Journal Entry 1 by Ardy from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, January 06, 2003

This book begins with the brutal murder of a 14 year old girl. The story is told from her perspective. She watches from heaven as her family and community deal with her death. It sounds like it would be gruesome, but it's really quite life affirming. 

Journal Entry 2 by Ardy from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, January 07, 2003

This book is off to Virginia for a visit with Ladybug01. 

Journal Entry 3 by Ladybug01 on Friday, January 24, 2003

Just received this book by mail from Ardy--thanks so much.
Will release it when I'm through reading it!
Ladybug01 >(:::) 

Journal Entry 4 by Ladybug01 on Tuesday, February 25, 2003

I was hesitant to read this book knowing that the main character is a young girl raped and murdered, worried that it would be extremly sad. Bt once I started it, could not put it down, read it in a day and a half.
The book is written from the vantage point of Susie, the young girl, and is about her personal experience of heaven; and from her heaven, she has the ability to follow the activities of her family and friends, and see them go through grieving the loss of Susie from their lives. Interesting view of what heaven might be like. 

Journal Entry 5 by Ladybug01 on Wednesday, February 26, 2003

This book is off through the mail to piper1, a new member in Wisconsin!
~ Update to journal note ~ Mar. 5th
After noticing that several members asked about this book on the Book Wish Forum, I decided to organize a Bookray, my first one! It took only 24 hours to have 14 members sign up; then today the book is on it's merry way to journey around the world!
Here is the order of members of this bookray:
Ladybug01-Virginia
piper1-Wisconsin
Muffin77-Germany....see journal entry posted below on 5/31/03
Syd-Virginia....see journal entry posted below on 5/31/03
Gyd-Spain
fflloorr-Portugal
Jolanda-Netherlands
licota-Canada
agrace-Texas
jengif-Virginia
RealBookWorm-Canada
ddisme-California
sprockitt-Singapore
~ Additions to Bookray ~
(see new info on BookRayGirl's site: http://bookraygirl.tripod.com/home/id8.html )
3/22 SpikesMom-Pennsylvania
5/8 16stepper-Gilbert Arizona 

Journal Entry 6 by piper1 from Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA on Friday, March 14, 2003

Just received this book from Ladybug01. This is the start of a very long bookring for this book, it's visiting 8 states and 8 forgein countries. I'll start reading it right away and report. Thanks Ladybuy01, you did great!! 

Journal Entry 7 by piper1 from Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA on Thursday, March 20, 2003

This was a wonderful book. Thank you, Ladybug01 for organizing the bookring. Even though this deals with a grisly topic, the rape and murder of a 14 year old girl, it is very well written. You get to know the characters, Susie, the murdered girl and her family and friends. You find out how her murder affected (effected?) her family, how each member reacted to the tradegy and how they managed to get on with their lives, or not. I loved the part where Susie met her childhood dog in heaven. I cried at their reunion, thinking about my 14 year Golden Retriever that died 2 years ago. It had a good ending. This book wasn't as sad as you might think it would be. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It'll be off this weekend to Muffin 77 in Germany. 

Journal Entry 8 by piper1 from Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA on Saturday, March 22, 2003

Mailed to Muffin77 in Germany 3/21/03. This book as a long journey ahead of it - hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did  

Journal Entry 9 by Ladybug01 on Saturday, May 31, 2003

There has been an unexpected turn of events for the bookray for this book, The Lovely Bones.
On 5/8, a PM from Piper1 to Ladybug01:
I have some terrible news to report. I got a message from a friend of Muffin77 in Germany that Muffin received "an envelope" with no book and the sender was Diane, but the book is missing!!!
I sent Muffin77 Lovely Bones 3/21. I sent it in a big sturdy postal
package with very strong postal tape on the flaps. How could she get the "envelope" (I assume she means the package) without the book? I don't know if the package was ripped or opened deliberately. It's hard to believe a hole could have ripped in the package large enough for the book to fall out by itself.
On 5/8, PM from Ladybug01 to Piper1:
I have a wonderful suggestion...this is the book club selection for our June 1st meeting, and of course I've always promoted bookcrossing to all the members! I just spoke to my best friend in my book club; she's offered to buy a copy, read it for the June 1st meeting and then donate it for our bookray!!!
So, Syd is also a bc member, and I'll put her in our bookray list just after you. She'll make a journal entry and then I'll send the book off to muffin77, with another card with a new bookray list!!
And the bookray shines on!!!
On 5/8, PM from Piper1 to Ladybug01:
That is a wonderful idea and a very, very generous offer from your friend!!! Wow, I never thought a solution would come that quickly. Book people are the best, aren't they? So generous and always wanting to share. Tell you friend, Syd thank you from me.
Let the good karma flow once again. I'll keep my fingers crossed that this 2nd copy makes it.
On 5/9, PM from Muffin77 to Ladybug01:
Hey I am not sure if *Piper1* already PMed you... but the book is lost. Yesterday I received an empty envelope (ripped open!!!) - and I had been waiting for like 7 weeks or so... anyway, after my first madness I decided to calm down and this morning I bought another copy - paperback though! We don't have English hardcovers on stock and even if: I can't afford a hardcover. I hope it doesn't matter too much. I bought this copy now, hope
for you or *piper1* to send me the BCID and then I'll put a label in the new copy, read it and pass it on. I feel sad and bad about it - but really there is no fault on my (and Piper1's) side!! I was looking forward to this book SOOOOOOOOOOOO much - and then that. So I really hope you are not too sad/mad/whatever...
5/16, PM from Muffin77
Got your message, thanks! Maybe I'll do a European
bookring/ray for those who are not in any other ring/ray but would like to read it. Then I think you should make a new registration for the book AND put a link in the old BCID-Journal with the new copy (once you are ready to send it off)... So I think that's the best we should do.

SO...at the moment, the copy of this book, xxx-450850, was removed from a package on it's way to Muffin77 and is "missing"...hopefully someday a kind person will find and read this book, and write a journal entry again!!!
1. Muffin77 has been successful in organizing another bookring in Europe with her copy...see here... http://bookcrossing.com/journal/692091
2. On June 7, Syd's book has been registered and will continue with the above list of names. Go here for new book journal entries... http://bookcrossing.com/journal/627407

Ladybug01 >(:::)