Journal Entry 1 by soffitta1 from Ávila, Ávila Spain on Saturday, June 16, 2007

** see 113th entry for round 8**

** see 100th entry for round 7 **
** see 82nd entry for round 6 **
** see 61st entry for round 5 **
** see 47th entry for round 4 **
** see 27th entry for round 3 **
** See 13th entry for round 2 **

A bookbox full of books connected with Asia - Asian writers, characters, settings, etc.
A U.K. bookbox with 13 books in it. Please don't let the number of books dip below 10.
In order to keep the contents varied, there will be a limit on the number of books from each country - 2 as a maximum. It would be lovely if each book was from a different place, but that could slow up the box.

I hope to have about 10 participants.

When you receive the box, journal it with the BCID, which is on the inside of the lid. Please replace the books you take out with other Asia-themed books and pass the box on in about 2-4 weeks.

If you have any problems or questions, don't hesitate to get it touch.
** Round 1 complete
Participants:
1. clairemagnolia
2. lellie
3. Janey-Liz
4. ktwalker (withdrew)
5. thing-1


Books going in:
Mr. Foreigner
A Black Englishman
In Siberia
Silk
Anita and Me
Gabriel's Gift
Fried eggs with chopsticks
An Equal Music
Floodtide
 

Journal Entry 2 by soffitta1 at By post in Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (6/20/2007 UTC) at By post in Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 3 by clairemagnolia from Blackpool, Lancashire United Kingdom on Thursday, June 21, 2007

Arrived safely this morning. What a great selection ! 

Journal Entry 4 by clairemagnolia from Blackpool, Lancashire United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 11, 2007

The box is ready to continue its travels now.

I have added the following books:

Fasting, Feasting by Anita Desai
Old Filth by Jane Gardam

I've taken out:

Siberia and A Black Englishman

When I've read these two I will offer them as rings.

This has been a very enjoyable reading experience! Thankyou Soffitta1. 

Journal Entry 5 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Arrived this morning. What a nice selection.
Taking out:

Old Filth by Jane Gardam (on my wishlist!)
Fasting and Feasting by Anita Desai
Fried Eggs With Chopsticks byPolly Evans.

I'm replacing them with

The Mango Seasin By Amulya Malladi
For Matrimolial Purposes by Kavita Daswani
The Jewel In The Crown by Paul Scott

Hope to get this on its way by the weekend.
Thanks soffitta1 for a nice box.

 

Journal Entry 6 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Friday, July 20, 2007

This will be in the post to Janey-Liz tomorrow, but I foolishly took another look and have decided to take out Anita and Me as well.
I picked up a copy of this book a while back and wild released it before I read it, which was very foolish of me. Now I have another chance.

I'm replacing it with
Arranged Marriage by Chita Banerjee Divakaruni 

Journal Entry 7 by Janey-Liz from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Arrived yesterday, good selection, will post on soon. 

Journal Entry 8 by Janey-Liz from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, August 03, 2007

Have taken out:-

Arranged marriage
Silk

Will post onto Thing-1 in the morning. 

Journal Entry 9 by thing-1 from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 07, 2007

WOW This is the best book box I have ever received. They are all too often full of old tat that barely fit the theme, but this was packed with really terrific books! Good job everyone!
There are 9 in the box, I am taking 5 and of the remaining 4 I have already read 3 so there was only 1 I didn''t particularly fancy.
Thanks for sharing everyone.
Jude x

Taking out
Gabriels Gift
An Equal music
The mango season
For Matrimonial Purposes
Mr. Foreigner

Will journal with my replacements shorty. 

Journal Entry 10 by thing-1 from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Confessions of a bad bookcrosser;
When I came to finding my replacements for the book box I discovered that I was incapable of letting many of my Asian books go. They form the backbone of my personal collection, particularly those set in Tibet a place I have visited several times and for which I have a deep and burning passion. But the book box which was the highlight of my month so far deserves replenishing with some good reads, and hey we all need a little good karma, so although 7 years in Tibet and The Glass Palace did not make it in (sorry), I hope that the next person enjoys some of these;
Autobiography of a Geisha
What I Loved
Travels on my Elephant
Arranged Marriage
Red Dust

Thanks again everyone, should get it moving again this week.
J x 

Journal Entry 11 by thing-1 from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, August 11, 2007

Taking to the post office today to begi its epic journey back to Soffita.
Thanks x 

Journal Entry 12 by soffitta1 from Ávila, Ávila Spain on Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Fantastic selection!
The following books were in the box on its return:
Travels on my Elephant
What I loved
The Jewel in the Crown
Autobiography of a Geisha
Red Dust
For Matrimonial Purposes
A short walk in the Hindu Kush
The good women of China 

Journal Entry 13 by soffitta1 from Ávila, Ávila Spain on Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Thank you all for taking part in the bookbox, I hope you all were as happy with the selection as I am. Another bookcrosser just gave me another Asian themed book, which got me thinking about re-opening this bookbox, with a view to sending it out in a couple of months' time. If any of you (or your friends) are interested, then just send me a PM.

