Journal Entry 1 by Alectoness from Wimbledon, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, May 11, 2007

Bookcrossing and its members have introduced me to a whole lot of wonderful new books and authors over the past three and a half years. It's a fantastic community, with a lot of interesting and generous people who I've met on the forums, via PM or in person.

As a small way of saying thanks, I'm setting up an international bookring for my own first novel, "Lessons to Learn", which will be published on June 12, 2007.

Feel free to love it or hate it, to enthuse or be indifferent. I've pasted the blurb below, but you can find more about the book over at my writing website: natashajudd.com.

If you would like to join the ring, please PM me with your username, location and shipping preferences. I'm hoping to send the book to the first participant on the day of the launch.

Note: Due to the unexpected number of responses I received, I've split the ring in two. This is the North America/Europe/rest of world version; for the Australia and New Zealand version, see here.


From the back cover:

Haunted by tragedy, Charlotte wants to flee New Zealand so answers an advertisement to teach English in Korea. She could have gone anywhere, anywhere away from what had been the sheltered safety of her enclosed rural valley. But is running away from the past the right thing to do? What is ‘right’, anyway? And who, really, is she?

The Korean students at Speak-English Academy, like the children Charlotte used to teach at Sunday School back in the valley, aren’t the only ones who have lessons to learn. As the story veers from the past to the present and back again, can the teacher be taught to find her own answers?


Bookring participants

• Bookcloud, Dorset, UK
• madmadge, Dorset, UK
• Plum-crazy, West Yorkshire, UK
• Annodyne, Cheshire, UK
• emac52, Greater Manchester, UK
• molekilby, Wales, UK
• Heaven-Ali, Birmingham, UK
• LyzzyBee, Birmingham, UK
• Nell-Lu, Scotland, UK
• scotsbookie, Scotland, UK
• platypussj, Essex, UK
• celticstar, Shropshire, UK
• flajol, Lancashire, UK
• bonnie0907, Isle Of Wight, UK
• Gembear, Oxfordshire, UK
• wyjane, Warwickshire, UK
• tabbystripes, Staffordshire, UK
• Amanida, Surrey, UK
• Midlifecrisis, Cornwall, UK
• baileybird, East Sussex, UK
• ruzena, Kanta-Häme, Finland
• bookwormess, Uusimaa, Finland
• boirina, Vila do Conde, Portugal
• penelopewanders, Bern, Switzerland
• nikel27, Hessen, Germany
• LindyLouMac, Vetralla, Italy
• sudokugirl, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Fifna, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
• Bluestocking88, Washington, USA
• -Psyche-, Minnesota, USA
• LMM, Nevada, USA
• elessedil, South Carolina, USA
• Megi53, Virginia, USA
• liz-z, Ohio, USA
• elizardbreath, Oregon, USA
• piggydiva, Kansas, USA
• PaulsBooks, Utah, USA
• chambejd, Massachusetts, USA
• Rrrcaron, New Hampshire, USA
• GateGypsy, Yukon, Canada
• starrdust, Cookstown, Canada
• jessibud, Ontario, Canada
• Brookler, British Columbia, Canada

Journal Entry 2 by Alectoness at Mailed to a fellow BookCrosser in Postal Release, Book Relay -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (6/11/2007 UTC) at Mailed to a fellow BookCrosser in Postal Release, Book Relay -- Controlled Releases

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Put in the post to Bookcloud at about 1pm. The launch was at 6pm, and I was already kind of nervous... so hopefully I wrote the address on the envelope correctly!

Natasha 

Journal Entry 3 by Bookcloud from Bournemouth, Dorset United Kingdom on Friday, June 15, 2007

Just received this book today. I will begin reading it in about a week - 10 days time. Thankyou 

Journal Entry 4 by Bookcloud from Bournemouth, Dorset United Kingdom on Monday, June 18, 2007

Just started to read this today. Only on page 40 and it's got me hooked. 

