Journal Entry 1 by Ibis3 from Newcastle, Ontario Canada on Saturday, May 06, 2006

From the publisher:
" Written in luminous prose, The Whirlpool is a haunting tale set in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in the summer of 1889. This is the season of reckless river stunts, a time when the undertaker’s widow is busy with funerals, her days shadowed by her young son’s curious silence. Across the street in Kick’s Hotel, where Fleda and her husband, David McDougal, have temporary rooms, Fleda dreams of the place above the whirlpool where she first encountered the poet, a man who enters her life and, unwittingly, changes everything. As the summer progresses, the lives of these characters become entangled, and darker, more sinister currents gain momentum.

The Whirlpool, Jane Urquhart’s first novel, received Le prix du meilleur livre étranger (Best Foreign Book Award) in France and marked the brilliant debut of a major voice in Canadian fiction."
 

Journal Entry 2 by Ibis3 from Newcastle, Ontario Canada on Saturday, July 08, 2006

Urquhart's writing reminded me quite a bit of Virgina Woolf's (I've only read the latter's Mrs Dalloway) and of Michael Cunningham's in The Hours.

I'm not really sure what the bracketing sections concerning Robert Browning were all about. They seemed kind of out of place (and I often find it difficult to buy real historical people in works of fiction).

Of the main story, I enjoyed certain elements: the talk of Laura Secord, the whole process of what level of mourning attire was proper, the idea that it was the poet who could speak to the 'autistic' boy, the home in the wilderness by the whirlpool.

It just didn't seem like a cohesive whole to me. Didn't care too much for the ending. 

Journal Entry 3 by Ibis3 from Newcastle, Ontario Canada on Monday, September 11, 2006

I'm sending this out as a Bookring.

Ring Guidelines:

1. When you receive the book, make a journal entry to let me know it got to you ok.
2. While reading the book, feel free to post on the appropriate Book Talk Forum thread here.
3. When you're done, make a journal entry and let us know what you thought.
4. PM the person next in order (please check here for the current order) for a current mailing address (please confirm that they're ready to receive the book).
5. Mail the book, make a journal entry and mark the book as travelling.

*keep the book for a maximum of 4 weeks. If you feel you can't read it in this amount of time, or you wish to be skipped for any reason, let me know & I'll rearrange the mailing order.
*sign your name inside the back cover of the book if you like.
*feel free to include a postcard, bookmark or other trinket with the book.


Thanks & have fun reading!

Order of go:
sent on September 11/06
1. ladilee24 (Pennsylvania, USA) - arrived September 19/06; sent September 27/06
2. bibliotreker (Pennsylvania, USA) - arrived October 2/06; ; sent October 17/06
3. Thursday5 (Ohio, USA)- arrived October 19/06; sent October 29/06
4. KarenZero (New York, USA) - arrived November 2/06; sent November 20/06
5. Pooker3 (Manitoba, Canada) - arrived November 28/06; ; sent January 15/07
6. ajsmom (British Columbia, Canada) - arrived January 25/06;
7. ldpaulson (California, USA)
... Back to Ibis3 (Ontario, Canada) 

Journal Entry 4 by ladilee24 from Newark, Delaware USA on Tuesday, September 19, 2006

This just arrived today. I shall start on it soon. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 5 by ladilee24 from Newark, Delaware USA on Tuesday, September 26, 2006

This was a very dreamy read, a book with not a lot of plot, but with atmosphere and metaphor to spare. Each of the characters is obsessed with something to the point of ignoring other parts of life. The undertaker’s widow obsesses over death, the historian over battles and heroines and the War of 1812, his wife obsesses over poetry and the whirlpool in the Niagara River and the poet obsesses over nature and the historian’s wife. I felt like the connection between the characters was tenuous at times, but that wasn’t really the author’s concern. She was working with mood and emotional examination, rather than historicism (I felt like it never mattered that this was taking place in the 19th century) or the connectedness between the story’s players. This wasn’t my usual type of novel, and though I enjoyed it to some extent, it does not make me want to seek out any more of the author’s works. Her descriptions are sometimes really beautiful, but this was just a little heavy for me right now.

Sending it to bibliotreker in tomorrow’s mail (9/27/06).
 

Journal Entry 6 by bibliotreker from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Sunday, October 01, 2006

Arrived while I was out of town. I haven't been home much lately. My mother was ill and then passed away so my reading has taken a backseat for while. I have this and another ring book to read and want to get back into my reading again. Thanks for sending this one along. 

Journal Entry 7 by bibliotreker from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Sunday, October 15, 2006

At first I thought I might have problems reading this due to the recent funeral of my own mother; especially with Maude, the undertakers widow, being one of the main charachers. But I found I could distance the two, possibly because of the difference of time and place. I appreciated the metaphores, especially of the whirlpool. A passage that particularly struck me was when Maude was in the garden with her son, "It seemed to her that only in her absence could miraculous transformations occur; only while she slept or lapsed into forgetfulness. Then the river released it's dead, the child spoke, her garden blossomed, the season changed. But never under her direct gaze." To me it's kind of like life. People change, they grow old before we know it. Maybe I wasn't as far from the subject matter as I realized.