See the rules from above:

The 2nd round

1. katrinat
2. arturogrande
3. Jellybaby531
4. NICNIC2 (skipped)
5. CaterinaAnna
6. Lellie

Contents:
Red dust
Autobiography of a Geisha
Life of Pi
Maps for lost lovers
Ten thousand Sorrows
The distant land of my Father
The Magpie Bridge
Travels on my Elephant
The silk harmony factory

 

Journal Entry 14 by soffitta1 at By post in Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, August 26, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (8/28/2007 UTC) at By post in Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 15 by katrinat from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 29, 2007

looks like a great selection of books x

I'm taking out:
Red Dust
Travels on my Elephant
Distant land of my father
Ten Thousand Sorrows

and replacing them with:
Chinese Cinderella
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
The God of Smaill Things
Geisha
( and possibly Bound Feet and Western Dress if finished on time). 

Journal Entry 16 by katrinat from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Sunday, September 02, 2007

Posted on to the next person on Saturday. Hope you enjoy x 

Journal Entry 17 by katrinat from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Sunday, September 02, 2007

Posted on to the next person on Saturday. Hope you enjoy x 

Journal Entry 18 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Ooh there's some good stuff in here!

I'm taking out:

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami
The Harmony Silk Factory - Tash Aw
The Magpie Bridge - Liu Hong
Maps for Lost Lovers - Nadeem Aslam

I'll journal again when I've decided what to replace them with. Thanks very much 

Journal Entry 19 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, September 07, 2007

I'm replacing the books I've taken out with:

The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan
An Equal Music - Vikram Seth
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
Circles of Silence - Preeti Singh

I'll post it off tomorrow to Jellybaby531 on my way to Norfolk for my holidays!!!

Thanks for a great bookbox!
 

Journal Entry 20 by Jellybaby531 from Shrewsbury, Shropshire United Kingdom on Friday, September 14, 2007

Picked up from the sorting office today, thanks very much for posting it on! A great selection of books - just trying to decide what to take out and what to put in.... 

Journal Entry 21 by Jellybaby531 from Shrewsbury, Shropshire United Kingdom on Sunday, September 23, 2007

I have taken out:-
Circles of Silence - Preeti Singh
The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan
The God of Small Things - Arundhati Roy

...and I have added:-

The Far Pavilions - M M Kaye
Feasting, Fasting - Anita Desai
The Last Kashmiri Rose - Barbara Cleverly

NICNIC2 has asked to be skipped so the box went on it's merry way to caterinaAnna on Friday 21st. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 22 by Caterinaanna from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, September 28, 2007

And arrived on Wednesday, when we were up to our ears with an Open Evening that took all of yesterday to recover from.
Fantastic selection, which will need careful consideration, so I'll have a think over the weekend ... 

Journal Entry 23 by Caterinaanna from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, October 26, 2007

Sorry to have kept this so long: didn't want to get it caught up in postal strikes - that & racing to read a couple of the books to put in it.
Anyway taken out:
Autobiography of a Geisha
Feasting, Feasting
Life of Pi (on behalf of Spike1972)
and putting in:
Paddy Indian
Paperback Raita
(Un)arranged Marriage (Prefix is 828, label in the front may say 882. If so, please correct: I'd already parcelled this up before support got in touch to tell me why it was playing games.)

PMing Lellie for address now & hope to get on its way at the weekend. 

Journal Entry 24 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Thursday, November 01, 2007

Arrived this morning.
Great selection! How nice to see The Far Pavilions still doing the rounds, I almost kept it, although I read it many years ago :)

Am taking out
Paddy Indian
The Last Kashmiri Rose
(un)arrianged Marriage

Now I have to go trawl through my bookshelves for suitable replacements. 

Journal Entry 25 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Friday, November 23, 2007

I'm so sorry to have held this up. I was a bit short on themed books for this box as most are on my shelf waiting to be read, so I begged a couple from my other half MrRedhouse.

Into the box go

Master of Rain by Tom Bradby
Shogun by James Clavell and
Staying on By Paul Scott

This will be in the post on Monday. 

Journal Entry 26 by soffitta1 from Ávila, Ávila Spain on Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Just arrived back at home, as I am away just now, the books will be journalled on my return.

The contents were:
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
An Equal Music - Vikram Seth
Geisha - Liza Dalby
Shogun - James Clavell
The Far Pavilions - M M Kaye
The Master of Rain - Tom Bradby
Chinese Cinderella - Adeline Yen Mah
Staying On - Paul Scott
Bound Feet & Western Dress - Pang-Mei Natasha Chang
Paperback Raita - Will Rhode
(and some chocolate!)

Thanks to all those who took part, I will let you know when I am sending this out again. 

