Journal Entry 1 by gingergeoff from Swindon, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Sunday, July 01, 2007

Bought at the Unconvention 2007, Brighton. 

Journal Entry 2 by gingergeoff from Swindon, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Monday, October 22, 2007

It took me a while to get into this, the way the story kept jumping around over time was a little disconcerting.

The individual stories developed well - It is sometimes hard to write about familiesas they are so complex. In this case Linda has done her book justice by not oversimplifying the plot.

I think I found Hugh to be the character I like most, at first he appeared devoted only to his church, but as time went on, he became the cornerstone of the Dunbar family. 

Journal Entry 3 by gingergeoff from Swindon, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Monday, January 07, 2008

I am going to send this out as a bookring as I don't want to lose it permanently!

Smallbluepebble - Ilford
Candy-is-Dandy - Braintree
Marie-Therese - East Dunbartonshire
PeaMartian - County Durham
sunflowergirl - East Yorkshire
dirtmother - Coventry
beebarf - Sheffield
starflash - Crwaley
Then back to me! <--- Currently here 

Journal Entry 4 by gingergeoff at Post in Posted to another bookcrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Monday, January 07, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (1/7/2008 UTC) at Post in Posted to another bookcrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to smallbluepebble on the start on a UK bookring. 

Journal Entry 5 by smallbluepebble from Ilford, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, January 11, 2008

Arrived today, many thanks for sharing :-) 

Journal Entry 6 by smallbluepebble from Ilford, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, January 25, 2008

The message from the start of this book is that Flora Dunbar is lined up for eternal damnation. One by one, just about every other member of her family joins her in the queue. The characters were strongly drawn, but impossible to like. I didn't mind the way the plot leapt back and forth in time. However, I was irritated by the constant switching between first- and third-person (and especially the way the font changed, to indicate that this was happening.)

I'll be putting this in the post to candy-is-dandy this afternoon. 

Journal Entry 7 by candy-is-dandy from Braintree, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, January 31, 2008

Received safely - thank you. 

Journal Entry 8 by candy-is-dandy from Braintree, Essex United Kingdom on Monday, August 04, 2008

I'm finding it quite difficult to think what to write about this book. I'm not even sure if I enjoyed it or not, perhaps enjoy isn't the right word. Certainly the 2 main characters were completely unlikeable, self-centred and obsessive. Their selfishness was so damaging to the rest of the family and though I'm sure it happens, my self-contained Britishness doesn't allow me to comprehend how people can abandon any sense of morality, respect for themselves and others or love for their family to behave in such a way. This book brings the prude out in me.

The other characters were mainly likeable, especially Hugh, but again I get cross that they permited Flora and Rory to do their own thing and ignore their responsibilities - it just strikes me that they pandered to them.

I found the jumping around in time somewhat confusing at first but once I had the twins' birthdates in my head, could work it out from there. However, it was very cleverly done, linking parts of the story together - it must have been tricky to work it all out. Using this mechanism together with the use of first and third person was I felt a step too far in complicating an already complex storyline.

This is now ready to be sent to the next person in line for this ring. Thanks gingergeoff for sharing and to Linda for writing a book that still has me thinking!

Update: Posted 14/8/08 

Journal Entry 9 by marie-therese from Kirkintilloch, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, August 18, 2008

Arrived safely today, thanks gingergeoff for sharing and candyisdandy for posting it to me. I'm halfway through another book at the moment but this will be next up. 

Journal Entry 10 by marie-therese from Kirkintilloch, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, August 24, 2008

Wow what a powerful book, I'm only halfway through and already not wanting it to end!

UPDATE 29th August

Well the rest of the book certainly didn't disappoint, I felt I was on am emotional rollercoaster. I have to agree with others that the characters were difficult to warm to and it was, at times a bit far fetched, nevertheless I loved it! Thanks to gingergeoff for sharing I will now contact the next on the list and get it off in the post asap. 