Journal Entry 5 by Bookcloud from Bournemouth, Dorset United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Have just finished reading this lovely book. It was a very easy to read book, which only took me 2 days to finish. I enjoyed it on the whole, my only moan would be to say that the story line was a little vague at times. I loved the characters and felt as if I was there in some of the classrooms, especially in Korea. I wanted to slap Mr. Parks the younger!! Thankyou so much for allowing me to be a part of this ring Natasha. I hope the book does well. Passing it on to my sister, Madmadge who will hopefully collect the book from me at the w/e 

Journal Entry 6 by madmadge from Christchurch, Dorset United Kingdom on Sunday, June 24, 2007

Passed on to me by Bookcloud, my sister. I will try to read it within the next week so I can pass it on before I go on holiday on 30th June, otherwise it will have to wait to be posted until I get back on 14th July. 

Journal Entry 7 by madmadge from Christchurch, Dorset United Kingdom on Thursday, June 28, 2007

I am going to be honest - it was not really my kind of book. It was very well written but I found that it was not descriptive enough and a lot was left to the reader's imagination. Having said that, I'm sure it will appeal to other readers because we all have different tastes.
I felt quite depressed at the end and I could have given Charlie a good shaking. I'm quite sure I wouldn't have been as patient with Mr Parks as she was.
It's gone off to Plum-crazy today. Look forward to seeing what she thinks. 

Journal Entry 8 by Plum-crazy from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, June 30, 2007

The book arrived today -thank you madmadge. I intend to begin it today & hopefully will be able to post it to Annodyne by the end of the week. I'm going on holiday at the weekend & don't want to take someone elses book away with me....so I'd best log off & start reading! 

Journal Entry 9 by Plum-crazy from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, July 02, 2007

In all honesty I can say I really enjoyed this book. It arrived Saturday & as I had Sunday to myself I spent the afternoon curled up on the sofa reading it...what better way to spend a rainy afternoon!

I felt that I really knew Charlie & the other characters (like Bookcloud, I could slap young Mr Parks!) but I particulary loved Jack....I could just picture him sticking two felt pens up his nose & pretending to be a walrus!

This is from the part when Jack got to do the collection at church on his birthday...

"Jack carried the plate, level, carefully, & as the song finished he bought it up to Mrs Wilson for the blessing. "Can you put this somewhere safe for me?" he said "I can get a whole lot of new stuff with all this birthday money."

... what a great little character!

Well done Natasha, thank you for sharing the book & I wish you every success with it.... you deserve it.

(It will be posted to Annodyne on Thursday) 

Journal Entry 10 by Annodyne from Sale, Cheshire United Kingdom on Saturday, July 07, 2007

Arrived here today. I have a couple of books that have to be read first, but looking forward to reading this one. Even at first glance, it looks great! 

Journal Entry 11 by Annodyne from Sale, Cheshire United Kingdom on Friday, July 20, 2007

This was a really quick read for me, but I'm not sure if I liked the book or not.

I did like the way that Charlie's sense of being young, alone and disorientated in a strange country with a completely different culture is conveyed. I thought the "Korea" bits were well written, with some very memorable details, like the toddler sized knife and fork Charlie carries around with her because she can't manage chopsticks.

Ultimately though, it all got a bit depressing and down-beat. I got the feeling that although she had gone some way to learning lessons about herself, Charlie would remain an outsider in whatever situation she found herself.

I now have emac52's address, and will be sending the book on its way very soon. 

Journal Entry 12 by Annodyne from Sale, Cheshire United Kingdom on Saturday, July 21, 2007

Nipped out to the Post Office between showers, and the book is now on its way to emac52. 

Journal Entry 13 by emac52 from Eccles, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Received the book in this morning's post. I'll make a start on it this week, and hopefully get it on the way to the next participant shortly. 

Journal Entry 14 by emac52 from Eccles, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Thursday, August 09, 2007

I quite liked this book. Charlie''s sense of being different to everyone else was captured well - and I particularly liked the father''s opinion that when she was 13, she could be baptised/get a horse etc. I also liked the way that the story flitted between events in The Valley and events in Korea as it made the story line more organic, as if Charlie was recounting things as she remembered them, and not as they happened chronologically.