Journal Entry 27 by soffitta1 from Ávila, Ávila Spain on Thursday, February 14, 2008

Hope to send this out again in March, if any of you would like to take part again.
Books currently going in:

White Teeth (2 of the main characters are British Asian)
Sweet Sour (Hong Kong Chinese characters)
The Lover (set in Vietnam)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (China)
The Bonesetter's Daughter (China)
Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee (British Asian author)
Wild Swans (Jung Chang)
Shanghai Baby
The Inheritance of Loss
A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers
The Glass Palace
Sister of My Heart (India)
Inside Stories of the Forbidden City
The Glass Palace (Burma)

Order:
Katrinat
Celticseahorse
Lellie (skipped)
Jellybaby531
Janey-Liz
Tubereader
Fellraven 

Journal Entry 28 by soffitta1 at By post in Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (3/18/2008 UTC) at By post in Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 29 by katrinat from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, March 20, 2008

Arrived yesterday, looks great at first glance i picked up four books! will try and get it sent back out next week once I've made some firm decisions. thanks for sending this around again x 

Journal Entry 30 by katrinat from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, March 20, 2008

Arrived yesterday, looks great at first glance i picked up four books! will try and get it sent back out next week once I've made some firm decisions. thanks for sending this around again x 

Journal Entry 31 by katrinat from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Sunday, March 23, 2008

I'm going to send this out the end of the week. I've taken out:
The Bonesetter's Daughter (China)
Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee (British Asian author)
Wild Swans (Jung Chang)
Sweet and Sour

I'm replacing them with:
Falling Leaves
Balzac and the Chinese Seamstress
The Black Album/The Buddha of Suburbia
Memoirs of a Geisha
Autobiagraphy of a Geisha 

Journal Entry 32 by celticseahorse from Newquay, Cornwall United Kingdom on Monday, March 31, 2008

Arrived safely very early this am got caught in my jim jams..bit overwhelmed by the number of books. My thoughts on what constitutes Asia might be bit off key so just got some other replacements today which will read quickly! I'm offline at home this moment more computer problems but will PM next up today and get it sent on ASAP.
 

Journal Entry 33 by celticseahorse from Newquay, Cornwall United Kingdom on Friday, May 09, 2008

Hi Sorry for delay heard back from Lellie who is passing ..now PM'ed next up Jelliebaby531 and hopefully will be in post as soon as have address. Also Pm'ed Soffita1 to inform of missed passenger..

I'm back on my feet after surgery but bit hobbley still and carrying stuff isn't exactly easy but the famous very old tartan trolley will be hauled out for trip to PO :-)
The box is very yummy and I have loved its visit..and looking forward to finally getting it in the post..
Jane 

Journal Entry 34 by celticseahorse from Newquay, Cornwall United Kingdom on Monday, May 12, 2008

Taken out
Inside stories of the Forbidden City
The Glass Palace – Amitav Ghosh
A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary

Added
Norwegian Wood – Murakami
The Space Between US – Thrity Umigar
Sour Sweet – Timothy Mo

hope the next person enjoys this box as much as I did..will be in post in next couple of days to Jelliebaby531 

Journal Entry 35 by Jellybaby531 from Shrewsbury, Shropshire United Kingdom on Saturday, May 17, 2008

This very full box arrived today, thank you - can't wait to have a good browse!!

PS for Soffita1 - I will almost certainly take out 'The Inheritance of Loss' - could you let me have the BCID number please? Many thanks! 

Journal Entry 36 by Jellybaby531 from Shrewsbury, Shropshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Sorry to have held the box up.. have finally decided what to take out/put in:-

Taking out:-
Sister of my Heart
White Teeth
The Inheritance of Loss
The Space between us

Putting In:-
A New Dominion
Staying On
Heat and Dust
In Custody

Thanks for sending it out again! 

Journal Entry 37 by Jellybaby531 from Shrewsbury, Shropshire United Kingdom on Saturday, May 31, 2008

The box is on it's way today to Janey-Liz! 

Journal Entry 38 by Janey-Liz from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Book arrived safety today after being in the post office for a couple of days!

It's a great selection!

Thanks 

Journal Entry 39 by Janey-Liz from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, June 21, 2008

An excellent collection of books. I hope my additions are also enjoyed. They are all non-fiction but I have really enjoyed reading them. (I did have a fiction book to add but it was already in the box!)

Have taken out:-

Hanif Kureshi - Buddha of Suburbia/The Black Album
Haruki Murakami Norwegian Wood
Lisa See - Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

Have added books by William Dalrymple, /Josie Dew and Sei Shonagon.

Will be taking to the post office this morning to pass onto Tubereader.
 

Journal Entry 40 by Tubereader from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Arrived safely!!

I am sooooo excited! This is my first real bookbox and I feel like a child on Christmas day! :-)

I'll make a selection as soon as I can, will also depend on which books I can put in. Will keep everyone updated! 

Journal Entry 41 by Tubereader from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Friday, June 27, 2008

This box is so good!! I am going to take out quite a few books:

- A new dominion by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
- The pillow book of Sei Shonagon
- Balzac and the little Chinese seamstress by Dai Sijie
- Autobiography of a geisha by Sayo Masuda
- Falling leaves by Adeline Yen Mah
- A ride in the neon sun by Josie Dew
- The lover by Marguerite Duras

And I am replacing them by the following books (hope the next recipients of the box like them!):
- The crazed by Ha Jin
- The city of joy by Dominique Lapierre
- A golden age by Tahmima Anam
- House of the sleeping beauties by Yasunari Kawabata
- Shanghai Tango by Jin Xing
- Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
- Silk by Alessandro Baricco

I already have Fellraven's address so will try to take this to the post office tomorrow morning. 

