First Love, Last Rites
16 journalers for this copy...
I picked this up at Trumpington park & ride, Cambridge on the bookshelf, where somebody had left it with the books to be read and passed on. I hope they won't mind me registering it with bookcrossing - it seemed in keeping with the spirit of what they had intended. I've read about half of the stories so far and they are superbly written, although rather disturbing...
Posted off today to Clairemagnolia. Happy reading!
Received this morning. Looking forward to reading it very soon... Thankyou o-p
Classic McEwan! These stories really get under the skin. How does he manage to write so well from the child''s perspective? I look forward to his biography/autobiography - if there''s not one already...
I''m going to offer this book as a bookring very soon.
This book is going on a journey
Scotsbookie
Arturogrande
I do not require this book to be returned to me, so please continue its journey as you see fit.
Arrived this morning, thank you.
About the book:
Taut, brooding and densely atmospheric, these stories show us the ways in which murder can arise out of boredom, perversity can result from adolescent curiosity, and sheer evil might be the solution to unbearable loneliness.
A great collection of short stories, McEwan at his best. Deeply disturbing at times but nevertheless very readable.
Journal Entry
8 by
scotsbookie at
By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 1, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (6/1/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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On its way to Arturogrande. Enjoy!
Received - thank you very much. I've got a couple of rings ahead of this one, but I'm doing a lot of reading at the minute, so I'm planning on getting to this one pretty quickly.
Each of these stories was very well written - and apart from one (Cocker at the Theatre) I found them all to be horrbly disturbing.
Each of them was filled with a creeping sense of menace which built up throughout the story. You knew something terrible was going to happen, and there was a horrible fascination in watching it unfold.
I'm the last person on the ray, so I'm going to start another one.
The participants so far are:
Fluffy-Owl – UK only
Wyldetwo – UK – ship anywhere
kirstykat - UK - EU shipping
Suzy26 - Netherlands – EU shipping
iiwi - Netherlands - ship anywhere
Katacs – Hungary – EU shipping
Bookworm-lady – Spain – EU shipping
Gyd – Spain – EU shipping
Zimort – Norway – ship anywhere
Bibliocrates – USA – US only
The ray will remain open, and the last person to receive it can start another ring or ray, wild release it or do whatever they wish with it.
Please try to read the book within one month of receiving it so as not to hold the ray up.
Journal Entry
11 by
arturogrande at
Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Friday, June 26, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (6/29/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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On its way to Fluffy-Owl as the first stop in an international bookray.
Received in the post today, have a couple of rays ahead of this one, but may start soon as the stories don't seem too long.
Journal Entry
13 by
Fluffy-Owl at
Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Thursday, July 16, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (7/16/2009 UTC) at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom
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Posting off to the next person today. Hope it travels well and arrives safely.
I'm not usually a fan of short stories but I liked some of these. Most of them were quite disturbing, but generally they were well written. Some of them will definitely stay with me.
I heard this plop onto the doormat this morning while I was still in bed! Thanks Fluffy-Owl!
I definitely agree with previous readers that these stories are well written, but disturbing and with a growing sense of menace! I think I will choose something a bit lighter for my next read ....
Thanks for sharing! Will now PM kirstykat for their address.
ETA: Kirstycat would like to be skipped so have now PMed Suzy26
Received by mail. Thanks for sending it, wyldetwo. Will get to it as soon as I have finished my current read.
Eight dark and disturbing stories, brillantly written. Mr McEwan sure knows how to build up the tension. It takes quite some imagination to write stories like these.
Update September 30, 2009: Book was sent to iiwi today.
I liked the first sentences, but, maybe a timing issue, not the stories so much. I've read the title-story and the first story. I want to read more to see if I like them better in some time, but I've a bit of BC-readingstress; another ring, a spooky-marathon and a readalong. So I will sent this one on as soon as I have katacs adress.
Journal Entry
21 by
katacs on Monday, October 26, 2009
Arrived today safely.
Dec.19.: Just a note to let you all know that I didn't forget about this one, probably will have time to read it during the holidays. Happy Christmas!
Journal Entry
22 by
katacs at
a bookray, to the next reader -- Controlled Releases on Friday, February 5, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (2/5/2010 UTC) at a bookray, to the next reader -- Controlled Releases
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On its way to Bookworm-lady. Sorry for keeping it so long.
And here it is, finally in my hands!
Thanks a lot for sharing, Arturogrande... and thanks for sending it on and the lovely postcard, Katacs!
Looking forward to these "disturbing" short stories...
Eva
Journal Entry
24 by
Bookworm-lady at
Madrid, Madrid Spain on Thursday, July 21, 2011
Very, very disturbing stories!
And having said that, I just couldn't put it down...
A certain rat even appeared in my dreams... You'll know what I mean when you read it.
Amazing to think this is the same author of Atonement, which includes the best written sexual love scene I have ever read... Hats off to Mr. McEwan! (See pic.)