***
I''ve now got molekilby''s address, so this should be posted out to him either tomorrow or at the weekend. 

Journal Entry 15 by molekilby from BRITHDIR, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, August 13, 2007

Journal Entry 16 by molekilby from BRITHDIR, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Journal Entry 17 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, September 07, 2007

Journal Entry 18 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, September 10, 2007

This was a quick easy read. Like someone else said I too would have liked more description - I wanted to be able to visulise Korea more than I found I was able to. Charley is a very likeable character - and I wanted things to work out for her, but I got frustrated with the choices she made sometimes. I also liked the way the narrative jumped around in time and so we only gradually became aware of Charley's past, and the reason for her unhappiness.

Thank you for including me in the ring. I know Lyzzybee is away for a few more days so I will pass it on by hand when I see her soon.

 

Journal Entry 19 by Heaven-Ali at to a fellow bookcrosser in by hand, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, September 22, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (9/22/2007 UTC) at to a fellow bookcrosser in by hand, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Passing on to Liz today when we meet up for Lunch. 

Journal Entry 20 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, September 22, 2007

Received today when I met Ali for lunch. I have a bit of a BookRing crisis at the moment, but luckily the biggest one is one of Ali's and she's ever so understanding! So I should start this one within the week... 

Journal Entry 21 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 02, 2007

I enjoyed this novel about running away and finding your troubles are still with you. Although the Korean sections were not very fleshed out, they gave a good impression of how it must feel to be a stranger in a strange land where even the alphabet and eating utensils are alien. The naive voice was well done and gave both a continutity and a contrast between the sections in the past and those in the present. The feeling of impending... not doom, but *something*, was well handled in both sections. I will look out for more by this author.

Will PM Nell-Lu today for the next address 

Journal Entry 22 by LyzzyBee at Sent to another BookCrosser in Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases on Friday, October 05, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (10/6/2007 UTC) at Sent to another BookCrosser in Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases

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Posting to Nell-Lu tomorrow. The postal strike is apparently not affecting the opening of Post Office branches, and hopefully won't delay this parcel too much - I didn't know when I was going to get it into the post otherwise. 

Journal Entry 23 by Nell-Lu from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, October 15, 2007

This arrived today - thanks everyone, particularly Alectoness for both sharing and writing this book and LyzzyBee for the postcard. I've been really looking forward to this. I will get onto it this week and have it moving by the end of the week. 

Journal Entry 24 by Nell-Lu from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, October 22, 2007

Journal Entry 25 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, October 25, 2007

Arrived safe & sound this morning, thank you to Nell-Lu. This book is now on top of Mount TBR. 

Journal Entry 26 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, November 02, 2007

I enjoyed this first novel. I liked the way it was written intertwining the past & the present, the short chapters kept the plot moving along well. Charlotte learns that running away from your problems doesn't work, they just follow you. I get the feeling though that Charlotte's character is such that she will always be an outsider looking in.

Thank you Alectoness for the chance to read your novel & good luck with your wrk in the future.

I have PM'd platypussj for their details. 

Journal Entry 27 by scotsbookie at to a fellow bookcrosser in Bookring, a postal release -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 05, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (11/5/2007 UTC) at to a fellow bookcrosser in Bookring, a postal release -- Controlled Releases

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Journal Entry 28 by platypussj from Colchester, Essex United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Arrived today, looking forward to reading this very much.

*Jan 14 2008* It wasn't until I received a journal alert for celticstar's entry that I realised that I hadn't my an entry myself.

Alectoness, you must be so proud, what a wonderful achievement. I loved the connections with her new life and her old, and the culture clashes. I can fully believe her naivety and bewilderment in her new environment, and the discomfort it causes. She is a very single minded young lady which could be her downfall, maybe she has, and will continue, to learn from her lessons - I hope so. She strikes me as a survivor.

Do let me know when you write more, I would be very interested in reading them.