Journal Entry 42 by Tubereader at By post in Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, June 28, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (6/28/2008 UTC) at By post in Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

I have posted the box to Fellraven who is next in line and last in the list before the box goes back to Soffitta1.

This was a great box, I very much enjoyed taking part in it!! 

Journal Entry 43 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Friday, July 04, 2008

Finally arrived today - many thanks. I will try to turn this round quickly, but I may need to find a slightly bigger box depending on what I take out and put in. 

Journal Entry 44 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Saturday, July 05, 2008

Taking out:

Staying On
In Custody
The Crazed
A Golden Age

Putting in:

Plain Tales from the Hills - Rudyard Kipling (India, of course)
Binu and the Great Wall of China - Su Tong (China)
The Coroner's Lunch - Colin Cotterill (Laos)
Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami (Japan)

Binu was one of the recent Canongate givaways and the Coroner's Lunch is great fun and the first in 4 or 5 novels in this series of whodunnits-cum-dark political satires.

Will post back on Monday. 

Journal Entry 45 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, July 10, 2008

Apologies for the delay in sending this back. I kept forgetting to take the box into work and then I forgot to take the address. Ho hum. Anyway, it's on its way today. 

Journal Entry 46 by soffitta1 from Ávila, Ávila Spain on Friday, July 11, 2008

Woohoo! Great end to a long week at work.
The box has arrived with a lot of good books:
Empress Orchid: Anchee Min
Shanghai Tango: Jin Xing
Silk: Alessandro Baricco
Memoirs of a Geisha: Arthur Golden
Norwegian Wood: Haruki Murakami
Plain Tales from the Hills: Kipling
The Coroner's Lunch: Colin Cotterill
Sour Sweet: Timothy Mo
Binu and the Great Wall of China: Su Tong
The Age of Kali: William Dalrymple
House of the Sleeping Beauties: Kawabata
Heat and Dust: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
The City of Joy: Dominque Lapierre

Thanks all for taking part. I will be sending this out again soonish (just need to read some more books!).
After an interesting exchange of PMs with Fellraven, there will be an extra rule to the bookbox - a limit of the number of books from the big 3: China, India and Japan. This is to make the box more interesting. Fellraven has started an interesting forum thread asking for book recommendations from other Asian countries.
Hope that this won't discourage you from taking part again.

Here is the link to the forum thread: http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5512542

 

Journal Entry 47 by soffitta1 from Ávila, Ávila Spain on Sunday, July 13, 2008

Starting to gather books again and already have 3 people signed up for round 4! (order may change)

1. Sharonrocks
2. Fellraven
3. Tubereader
4. Janey-Liz
5. Anglersrest

In the box:
Tanamera (Singapore)
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
The Beach (Thailand)
Waiting (China)
Burmese Days
Anil's Ghost (Sri Lanka)
In the Empire of Genghis Khan (Mongolia)
A Gesture Life (Korean-Japanese characters)
Peony in Love (China)
For Tibet with Love
The Railway Man (Burma-Siam Railway)
Siddhartha (Buddhism)
Reading Lolita in Tehran (Iran)
Brownout on Breadfruit Boulevard (Philippines) 

Journal Entry 48 by soffitta1 at Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, July 26, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (7/26/2008 UTC) at Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

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The 4th round of the Asia-themed Bookbox. 

Journal Entry 49 by sharonrocks on Monday, July 28, 2008

How exciting! This is my favourite book box so far. I would've quite liked pretty much everything in here, but as I only have 4 suitable books to put back in, I will have to restrain myself! Here's the plan:

Out:
Reading Lolita in Tehran (Iran)
Anil's Ghost (Sri Lanka)
For Tibet, with love
The Railway Man (Burma/Thailand)

Going in:
The Virgin Soldiers by Leslie Thomas (Wartime Malaya)
The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra (Afghanistan)
Bone China by Roma Tearne (not actually China, but Sri Lanka!)
A Passage to India by EM Forster
 

Journal Entry 50 by sharonrocks on Monday, August 04, 2008

Off it goes on its travels later today... 

Journal Entry 51 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Received today! I'm going to turn this around fairly quickly.

Taking out:

The Swallows of Kabul - Yasmina Khadra (Afghanistan)
Bone China - Roma Tearne (Sri Lanka)
Burmese Days - George Orwell (Burma)
In the Empire of Genghis Khan - Stanley Stewart (Mongolia)

Putting in:

An Artist of the Floating World* - Kazuo Ishiguro (Japan)
Shame - Salman Rushdie (Pakistan)
The People's Act of Love - James Meek (Siberia)
The Girl From the Coast - Pramoedya Ananta Toer (Indonesia)

* This is actually an omnibus edition which also includes "The Remains of the Day". 

Journal Entry 52 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Friday, August 15, 2008

Off on its travels again today. 

