The character of a doctor comes to life through the impressions of his patients, colleagues, and friends. The events that transpire -- a casual phone conversation, a glimpse through a window, a woman who falls in love with her abortionist -- seem inconsequential, but their cumulative effect is devastating. In the end, the reader comes to understand that Dr. Sachs's empathy for his fellow man is both his raison d'etre and his own untreatable condition.

I bought the english translation of this wonderful book to share it with english-speaking readers. This is going to be an international bookray.

The list so far :

1. Nell-Lu (Scotland, int'l)
2. Rossella05 (UK, int'l)
3. Mary-T (Germany, int'l)
4. Sherlockfan (New Zealand, int'l)
5. amberC (Australia, domestic)
...

(order might change depending on shipping preferences)


And by the way, a great movie has been made based on the book. It's not been released on DVD yet but if you find the VHS or if it's on TV, do not miss it. One of the best adaptation I've ever seen. French title : La maladie de Sachs, directed by Michel Deville and starring Albert Dupontel.

Nell-Lu, you're the only one to have joined so far.

If no one else joins before you finish reading it, release it, start another ring/ray or keep it in your permanent collection.

Edit : Shipped on May 2nd

Edit2 (May 13) : You're not alone anymore Nell-Lu

Thanks again, Trelk, for sending this book, Omaha Bigelow, a great postcard, and some chocolate. I really love receiving packages like this!

I had three bookray books arrive on Saturday and three today, so I won't be able to get onto this one straight away. I'm going to leave it until I have finished the others (one of the Saturday arrivals is already finished and in the post, so only four more to go before this one) because there isn't anyone else waiting to read it at the moment. Hope that's okay. I will get onto it next week - I'm looking forward to it.

Excellent book! I really enjoyed this. I found the unusual narrative technique very effective. All of the characters were brought to life and I liked the way links between them were explored in a non-linear way, so we keep finding out interesting things.

The only negative for me was the translation - at first, it really got in the way to have to translate the American English into British English. The tone felt somehow wrong. Anyway, after a while I stopped noticing the translation as I got into the book. I just wish my French was good enough to read the original. As most of the book was written in the second person, I'd have liked to get the extra information as to which characters use "tu" and which "vous". I thought perhaps the few third-person passages were the translator's version of "vous", but it turned out that this wasn't the case.

I'm just off to PM Rossella05 for an address and will get this in the post as soon as I hear back.

UPDATE 24 MAY 2006: I sent this to Rossella05 yesterday afternoon.

It's here and it's next on my TBR list.

Thank you for the lovely card Nell-Lu.

Finished it last night. I don't remember reading a book written in the second person before, it suited the story perfectly and it's what attracted me to it in the first place. It got me thinking about my own relationship with my current and past doctors and how they affected my perceptions of Medicine in general, which reflect in many ways Dr Sach's, particularly when it comes to treating patients with dignity. I like that it's touching without being overly sentimental and a few twists keep the story from becoming monotonous. A very interesting read that I will recommend to others, I'm glad I took chance on it, thank you Trelk.

I've PMed Mary-T just now for her address and will send the book on my next visit to the post office.

Edit.13Jun06 Mailed today!

Dr. Sachs arrived today. Thanks for shipping, Rosella05, and also for the nice postcard! :)
Well - I think it will take me some time since right now a lot of bookrings arrived... but I'll try to be fast...

31.7.06
Well - this is really a strange book...
I've never read a book like this. First the style was really unusual to read. But what really bothered me in the beginning were the detailed desriptions. This was not really interesting.
Later on I liked some stories and I got used to the style.
But still there were passages I skipped.
Anyway - it didn't really grab me.
Nevertheless I thank Trelk for the oppertunity to read this! :)

14.8.06 update
Unfortunately I got no response of my PMs I've sent to Sherlockfan and amberC.
I tried once more and send amberC a last PM. We'll see what happens...

As soon as I have the next address, Dr. Sachs will go on journey.

16.8. update
now I have two addresses... ;)
Dr. Sachs will start travelling to Sherlockfan tomorrow at first.

Received in the post this weekend, thanks Mary-T.
I'm very euphoric at the moment having just returned from the Australian 2006 BC Convention in Adelaide. It was really so enjoyable meeting so many interesting and enthusiastic booklovers.

I'm organising the next NZ convention in my home city of Wellington 16 - 18 February and have come home with lots of ideas.

Although I've come back with a case full of books this is the only bookring on hand so I should get on to it when I finish my current read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book once I got used to the very unusual style of presentation. Bruno's life through so many different eyes was quite fascinating; his humantiy and total caring attitude was refreshing indeed.
The French health system appeared to be very different from anglo-saxon systems I'm vaguely familiar with, especially with the readiness with which home visits were an integral party of the doctor patient relationship.
The scenes covered about 20 years but even at the end the families depicted still seemed quaint and old-fashioned; very much village life.
I'd have liked our family to be a patients of Bruno's. But our female Greek GP is just as good - and even makes house calls if necessary.
Pm-ing amberC for her address today.

Arrived today. I love the NZ notepaper sherlockfan. As I'm last on the list I will read a couple of other books I owe people before I start this.

I just found this book again...it got mixed up with other things when I moved a few years ago.

I'm sorry to have had it for so long.

The story of Dr Sachs and his patients was interesting but I found the writing style annoying.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Taking to a mini-meet-up with a visiting bookcrosser.

Collected today in person from AmberC at a Darwin Mini Meetup at Gloria Jeans Coffee Shop on Mitchell Street, Darwin NT.
Lovely to meet up with you, and thank you for taking the time out to get together.

WILD RELEASE NOTES: Left at Kim's Kitchen

Dear Finder

This book is a gift, no strings attached, from me to you. You may keep it forever, pass it along to a friend, or release it into the wild to be found by someone else.

If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join us...it's free! If you do, please consider using me, J4shaw, as your referring member. You can even remain anonymous if you wish!
All I ask is that you leave a little journal entry to let me know that the book is safe.

Welcome to BookCrossing :)

Release #6 on the Marysville walk:
My partner (who is a fireman) went to Marysville at the time of the 2009 bushfires, and we are heading there tomorrow to put a little money into their local economy and see how the place is rebuilding. I am of course taking a small number of books with me for wild release.