As Always, Jack: A Wartime Love Story
37 journalers for this copy...
Books that fall into the category of *letters* or *correspondence* have always appealed to me. I never fail to be captivated by the voyeuristic aspect of this genre, of reading someone else's letters. It combines the best of my favourite type of reading: biography, autobiography and, in a way, time travel.
Even such books by people who are not famous for anything at all, are almost sure to draw me in. Case in point: "As Always, Jack" written by his daughter, Emma Sweeney. A little book I happened across one day, I just couldn't resist picking it up. Jack Sweeney was the dad Emma never knew. He died in a plane crash when her mom was five months pregnant with Emma. She grew up with an idealized image of him in her mind but it wasn't until she found a box of letters written by him to her mom before they married, that Emma really gets to know him. From the blurb on the back of the book:
"The discovery of a cache of letters -- written just after World War II by a young navy pilot from Texas to the California girl with whom he had fallen in love -- becomes a grown daughter's introduction to the man who died before she was born, the father she never knew. Unique in its poignant details yet universal in its depiction of the passions and fears of wartime, AS ALWAYS, JACK is a love story that sears the heart"
The only thing missing from this book was a section of photos. That would have made it all the more real, at least, for me.
Even such books by people who are not famous for anything at all, are almost sure to draw me in. Case in point: "As Always, Jack" written by his daughter, Emma Sweeney. A little book I happened across one day, I just couldn't resist picking it up. Jack Sweeney was the dad Emma never knew. He died in a plane crash when her mom was five months pregnant with Emma. She grew up with an idealized image of him in her mind but it wasn't until she found a box of letters written by him to her mom before they married, that Emma really gets to know him. From the blurb on the back of the book:
"The discovery of a cache of letters -- written just after World War II by a young navy pilot from Texas to the California girl with whom he had fallen in love -- becomes a grown daughter's introduction to the man who died before she was born, the father she never knew. Unique in its poignant details yet universal in its depiction of the passions and fears of wartime, AS ALWAYS, JACK is a love story that sears the heart"
The only thing missing from this book was a section of photos. That would have made it all the more real, at least, for me.
Ok, here's who's participating so far. The list remains open.
1) time-traveler - USA
2) TexasWren - USA
3) Thursday5 - USA
4) QueenMummy - USA
5) Suefitz - USA
6) chronicbooker3 - Canada
7) pepita-di-Corfu - Greece
8) angellica - England
9) lmjsmum - England
10)BookCrosser - Netherlands
11)spoiledrotten - USA
12)fairydustwings - USA
13)mysticalzoe - USA
14)Hotflash - USA
15)sarahbear - Australia
16) lakelady2282 - Australia
17) Purple-lilly - Australia
18) hunnyb - Australia
19) cathyinoz - Australia
20) kayjay33 - BC, Canada
21) Maskaar - Wisconsin, USA
22) oi-reader - Ohio, USA
23) dg7500 - PA, USA
24) JDT - California, USA
25) AnglersRest - UK
26) Pooker3 - Manitoba, Canada
Round 2
1- Etherea - USA
2- pzarks - USA
3- Sherlockfan - New Zealand
4- Discoverylover - New Zealand
5- otakuu - New Zealand
6- Futurecat - New Zealand
7- bookworm76 - Australia
8- HINERANGI - Australia
9- Sujie - Australia (intn'l)
10- wombles - Australia (intn'l)
11- Plum-crazy - UK
12- yorkshire-lass - UK (intn'l)
13- jenny72 - UK (intn'l)
14- kobie03 - Canada (intn'l)
15- Aramena - USA (USA)
16- nat4lee - USA (N.A or Eur) - - currently here
17- thistle8 - USA
18- minesayn - USA
1) time-traveler - USA
2) TexasWren - USA
3) Thursday5 - USA
4) QueenMummy - USA
5) Suefitz - USA
6) chronicbooker3 - Canada
7) pepita-di-Corfu - Greece
8) angellica - England
9) lmjsmum - England
10)BookCrosser - Netherlands
11)spoiledrotten - USA
12)fairydustwings - USA
13)mysticalzoe - USA
14)Hotflash - USA
15)sarahbear - Australia
16) lakelady2282 - Australia
17) Purple-lilly - Australia
18) hunnyb - Australia
19) cathyinoz - Australia
20) kayjay33 - BC, Canada
21) Maskaar - Wisconsin, USA
22) oi-reader - Ohio, USA
23) dg7500 - PA, USA
24) JDT - California, USA
25) AnglersRest - UK
26) Pooker3 - Manitoba, Canada
Round 2
1- Etherea - USA
2- pzarks - USA
3- Sherlockfan - New Zealand
4- Discoverylover - New Zealand
5- otakuu - New Zealand
6- Futurecat - New Zealand
7- bookworm76 - Australia
8- HINERANGI - Australia
9- Sujie - Australia (intn'l)
10- wombles - Australia (intn'l)
11- Plum-crazy - UK
12- yorkshire-lass - UK (intn'l)
13- jenny72 - UK (intn'l)
14- kobie03 - Canada (intn'l)
15- Aramena - USA (USA)
16- nat4lee - USA (N.A or Eur) - - currently here
17- thistle8 - USA
18- minesayn - USA
This arrived today and something tells me I will really enjoy it. I'm finishing up a short book and then As Always, Jack will be next.
I started this book late last night and finished it today. It's a wonderful, bittersweet little book. I actually enjoyed Parts One and Three more than Part Two (the letters), although that last letter caused me to shed a small tear.
Wartime letter writers of the 1940's were communicating the only way they could...they had no idea that one day we would read these letters and consider them a romantic, lost art. I wish we could have read some of Beebe's letters to Jack. He really seemed to cherish them. I agree with you, jessibud, more photos would have been great.