Journal Entry 53 by Tubereader from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Monday, August 18, 2008

What a great selection yet again! It's difficult to choose which ones to take out, but as I have only 4 books available to put in the box from the region, I'll have to limit myself in what I take out.

I am taking out:
Siddhartha - Herman Hesse (Buddhism)
A Passage to India - E.M. Forster (India)
An Artist of the Floating World - Kazuo Ishiguro (Japan)
Shame - Salman Rushdie (Pakistan)

And I am putting in:
Forget you had a daughter - Sandra Gregory (Thailand)
Ali and Nino - Kuban Said (Azerbaijan)
The bookseller of Kabul - Asne Seierstad (Afghanistan)
Diplomatic baggage - Brigid Keenan (Kazakhastan, India, Syria and other non-Asian countries)

Hope the books will be of interest to some of the next recipients of the box! I have just PMed the next in line for their address!


 

Journal Entry 54 by Tubereader at Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Friday, August 22, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (8/22/2008 UTC) at Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

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This box has been sent today to Janey-Liz who is the next in line.

Thanks soffitta1 for putting together such a great box.

Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 55 by Janey-Liz from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 27, 2008

The box arrived in the post yesterday.

I have got a pile of book to add in so should be able to send on soon. 

Journal Entry 56 by Janey-Liz from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Decision made:-

Going In

To the Navel of the world - Peter Somerville-Large (Nepal/Tibet)
Danzigers Travels - Nick Danziger (Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Iran)
The Dancer from Khiva - Bibish (Uzbekistan)
Dancing in Cambodia, At large in Burma - Amitav Ghosh (Cambodia/Burma)

Taking out

Salmon Fishing in Yemen - Paul Torday
Peony in Love - Lisa See
The Girl from the Coast - Pramoedya Ananta Toer
Diplomatic Baggage - Brigid Keenan

Have PM'd the next on the list so hope to get this sent back out soon. 

Journal Entry 57 by Janey-Liz from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, August 30, 2008

The box was taken to the post office this morning so should be with AnglersRest soon.

Thanks for a great box! 

Journal Entry 58 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Arrived this morning! We have a house viewing later, so will sit and enjoy the box after the viewing. Then I can spread the books out and have a good look. Thanks for sending. 

Journal Entry 59 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Friday, December 05, 2008

I have had this book box for far too long (apologies!!!!) Now off back to soffitta1, posted today parcel force Royal Mail. 

Journal Entry 60 by soffitta1 from Ávila, Ávila Spain on Saturday, December 13, 2008

This has arrived home, thanks to everyone for taking part.

The Virgin Soldiers
Ali and Nino
To the Navel of the World
Danziger's Travel
Dancing in Cambodia, At large in Burma
The Dancer from Khiva
Forget you had a daughter
The People's Act of Love
The bookseller of Kabul

 

Journal Entry 61 by soffitta1 from Ávila, Ávila Spain on Wednesday, December 24, 2008

See the rules in the first journal entry.

Slow Boats to China (travelling to China)
The Piano Tuner (Burma)
Kowloon Tong (HK)
The Harmony Silk Factory (Malaysia)
Siam
My Name is Red (Turkey)
The Sandglass (Sri Lanka)
From Heaven Lake (China, Tibet, Nepal)
Ten Thousand Lovers (Israel)
Barbed Wire and Babushkas (Siberia, China, Mongolia)
The Birthday Stories (ed. Japanese writer)
The Magic Seeds (Indian character)
Behind the Wall (China)
A Thousand Splendid Suns (Afghanistan)
Krakatoa (Indonesia)
Salam Pax (Iraq)
Buddha Da (A Glaswegian dad turns to Buddhism)

Round 5:
Katrinat
Fellraven
Millycat
Rossella05
Sharonrocks
Scruffykaz
chucklesthescot
Tubereader 

Journal Entry 62 by soffitta1 at Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, January 03, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (1/3/2009 UTC) at Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

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Round 5! 

Journal Entry 63 by katrinat from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Arrived today, I think I know which books I want to take out but I'm umming and ahhing over some of them. I have three books ready to go in and 1 or 2 others I would like to read before sending them out in this box. As usual a fantastic selection Soffitta1. 

Journal Entry 64 by katrinat from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Saturday, January 31, 2009

Sorry I ended up keeping this so long, it has been a hectic month. Whilst the book was with me I read 2 of the books: Siam and Birthday Stories (well worth a read)
I'm adding in:
Family Matters, Mistry (India) a 1001 book
Out, Kirino (Japan)
Goodbye Tsugumi, Yoshimoto (Japan)
A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain (Vietnam/USA)
The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea (Japan)

I'm Taking out:
Krakatoa
My Name is Red
Baghdad Blog
Barbed Wire & Babushkas
Magic Seeds

If anyone in the ring would like me to send them any of the copies I took out of the box once I have read them, please pm me so they can keep moving.

Box will be sent today


 

Journal Entry 65 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Safely received today. At the moment I'm definitely:

TAKING OUT

Siam
The Harmony Silk Factory
The Piano Tuner
The Sandglass
Behind the Wall

PUTTING IN

The Sultan's Seal - Jenny White (Turkey)
Sounds of the River - Da Chen (China)
The Miniaturist - Kunal Basu (India)
The Tiger By the River - Ravi Shankar Etteth (India)
Old Filth - Jane Gardam (Hong Kong)

The box will be off as soon as I've finished reading "Old Filth".
 

