From the back cover:"Acute and bittersweet, vividly portrayed and finely nuanced, this book tells the story of one man's life-long search for his place in the world, between colony and colonizer, between east and west, between idealism and lawlessness."
I was deeply touched by this story. The complexity of the issues facing Kenya saddened me, as did the lack of honest leadership. So many people of all races have been hurt and damaged in the struggles of this country. This is a very well-written book which won the 2003 Giller Prize and was short-listed for the Trillium Book Award.

This book is destined for a virtual book box of mine, but while I am waiting, I would like to make it a bookring.
I would like to keep this book moving. A month should be enough time to read it and to mail it to the next person on the list. It's a great story!

The list so far:

jinglefish (UK)
molekilby (UK)
bookmaniac70 (Bulgaria)
bilbi (France)
cross-patch (UK)
LeishaCamden (Norway)
back to me-loveamystery (Canada)

You'll be pleased to know that this book has arrived safely today. Have a couple of books ahead of it (short reads) and will then be straight into this.

This is a well written and enjoyable book giving an inside look into the troubled times of Kenya's past. The terror, the innocence, the refusal to admit that it was a dog eat dog country where to survive you sometimes had to compromise your integrity or change allegiance to suit. I didn't feel sympathy for Vic and what he did, nor what he had to face at the end, but I understand how he ended up travelling on such a path.

I also loved the interacial aspects to the relationships not only between the lovers but also between friends.

One paragraph on the back cover reads "An astonishing tapestry of irrestible vignettes..." I agree - plenty to keep most readers happy:-)

I have molekilby's address now and will be moving along in the next few days.

Posted 1st Class to Molekilby today - should hopefully reach him tomorrow:-)

Jinglefish was quite right it arrived today, thanks for sending. Thanls to loveamystery for sharing. This will be my next read.

As I was coming to the end of this book this afternoon, I tried to het my thoughts around putting down this Journal entry. However phrases that I had highlighted for use have already been put in the previous two. I can only underline the fact that this is a well written book that holds the attention throughout.

When I first began this I did wonder if this would be the same as other books I'd read this year, Asian male central character, cocentrating on several different relationships, and would it be stale. I'm glad to say that it wasn't. The narrative had plenty of angles and the relationships develop over the course of the whole book. Even now I think about how some of those chapter endings would be seen differently, with the knowledge one gains later on. My only down point is the ending, a little disappointing and I'm afraid it loses a mark for that.

I was also aware of how little I knew about the situation that provided a backdrop to this novel and I will do a little more research (Google, point and click) on the recent history of Kenya.

I'll wrap up now. Every now and again you sign up for a book ring expecting a good book and getting an absolute gem. Thanks loveamystery for sharing this book. As a P.S. this also allows me to tick the letter 'V' off my 2007 Author A-Z Challenge.

Book arrived in Sofia. I have a couple of other rings waiting,so I`ll need a bit more time.
Thank you for sending!

A quick note that I have finished all my rings for the moment and will be reading "In-Between Worlds" now:-)).

A quick note to apologise for the delay! I had a very busy schedule towards the end of 2007 and 5 other bookrings. I took the liberty to postpone this one,as I`m the last in the chain. Now I`m steadily catching up with my reading and will start the book within few weeks.

I`m very sorry for keeping the book so long. I should have forwarded it earlier.I tried to read it but many things-personal and professional,stood in the way. I`m going to PM bilbi now and mail the book at last.

Once again,apology to all....:((

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to bilbi.

Received today !
I should start reading it next week !
Thanks for sharing \o/

I'm not good at African history and through this kind of novels I can learn more about it.

Thanks !

Some time ago I read a book about Nigeria in the 1960s and it was a great book too :
Half of a yellow sun

Arrived this lunchtime, thanks to bilbi and loveamystery. I'm fascinated to read about The Rift Valley, the troubled life of Nakaru, particularly since we visited it last year before the newer troubles and I remember my father nearly moved us out there in the 50s.

I consider this a very gripping and enlightening read. There were so many themes and I was particularly enthralled by the railway thread running through. The understanding and prediction of state politics was shown to be beyond all and the dangers to be great and to be particularly relevant to our times. I know more and less already!

Great book. So glad to have signed up. I'll try once again to contact LeishaCamden by pm and then shall resort to ISO.

This arrived in the mail from England today. Thank you for not giving up on me, Cross-patch - I'm really looking forward to reading this book. :-)

It's a good thing that I'm last on this ray since I have about half a dozen (!!) other rings & rays in the house at the moment. So I'm afraid this will take me a little longer than a month. But I will definitely read the book as soon as I can, and journal again when I've done so. :-) Thanks for sharing, loveamystery!!

I finally got around to starting this book on Saturday, July 19th. I've only read about 60 pages so far, but it's a well written and evocative book.

More when I've finished it. :-)

I finished this book on August 3rd; I've just been incredibly slow to write the last JE, I'm really sorry. This sometimes happens when I'm the last reader on a ring or ray ... :-)

I thought the book was absolutely fantastic, I loved it. I don't think I can think of anything negative to say about it at all. I'm so grateful to BookCrossing!! If it hadn't been for BC I can't imagine that I would ever have even heard about this book, much less read it. It was a really special reading experience and I'm grateful for it. To you too, of course, loveamystery ... !! :-)

I thought this book was unusually well written; I'm not at all surprised that the author has won awards. They are richly deserved. He (??) has a wonderful grasp of the English language ... the language in this book flows so naturally and beautifully. It was a joy just reading it. The story was absolutely fascinating; I didn't know a lot about Kenyan history, so it was interesting just learning about it. The human dimension that Vassanji conveys to the story gives it that much more depth. The author obviously knows the subject matter very well; the portrayal of all the times and places and settings is completely convincing. The story was quite sad. But life is sad sometimes. All in all it was a completely wonderful book, and I loved it. :-)

I've PMed loveamystery to see if the book should go back home now or if s/he wants to continue the ring. Another option which only just occurred to me is that maybe some local BCers may want to read the book before I send it back. We have a meetup this coming week. Maybe I could take the book with me and tell the others about it, if a few more potential readers here in Oslo would be OK ... ? :-)

Well, let me know, loveamystery. Thank you, definitely, for giving me the opportunity to read this fantastic book.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is now on its way to taaza in Wisconsin - she picked it from loveamystery's virtual book box. I hope it makes the journey safely. Happy reading, taaza!! :-)

Received in great condition from LeishaCamden in Norway as part of loveamystery's virtual book box; thanks for this offering! Looking forward to reading this & will keep it crossing.