This was the perfect book to read on this dark, rainy Sunday. Thanks so much for sharing this, jessibud.
Wartime letter writers of the 1940's were communicating the only way they could...they had no idea that one day we would read these letters and consider them a romantic, lost art. I wish we could have read some of Beebe's letters to Jack. He really seemed to cherish them. I agree with you, jessibud, more photos would have been great.
This was the perfect book to read on this dark, rainy Sunday. Thanks so much for sharing this, jessibud.
Mailed today to TexasWren. Enjoy!
It's arrived safely, and I've put my current book aside to read this.
It's been awhile since I've read a "one night" book. Sleep just lost it's appeal until I finished reading.
I've always thought it a shame that there will be no more treasured letters from our soldiers in this generation. Email is wonderful, and I would certainly not wish the long, tense waits to hear something, on anyone. But, all the same, it's sad that these sort of letters are over.
It was a lovely book!! I'll bet living with Jack was a lovely adventure!!!
Thanks for sharing this with me!!
I'll pm the next person, and post when it goes in the mail.
I've always thought it a shame that there will be no more treasured letters from our soldiers in this generation. Email is wonderful, and I would certainly not wish the long, tense waits to hear something, on anyone. But, all the same, it's sad that these sort of letters are over.
It was a lovely book!! I'll bet living with Jack was a lovely adventure!!!
Thanks for sharing this with me!!
I'll pm the next person, and post when it goes in the mail.
This is leaving today.
Delivery confirmation:
0305 2710 0002 5600 2137
Delivery confirmation:
0305 2710 0002 5600 2137
I finished a book last night and was just deciding what to read next when this book arrived in the mail today. I look forward to reading it. Thanks for sharing Jessibud.
Started reading this after dinner and finished before bedtime-just couldn't put it down. These letters are such a famiy treasure. What is written in a letter has a different quality than what is said on the phone-I believe that when you write a letter you think through what you want to communicate in a more thoughtful way. My husband and I have boxes full of letter that we wrote to each other when I was studying at a university in Austria and he was in dental school in Ohio.Overseas phone calls were very expensive at that time so he used to write me a letter several pages long every day. These letters are a treasure and reveal who he is and I hope our children enjoy them someday.
I discovered a nice bookmark in the book printed by the Canadian Library and Archives. I hope it is okay if I take this bookmark and replace it with another one from Ohio.
This was my 50th book read this year!
I will contact the next person in the bookring and sent the book on as soon as I receive the address.
I discovered a nice bookmark in the book printed by the Canadian Library and Archives. I hope it is okay if I take this bookmark and replace it with another one from Ohio.
This was my 50th book read this year!
I will contact the next person in the bookring and sent the book on as soon as I receive the address.
Received this booklast Friday as the next person in the ring. Will read as soon as I finish the little one I am currently into. Won't be long, I promise. This looks like a treasure!
This is a book that absolutely charmed me. And I agree with Jessibud that all it needed was a section of photos. What a love story! What a guy!
Emma was lucky that she did find the cache of letters and that she was able to "meet" her dad this way. It was sweet to experience her parents falling in love through the mail and to know that he felt, on the eve of his fateful flight, that he had already had such a lucky, fulfilled existence. Her father was obviously smitten with BeeBe immediately and was quite an irrestible character. Whoever said that a sense of humor is the most appealing thing in a man, got that right, as Jack grew more and more attractive with every teasing letter. Jack was a hero and his high school class got it right, he became at least, one of their most valuable graduates.
A lovely book and a treat to read. I will be sending it on to Suefitz asap!
Mailed today in the morning going Media Mail so should take about a week....
Emma was lucky that she did find the cache of letters and that she was able to "meet" her dad this way. It was sweet to experience her parents falling in love through the mail and to know that he felt, on the eve of his fateful flight, that he had already had such a lucky, fulfilled existence. Her father was obviously smitten with BeeBe immediately and was quite an irrestible character. Whoever said that a sense of humor is the most appealing thing in a man, got that right, as Jack grew more and more attractive with every teasing letter. Jack was a hero and his high school class got it right, he became at least, one of their most valuable graduates.
A lovely book and a treat to read. I will be sending it on to Suefitz asap!
Mailed today in the morning going Media Mail so should take about a week....
Looks like a quick read.
Journal Entry 14 by Suefitz at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, December 24, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (12/20/2006 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Releasing to chronicbookr3 who is next inthe ring.
Releasing to chronicbookr3 who is next inthe ring.
This arrived today and I will be reading it as soon as I finish the book Im reading now. Hopefully this will be a nice book to finish my year with.
Quick and very simply written. The majority of this book is the letters (that Emma finds after the death of her mother) written by Jack to his sweetheart and then wife. Emma never new her dad he was killed in a plane crash before she was born. Her mother rarely talked about her dad and it wasnt until many years later after the death of her mom that Emma finds the letters and is able to put some characteristics to her father. Some touching points but overall, mediocre. My favorite letter was the very last one published on the last page of the book.
Journal Entry 17 by pepita-di-Corfu from Thessaloniki - Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloniki Greece on Monday, January 15, 2007
the book arrived today and it seems an interesting and easy read. I'm getting down to it straight away! Thanks chronicbooker3 for sending it!
Journal Entry 18 by pepita-di-Corfu from Thessaloniki - Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloniki Greece on Friday, January 19, 2007
this was such a quick and easy read! I've always loved reading books written in a letter like style so i enjoyed reading this one as well. I wish i could find the Jack of my own, writing love letters to me too! And i think that by publishing this book-collection of letters, Jack or else John Milton Sweeney will never be forgotten, thus not dead.i'm PMing the next participant to keep the bookring going.