Thanks for sharing it, Arturogrande, sorry that I kept it so long, and it is time for it to move on...
Eva
Journal Entry
25 by
Bookworm-lady at
Madrid, Madrid Spain on Thursday, July 21, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (7/21/2011 UTC) at Madrid, Madrid Spain
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Sent today to Gyd, in Barcelona.
Enjoy! :)
Eva
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26 by
Gyd at
Barcelona, Barcelona Spain on Friday, July 22, 2011
Got it, thanks!
The book I'm currently reading is not holding my attention so I might get into this one pretty soon...
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27 by
Gyd at
Barcelona, Barcelona Spain on Wednesday, August 3, 2011
I read "The Cement garden" and it went into my PC right away... since then I've also read "The comfort of strangers" which was only so-so for me. And this one... disturbing stories which I didn't find interesting at all, I'm sorry - but thanks for sharing!
The book is ready to go to pay Norway a visit.
Edited to add that I skipped the last story - maybe that's where the rat appears?!
Journal Entry
28 by
Gyd at
Barcelona, Barcelona Spain on Thursday, August 4, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (8/4/2011 UTC) at Barcelona, Barcelona Spain
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On its way to Norway!
Journal Entry
29 by
zimort at
Gjøvik, Oppland fylke Norway on Monday, August 8, 2011
Thanks, it came in the mail today. With stickers and a bookmark, thank you. I shall start reading today.
Journal Entry
30 by
zimort at
Gjøvik, Oppland fylke Norway on Sunday, August 21, 2011
This was an okay reading. Not may favourite McEwan book, but not so bad.
Waiting for an address...
I send three PM's without receiving a proper address, so I guess she/he did not want to read this book after all.
Journal Entry
31 by
zimort at
Gjøvik, Oppland fylke Norway on Monday, January 9, 2012
Released 12 yrs ago (1/9/2012 UTC) at Gjøvik, Oppland fylke Norway
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Just mailed this to Haugtussa.
Journal Entry
32 by
Haugtussa at
Stavanger, Rogaland fylke Norway on Thursday, January 12, 2012
The book arrived today.
Thank you for passing it on.
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33 by
Haugtussa at
Stavanger, Rogaland fylke Norway on Thursday, October 16, 2014
This book has been with me for quite some time - and to be honest I don't know why? It's a quick read, and I really did enjoy these short stories. Brilliantly written, and quite grusome.
Journal Entry
34 by
Haugtussa at
Stavanger, Rogaland fylke Norway on Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (12/16/2014 UTC) at Stavanger, Rogaland fylke Norway
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Her er kattungen du valgte, kos deg.
Journal Entry
35 by
sota48 at
Hokksund, Buskerud fylke Norway on Saturday, December 20, 2014
The kitten I chose arrived today. Thank you, Haugtussa! I think I've made a wise choice. And such a widely travelled book! Look forward to meet you in Oxford!
My choice in the Scandinavian "Betty VIII - secret kitten"-game.
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36 by
sota48 at
Hokksund, Buskerud fylke Norway on Friday, April 14, 2017
All the stories are very well written. If they hadn't been, I would have chucked the book. The stories are very disturbing and I wanted to stop reading, but the hell of it is that the stories get under your skin and I fear I will not forget them, however much I would like to.
Journal Entry
37 by
sota48 at
Bookcrossing Convention Oslo 2017 in St. Hanshaugen bydel, Oslo fylke Norway on Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (4/21/2017 UTC) at Bookcrossing Convention Oslo 2017 in St. Hanshaugen bydel, Oslo fylke Norway
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For the book buffet at the Convention in Oslo 2017.
This book is also released as part of the challenge "Release a F-book in April 2017" and "Keep the books moving challenge January - December 2017".
Journal Entry
38 by
calisson at
St. Hanshaugen bydel, Oslo fylke Norway on Friday, April 21, 2017
this is were I found it, thanks, its journey to be continued.
What an amazing read! So far I had not yet read any of his short stories.
I hope the little book will travel along for a while.
Journal Entry
39 by
calisson at
Dessau - Schwabehaus (Offizielle Zone zur UnCon 2017) in Dessau-Roßlau, Sachsen-Anhalt Germany on Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (9/2/2017 UTC) at Dessau - Schwabehaus (Offizielle Zone zur UnCon 2017) in Dessau-Roßlau, Sachsen-Anhalt Germany
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geht mit zur UnCon
Journal Entry
40 by
krimtango at
Bahnhofsmission Frankfurt am Main, by hand -- Controlled Releases on Monday, September 4, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (9/4/2017 UTC) at Bahnhofsmission Frankfurt am Main, by hand -- Controlled Releases
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Das Buch habe ich in Dessau mitgenommen, um es der Bahnhofsmission in Frankfurt am Main für ihr Bücherregal zu überreichen als Dank für die Hilfe beim Ab- und Anreisen.