Journal Entry 1 by hobbit from Surabaya, Jawa Timur Indonesia on Monday, April 17, 2006

I bought this at my local used book store. I'd heard a recommendation for it from someone so it will go onto my to-be-read stack, and I'll look forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 2 by hobbit from Surabaya, Jawa Timur Indonesia on Thursday, September 27, 2007

This is a very short but lovely story. I found it deep, sad yet oddly hopeful, and touching. 

Journal Entry 3 by hobbit from Surabaya, Jawa Timur Indonesia on Thursday, October 09, 2008

Sending as part of the RMTBRBB exchange. Sorry it's late! 

Journal Entry 4 by tranq1 from Tampa, Florida USA on Saturday, October 18, 2008

This look really interesting and I think I am going to really like it. 

Journal Entry 5 by tranq1 at Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (12/4/2008 UTC) at Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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Added to ivylibra224's 3rd 1001 Books box. 

Journal Entry 6 by MarysGirl from Brooklyn, New York USA on Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Took out of Ivylibra224 1001 Book Box. Thanks for pitching it in tranq1! 

Journal Entry 7 by MarysGirl from Brooklyn, New York USA on Monday, January 12, 2009

This is a lovely story, lyrically written. At only 88 pages - most of the "chapters" are only a page or page and a half long - it packs a lot of punch. I'll probably read it again, just so I can catch all the beauty I missed the first time, concentrating on the story.

From the back:

"This startling, sensual, hypnotically compelling novel tells a story of adventure, sexual enthrallment, and a love so powerful that it unhinges a man's life. The year is 1861. Herve Joncour is a French merchant of silkworms, who combs the known world for their gemlike eggs. Then circumstances compel him to travel farther, beyond the edge of the known to a country that is legendary for the quality of its silk and its implacable hostility to foreigners: Japan.

There, in the court of an enigmatic nobleman. Joncour meets a woman. They do not touch, they do not even speak. And he cannot read the note she sends him until he has returned to his own country. But in the moment he does, Joncour is possessed. The same spell will envelop anyone who reads Silk, a work that has the compression of a fable, the evocative detail of the greatest historical fiction, and the devastating erotic force of a dream." 

Journal Entry 8 by MarysGirl from Brooklyn, New York USA on Saturday, March 14, 2009

My Japanese-obsessed daughter finished this and loved it. I'm reserving it for a book ray.

Journal Entry 9 by MarysGirl from Brooklyn, New York USA on Wednesday, March 25, 2009

This one is going on a journey. Because it's so short, I'm asking that you keep it no more than 2 weeks. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. The line up so far is:

1. jaenelle - US
2. mrsboknows - US
3. flossie771 - US
4. Goddess-Of-Fire - US
5. Bookworm-lady - Spain
6. Vilda - Sweden
7. Danielle23 - UK
8. Caroley - UK
9. OnlyLiana - UK (skipped - didn't respond to PM's)
10. DryKid - UK <--PLEASE SKIP - STALLING ONE OF MY OTHER BOOK RAYS
11. WigglyWoods - UK
12. mrbaggins1 - South Africa
13. bearyfriend - Singapore Completed it's journey! Thanks to everyone for participating. 

Journal Entry 10 by MarysGirl at Brooklyn, NY, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (3/31/2009 UTC) at Brooklyn, NY, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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This book is on the first leg of its journey as a ray. Hope you enjoy it! 

Journal Entry 11 by jaenelle from Alta Vista, Kansas USA on Saturday, August 15, 2009

Moving on. 

Journal Entry 12 by mrsboknows from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina USA on Friday, September 25, 2009

Arrived today. I will start it as soon as I finish the current read. 

Journal Entry 13 by mrsboknows from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina USA on Sunday, September 27, 2009

A lovely, touching book. It is so short that I am certain the reader misses something the first time around. I might make the effort to read this one again someday.

I have next in line's address and will have the book moving within the week. Thank you for sharing. 

Journal Entry 14 by mrsboknows at Villa Rica, Georgia USA on Saturday, October 17, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (10/17/2009 UTC) at Villa Rica, Georgia USA

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off to flossie771. Please accept my apologies for hanging on to this for so very long. 

Journal Entry 15 by flossie771 from Villa Rica, Georgia USA on Monday, October 19, 2009

Book arrived today....I have a few ahead of it, but I will get to it soon. Thanks for including me! 

Journal Entry 16 by flossie771 at -- Mail or by hand,rings, RABCK, meetings, web, Georgia USA on Friday, October 23, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (10/23/2009 UTC) at -- Mail or by hand,rings, RABCK, meetings, web, Georgia USA

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Mailing out today. 

Journal Entry 17 by Goddess-Of-Fire from Springfield, Missouri USA on Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Received today. I will probably read it this weekend. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 18 by Goddess-Of-Fire from Springfield, Missouri USA on Friday, December 04, 2009

Though I thought the story was actually quite sad, I really enjoyed some of the imagery in the book. I was planning on rereading it because it's so short, but I actually forgot about it and it ended up setting on my shelf for a month. Sorry! I've PMed Bookworm-lady for her address and will send it out as soon as possible.
Thanks

12/29/09-After some delays (including a post office that told me that it couldn't ship internationally, that was a new one for me) I've finally got this in the mail. Sorry for keeping it for so long! 