Journal Entry 19 by pepita-di-Corfu at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, January 29, 2007
Released 17 yrs ago (1/29/2007 UTC) at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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RELEASE NOTES: as of this morning the book is already travelling to meet angellica in the United Kingdom. I hope you'll enjoy reading it!
Journal Entry 20 by angellica from Worksop, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Thursday, February 8, 2007
Arrived safely - thanks for sharing!
Journal Entry 21 by angellica from Worksop, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Monday, April 30, 2007
I thought this was very touching. It must be hard to keep a relationship like theirs going with such difficulties.
A fairly quick read, but largely forgettable.
I've already PMd lmjsmum but had no answer. I'll retry tomorrow and PM the next in line
Thanks for sharing.
A fairly quick read, but largely forgettable.
I've already PMd lmjsmum but had no answer. I'll retry tomorrow and PM the next in line
Thanks for sharing.
As I haven't had a response from the next on the ring, I've PMd Bookcrosser and have an address so this will be in the post today.
The book arrived this morning. It looks interesting, with the nice illustrations.
What a pity that we can only read one side of the correspondence! I would have liked to know if Beebe's love for Jack grew slowly, or that she was just as smitten by him as he by her from the beginning. Jack's last letter is moving, and it shows that they made the right choice.
Ill pm the next person on the list. the book will be travelling to the USA.
Ill pm the next person on the list. the book will be travelling to the USA.
Received in the mail as part of a book ring. Will read as soon as I am done with my current book. Thanks for including me and for the bookmark!
5/30/07 This was a very quick read. I agree that part one and three were the best parts. I expected the book to be a little more emotional, but it just wasn't for me. I am waiting for fairydustwings to send me her address so the book can continue on its journey.
I did find it interesting that in September of 2006 this book was sent to someone who lives in the town next to me!!!!!
06/05/07 This was sent this morning to Fairydustwings as a continuance of the book ring. Enjoy.
5/30/07 This was a very quick read. I agree that part one and three were the best parts. I expected the book to be a little more emotional, but it just wasn't for me. I am waiting for fairydustwings to send me her address so the book can continue on its journey.
I did find it interesting that in September of 2006 this book was sent to someone who lives in the town next to me!!!!!
06/05/07 This was sent this morning to Fairydustwings as a continuance of the book ring. Enjoy.
I'm anxious to get started on this book, it looks great!!
This book was awesome. It made me cry and think about my own life. It made me think of how precious my family is and how we need to not take for granted the time we have on this earth, we don't know how long or short it may be. I highly recommend this book. This will be travelling on to the next person this Thursday when I do my big post office run.
This wonderful gem of a book is travelling on to the next person. It was posted a week and a half ago by media mail. So it should be there anytime. Sorry for the delay all.
Recieved today will try and finish in a timely manner.
9-6-07
I can't believe this book is done, I was happy that Emma found her Father this way, it must have been hard not meeting him. I didn' find this a love story though. I didn't cry and there was no emotion, some of the stuff he wrote was really boring, his jokes were too corny and it didn't do it for me. I am glad I got to read it though. Will PM next person
9-6-07
I can't believe this book is done, I was happy that Emma found her Father this way, it must have been hard not meeting him. I didn' find this a love story though. I didn't cry and there was no emotion, some of the stuff he wrote was really boring, his jokes were too corny and it didn't do it for me. I am glad I got to read it though. Will PM next person
Journal Entry 30 by rem_EOL-341852 at Controlled release sent to fellow bookcrosser Book in Londonderry, New Hampshire USA on Friday, September 7, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (9/7/2007 UTC) at Controlled release sent to fellow bookcrosser Book in Londonderry, New Hampshire USA
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RELEASE NOTES:
sent earlier
sent earlier
Just arrived. Been in a bit of a reading slump, but I'm finally moving through my current book and should finish it soon. Will start this one immediately thereafter :)Thanks for sharing.
P.S. since this is a WWII era book, I uploaded a photo of the front page of a London newspaper - the day the war ended. The section of paper was saved and carried around by my grandmother. It traveled from England to Canada and finally to the States.
A very charming little book. My favorite parts were the sections written by Emma Sweeney, describing how she came upon the letters, what they meant to her, and finally, what she learned about her father (& her mother) after reading them. I also found the inset, written in her father's handwriting, interesting. I really think handwriting brings a person to life in a way the typewritten word, no matter how eloquently stated, simply cannot.
I have to admit, though, that by the halfway point I was a bit bored by the sameness of the letters. I can see where every word would hold a fascination for the daughter discovering her father for the first time, but that just isn't the case for the casual reader, at least not this one. However, all in all an enjoyable read.
"As Always Jack..." will continue it's journey as soon as I have an address for the next reader.
Edited to add - I have added a Tucson postcard to the postcard stash tucked inside the book.
I have to admit, though, that by the halfway point I was a bit bored by the sameness of the letters. I can see where every word would hold a fascination for the daughter discovering her father for the first time, but that just isn't the case for the casual reader, at least not this one. However, all in all an enjoyable read.
"As Always Jack..." will continue it's journey as soon as I have an address for the next reader.
Edited to add - I have added a Tucson postcard to the postcard stash tucked inside the book.
Arrived safely and soundly here in Tasmania, Australia. I have a few ahead of it but I will get to it asap.
I really enjoyed reading these love letters. I liked reading the daughters thoughts at the end too. The book was a nice size and I am glad there wasn't more because it could have been too much of a good thing. Jack sounded like a funny and loving man and like his daughter I wonder if he really was how he portrayed himself to be in his letters.
A great read that I would highly recommend.
I am pretty sure I will be seeing lakelady2282 at the Australian Convention later this week so I will be able to hand it on in person but I will PM her just to check incase I need to post it.
A great read that I would highly recommend.
