monday, April 17, 2006

Received the book from 4-lele on Good Friday. Thanks! It's moved to the top of my reading list. 

Journal Entry 3 by MarysGirl from Brooklyn, New York USA on Tuesday, April 25, 2006

I'm afraid I didn't care for this book. I had heard so much about Alexander McCall Smith and his best-selling No.1 Ladies' Detective agency, so I was excited about trying out one of his books. My tastes run to plot-driven stories. The characters in FLC were well drawn with real flaws and foibles, but no one (of the major) characters was much changed by the end of the story. A very minor mystery was solved but there was little tension built up and the resolution was anti-climactic. His delving into philosophic conundrums might appeal to many people, but not me. If this is a good sample of McCall's writing, I think I'll pass. I hope others enjoy it more than I did.

I'll put it in the mail to ButoracA today or tomorrow. I'll journal again as soon as I get a confirmation number from USPS. 

Journal Entry 4 by MarysGirl from Brooklyn, New York USA on Friday, April 28, 2006

The book sent on to BuroracA on 4/27 by USPS media mail. Confirmation number is 03051720000096800221. I hope everyone else enjoys the book. Thanks to 4-lele for including me in the bookring! 

Journal Entry 5 by ButoracA from Bronx, New York USA on Tuesday, May 02, 2006

I received the book today! Very excited to read it and pass it along to the next member of the bookring. 

Journal Entry 6 by ButoracA from Bronx, New York USA on Thursday, May 11, 2006

Hi there!
I have just finished Friends, Lovers, Chocolate! I think Alexander Mccall Smith does an excellent job creating full-bodied characters. However, I feel like the plot of this mystery was very thin. I kept reading because I wanted to know more about the characters, not because I really cared about the solution to the mystery.
I will be sending this book to therubycanary on Monday morning. 

Journal Entry 7 by ButoracA from Bronx, New York USA on Tuesday, May 23, 2006

I sent out the book today, 5/23/06 to therubycanary. Sorry for the delay- things got a little crazy! 

Journal Entry 8 by therubycanary from Portland, Maine USA on Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Great! I enjoyed this, but didn't think it was any sort of feat of writing or plot. Nice characters, and great descriptions of the area. 

Journal Entry 9 by vainilla79 from Pinto, Madrid Spain on Sunday, July 16, 2006

Finally (and fortunately) the book arrived this weekend! I will try to read it as soon as possible. 

Journal Entry 10 by vainilla79 from Pinto, Madrid Spain on Monday, July 31, 2006

I just finished the book few days ago and what can I say? I really enjoyed it!, basically because the story is set in Edinburgh, a very special city for me, and it brought me nice memories:)
Thank you for sharing this book! It made me very happy:)
I just contacted Kalistina to get her address and send her the book. 

Journal Entry 11 by vainilla79 from Pinto, Madrid Spain on Saturday, August 05, 2006

I just posted the book this morning, so it is in its way to Marseille, France!:)
Have a happy reading! 

Journal Entry 12 by kalistina from Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France on Thursday, August 10, 2006

Thanks to 4-lele and Vainilla79! What a nice book, its appearance makes already a favourable impression on me. I finish the books I am currently reading and after that will I start with this one (hoping the language won't be to difficult for me... We Frenchies are known for our bad English skill!). 

Journal Entry 13 by kalistina from Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France on Saturday, August 19, 2006

I'm sorry but I gave up ; I read about 100 pages of this book, and I felt bored. The characters please me as well as the style, but I haven't seen a real plot, maybe because I started reading this book considering it as a "mystery novel" (do you say it this way?). I'm conscious it's because of my non-skill at English too. I may try again when it'll be published in French.
I contact cnfoto in order to send her the book :o) 

Journal Entry 14 by kalistina from Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France on Saturday, September 02, 2006

Sent to cnfotp this morning :o) 

Journal Entry 15 by cnfotp on Monday, September 11, 2006

This book arrived at the end of last week but due to an intermittent internet connection I haven't been able to journal until today - sorry.

