Acquired 09 Jan 2006 - from the author

The action-packed story of six days and fifty-odd years in the lives of Joe and Anna. The Jewish-nonJewish relationship was interesting to me as I am in a similar relationship (although luckily Matt doesn't feel the Lure Of The Other quite as much as Joe in the book - I am no Boticelli angel!). The author cites her influences as Alan'n'Arnold Bennett etc, but I detected more of a trace of Howard Jacobson in her angst-ridden London Jewish boy, desperate to escape his clinging family and seek another way, or Philip Roth (who is name-checked). In fact, interestingly, this book does not identify as being written by a woman or a man. The male narration is convincing and I think this gives the book a broad appeal. I did not guess the plot twists and the story was told well.

I'll be picking up a copy for myself at the Book Launch tonight, and will circulate this one among the Book Crossers.

Book Ray!

This book is going on its travels! Please go by the basic rules or let me know if you have a delay or difficulty...

1. Journal the book when you receive it.
2. PM the next person and make a note that you've done so.
3. Read and review the book, preferably within 4 weeks of receiving it.
4. Mail the book to the next person. PLEASE put on a JE or release note when you've done this.

SHIPPING ORDER:

LindyB28 UK (UK)
Birmingham-Rose UK Bham (UK)
Caroline080 UK Bham (anywhere, surface)
Freelunch Australia (Australia pref)
jubby Australia (anywhere)
eloisamos Brazil (Americas) <----- it's on its way here!
Pammykn US Florida (US pref, anywhere surface)
GateGypsy Canada (anywhere)
Stormlilly UK (Europe)
Scotsbookie UK (anywhere, surface)

RELEASE NOTES:

Giving to LindyB28 on Monday when I meet her for a cuppa.

Passed to me today by my favourite bookpusher.

there's no point denying that there were silly errors in the text which interfered with my ability to immerse myself fully in the narrative. I kept wishing that the whole thing had been through one or two more drafts because the plotting, characters and themes are so well conceived. The multi-layered secrets are particularly successfully achieved. However, the temporal shifts, especially at the beginning of the book, weren't completely integrated into the flow of the narrative and I wasn't fully convinced by the portrayal of Anna's father.

I've held back previously from being fully honest in my responses to Transita books here. There are some that I have wholeheartedly loved, others that I've not been so keen on but been polite about but this one has prompted me to try to explain my full reaction to it since it seems to me that it's on the verge of being something wonderful and I wish that a little more time had been taken to make it so.

Having said that, I'd hate you to think I didn't enjoy it. I really did: it's a super read. I just happened to have my 'critical head' on so that I was simultaneously absorbed in my experience as reader, following the unfolding of the complex narrative, and thinking about the way that the text was doing its work of being a novel.

I'll post this on to Weebly when she's feeling a bit better.

To be passed to Lyzzybee for its journey to Birmingham Rose since Weebly is too busy to accept rings just now.

Back with me to pass to Birmingham-Rose at the next meetup.

RELEASE NOTES:

Giving to Birmingham-Rose at the meetup today on the next stage of its ring.

Picked up from Lyzzybee at the meeting today. I have just received another Transita before this one so will be sure to get onto it ASAP. Thank you Liz

I'm really sorry but I just couldn't get to grips with this book. I've read over a hundred pages but find myself becoming frustrated with it because of the way there are so many twists and turns in the storyline....... I'm giving up on it........

I'm going to pass it onto Caroline080 ASAP.

Received from birmingham-rose today at Hudsons in the BMI.

Having been warned by previous reviews that this was not the usual romance froth, I took it slowly and paid attention from the start. It was worth it. The structure is intricate but is made clear to the careful reader at the beginning, the story is spell-binding, the characters are attractive (I wanted to know what happened to all of them). I read it in one night, although I did have to stay awake late to finish it.

Reserved for Freelunch

This is back with me temporarily - I will be sending it on when I've got freelunch's address.

RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to Freelunch on Monday.

received today, thanks very much LyzzyBee :o)

I'm already committed to books before this one, but I should get to it within the preferred four weeks.

once I came to terms with the large cast (in various timestreams) introduced in the first chapter, this was a great book. thanks again to LyzzyBee for sharing it. I'll post it on to Jubby early next week

Look what arrived in the post today! I've got two other books ahead of this, but rest assured, I'll have it in the post within a month.

Firstly, let me thank Lyzzybee for creating this bookring, and sharing her book with us all.

This was my first Transita book, and I was a little disappointed.
The story, plot and characters were rather well developed, and it was for this reason I pushed on and read more of the book.

But if I could make one bit of constructive criticism, this book needed a good editor to take it on.

I agree whole heartedly with LindyB28. Grammatical errors, purple prose and clunky cross overs (especially in the opening pages) did distract from the story. I don't think it is quite up to being compared to the likes of Roth, Jacobson or Bennett in its current form.

But, if you can look beyond these stumbling faults, it really is a nice, pacey read. As a Margaret Atwood fan, the character line up and past and present storylines is standard fare, and something I personally enjoy. We are the sum total of our experiences.

And finally, I wanted to say that there were some beautifully crafted passages within the book. I did feel though that some of these were underminded by the repetition of phrases and euphemisms. Yes, Larkin's 'crowded bed' was a clever and well-crafted idea. But, it looses it's freshness and originality when repeated. And Churchill's 'black dog' got at least 8 mentions from my count! Aarrgh!

Entertaining read, and I look forward to seeing more by this writer. Mary Cavanagh has an easy reading/writing style, and I've no doubt many more ideas. Keep writing lovely.

RELEASE NOTES:

Posted off to eloisamos in Brazil.

Sorry everyone, I think Australia - Brazil was too much for this book and it's struck out on its own!

I'll try to source another copy to continue the ring with!