I am pretty sure I will be seeing lakelady2282 at the Australian Convention later this week so I will be able to hand it on in person but I will PM her just to check incase I need to post it.
Posting to lakelady in the morning.
Journal Entry 36 by lakelady2282 from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Monday, October 8, 2007
Received safely today. Thanks jessibud and sarahbear. How was the convention, sarahbear? Did you have a good time? Looking forward to reading the book.
Journal Entry 37 by lakelady2282 from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Monday, October 15, 2007
This book, despite it's size and simplicity has had quite a profound effect on me. I think it's a reminder of a world we've lost - when things were more hopeful (the war was over after all) and marriages lasted forever.
We should all be so lucky to have such a sincere and ardent guy writing to us. Yes, his jokes are a bit corny but well, they are sixty years old. And what surprises me most about this book is how life affirming it is despite the tragically early death of Jack and the relatively early death of Beebe. Thanks so much Jessibud for starting this ring and to sarahbear for posting it out. Will pm purple-lilly.
We should all be so lucky to have such a sincere and ardent guy writing to us. Yes, his jokes are a bit corny but well, they are sixty years old. And what surprises me most about this book is how life affirming it is despite the tragically early death of Jack and the relatively early death of Beebe. Thanks so much Jessibud for starting this ring and to sarahbear for posting it out. Will pm purple-lilly.
Journal Entry 38 by lakelady2282 from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Friday, October 26, 2007
Purple-lilly hasn't answered two pm's so I will pm hunnyb.
Released 16 yrs ago (10/30/2007 UTC) at
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Thanks for sending this - I'll get into it right away :)
This book is beautiful. I have to agree with Pat Conroy's comment on the front cover - "one of the great love stories of our time". Just the expressions of his love for her - it's amazing to read that words with that depth of feeling. Thanks for sharing this, it makes me hope :)
Arrived in the post sometime while we were away in NZ. Will start on this smallish book once I've finished the current read =)
Thanks for sending this my way everyone.
Thanks for sending this my way everyone.
I loved reading this. It's a true romance. And how wonderful for the author/daughter to have found that box full of letters.
Letter-writing is an art and now a real piece of history that's lost in the impermanence of emails. What will our grandchildren treasure?
Thanks all for sharing.
I'll contact the next person then update when it's posted on.
Letter-writing is an art and now a real piece of history that's lost in the impermanence of emails. What will our grandchildren treasure?
Thanks all for sharing.
I'll contact the next person then update when it's posted on.
This little book arrived today. I will happily set aside the three books that I am currently struggling through, so that I can read this first.
I like books written in this format, as letters,emails, or diary entries. It must have been wonderful for the author to discover the letters that her father who she had never known, had written to her mother.I agree with some of the comments that the letters were a bit boring at times to an outsider. But they did point up the fact that he was a loving, caring man with a good sense of humor.
I have sent a PM to the next one on the list, and will get the book in the mail as soon as I get an address.
I have sent a PM to the next one on the list, and will get the book in the mail as soon as I get an address.
Journal Entry 46 by 
kayjay33
at Canada Post Office in Langley, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, January 23, 2008
kayjay33 at Canada Post Office in Langley, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (1/23/2008 UTC) at Canada Post Office in Langley, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
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RELEASE NOTES:
This book was mailed by Canada Post to the next participant this morning. I am sorry that it took me awhile to get to Post Office.
I added another post card to the collection in the package.
This book was mailed by Canada Post to the next participant this morning. I am sorry that it took me awhile to get to Post Office.
I added another post card to the collection in the package.
Got the well-read book in the mail today! Will read and send to the last one on the list after I savor it.
So glad to be included in the book ring for this one. I not only enjoyed reading the book, but knowing that there is a community of readers helpedme feel connected. The book was read, and the writing real and that's what I enjoyed most about it, I think. And to learn the story of her father with the daughter was meaningful. Not the best writing, but then I didn't expect that, so I wasn't dissappointed. Will send as soon as possible to the last person on the list.
Arrived safely today! Thanks for including me jessibud! I'm reading 2 other books at this time, The Winter Rose (what a tome!) at home and The Road at work, but this looks like a quick and easy read. Will get to it soon.
Lovely little book, thanks for inviting me to read it jessibud. True love at first sight on Jack's part without a doubt, but I agree, I would have liked to know more about how Bebee felt. Jack's letters at times were a bit corny, but his feelings always rang true, and reading his writings made me chuckle more than once.
On its way to dg7500 in the morning......
On its way to dg7500 in the morning......
Arrived safely. I have another book to finish first, but hope to start reading this by early next week.
What a lovely, sentimental little book...a quick read, but very touching. I have JDT's address, and will mail this out early next week.
Journal Entry 53 by 
dg7500
at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, March 18, 2008
dg7500 at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (3/18/2008 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Winging it's way to the next reader. Enjoy!
Winging it's way to the next reader. Enjoy!
Happy to receive this amazingly well-travelled and journalled little book!
Thanks to all before me.
Thanks to all before me.
a wonderful, uplifting read - devotion, warmth, humor shown by a well-educated and good military man, the gift of understanding and love to his daughter in later years.
Still underscores the distress of war - on the individuals, the families, the countries involved.
And as others have said - what a treasure we've lost in letter-writing. We still have a stack of letters written while we were dating and away at college over 40 years ago. (wonder if I should take another look/censor before our adult children find them! )
Off to AnglersRest!
Enjoy!
Still underscores the distress of war - on the individuals, the families, the countries involved.
And as others have said - what a treasure we've lost in letter-writing. We still have a stack of letters written while we were dating and away at college over 40 years ago. (wonder if I should take another look/censor before our adult children find them! )
Off to AnglersRest!
Enjoy!