Congratulations! :0) XX
 

Journal Entry 29 by celticstar from Telford, Shropshire United Kingdom on Saturday, January 12, 2008

Journal Entry 30 by celticstar from Telford, Shropshire United Kingdom on Saturday, February 02, 2008

Finished reading this yesterday, a lovely easy to read book.
I like the way the Charlie shares her story, I don't think I would have survived in Korea and was surprised that Charlie decided to stay. I think seeing Greg reminded her of what she was running from and that she wasn't ready to return to New Zealand.

Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed reading. 

Journal Entry 31 by flajol from Preston, Lancashire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 19, 2008

I'm so sorry: this arrived a few weeks ago, and I was sure I'd journalled it at the time. Well, it's definitely here and safe with me, almost ready to move on to its next reader. Apologies to anyone who was worrying over the book's whereabouts. 

Journal Entry 32 by flajol from Preston, Lancashire United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 08, 2008

A frustrating read in that, like Madmadge, I often wanted to shake some sense into Charlie. I didn't get the sense that she was learning anything really, so was shocked by her decision at the end of the book. I don't want to give too much away for future readers! The sense of disclocation in Korea was well written, and reminded me very much of unpublished journals my friend sent from China when she taught English and IT at a provincial University there.

I would have liked to have read more about Charlie's life in New Zealand - more about her relationship with her father and grandmother rather than the gloss that we got. I suppose it reflects what Charlie felt was influential in her upbringing at a time when she's questioning her faith.

Thank you for sharing this with us Alectoness, and I look forward to reading your next book!

My apologies once again for my late journal entry when the book arrived. I'll be posting this to bonnie0907 this morning. 

Journal Entry 33 by bonnie0907 from Ryde, Isle Of Wight United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 09, 2008

I received this book this morning. It will probably be a week before I can begin on it, but I will read it as soon as I can and pass it on. I can see it has got a long way to go. Looking through the other comments has whetted my appetite, and I am looking forward to the read. 

Journal Entry 34 by bonnie0907 from Ryde, Isle Of Wight United Kingdom on Monday, May 05, 2008

I have now finished reading this most enjoyable book. I thought it was quite refreshingly different, and made a really good read. Many thanks for including me in this ring. I have now PM'd gembear for her address so that I can send it on to her. 

Journal Entry 35 by Gembear from Banbury, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, May 09, 2008

The book arrived this morning and I look forward to delving into its pages. Much to the surprise of our poor postie the letterbox dropped from the door as he attempted to post it. Renovations are hell, I tell ya! The boss plans to spray paint the door so he bought new white door furniture and some double glazed units for where he'll cut out the panels. Unfortunately for our hapless postie, before he actually painted it he decided to pop the new letterbox slot in and not fix it because, of course, it has to be removed in order to paint. Never before have I looked forward to no mail, ha! 

Journal Entry 36 by Gembear from Banbury, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Oh, the shame of it! We are still renovating so things get shifted from pillar to post and back again, sigh! The other problem was the husband who, despite making an absolute pigsty of the place himself, likes to pick up my things and store them somewhere dark and mysterious hence the lapse between reading and sending.

I was intrigued by what happened and once that was revealed I was then curious as to what Charlie would decide to do with her life. She seemed to just drift along allowing things to happen to her rather than being decisive, to do what other expected of her rather than challenging herself, to accept whatever came along because she wasn't worth the effort to make things happen for herself. It was good to watch her growing up, dealing with things she'd run away from before and making decisions for herself.

Awaiting Wyjanes address! 

Journal Entry 37 by wyjane from Radford Semele, Warwickshire United Kingdom on Thursday, October 30, 2008

This arrived a little while ago and I forgot to journal it straightaway. Now I have read it so I can do both journals at once.
So.. well, it was an easy read which ultimately left me feeling unsatisfied. I didn't feel Charlie had learnt much about life, or faith, or how to be a better teacher, or how to relate to other people, either Koreans or other foreigners like herself during her time in Korea. So what had she learnt??She didn't so much make choices as drift along in Korea much as she had in New Zealand. I did however enjoy the way it was written, jumping around in time and location, and I found the characters realistic and the description of life as a not-very-confident outsider well written.
Will PM tabbystripes for address and get it moving again. 