Journal Entry 66 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, February 12, 2009

On its way to MillyCat today. 

Journal Entry 67 by millycat from Northampton, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Friday, February 13, 2009

Arrived today, the books look lovely!
Taking out:
1000 splendid suns,
Ten thousand lovers,
the sultan's seal
The sailor who fell from grace with the sea.
and replacng with
Anita & me - meera syal
Mister pip - Lloyd jones
falling Leaves - Adeline yen mah
Track of the Wind - Jamilla gavin.
Am sending this off today, sorry I have kept it for so long - a bit over worked at the moment. Lovely box, thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 68 by millycat at Harrow, Middlesex United Kingdom on Saturday, March 14, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (3/14/2009 UTC) at Harrow, Middlesex United Kingdom

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Sending the box on to Rossella05, sorry for the delay. 

Journal Entry 69 by Rossella05 on Thursday, March 19, 2009

Thank you soffitta1 and millycat! I know which books will be going in but I still haven't decided which ones to take out. I'll let you know in a couple of days max. 

Journal Entry 70 by Rossella05 on Friday, March 20, 2009

TAKING OUT
Sounds of the River: A Memoir of China, Da Chen ~ China
A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, Robert Olen Butler ~ Vietnam
Birthday Stories, Selected and Introduced by Haruki Murakami ~ Japan
PUTTING IN
Shifu, You'll Do Anything for a Laugh, Mo Yan ~ China
The Mistress of Spices, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni ~ India
Lizard, Banana Yoshimoto ~ Japan
I have asked sharonrocks to PM me her address.
Count me in if you're considering another round, thanks! 

Journal Entry 71 by Rossella05 at by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, March 21, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (3/21/2009 UTC) at by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

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It's off. 

Journal Entry 72 by sharonrocks on Sunday, March 29, 2009

It's arrived - thanks. Will make some decisions this week. Looks good! 

Journal Entry 73 by sharonrocks on Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Okay,here we go. I've tried to de-India this box a bit as it was getting a bit biased.

Coming out:
Old Filth
Kowloon Tong
Buddha Da
Family matters
The tiger by the river

Going in:
Ali and Nino - Azerbaijan
The reluctant fundamentalist - Pakistan
The attack - Israel
For Tibet with love

Will get this moving again at the weekend 

Journal Entry 74 by sharonrocks at Ruddington, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Saturday, April 11, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (4/11/2009 UTC) at Ruddington, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom

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Apologies for the delay - the bookbox is now on the move again. Happy Easter everyone and thanks for another great Bookbox Soffitta. 

Journal Entry 75 by Scruffykaz from Sidcup, Kent United Kingdom on Thursday, April 16, 2009

arrived safe and sound! Wow - what a great selection of books :-)

Taking out:

Out - Natsuo Kirino
From Heaven Lake - Vikram Seth
Falling Leaves - Adeline Yen Mah
The Attack - Yasmina Khadra
Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones
The Mistress of Spices - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
The Track of the Wind - Jamila Gavin
Ali and Nino - Kurban Said
Slow Boat to China - Gavin Young

Putting in:

Nobel House - James Clavell
Jian - Eric Van Lustbader
Q&A (Slumdog Millionaire) - Vikas Swarup
Wild Swans - Jung Chang
From the Land of Green Ghosts - Pascal Khoo Thwe
Empress Orchid - Anchee Min
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
To the Edge of the Sky - Anhua Gao 

Journal Entry 76 by Scruffykaz at mail, a postal release -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 22, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (6/22/2009 UTC) at mail, a postal release -- Controlled Releases

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To the next on the list.

Apologies for stalling this bookbox.


***********I have put more books in than I have journalled but forgot to list them!****************** 

Journal Entry 77 by chucklesthescot from Paisley, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, June 26, 2009

The box has arrived with me in Scotland with 15 great books to choose from! I'm going to enjoy this! Will confirm my choices later

Taking out
1-Vikas Swarup-Q and A (IND)
2-Anchee Min-Empress Orchid (CHI)
3-Anhua Gao-To the edge of the sky (CHI)
4-Pascal Khoo Thwe-From the land of Green Ghosts (BUR)
5-Isabel Losada-For Tibet with love (TIB)
6-Banana Yoshimoto-Goodbye Tsugumi (JAP)
7-Kunal Basu-The Miniaturist (IND)
8-Khaled Hosseini-A Thousand Splendid Suns (AFG)
9-Meera Syal-Anita and Me (IND)
10-Mohsin Hamid-The Reluctant Fundamentalist (PAK)

Putting in
1-Vikram Chandra-Love and longing in Bombay (IND)
2-Julia Gregson-East of the Sun (IND)
3-Amy Tan-The Bonesetters Daughter (CHI)
4-Lisa See-Snow Flower and the secret Fan (CHI)
5-Sarah Bryant-Sand Daughter (S.ARA)
6-Abdullah Hussein-Emigre journeys (PAK)
7-Clara Olink Kelly-The Flamboya Tree (JAVA)
8-Chang-rae Lee-A Gesture Life (JAP)
9-Chang-rae Lee-Aloft (KOR/USA)
10-Khaled Hosseini-The Kite Runner (AFG)


 

Journal Entry 78 by chucklesthescot at Paisley, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, July 02, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (7/2/2009 UTC) at Paisley, Scotland United Kingdom

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This great bookbox is going to the next person on the list! Thank you soffitta1 for letting me take part in this box. 