Thanks for sending JDT, this arrived today. I am very likely to start straight away as I have just devoured my last ring, a Debbie Macomber!. I have the address for Pooker3, so this should be traveling back to the US within the next week or so. Will make a further JR though
Emma following the death of her mother stumbles across a series of letters which were sent from her father to her mother in their courting days, at the backend of World War Two. After 6 months of corresponding, they had in reality only spent two weeks together. Upon being decommissioned and returning to the States Jack immediately visits the father of his sweetheart to ask for concent to marry. They did marry and had a family together, the author Emma was still being carried by her mother when her father died. To all intents and purposes, Emma did not know her father, but as she grew up developed a picture in her mind of the type of person he was. The letters that she found enabled Emma to flesh out the character he had. Emma does in order to find more answers about her father's life visit his family home, and meets several Aunts and the area where they grew up. I would have liked to have explored that a bit further, and perhaps there is scope for another book....The book overall was an enjoyable one, this edition had some lovely illustrations and background paper reinforcing that this book was essentially a series of letters, from an era when communication was about writing letters, involving pen, ink, paper & stamps and not our modern methods.
This book also made me think of my grandparents. They married in September 1939 and by November of the same year my Grandfather was in the Army stationed in Africa. There is very sadly, no letters from this time of separation, in fact there was very few photos, not even of their wedding. There is one though which I have inherited of my Grandfather in a relaxed portrait with written, on the back "Your love one, George X"
I have Pooker3's address, so in the post to Canada on Monday 14th April.
This book also made me think of my grandparents. They married in September 1939 and by November of the same year my Grandfather was in the Army stationed in Africa. There is very sadly, no letters from this time of separation, in fact there was very few photos, not even of their wedding. There is one though which I have inherited of my Grandfather in a relaxed portrait with written, on the back "Your love one, George X"
I have Pooker3's address, so in the post to Canada on Monday 14th April.
Oh my! It never rains, but it pours. This is the fourth ring book to show up in the last little while. I'm going to try to be disciplined and read them in the order received, but this little book has more than the usual allure.
The size and weight of it is of the kind I like to read. But more than that, and probably due to the fact it has been in at least 26 pairs of hands before mine, it has a familiar soft, scuffed feel to it. It immediately reminded me of the old photo albums my mother kept when I was a child (and still does). I remember the black pages that may have been stiff and shiny when new, but became soft and almost fuzzy over the years the more they were handled. Black and white photographs with white scalloped edges, secured to the page with those funny little paper corners.
My mother kept more than photographs in these albums. She also kept letters and cards received and given. Valentines, birthday, Christmas and other holiday cards from my father to her and she to him, from me to my father (long before I was capable of printing my name) and he to me, as well as cards and letters received from other folks from near and far. My brothers and sisters and I have spent countless hours, both as children and as adults, poring over these pages, revisiting times and people now long gone.
On receiving *As Always Jack*, I was immediately reminded of a card that sometimes was and sometimes wasn't in the album. It was a card that my uncle and my father exchanged every year at Christmas. If my uncle sent it this year, it would sit in the album for a year until my father sent it back the following Christmas. The little corners in the album would then sit empty for a year until my uncle sent it back.
The front of the card showed a drawing of a little brown donkey kicking up its heels. The inside read, "I'd be a jackass if I didn't wish you a Merry Christmas!" And every year a new little greeting would be penned in the ever shrinking available space. It was a joyful day to receive the card in the mail and to re-read many years of greetings. It was equally exciting on the day my father would get the card out to send and would sit surrounded by his children deciding on what to say this year. Of course every square inch of white space was eventually used to convey these greetings until an extra page of paper had to be included. But neither of them ever wrote on the front of the card. I can see it now in my mind's eye, that little brown donkey against a pale sky-blue background, the exact same shade of blue that graces the cover of this book.
The size and weight of it is of the kind I like to read. But more than that, and probably due to the fact it has been in at least 26 pairs of hands before mine, it has a familiar soft, scuffed feel to it. It immediately reminded me of the old photo albums my mother kept when I was a child (and still does). I remember the black pages that may have been stiff and shiny when new, but became soft and almost fuzzy over the years the more they were handled. Black and white photographs with white scalloped edges, secured to the page with those funny little paper corners.
My mother kept more than photographs in these albums. She also kept letters and cards received and given. Valentines, birthday, Christmas and other holiday cards from my father to her and she to him, from me to my father (long before I was capable of printing my name) and he to me, as well as cards and letters received from other folks from near and far. My brothers and sisters and I have spent countless hours, both as children and as adults, poring over these pages, revisiting times and people now long gone.
On receiving *As Always Jack*, I was immediately reminded of a card that sometimes was and sometimes wasn't in the album. It was a card that my uncle and my father exchanged every year at Christmas. If my uncle sent it this year, it would sit in the album for a year until my father sent it back the following Christmas. The little corners in the album would then sit empty for a year until my uncle sent it back.
The front of the card showed a drawing of a little brown donkey kicking up its heels. The inside read, "I'd be a jackass if I didn't wish you a Merry Christmas!" And every year a new little greeting would be penned in the ever shrinking available space. It was a joyful day to receive the card in the mail and to re-read many years of greetings. It was equally exciting on the day my father would get the card out to send and would sit surrounded by his children deciding on what to say this year. Of course every square inch of white space was eventually used to convey these greetings until an extra page of paper had to be included. But neither of them ever wrote on the front of the card. I can see it now in my mind's eye, that little brown donkey against a pale sky-blue background, the exact same shade of blue that graces the cover of this book.
All right, I confess. I have absolutely no self discipline. I've gone ahead and read this despite having in my hands three other ring books in various states of unread.