Sending this along to the next reader as soon as I get a reply.

Sent to thursday5 on October 17, 2006 

Journal Entry 8 by Thursday5 from Columbus, Ohio USA on Thursday, October 19, 2006

Book arrived today. I'm looking forward to reading it as soon as I finish the book I am currently reading. 

Journal Entry 9 by Thursday5 from Columbus, Ohio USA on Tuesday, October 24, 2006

A hauntingly psychological and metaphorical book. At times I felt like I was waiting for the train wreck to happen. The writer has a srong voice. I wonder if I would have seen morein the book if I knew Robert Browning's poetry better. I have sent a PM to the next person in line. 

Journal Entry 10 by Thursday5 from Columbus, Ohio USA on Sunday, October 29, 2006

Idpaulson asked to be moved to the bottom of the list due to several other bookring arriving recenty, so I am sending the book off to KarenZero. 

Journal Entry 11 by KarenZero from Brooklyn, New York USA on Thursday, November 02, 2006

Received safely. Will read ASAP! 

Journal Entry 12 by Thursday5 from Columbus, Ohio USA on Sunday, November 19, 2006

The more time that passes since I have read this book, the more I realize what a good book it is. It keeps coming to mind when ever I least expect it. At the time I read the book I thought the characters were a bit over the top, but I am realizing now that they were masterfully created in the best literary tradition. 

Journal Entry 13 by KarenZero from Brooklyn, New York USA on Monday, November 20, 2006

I enjoyed this. The writing was quite vivid and the metaphor of the whirlpool was interesting. I think my favorite character was The Boy.
This would probably make an interesting movie.

It will be on to the next reader tomorrow!

thanks for sharing the book, Ibis! 

Journal Entry 14 by KarenZero at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 20, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (11/20/2006 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent on to the next reader! 

Journal Entry 15 by Pooker3 from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Arrived in the mail today. I love the bookplate Ibis, especially since it's been snowing like crazy this morning in Winnipeg. While I don't know if you could swim in the Niagara whirlpool pictured, the lovely blue waters look ever so inviting.
I've got one other ring with me now, but will start on this next. 

Journal Entry 16 by Pooker3 from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on Monday, January 01, 2007

Eep, here it is January 1, 2007 and I've had this book for over a month so thought I'd check in. I had the idea that I would have lots of time to read over the Christmas holidays. I should have known better! Still I am about a third into the story and have to say that the few chances I've had to read have been very calming. While it might be that any chance to read would be calming, I think it is due to Urquhart's style of writing - so graceful and poetic. I'll see if that carries through as my own life becomes "normal" again. 

Journal Entry 17 by Pooker3 from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on Monday, January 15, 2007

I would have loved to have studied this novel in one of my University English classes. Lots of metaphor to dissect. As I read this though, I found myself too lazy to think things through. Rather I was content to loll about in the dappled sunlight by the whirlpool reading and launching my boats, only vaguely irritated by the freakishly weird things going on in the periphery. As such, by the time I was finished, I had only partially formed notions about the metaphorical aspects. While I was quite happy to leave it at that, I did appreciate Lynn Coady's afterword.

Thanks Ibis for sharing this. I have read others of Urquhart's novels and I enjoyed reading this, her first.

I have ajsmom's address, so will get this on its way today.

Edited to add: Safely off in the mail today - Jan 15/07 

Journal Entry 18 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Caught today, thank you! 

Journal Entry 19 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Saturday, February 03, 2007

I have read several of Urquhart's more recent novels and I have to say, I liked this one the best of all of them. (We shall see how I feel after reading A Map of Glass, currently teetering on the top of Mt TBR). While I didn't really appreciate the bits of Browning at beginning and end, in a way they made sense as Fleda was so obsessed with his poetry. The parallels between Browning/Shelley and Patrick/Fleda were interesting, if a bit forced. I liked the relaxing flow of this book; I was intrigued, but not in a hurry to finish it.

I have ldpaulson's address, but am going on holiday for a week, so will get it in the mail as soon as I get back. Thanks for the ring, Ibis! 

Journal Entry 20 by ajsmom at mailed to next reader in Postal release, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Released 5 yrs ago (2/13/2007 UTC) at mailed to next reader in Postal release, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to ldpaulson via air mail. 

Journal Entry 21 by ldpaulson from Ventura, California USA on Monday, April 09, 2007

Plunged into this book immediate upon its arrival, read it, enjoyed it ... and all without taking the time to make a journal entry. Apologies.

It's en route to Ibis as of last week. 

Journal Entry 22 by Ibis3 from Newcastle, Ontario Canada on Monday, April 16, 2007

This one arrived home today. Thanks everyone!

If you'd like to have a discussion about the book, the Book Talk forum thread can be found here:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/3541347

If you haven't signed up already & wish to join my e-mail list for other CanLit ring announcements, PM me with your e-mail address. 

Journal Entry 23 by Ibis3 at via Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament in By mail, Afghanistan release -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, July 05, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (7/5/2008 UTC) at via Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament in By mail, Afghanistan release -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

I decided to let this book continue its journey and sent it as part of gypsysmom's Canada Day Release Challenge to Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming who is doing a book drive for Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

I hope whoever finds this book enjoys it.