From back of the book:

In 1956, towards the end of Reverend John Ames life, he begins a letter to his young son:

'I told you last night that I might be gone sometime...you reached up and put your fingers on my lips and gave me that look I never in my life saw on any other face besides your mother's. It's a kind of furious pride, very passionate and stern. I'm always a little suprised to find my eyebrows unsinged after I've suffered one of those looks. I will miss them.'

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I've decided to make this a bookring. This copy is in paperback and quite thin (less than 2cm) so it shouldn't be expensive to post.

Participants:
Makita21 (Wickepin, WA)
crimson-tide (Balingup, WA)
claudinec (Melbourne, Vic) - wants to be near the end
Saki (Melbourne, Vic) - wants to be near the end

Bookring guidelines:
1. Please make a journal entry promptly when you receive the book so we all know it arrived safely.
2. Read the book at your own pace, but if it's taking more than 4 weeks, make an extra journal entry to update us on your progress.
3. When you’ve finished, make a journal entry to let us know what you thought.
4. PM the next person on the list for their postal address.
5. Post the book off to the next person, and make a journal entry (NOT release notes) to say that you’ve sent it on.

This is not a book with a plot in the conventional sense. It takes the form of a letter the ailing John Ames is writing to his 7-year-old son. The letter meanders between the past and present as Ames writes about whatever springs to mind, frequently getting sidetracked. In the letter Ames reminisces about his family history, things that happened to him in the past, and the sometimes tense relationship he had with his father. He also reflects on events happening in the present time and writes about the hopes he holds for his son.

The writing in this book is stunning. Every page is filled with grace and love. While I loved the book, I can see that it's not going to be for everyone. The pace of the book is slow and meditative, and the reader needs to be in the right mood to enjoy it. When I purchased the book I was advised to read it SLOWLY, and I think that was good advice. I probably rushed through the second half a bit since I was eager to finish it before I moved from Melbourne to Karratha. I'd like to read it again when I have a chance and enjoy the second half a bit more.

This was posted to Makita21 earlier today to start the bookring. Safe travels, little book!

arrived safely, you are right about the slow and meditative, i tried to get started quickly and was ready to give up, but i re-read your notes and will give it more time.

sent to crimson-tide a couple of days ago, never quite got into it myself.

Arrived safely today along with another bookring of course - and two yesterday as well. Why do they always seem to do that??!!

I do apologise for having this book for so long. I had 3 books to read before it, and just after I started reading this one real life began to interfere in a big way. I am reading it and enjoying it. As star-light says, it is a book to read slowly and I am certainly doing that!! I would like to finish it and so will need it a little longer. Looking at the list, the only other 2 BookCrossers yet to receive it do not appear to be in any hurry as they both requested to be near the end. So if it is OK with you star-light, I'll just amble on.

This is not an easy book to read, but is definitely worth the effort if you persist. I imagine it was also not a very easy book to write, and am not surprised about the long gap between her previous book and this one. The writing is akin to a meditation; slow, wise, humble, and as many others have said "full of grace". It's hard to say much except that it is impressive. The type of book that lingers long after reading.

Thanks for being patient while I absorbed it.
Now off to claudinec.

Thanks crimson-tide for the book and for the bonus!

What a surprise to find a book like this written in this century. Reading this felt like sitting at the feet of an elder from another time and place, just listening to him for days on end.

Posted to Saki today.

Arrived in the mail today. Thanks, claudinec.

I've been dipping in and out, but it's not winning me over. Perhaps, that's the problem. Is there a narrative twist involving Boughton ahead? I just don't have the patience to find out.

Thanks for including me in the bookring, star-light; I did appreciate the opportunity to read it.

The book has made it home safely. Thanks everyone for participating in the ring.

On bench