This was delight. It reminded me of my own parents who were married in 1953 and were about the same ages as Jack and Beebe. Although my parents were never separated from the time they met and, as such, there are no letters that I know of between them, they did share that same sort of warm, loving and goofy relationship.
Like previous readers, I did think Jack's jokes were a mite cornball and then I remembered that my own father said and did similar silly things and I don't remember ever thinking my dad was "cornball". He had various nicknames for my mother for example. Her name being Ruth, he'd call her "Rootie-toot-toot" and "Rootie-booboo". The thing we kids loved most and my mother pretended to hate was his penchant for taking pictures of her bum (always fully clothed, not x-rated). He'd sneak up behind her when she was leaning over the fence or trash bin or pulling an errant sock from under the couch and he'd snap a photo of her posterior. Sometimes she noticed and squealed in mock outrage and sometimes she didn't. Even if she noticed she'd forget until the photos came back from being developed. We always knew there was a new pic of our mom's bum when a new batch of photographs arrived and we heard our mother gasp and call out our dad's name and our Dad would erupt in his own unique but decidedly unmanly giggling fit.
Lucky for me I grew up knowing my father. I wonder what I would have thought if I had come across old photo albums containing pictures of my mother's bum.
I too would have loved some more photos in this book and to have been able to read Beebe's letters to Jack. I can certainly appreciate how precious these letters by her father would have been to the author. Now I wonder how this sort of family history will be passed on and preserved by our own children and grandchildren.
Thanks for sharing this jessibud!
This was delight. It reminded me of my own parents who were married in 1953 and were about the same ages as Jack and Beebe. Although my parents were never separated from the time they met and, as such, there are no letters that I know of between them, they did share that same sort of warm, loving and goofy relationship.
Like previous readers, I did think Jack's jokes were a mite cornball and then I remembered that my own father said and did similar silly things and I don't remember ever thinking my dad was "cornball". He had various nicknames for my mother for example. Her name being Ruth, he'd call her "Rootie-toot-toot" and "Rootie-booboo". The thing we kids loved most and my mother pretended to hate was his penchant for taking pictures of her bum (always fully clothed, not x-rated). He'd sneak up behind her when she was leaning over the fence or trash bin or pulling an errant sock from under the couch and he'd snap a photo of her posterior. Sometimes she noticed and squealed in mock outrage and sometimes she didn't. Even if she noticed she'd forget until the photos came back from being developed. We always knew there was a new pic of our mom's bum when a new batch of photographs arrived and we heard our mother gasp and call out our dad's name and our Dad would erupt in his own unique but decidedly unmanly giggling fit.
Lucky for me I grew up knowing my father. I wonder what I would have thought if I had come across old photo albums containing pictures of my mother's bum.
I too would have loved some more photos in this book and to have been able to read Beebe's letters to Jack. I can certainly appreciate how precious these letters by her father would have been to the author. Now I wonder how this sort of family history will be passed on and preserved by our own children and grandchildren.
Thanks for sharing this jessibud!
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to etherea in Arkansas today!
On its way to etherea in Arkansas today!
WOW! A little surprise interlude landed in my mailbox today! Pooker3 informed me that there were *some postcards* included with this little book when she received it and she sent them on to me before mailing the book off again to begin its second travel tour. How fun! The postcards included scenes from big cities, British country coves and thatch-roofed cottages, to sunsets, art exhibits and recipes! No one here could have known this but I actually just joined a site called Postcrossing, maybe 2 weeks ago! If you've never heard of it, it is similar to bookcrossing only in that it shares a similar-sounding name and you can send and receive postcards globally. You use a unique postcrossing ID number to register and log the cards, similar to our BCID. So far, I've only received 3 but today felt like I hit the jackpot when the postcards from this bookring arrived! LOL!
Nice way to end a wet and dreary week! Thanks, all!
Nice way to end a wet and dreary week! Thanks, all!
This arrived today and is next up on my TBR. I'm just finishing up a book club book.
I'm a sucker for "letter" books so I'm really looking forward to this!
I'm a sucker for "letter" books so I'm really looking forward to this!
Charming little book, thanks for inviting me to read it jessibud--And thanks to Pooker3 for passing it on to me.
I'm a sucker for letters/journals so this held a special appeal for me. I'm glad Emma's mother saved the letters, but find it hard to fathom that she told her so little about her father.
Like so many other readers have shared, I'm afraid we've lost the art of the handwritten letter and I wonder what mementos future generations will treasure in their place.
I've pm'ed pzarks for an address to send this on.
I'm a sucker for letters/journals so this held a special appeal for me. I'm glad Emma's mother saved the letters, but find it hard to fathom that she told her so little about her father.
Like so many other readers have shared, I'm afraid we've lost the art of the handwritten letter and I wonder what mementos future generations will treasure in their place.
I've pm'ed pzarks for an address to send this on.
Thanks for sharing this one with me. I'll be sending it out today to pzarks who is next in line.
The book arrived safely yesterday while I was at work. I have another book to finish first, then I'll read this and send it on it's way!
Thanks to etherea for sending this and thanks as well for the beautiful postcard.
Thanks to etherea for sending this and thanks as well for the beautiful postcard.
I'm glad I signed up for this bookring. I normally wouldn't have read this book, but I really liked it! It was so sweet. I kept thinking about my grandfather who was in the army and wrote letters to my grandmother. I have never read them, but now I want to, just to see what he had to say.
Thanks for letting me read this. I have Sherlockfan's address and will be sending this out on Tuesday.
Thanks for letting me read this. I have Sherlockfan's address and will be sending this out on Tuesday.
