An amazing story. I had to read this for uni and i thought i wouldnt enjoy it. How wrong could i be, what an amazing read, really really enjoyable, inspirational and moving. Well written and a must read.

If you would like to join this ring is still open, just PM me.

current people interested in the bookring so far:
1) Annodyne (UK)
2) musicgirl4 (UK)
3) itch2stitch (UK)
4) Lovesbooks05 (UK)Skipped
5) Zepplin (UK)
6) lesezeichen (Germany)
7) Ibis3 (Canada)
8) mrsgaskell (Canada)

*bottom of the list order is subject to change*

9) Back to me (UK)

Bookring rules, journal when you receive the book and again when you post to the next person in the list.

Try to read the book as quickly as you can in around a month is possible. However i understand that sometimes this is not possible which is not a problem as long as you let me know so that i know whats going on.

Try to PM the next person on the list to get details shortly before finishing the book so that it can be posted promptly onto the next person. When the book reaches the last person on the list the book is to be returned back to me.

This bookring will remain open to join for now so if you are interested please PM me and i will add you to the list.

I will be posting the book in the next day or so to Annodyne and will journal in here when i have done so!

Happy reading!!

This ring is now complete!

Posted book to Annodyne today, happy reading everyone!

Received today from Krustybabe18

From the first page, where Esther, in a jacket that is a little too warm for the weather, waits apprehensively at the station to be collected, to the last, (and no, I am not giving the ending away), I was hooked.

Written in a flowing, straight-forward style, the story of Esther's struggles and hardships makes for a compelling read. Esther herself is a robust and endearing heroine whom it is very easy to feel empathy with. It's a lovely lovely book!

Why isn't this better known? It deserves to be. Thanks to krustybabe18 for promoting Esther Waters as a bookring choice. I really enjoyed reading it!!

Posted to musicgirl4 today.

Book arrived on Friday.Should be able to start it in a couple of weeks as I have some other bookrings in front. Hope this is ok. Thanks for posting and I look forward to reading it.

29/07/06 Half way through.It is a wonderful book.

RELEASE NOTES:

A lovely book,beautifully written and easy to imagine the scene. Wonderful metaphors to describe the settings and characters.I found some of the horse-racing references difficult to follow.We think we have problems in our society but life is easy compared to the world of Esther Waters.
Will post to itch2stitch tomorrow.

Book received, will read over coming weeks.
Edited 19 August to say I've posted on to Zepplin. Not at all what i expected - a surprising read - I'd thought it would be highly descriptive of Victorian poverty, so the horse racing discussions were novel ;)

RELEASE NOTES:

Lovesbooks05 couldn't remember being on the list, so posted to Zepplin. Enjoy

I enjoyed this book. I really showed what life was like in a different era in Britain. I found all the racing information a bit boring. Overall a good book.

Thank you for sharing it.

I have posted it to lesezeichen today.

The book has arrived, thanks to all involved! I'm really looking forward to reading it as I had never heard of it until comming across krustybabe's post in the bt forum.

Received in the post today. I'm a bit occupied just at the moment with the Giller shortlist, but this one's next in line. Thanks for the postcard, lesezeichen!

I'm sorry to say that I didn't like this book very much at all. I found most of the horse racing stuff frustrating and hard to follow. I found it difficult to figure out who was who at Woodview with all those nicknames and such. I sometimes felt like the book was a sermon on the evils of gambling and/or the inequity of the laws governing it. The middle (after Woodview and before meeting up with William again) was the best part of the book. Insight into part of Victorian life we don't often see.

I'm PMing mrsgaskell for her address.

Left at a pre-arranged location for mrsgaskell's mrgaskell to take back to Winnipeg with him tomorrow.

Mrgaskell flew home with Esther Waters tonight :) I have put it near the top of the TBR pile.

I had never heard of this book until krustybabe18 offered it as a bookring. I’m very happy to have had this chance to read it. I love Victorian novels and this story of Esther’s struggle to subsist and provide for her illegitimate son was compelling. Although I know less than nothing about horseracing and the placing of bets, and did not understand all of it, I actually found that it added an interesting and different aspect to the novel. I would have to agree though that I enjoyed the middle part of the novel the best.
It was interesting to see how Esther, while still maintaining the religious beliefs of the Plymouth Brethren, was able to adapt to the realities of life. I was surprised at the outcome between her, William, and Fred – it did not work out as typically as I expected.
Thanks so much for sharing, krustybabe18.

P.S.: Ruth by Elisabeth Gaskell is another interesting book if any of you are interested in reading more about the plight of unwed mothers in Victorian England.

Took to the post office yesterday - it's on its way home to krustybabe.

Came home from visitng family over christmas and the new year to find the book sat waiting for me. Thank you to all who took part and made the first ring that I have ever ran a positive experience. Even though this ring is now finished if you wish to read this book it is available so just send a PM and I will willingly post to anywhere in Europe and possibly further if you are really keen to read this book.

Also a special thanks to mrsgaskell for the bookmark, it is a wonderful memento of my first ring.