The good news is I have already finsihed the book! I started it last night and finished it this morning. It was a pleasant, fun book which had some lovely descriptions of Edinburgh (a city I have never visited but have needed in the psat to study the streetmap of, so it was nice for those streets to come alive).

I don't see this as being a great 'mystery' novel, but it is a good book and Alexander McCall is now definitely an author I will take the oppurtunity to read whenever it arises. I found this book very different to Portuguese Irregular Verbs (which I also enjoyed) and am expecting the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency to arrive here soon.

Thanks for sharing. I'm contacting the next reader this afternoon. 

Journal Entry 16 by cnfotp on Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Just a JE to say sorry to everyone for not passing this on yet. We've had a financial crisis and I'll be moving it on as soon as I can and hope this is OK. 

Journal Entry 17 by cnfotp on Monday, October 30, 2006

I posted this at the weekend. Apologies again for holding onto it for so long. 

Journal Entry 18 by rosiewhippet from Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 31, 2006

received safe and sound thankyou. I have couple of other rings before this one but won't take long. Funny enough 1 of them is another McCall Smith book!!!

Rosiewhippet. x 

Journal Entry 19 by rosiewhippet from Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Journal Entry 20 by rosiewhippet at RAF Wyton Post Office in RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 04, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (12/4/2006 UTC) at RAF Wyton Post Office in RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Hope you enjoy it more than I did. On it's way 2nd class.

Rosiewhippet. x 

Journal Entry 21 by Jive-Monster from Spring Cottage, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Thursday, December 07, 2006

Received in the post today. Is next on my reading list, just got to finish the book I'm on - won't be long... promise!! 

Journal Entry 22 by Jive-Monster from Spring Cottage, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Sunday, December 17, 2006

This book has a certain charm to it. It doesn't seem at all hurried and although I didn't think I'd enjoy it, I found myself actually making more time to read it.

I haven't read 'The Sunday Philosophy Club' and to be quite honest, I'm quite pleased about that as I think it may have put me off reading this book.

I'm PMing Shimmy-crazy and will hopefully get it in the post tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 23 by Shimmy-crazy from Finchley, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, January 05, 2007

This arrived during the christmas break when I didn't have access to a computer so have only just got round to registering it. I quite enjoyed it as light reading. The plot was quite thin but I liked the characters and Isobel's musings. PMing molekilby now will send it off ASAP

Posted this morning (18/1/07) 

Journal Entry 24 by molekilby from BRITHDIR, Wales United Kingdom on Friday, January 19, 2007

Arrived today. Thanks Shimmy-crazy for sending and to 4-lele for sharing. A couple of books before this, but should get it read in a month. 

Journal Entry 25 by molekilby from BRITHDIR, Wales United Kingdom on Sunday, February 04, 2007

A quick read that was very welcome after a particularly heavy going book. I much preferred this to the previous book in the series "The Sunday Philosophy Club". Isabel isn't quite so inquisitive but still does her fair share of snooping around. Certainly both books pose a number of philosophical questions that cause the reader to think and may not be left with an answer by the conclusion.

Thanks again to 4-lele for sharing, this will be sent on it's travels once I have an address of the next person. Sent 13th February. 

Journal Entry 26 by quico from Coimbra (cidade), Coimbra Portugal on Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Sorry people, I forget to journal this. But I've read it and "Friends, lovers and chocolate" will travel again as soon as i get babyimran's address. Great title, well drawn caracters, good humour and a cozy environment. The plot was not so great: I like a good old murder (but only in fiction). And Isabel is so perfect! Grace would be a much better detective! 

Journal Entry 27 by quico from Coimbra (cidade), Coimbra Portugal on Monday, April 02, 2007

Travelling to Malaysia... 

Journal Entry 28 by babyimran from Kajang, Sultanate of Selangor (Shah Alam) Malaysia on Monday, April 09, 2007