Journal Entry 67 by pzarks at -- By Hand Or Post, Ray/Ring, RABCK in Portland, Oregon USA on Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (7/8/2008 UTC) at -- By Hand Or Post, Ray/Ring, RABCK in Portland, Oregon USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed to Sherlockfann in New Zealand
Mailed to Sherlockfann in New Zealand
Journal Entry 68 by Sherlockfan from Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Monday, July 14, 2008
Thanks pzarks - it arrived this morning, just as I am finalising the contents of my suitcase to return our half-French grandson to his home in France. We are going to be in France and Brittany for 2 - 3 weeks and then heading to Surbiton where we will be based for a few weeks. Looking forward to that. Will try to find a meet-up somewhere handy.
This looks like a great book to have on the plane. The leg from Singapore to Charles de Gaule seems to be 13 hours!!! I'm almost too old for these long cattle-class flights but the draw of our son's family over there is strong enough as yet! I will take it with me and post to Discoverylover from that side of the world as soon as I can.
This looks like a great book to have on the plane. The leg from Singapore to Charles de Gaule seems to be 13 hours!!! I'm almost too old for these long cattle-class flights but the draw of our son's family over there is strong enough as yet! I will take it with me and post to Discoverylover from that side of the world as soon as I can.
Journal Entry 69 by Sherlockfan at To the next participant in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, August 30, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (8/30/2008 UTC) at To the next participant in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Travelling to Discoverlover.
Travelling to Discoverlover.
Journal Entry 70 by discoverylover from Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Recieved!! Thanks Sherlockfan! (who asked me to pass on her apologies for taking so long to mail it). Will start soon, as the book I'm currently reading will probably take me longer than a month to read.
Journal Entry 71 by discoverylover from Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Woops, thought I had journalled this already but apparently not!! I finished it a while ago, and while I thought it was a relatively good book, I don't think it will make my top books ever list. Found it to be extremely bittersweet, but I also thought there could have been a little more explanation at the beginning about how her father came to be in the air force etc. Although I guess if she didn't know she wouldn't be able to write it! But I did think the last letter was a fantastic conclusion.
Must have been so frustrating to only have these letters to know who your father was - but how lucky to have them as well!
Must have been so frustrating to only have these letters to know who your father was - but how lucky to have them as well!
Journal Entry 72 by discoverylover at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (9/22/2008 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to Otakuu today, should be there in 1-3 working days.
Did you know that the next World Convention is going to be held right here in Christchurch, New Zealand in April 2009! We would love to welcome you along :D Check out our website!
Please help us get Moem from the Netherlands to New Zealand to promote the Dutch Convention. Check out our website
Sent to Otakuu today, should be there in 1-3 working days.
Did you know that the next World Convention is going to be held right here in Christchurch, New Zealand in April 2009! We would love to welcome you along :D Check out our website!
Please help us get Moem from the Netherlands to New Zealand to promote the Dutch Convention. Check out our website
From DiscoveryLover today along with some CHOCOLATE!!!!!!! Just the thing to start the school holidays off on a good note
Thank you, Jessibud for sending this lovely book on it's travels again.
Even knowing the eventual outcome didn't stop me enjoying the letters from Jack to Bebe. Whilst it owuld have been wonderful to see her responses, the glimpses that were there were enough to give some idea of Bebe too.
WHat a wonderful way for Emma to 'find' her father and, at the same time, pay tribute to her mother.
I will pm the next person on the list and the book will soon continue it's journey
Even knowing the eventual outcome didn't stop me enjoying the letters from Jack to Bebe. Whilst it owuld have been wonderful to see her responses, the glimpses that were there were enough to give some idea of Bebe too.
WHat a wonderful way for Emma to 'find' her father and, at the same time, pay tribute to her mother.
I will pm the next person on the list and the book will soon continue it's journey
Apologies to the remaining folks in line for this book (see list in the second journal entry on page one of this book's journal notes). It appears to be stalled for good. It did have a great run, though, and for that, I am grateful.
I snagged this from Otakuu's bookshelf when we went down to visit her (and share a fantastic lunch - thanks!) today.
Didn't realise it was a bookring, so once I've read it, I'll try and get it moving to its next destination.
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Didn't realise it was a bookring, so once I've read it, I'll try and get it moving to its next destination.
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This book was among a couple of boxes that had been missing since I shifted 2 years ago and returned by my foster son from where he had stored it.
I am glad it is travelling again as it is a lovely book
If this is the first BookCrossing book you have ever found, Haere Mai - Welcome.
I hope you join me in this wonderful world
I am glad it is travelling again as it is a lovely book
If this is the first BookCrossing book you have ever found, Haere Mai - Welcome.
I hope you join me in this wonderful world
Letters like this give such a fascinating insight into everyday life, and tell you more about history than any amount of textbooks can. And such a lovely story, too.
I'll PM bookworm76 for her address and send it on asap.
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I'll PM bookworm76 for her address and send it on asap.
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Released 12 yrs ago (10/14/2011 UTC) at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailing to Bookworm76 today.
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I have only just found this book in a box (unopened) since we moved.
I am so sorry - will message the next person on the list and check that they still want it.
I have emailed the next person after me who did not respond and the next person does not allow messaging. I will give to wombles when I next see her
I am so sorry - will message the next person on the list and check that they still want it.
I have emailed the next person after me who did not respond and the next person does not allow messaging. I will give to wombles when I next see her
Giving this to Wombles at the next bookcrossing catchup
Bookworm passed this on to me at our Bookcrossing lunch, I don't even remember signing up for it but then it must have been a while back!
I've read it and will message the next person to get their address. Might not be able to mail it till after Christmas but I think another week or two won't hurt now!
I've read it and will message the next person to get their address. Might not be able to mail it till after Christmas but I think another week or two won't hurt now!
Journal Entry 83 by 
Plum-crazy
at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Plum-crazy at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 27, 2021
This well travelled book has arrived safely in the UK. Looking forward to reading it (although I had forgotten all about it!) & there looks to be all sorts of interesting bits & bobs tucked between its pages.