Journal Entry 19 by Bookworm-lady from Madrid, Madrid Spain on Thursday, January 14, 2010

Thank you, Amanda-Goddess, for passing on the book and for your lovely Xmas greeting!
Looking forward to reading this one; thanks for sharing, MarysGirl!
All my best,
Eva 

Journal Entry 20 by Bookworm-lady from Madrid, Madrid Spain on Thursday, April 29, 2010

This is a lovely, lovely novella!
I read it last night, couldn't put it down...
Beautifully written (and translated, I might add), and divided into little chapters. Almost like reading poetry.
Unlike the film based on it (which I really liked, by the way), the wife's character is scarcely depicted, which makes the ending even more poignant. However, she says things like this, when she thinks her husband is not returning from Japan:
"You were dead. (...) And in the whole world there was nothing beautiful left."
Which makes us think, do we really appreciate what we have, or are always chasing impossible dreams?
Thanks for sharing, MarysGirl, sorry I kept it so long.
Will ask for Vilda's address, and the book will soon be on its way to Sweden!
Eva 

Journal Entry 21 by Bookworm-lady at by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, May 01, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/30/2010 UTC) at by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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Sent yesterday to Vilda, in Sweden.
Enjoy, this is really lovely!
Eva 

Journal Entry 22 by Vilda from Stockholm, Södermanland Sweden on Monday, May 03, 2010

The book is now safely here with me in Sweden. I will read it after finishing what I am reading atm. 

Journal Entry 23 by Vilda at by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, May 17, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (5/17/2010 UTC) at by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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I adored this short novel. I am allways impressed by authors who can keep it short and still offer a full story and I think Baricco really succeeded in this. I will look out for this author again!

Now it travels to the UK. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! 

Journal Entry 24 by Danielle23 from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Friday, May 21, 2010

The book has arrived safely. I should finish my other read tomorrow and will start this then. Thanks so much for sharing xx 

Journal Entry 25 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Thursday, May 27, 2010

What a beautiful book! Once I picked this book up I just couldn't put it down. It was a joy to read, fluent and meaningful and I felt that nothing was lost in translation. I really felt for Helene and had much sympathy for her and she seemed to handle things admirably.

I will get this book posted out as soon as I can but I am confined within the house for a few days until I battle tonsilitis. Thanks so much for sharing and I feel that this book will stay with me for a few years yet xx 

Journal Entry 26 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, July 01, 2010

Received today. Thanks for sending Danielle and for the delicious postcard. 

Journal Entry 27 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, July 01, 2010

Beautiful! I really enjoyed this. The story was lovely but the way it was told even more so.
Thanks very much for sharing the book Marysgirl. I PMd OnlyLiana earlier today and will send the book on as soon as I get an address. 

Journal Entry 28 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, July 05, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (7/5/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom

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Posted 2nd class to WigglyWoods 

Journal Entry 29 by WigglyWoods at Chorley, Lancashire United Kingdom on Thursday, July 08, 2010

Received this morning, thanks Caroley. I had forgotten all about this book but just having read the back of it I'm eager to dig in - just one more ring to finish off first though. 

Journal Entry 30 by WigglyWoods at Chorley, Lancashire United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 21, 2010

What a fabulous little book, I picked it up to start after lunch today and couldn't put it down until I'd finished with it. Such a sad tale with, I think, a word of warning about it. I have the address for mrbaggins1 and will post off this week. 

Journal Entry 31 by WigglyWoods at Chorley, Lancashire United Kingdom on Thursday, July 22, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (7/22/2010 UTC) at Chorley, Lancashire United Kingdom

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posted off to mrbaggins today. 

Journal Entry 32 by mrbaggins1 at Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa on Friday, July 30, 2010

Arrived today - quite quickly. Thanks for sharing. got a couple in front of this one but it's a thin little novella so I'll squeeze it in ASAP. 

Journal Entry 33 by mrbaggins1 at Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa on Thursday, September 02, 2010

I well written and sad little novella. Thanks for sharing. Contacting the next in line to send on. 

Journal Entry 34 by mrbaggins1 at Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa on Friday, October 29, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (10/29/2010 UTC) at Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa

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Control released to Bearyfriend in Singapore - sorry for the delay - the thin little volume slipped in between some other books here in my office and I completely forgot to post it! Thanks for sharing.  

Journal Entry 35 by bearyfriend at Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Saturday, March 05, 2011

Thanks, book finally arrived after a long journey. Thanks for the South African tea, a RBACK book, postcards and $$, thanks to your humour. As I'm last on this ray, I'll take my time to read. 

Journal Entry 36 by bearyfriend at Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Friday, April 15, 2011

Very lovely read. I find this statement about the Japanese concubine very amusing "the face of a young girl and eyes without an oriental slant'. Either it means the girl is a non-Japanese or she has big eyes. And I wonder what's the relationship between Hélène and Baldabiou, when she felt so sad and hugged him before his departure - perhaps she confide her loneliness in him when the husband travels so much for another woman?

I'm keeping it for future reading and will get the film adaptation to watch if I could find it. Thanks for sharing. BTW, I also find Hélène a nice name, think it's pronounced as A-len in French if I'm not wrong, insead of Helen. I know there's a French song by this name :-D