Journal Entry 38 by wyjane from Radford Semele, Warwickshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Tabbystripes asked to be skipped so book is off to Amanida as soon as I can get to a post office. 

Journal Entry 39 by Amanida from Chertsey, Surrey United Kingdom on Saturday, November 15, 2008

Arrived safely today. I'm thrilled to be part of an author-initiated ring! Will start it soon. 

Journal Entry 40 by Amanida from Chertsey, Surrey United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 18, 2008

An easy and enjoyable read: I like books that come in small chunks. I enjoyed the style, quite unique and poetic at times. And I really wanted to know what was going to happen next, so raced to finish it. Whilst I did find the ending a bit of an anti-climax, I think that Charlie learnt a lot and I was happy that she seemed to be a bit more in control of her life at the end.
Thanks to Alectoness and I look forward to reading more comments.
Book will be off to Midlifecrisis in Cornwall within the next few days 

Journal Entry 41 by Midlifecrisis from St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Saturday, November 22, 2008

Received today - thank you. I will read and journal asap. 

Journal Entry 42 by Midlifecrisis from St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Monday, December 01, 2008

A really good read, though I was surprised and a bit put out by the ending. Other readers have commented on the lack of detail about Korea, but I thought this rang very true. Looking back to events in my life around my early twenties, there are lots of details I can hardly remember, and often a sense that I was missing out on things other people were exploring and enjoying. I think lots of young people find it harder than they expect to fit in to a new environment. An excellent debut and best wishes for a successful career. I will journal again when this is in the post to the next reader. 

Journal Entry 43 by Midlifecrisis from St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Friday, December 05, 2008

Baileybird wanted to be skipped, so the book is now on its way to Finland. 

Journal Entry 44 by ruzena from Vantaa, Uusimaa Finland on Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Arrived yesterday. Looks like somebodies have already read :D 

Journal Entry 45 by ruzena from Vantaa, Uusimaa Finland on Sunday, January 04, 2009

Journal Entry 46 by bookwormess from Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Thank you, ruzena, the book just arrived. I was just ten minutes ago thinking that mail (hopefully bringing me this book) should arrive soon... After waiting for the book 1,5 years I finally get to read it. Exciting. I just started a new book, but I will start this one in few days or so. 

Journal Entry 47 by bookwormess from Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Monday, January 12, 2009

I liked it. The style was fresh and unique, I liked hopping between NZ and Korea. The storyline was also heading somewhere, as books with hopping between places and times it can be a bit messed.

At first I was wondering what se earned as it wasn't really told in the book But with a bit thinking I could make out my version: I think she learned how to let go and that maybe there is more to life than just the pattern she was running her life with (childhood, college, marriage, children). I'm really glad she took a jump and stayed in Korea and not took the easy way with Greg. I also like the childs view in life and religion (how everything is so simple). And the Korean parts where quite fun. I have been working in a multinational company which has branches in India and China (amongst many) so the way Koreans spoke English and also the cultural differences was really familiar. I think it was great how the writer had been able to make so many different characters so real, which actually makes a good writer.

This book made me think. I was thinking about religion and believing/not believing in God as it was one of the main themes. I was also thinking about being a foreinger in different country and the clashing of cultural differencies. And I was thinking of Chinese food. A lot. Must have some, soon. :)

The book is off to boirina tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 48 by bookwormess at Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Monday, January 12, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (1/13/2009 UTC) at Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain

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Will be sent to the next participant of the ring. 

Journal Entry 49 by boirina from Calvià, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Thursday, January 22, 2009

The book is here with me. Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 50 by boirina from Calvià, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The book is leaving for penelopewanders today.

Thanks for sharing this interesting read! 

Journal Entry 51 by penelopewanders from Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Monday, March 02, 2009

Thanks so much for sending this book which arrived safely here in the Swiss alps today. There are a few other rings which got here first so they will be read before this, but I look forward to reading this soon! 