Thanks for sending on wombles 😊
Thanks for sending on wombles 😊
Journal Entry 84 by Plum-crazy at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Plum-crazy at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 3, 2021
I’m not one for memoirs usually but this quick read of a courtship told through letters certainly tugs the heartstrings at times.
The story of Jack & Beebe unfolds in three parts. Firstly, Emma finds letters sent by her father in her late mothers things. Never having known her father, & with her mother having been reluctant to talk about him, (why? that seems strange to me), naturally she is curious to learn more about him & through the letters she gets some understanding of the sort of man her father was.
Jack & Beebe had known each other a mere eleven days before he was shipped off to Hawaii. What followed was a postal romance in which, over the next seven months, letters went back & forth between the two. Only Jack’s letter have survived & sometimes it would have me wondering just what it was Beebe had said in hers! The letters are tender & romantic, funny & sweet (though I did worry when Jack questioned whether Beebe was putting on weight – on very dodgy ground there I thought!) The letters are complete with Jack’s little illustrations & the addition of stamps & air mail colours are a nice touch. As others have said, it's sad that the art of letter writing seems lost. While you could put all the same words into an email it could never have the same impact as a beautifully scripted letter. Yes, you can store an email to re-read again but let’s face it, it’s not the same as taking a treasured letter carefully from it's envelope, having something you can physically hold & knowing your loved one has held that paper just as you are doing. It must have been such a comfort to the couple.
The third part of the story briefly covers the time between Jack’s homecoming & his death & for me was by far the most moving chapter. There is a beautifully poignant final letter, one Jack sent shortly before his death & I’ll admit it had me welling up! In it he says:
"Just remember me once in a while – not too often, or it’ll cramp your style, you know - and as long as I’m remembered, I’m not really dead"
It’s almost as if he’d had a premonition (though I am also reading a book on unexplained paranormal events so that may be influencing my thoughts!)
All in all a simple but charming read & a lovely tribute from Emma to the father she never knew.
The story of Jack & Beebe unfolds in three parts. Firstly, Emma finds letters sent by her father in her late mothers things. Never having known her father, & with her mother having been reluctant to talk about him, (why? that seems strange to me), naturally she is curious to learn more about him & through the letters she gets some understanding of the sort of man her father was.
Jack & Beebe had known each other a mere eleven days before he was shipped off to Hawaii. What followed was a postal romance in which, over the next seven months, letters went back & forth between the two. Only Jack’s letter have survived & sometimes it would have me wondering just what it was Beebe had said in hers! The letters are tender & romantic, funny & sweet (though I did worry when Jack questioned whether Beebe was putting on weight – on very dodgy ground there I thought!) The letters are complete with Jack’s little illustrations & the addition of stamps & air mail colours are a nice touch. As others have said, it's sad that the art of letter writing seems lost. While you could put all the same words into an email it could never have the same impact as a beautifully scripted letter. Yes, you can store an email to re-read again but let’s face it, it’s not the same as taking a treasured letter carefully from it's envelope, having something you can physically hold & knowing your loved one has held that paper just as you are doing. It must have been such a comfort to the couple.
The third part of the story briefly covers the time between Jack’s homecoming & his death & for me was by far the most moving chapter. There is a beautifully poignant final letter, one Jack sent shortly before his death & I’ll admit it had me welling up! In it he says:
"Just remember me once in a while – not too often, or it’ll cramp your style, you know - and as long as I’m remembered, I’m not really dead"
It’s almost as if he’d had a premonition (though I am also reading a book on unexplained paranormal events so that may be influencing my thoughts!)
All in all a simple but charming read & a lovely tribute from Emma to the father she never knew.
Journal Entry 85 by Plum-crazy at bookray/bookring, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Plum-crazy at bookray/bookring, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Released 3 yrs ago (2/3/2021 UTC) at bookray/bookring, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Packed up & ready to move on.... just need to get to a post office!
This book has arrived safely with me, thanks P-C. I too had forgotten all about this, I will put on top of my TBR pile and read it next, hope to be able to move it on again within the next few weeks :-)
What a delightful book, I really enjoyed reading it. Like Plum-crazy I was welling up at the end of the book. A small book but very powerful!
I have an address for the next person on the list I will try to get in in the post this week, I'm shielding because of covid so I have to rely on other people to do this for me :-)
I have an address for the next person on the list I will try to get in in the post this week, I'm shielding because of covid so I have to rely on other people to do this for me :-)
Going to the next person on the list, hope you enjoy this as much as I did :-)
Thanks to yorkshire lass for sending me this lovely book. I've had a 'real book' reading block for a long while and this was just what I needed to make me stop scrolling through Twitter and have a proper read.
I was chuffed to see a few familiar faces in the past journallers and it's travelled to New Zealand too, where my brother now lives.
I loved it, I really enjoy an easygoing book of letters and this was a good one for me. The letters are romantic and funny. You can tell he's trying so hard! I can tell it's a book I'll remember and think of with a smile.
I was chuffed to see a few familiar faces in the past journallers and it's travelled to New Zealand too, where my brother now lives.
I loved it, I really enjoy an easygoing book of letters and this was a good one for me. The letters are romantic and funny. You can tell he's trying so hard! I can tell it's a book I'll remember and think of with a smile.
Released 2 yrs ago (5/7/2021 UTC) at Harrogate, North Yorkshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted off to nat4lee (now LastCavalier)
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Received safely from across the pond. Will be reading tonight!
Lovely story through letters. I do appreciate the author telling the rest of the story at the end. This story is heartwarming and heartbreaking. I do recommend it to everyone. I will prepare to send to the next in line.