Journal Entry 79 by Tubereader from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Sunday, July 26, 2009

The box has arrived safely. I will send it back to soffitta1 shortly. In the meantime, I already know that I am taking out:

Sand daughter
Snow flower and the secret fan
The flamboya tree
The bonesetter's daughter
A gesture life
Wild swans


And I am putting back in:
Balzac and the little Chinese seamstress
Even Thai girls cry
Falling leaves return to their roots
Siddhartha
The sorrow of war 

Journal Entry 80 by Tubereader at by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Monday, August 03, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (8/1/2009 UTC) at by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

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This box was posted back to Soffitta1 so this round is now almost finished...

Happy reading and thanks Soffitta1 for organising!!! 

Journal Entry 81 by soffitta1 from Ávila, Ávila Spain on Friday, August 07, 2009

Thanks to all who took part, the box arrived today!

Contents:
Aloft - Chang-rae Lee
Lizard - Banana Yoshimoto (Japan)
Shifu, you'll do anything for a laugh - Mo Yan (China)
Even Thai Girls Cry - JF Gump
Love and Longing in Bombay - Vikram Chandra
Geisha of Gion - Mineka Iwasaki
The Sorrow of War - Bao Ninh
Emigre Journey - Abdullah Hussein
Siddartha - Hermann Hesse
Falling Leaves - Adeline Yeh Mah
Jian - Eric van Lustbader
Noble House - James Clavell
Balzac and the Chinese Seamstress - Dai Sijie
The Kite Runner - Khaled Husseni
East of the Sun - Julia Gregson


I am currently putting together another round, let me know if you want to take part again.
 

Journal Entry 82 by soffitta1 from Ávila, Ávila Spain on Saturday, August 08, 2009

Round 6

1. Fellraven
2. Katrinat
3. Winterson
4. Chucklesthescot
5. mafarrimond
6. Sharonrocks
7. cross-patch ** Box is here
8. Tubereader

anyone else interested, just PM me.

Books going in:
The Piano Teacher (Hong Kong)
Gweilo (Hong Kong)
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (Persia)
The Tale of Murasaki (Japan)
House of Sleeping Beauties (Japan)
The Years of Rice and Salt (set in various Asian countries)
Mister Pip (Indonesian army)
The God of Small Things (India)
Namma (Tibet)
Heat and Dust (India)
Renegade or Halo 2 (Philippines)
Fox Girl (S. Korea)
Backpack (Vietnam)
Tea for Two... (Nepal, India)
Peony in Love (China) 

Journal Entry 83 by soffitta1 at Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Monday, August 24, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (8/25/2009 UTC) at Soffitta1's 2nd U.K. Bookbox (Asia Theme), A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

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In the box. 

Journal Entry 84 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Friday, August 28, 2009

Arrived safely this morning - many thanks. As I've been reading in anticipation of this box doing another circuit I will be able to turn this round pretty quickly.

TAKING OUT

The Piano Teacher (Hong Kong)
The Years of Rice and Salt (set in various Asian countries)
Mister Pip (Indonesian army)
Heat and Dust (India)
Renegade or Halo 2 (Philippines)

PUTTING IN

The Song of Silver Frond - Catherine Lim (Singapore)
The Rice Mother - Rani Manicka (Malaysia)
The Railway - Hamid Ismailov (Uzbekistan)
Funny Boy - Shyam Selvadurai (Sri Lanka)
Disco For the Departed - Colin Cotterill (Laos) 

Journal Entry 85 by katrinat from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Saturday, September 05, 2009

Picked this up from the postoffice today, was expecting the African bookbox so was shocked to open it up to find Asian books. I've already seen 5 books I want! Will need to do a bit more reading but will be done in 2 weeks. Thanks for sending a great selection 

Journal Entry 86 by katrinat from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Requested address, this will go out on Saturday.
Thanks for the great selection. I'm putting in:
Haunting the Tiger (Malaysia)
First They Killed My Father (Cambodia)
A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers (Chinese Student in England)
Baumgartner's Bombay (India)

Taking Out:
The Railway
Fox Girl
House of the Sleeping Beauties
Funny Boy

Already looking forward to the next round!