Journal Entry 52 by penelopewanders from Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Tuesday, March 17, 2009

I found this rather tough-going at the beginning, but gradually I got into it and felt it picked up considerably in the second half. An interesting view on language teaching abroad and exposure to other cultures, but so very far from my own that I found it hard to relate to Miss Charlotte. As she was running from and not going to someplace, I suppose it makes sense that she made no apparent effort to integrate or appreciate anything much about the culture she has landed in. It feels like she just lets things happen to her, lets her relationships evolve of their own accord or not. Her relationship with Tess, with Mr Park (there's really not much of anything with the second Mr Park), the young man in her building she teaches English to, with Tyler, Ben and Greg - her tone is interestingly neutral throughout it all, but ultimately irritating, I found.
I'm nonetheless glad for the read - thanks so much for making it available and sending it on. I'll try to get it off to Nikel27 in the next few days.
 

Journal Entry 53 by penelopewanders at controlled release, .---controlled release---. Switzerland on Friday, March 20, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (3/20/2009 UTC) at controlled release, .---controlled release---. Switzerland

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Now on its way to Germany.. thanks for making it available! 

Journal Entry 54 by nikel27 from Ginsheim-Gustavsburg, Hessen Germany on Monday, April 06, 2009

arrived safe at my house, will start reading this weekend.

update:
Good read, thanks for sharing with me.
asked for the next member address. 

Journal Entry 55 by nikel27 at Book Ring, Ginsheim -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, April 26, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (4/27/2009 UTC) at Book Ring, Ginsheim -- Controlled Releases

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EnJoy the book as I did. 

Journal Entry 56 by LindyLouMac from Viterbo, Lazio Italy on Saturday, May 09, 2009

Wow this book is so well travelled, now here in Italy! I have been looking forward to reading this since the author first offered it up as a Bookring prior to publication, but I did not realise that was two years ago now. 

Journal Entry 57 by LindyLouMac from Viterbo, Lazio Italy on Monday, June 01, 2009

I am sorry to say that I was very disappointed in this novel. It was in fact I found rather boring with the protagonist telling us about her childhood in New Zealand and her current experiences teaching English in Korea. Charlotte was obviously an extremely unhappy young lady; she was only in Korea as she was running away from unhappiness with her life in New Zealand. I never felt that she really wanted to be in Korea and she did not give herself a chance to enjoy the experience of living in a different culture. She was unhappy with the circumstances she found herself in but did nothing to resolve them, just let life drift on around her. Her behaviour and unfortunately hence the novel annoyed me in fact.
It was however only the storyline that disappointed me because the actual writing style was I found very descriptive and I was able to visualize well some of the eccentric cast of characters.
I will certainly look out for any more novels that Natasha Judd may publish as this was her first, in itself a great achievement.

I have already sent a message to the next reader for their address. Update June 6th having problems making contact with Sudokugirl. One more try and then will move on to next name. 

Journal Entry 58 by LindyLouMac at to the next participant, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, June 07, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (6/8/2009 UTC) at to the next participant, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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I now have an address from Sudokugirl so book en route to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Happy reading

LindyLouMac 

Journal Entry 59 by sudokugirl from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday, June 15, 2009

Arrived safely a few minutes ago :) I'm looking forward to reading this. 

Journal Entry 60 by sudokugirl from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I cannot believe I forgot to make a journal entry about this book and that it's been sitting here for so long! I read it a week after it had arrived and I really enjoyed this little story. Congrats to Alectoness, keep up the good work.

I have Fifna's address and will send "Lessons to Learn" her way today. 

Journal Entry 61 by sudokugirl at sent by mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (11/11/2009 UTC) at sent by mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Sent to Fifna. Sorry for the delay, I hope you'll enjoy the book. 

Journal Entry 62 by Fifna from Voorburg, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, November 14, 2009

Arrived today, thanks sudokugirl! As sudokugirl mentioned, it's been some months since she requested my address, and at the time I had fewer bookrings in the house than just now. So it will have to wait in line for a bit, but I will do my best and get to it as soon as possible. I'm looking forward to it! 