Journal Entry 11 by marie-therese at next person in ring - enjoy!, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Friday, August 29, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (8/29/2008 UTC) at next person in ring - enjoy!, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On it's way to Durham :o) Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 12 by PeaMartian from Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Monday, September 01, 2008

Received with thanks! I read Star Gazing a couple of weeks ago, and couldn't put it down once I had started, so I'm a little nervous of starting to read this book when I have to go to work tomorrow. I'm in the middle of another book at the moment, and I think it'll be best if I try and hold off from starting A Lifetime Burning until the weekend... 

Journal Entry 13 by PeaMartian from Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Monday, October 20, 2008

So, I finished reading this book a couple of weeks ago, and I am still thinking about it, but as Candy-is-dandy says, I'm still not sure that I enjoyed the book. I found the plot subject matter and the characters really difficult to relate to, but also strangely compelling. I did find the skipping around in time difficult to follow, but I do think that the effort to deal with this and read the whole book were worthwhile. If nothing else, it certainly helps me to appreciate the lovely people I am lucky enough to call my family. I really enjoyed both Star Gazing and Emotional Geology by Linda Gillard, and can see myself re-reading both of those books several times in the years to come, but I think it unlikely that I will ever re-read this one.

Looking forward to find out what other folks think of this one!

I posted the book off to sunflowergirl on Saturday, so it should arrive sometime soon... 

Journal Entry 14 by sunflowergirl from Carlisle, Cumbria United Kingdom on Monday, November 03, 2008

The book has arrived here, thanks for sending it on to me peamartian (and thanks to gingergeoff for letting me join this bookring). It has been languishing at the local Post Office for a little while as I was unable to get out to collect it. I'm really busy at the moment but I hope to get to this book very soon. I've not read any Linda Gillard books but have heard lots of good things about her work so I'll look forward to reading this. I'll journal it again once I've read it. 

Journal Entry 15 by sunflowergirl from Carlisle, Cumbria United Kingdom on Thursday, March 26, 2009

Just posting to let you know the book is still with me. It's been a rough few months and I haven't been keeping up with BC stuff very well. I'm about to start reading this book and expect to be posting it on to the next participant next week. I hope this is ok.

EDIT: Dirtmother has asked to be skipped as she already has a copy of this book. Beebarf has a note on her page to say that she wants to be skipped on all rings/rays. I've now PM'd starflash... 

Journal Entry 16 by sunflowergirl from Carlisle, Cumbria United Kingdom on Saturday, March 28, 2009

This is the first book I've read by Linda Gillard and it definitely won't be the last. I found this book to be unputdownable and have been reading it at every opportunity over the past two days. I loved the way the story flits backwards and forwards gradually filling in the blanks; the layered effect adds depth to the story and gives the reader an idea of how the characters feel when they discover shocking truths about other members of their family. I felt deeply sorry for Flora and how her life turned out; I think she got caught up in something that was beyond her control. I actually felt sorry for a lot of the characters in this novel because ultimately we all end up, at times, perhaps not through incest, but in situations that are beyond us and that were perhaps not what we would have chosen. I think this is novel that would yield even more secrets on a second reading; that knowing the whole story would allow one to see all the intricacies more clearly. I'm going to buy a copy of this novel for my permanent collection as it is one that I'll re-visit in the future.

I felt really bad that I'd held on to this book for so long that I almost sent it on unread, I'm so glad that I did pick it up.

I've already PM'd starflash and received an address back so I'll aim to post this book early next week.
 

Journal Entry 17 by sunflowergirl from Carlisle, Cumbria United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 21, 2009

I've had no response from starflash to the 2 PMs I've sent. I'm now going to PM GingerGeoff for his address so I can send the book home. 

Journal Entry 18 by sunflowergirl from Carlisle, Cumbria United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 22, 2009

This book is now on its way back to gingergeoff. I got the email with his address five minutes before I went to the Post Office so that was great timing! 

Journal Entry 19 by gingergeoff from Swindon, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Received back safe and sound! Thanks to all who took part in this ring, overall it seems to have been liked. This will go back onto TBR as I feel I could probably do with reading it again - then I may send it on its travels once more!