19.09.09 Travelling 

Journal Entry 87 by Winterson from Peacehaven, East Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, September 28, 2009

Received safe and well, will sort through this week. Many thsnks :) 

Journal Entry 88 by Winterson from Peacehaven, East Sussex United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 10, 2009

So sorry I've had this for so long. My daughter's been ill and I've not made it to the post office. All sorted now and:

Taking out
Funny Boy
Haunting the Tiger
A Concise Chinese -English Dictionary For Lovers

Putting in
Anita and Me
Siddhartha
The Inheritance of Loss 

Journal Entry 89 by chucklesthescot from Paisley, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Couldn't find a BCID for the box so it took me ages to find it on the shelves to register it! Box is here and I'm taking out...

1-The Song of Silver Frond
2-Siddhartha
3-Baumgartner's Bombay
4-Namma
5-Gwelio
6-First they killed my father
7-Tea for two with no cups
8-Backpack

Putting in...
1-The Glass Palace
2-Shanghai Baby
3-A pale view of hills
4-The Beach
5-Bitter sweets
6-Sayonara Bar
7-Six Suspects
8-The miniaturist 

Journal Entry 90 by mafarrimond from Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Box finally received yesterday. There is a slit to the base of the box but all the books are intact. I will have a good look through the box over the next few weeks. 

Journal Entry 91 by mafarrimond from Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, February 01, 2010

Finally ready to be sent on. Sorry its taken so long. 

Journal Entry 92 by mafarrimond at Soffitta1's Asia Bookbox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Monday, February 01, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/2/2010 UTC) at Soffitta1's Asia Bookbox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

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Posting onto sharonrocks. 

Journal Entry 93 by sharonrocks on Friday, February 12, 2010

Arrived in Nottingham. Thanks all. Will turn it around asap.

Coming out:
Empress Orchid
The Piano Teacher
East of the Sun
Across the Nightingale Floor
The Glass Palace
The Fourth Hand

and going in:
Geisha by Lesley Downer - Japan
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi - Iran
The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi - Indian characters
The Jewel in the Crown by Paul Scott - India
The Man from Saigon by Marti Leimbach - Vietnam
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - Japan
 

Journal Entry 94 by Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 10, 2010

soffita1's Asian Book Box has arrived. I'll see what I have to put in and then can choose some from the box. 

Journal Entry 95 by Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

I am going to post this on this afternoon, so that it gets to Tubereader for the weekend.

Edited to add information on books removed and added.

Removed :-
The Seventh Moon by Marius Gabriel
Plain Tales from the Hills by Rudyard Kipling
The Good Women of China by Xinran
The Man from Saigon by Marti Leimbach
Added :-
The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan
The Secret Mandarin by Sara Sheridan
Red Mandarin Dress by Qiu Xiaolong
White Mughals by William Dalrymple

I enjoyed making my choices and hope to join in again in the future. I am sorry the box had an extended stay here and hope it has a safe journey from here. 

Journal Entry 96 by Cross-patch at Fellraven's Mysteries, Crime and Thrillers Bookbox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/27/2010 UTC) at Fellraven's Mysteries, Crime and Thrillers Bookbox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

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Safe journey and happy reading! 

Journal Entry 97 by Tubereader at Canary Wharf, Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, June 12, 2010

As usual: great choice of books!

I don't have time right now to do all the JEs but hopefully will manage tomorrow or Monday.

Posting it back to Soffitta1 today before the PO closes in about 40 mins!

Thanks to all that participated for the great selection! 

Journal Entry 98 by Tubereader at Canary Wharf, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, June 14, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (6/12/2010 UTC) at Canary Wharf, Greater London United Kingdom

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The box was successfully posted. Hope it arrives soon! 

Journal Entry 99 by soffitta1 at Dovercourt, Essex United Kingdom on Sunday, June 20, 2010

Thanks, had to get the box picked up from the post office. Thanks again to all taking part.

Haruki Murakami - Sputnik Sweetheart
Azar Nafisi - Reading Lolita in Tehran
Kazuo Ishiguro - The Unconsoled
William Dalrymple - White Mughals
Paul Scott - The Jewel in the Crown
Jean Sasson - Princess
Amy Tan - The Joy Luck Club
Sara Sheridan - The Secret Mandarin
Arthur Golden - Memoirs of a Geisha
Amy Tan - The Kitchen God's Wife
Haruki Murakami - Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon
Chun Sue - Beijing Doll
Roopa Farooki - Bitter Sweets
Qiu Xiaolong - Red Mandarin Dress

Sending this out again next month, let me know if you are interested. 

Journal Entry 100 by soffitta1 at Dovercourt, Essex United Kingdom on Friday, July 02, 2010

Round 7
blueblack
Fellraven ** the box is here
Katrinat - to be skipped for now
Cross-Patch
Tubereader

Contents:
Danziger's Travels (Travel book including Iran, Afghanistan and more)
In Xanadu (travel, various)
The Siege of Krishnapur (India)
Saving Fish from Drowning (Burma)
A Wild Sheep Chase (Japan)
The Black Album (British Asian writer)
A Hundred and One Days (Iraq)
The Welsh Girl (Eurasian writer)
Digging to America (S. Korean characters)
The Satanic Verses (India)
Birds without Wings (Turkey)
The Tapestries (Vietnam)
Himalaya (travel, various)
Sky Burial (Tibet)
The Painted Veil (China, Hong Kong)