Journal Entry 1 by aylaeh from Acworth, Georgia USA on Sunday, July 09, 2006

I absolutely love this book! After I orginally read it I asked my grandfather (who was in the Navy) if he had ever been through North Platte. He said no but that he knew many men who had gone through that town. I wish that more people would do things like this town did for the soldiers during WWII.

Here is what amazon.com had to say about the book:
Millions of American soldiers, many of whom had never left their hometowns before, crossed the nation by rail during the years of World War II on their way to training camps and distant theaters of battle. In a little town in Nebraska, countless thousands of them met with extraordinary hospitality--the "miracle" of veteran journalist Bob Greene's title. "The best America there ever was. Or at least, whatever might be left of it." So Greene writes of North Platte, now a quiet town along the interstate, its main street all but dead. It was a quiet town then, too, at the outbreak of the war, but still a hive of activity as its citizens gathered to provide, at their own expense, coffee, sandwiches, books, playing cards, and time to the scared young men who rolled through by the trainload, "telling them that their country cared about them." Greene's pages are full of the voices of those who were there, soldiers and townspeople alike, who took part in what amounted to small acts of heroism, given the shortages and rationing of the time. Greene, generous in his praise if rather disheartened by the modern world, against which he contrasts the past, turns in a remarkable account of the home front. It deserves the widest audience. ---Gregory McNamee

The book ring will be sent to:
namedujour - usa only
collectorkerri - usa/canada
momx3lovesbooks - usa only
lauraloo29 - usa only

then back to me!
 

Journal Entry 2 by AnonymousFinder on Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Received! I'll be getting to it right away. Thanks much!

CAUGHT IN WAXAHACHIE TEXAS US 

Journal Entry 3 by namedujour from Tulsa, Oklahoma USA on Friday, August 18, 2006

It is truly amazing what North Platte and the surrounding towns did for the soldiers and in the midst of rationing and deprivation. Virtually all of the (now old) soldiers cried when they recalled the town's kindness, which took place for no longer than 20 minutes for each of them, over 60 years ago.

Thank you aylaeh! I'm shipping it to collectorkerri tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 4 by collectorkerri from Springfield, Illinois USA on Thursday, August 24, 2006

This one is TBR after 4 other rings. Good thing I'm a fast reader. Will get to it ASAP. 

Journal Entry 5 by collectorkerri from Springfield, Illinois USA on Wednesday, September 20, 2006

What a fantastic story! I have to admit that until I read a review of the book when it came out, I had no idea that such a place existed. It is truly wonderful that in the midst of rationing and deprivation, these ordinary Nebraskans were so generous to people they didn't know. It makes me wonder if such a thing would be possible today. I'd like to think so, but so many more things are competing for people's attention and time these days that I don't think it would succeed nearly as well as it did back then.

I always have liked Bob Greene's writing and was sad when a sex scandal forced him to resign from his columnist job at the Chicago Tribune (after this book was published). I hope he continues to write these wonderful stories.

Sending to momx3lovesbooks today. 

Journal Entry 6 by momx3lovesbooks on Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Caught today! I know Im going to enjoy this book, Im only a few hours from North Platte and know some of the history that town holds.

Oh I loved this book!! It's almost hard to see this book leave my house. I probably shouldn't say that, because then if it doesn't show up at lauraloo29's house everyone will be looking at me! lol But it's the truth. This was such a fantastic book. This was a great book about people uniting for a good cause. If I had to complain about 1 thing in this book, it was that there was a lot of repetition in the book, soilder after soilder, after soilder said the same thing about their experience in North Platte.

I have lauraloo29's address, but I didn't have the book done yesterday (10/19), when I sent my international mailings out, so this one might stay at my house for another couple of weeks, at least until I have 2-3 other international mailings to send out, to make it worth the trip to the post office. 

Journal Entry 7 by momx3lovesbooks on Friday, November 10, 2006

mailed to lauraloo29 on 11/09 via surface mail 

Journal Entry 8 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Wednesday, November 29, 2006

I found 8 packages in my mailbox (which is across the street from my house). It was quite the adventure to carry them all home crossing the very icy street. :)

I've just started another book, but this book will be next. Thank you! 

Journal Entry 9 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Journal Entry 10 by aylaeh from Acworth, Georgia USA on Sunday, December 24, 2006

the book arrived back in my box yesterday. I am so glad that everyone enjoyed the book as much as I did. I wish that people nowadays would be as creative and nice for each other.