Journal Entry 63 by Fifna from Voorburg, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Friday, December 11, 2009

Very enjoyable, especially the sections set in Korea. Charlotte's vagueness and lack of direction could be frustrating at times, but then I guess that means it made me care. As did poor little Jack as well.
Thank you very much for sharing!
Bluestocking 88 has asked to be skipped, so I have now PMed -Psyche- for an address.
edit 5 January: -Psyche- is not responding to PMs, so I will now try to contact LMM. 

Journal Entry 64 by Fifna at Danville, Virginia USA on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (1/26/2010 UTC) at Danville, Virginia USA

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Sent off to Megi53! 

Journal Entry 65 by Megi53 from Danville, Virginia USA on Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Perfect timing! I'll be ready to start a new book either tonight or tomorrow -- and this is one I've been particularly eager to read.

(It came in today's mail delivery, which was the first time in four days that our mail lady braved the snow and sleet and walked her route.) 

Journal Entry 66 by Megi53 from Danville, Virginia USA on Sunday, February 07, 2010

I enjoyed this tremendously! It was very well written -- I loved the titles given to each short chapter, and the way events from each country were interwoven, sometimes going back dozens of pages to pick up an incident in New Zealand and compare/contrast it with something happening in Korea.

Sociological, not literary, criticism: characters I absolutely despised, in order from just crummy to outright demonic: Tyler, Tess, Kim Hyun-Ki, Jack.

Characters I adored, in order from pretty cool to utterly fantastic: Min-Ju, Greg, Paul, Sarah, Moon-Bong, Kim Hyun-Shik, Fiona Patterson, Park Keun-Woo.

Yes, that's the principal, Mr. Park. I wish there were an entire book about him. It was just wonderful when he described his love for his wife during the Buddhist temple field trip. And it was highly entertaining when he admonished Charlotte, "I said half hour. This is forty-one minutes. Please do not be so tardy. You are living close to the school. Please come fast when I call."

My daughter arrived in Seoul yesterday for an audit and I sent her an e-mail with lots of good advice I gleaned from this book: don't walk around eating snacks on the sidewalks; don't write people's names in red; watch out for soju and dog meat stew; don't try to get wooden masks through customs; look for the chocolate cereal in the bright green box!

Other tidbits I don't want to forget: running laps after failing a test; the silver fern replacing Charlotte's lost frankincense; Do-Kuin's essay on "Koreans spend TOO MUCH TIME on the computer and NOT enough on TEAM sports"; PhotoMagic stickers; the blank paper with thoughts of camp going into the bonfire (and yes, Mr. Park would have understood the joke if she'd asked for a second sheet!).

This was one of my best bookring experiences in a long time, and I'm terribly sorry I don't have a camera so others can share my view from the couch where I read the book. (Imagine bare trees with each branch outlined in ice at the bottom of a steep hill blanketed with over a foot of snow outside of a long "Chicago window" that often had a Siamese cat on the sill.)

I have the next reader's address and will move this along shortly.

(BTW -- nice blog, Mrs. Judd!) 

Journal Entry 67 by Megi53 at Broadview Heights, Ohio USA on Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (2/9/2010 UTC) at Broadview Heights, Ohio USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to next person on bookring (Media Mail). 

Journal Entry 68 by liz-z from Parma Hts., Ohio USA on Saturday, February 13, 2010

Got it! I am currently reading another ring book and will get to this one as soon as I am finished! Thanks for sharing!

***Update: 2/28/10*** Just started reading this one today. Looks like it will be a quick, good read.

***Update: 3/28/10*** Sorry to have kept this one so long, I am almost finished with this book and have already pm'd the next person in line for their address. I will send the book on soon! 

Journal Entry 69 by liz-z from Parma Hts., Ohio USA on Monday, March 29, 2010

Just finished this book and I really enjoyed it! I loved how you get to form your own conclusions, brilliant! Thanks for sharing! The next reader has asked to be skipped so I have pm'd the person after for their shipping info and will get this book in the mail soon. 

Journal Entry 70 by liz-z at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, April 01, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (4/1/2010 UTC) at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to the next reader, thanks again for sharing! 

Journal Entry 71 by piggydiva from Louisville, Kentucky USA on Monday, April 12, 2010

I received this book in the mail today and will put it next on my TBR list!