Journal Entry 1 by NICNIC2 from St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 10, 2007

This is the second Roth book I've read recently. Its much shorter than others of his. I found it a little bit depressing and it made me strangely aware of my heart beating, which you'll understand if you read the book. Quite a quick read since its only about 180 pages. Worth a read. I'm planning to book ray this one.

Bookray list so far - I have done my best to arrange according to shipping prefs since only a few of us can ship internationally. If anyone wants to be moved/removed please PM me. Thanks for joining:

Annodyne(UK)
penelopewanders(Switzerland)
lilifin (Germany)
ThursdayN (Sweden)
nightraine56 (US)
nynjagrrrl (US)
starflash (UK)
silvia-pco (Portugal)- currently with this member
jeniwren (Australia)

Rules:

1. Journal when you recieve the book, journal again with your thoughts if you like and then again when you are releasing it to teh next person on the list.

2. Please try and read the book within a month - if you'll take longer that's ok, just let us know you'll be keeping it longer :)

3. If the book dies when its with you (e.g. it falls in the bath or something) don't panic, just let me know so I can get a replacement up and running.

Thanks for joining everyone! Enjoy!
 

Journal Entry 2 by NICNIC2 at By mail in A bookray, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, July 19, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (7/19/2007 UTC) at By mail in A bookray, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

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On its way to Annodyne in the first leg of our bookray. Hope you enjoy it. 

Journal Entry 3 by Annodyne from Sale, Cheshire United Kingdom on Saturday, July 21, 2007

Thank you to NICNIC for sending this out as a bookring. It arrived yesterday, and as I've only a few more pages of my current book to finish, this is going to be my next read. 

Journal Entry 4 by Annodyne from Sale, Cheshire United Kingdom on Monday, July 23, 2007

As you see, I haven't taken long to read Philip Roth's Everyman, but that has more to do with the the powerful and compelling way it has been written than the shortness of the book.

It isn't hard to empathise with the "he" of the novel. What Roth writes about is a mixed bag of a life, rich with blessings (who wouldn't love to have had a brother like Howie, a daughter like Nancy?), spoiled by the failed relationships caused by the character's own weakness and self-indulgence. Once vigorous, and now a victim of his advancing years and ailing heart, he suffers loneliness and nostalgia, and is only too aware of his failings and mistakes. Yet despite his flaws, the impression I have of him is a brave and endearing, not to say enduring, old man. As someone once said "Old Age ain't for sissies".

The end of course is inevitable, but I really like the way that Roth puts death alongside a robust affirmation of life. It is a grim subject, but somehow the balance is just right.

I can't recall if I've read anything by Philip Roth since Portnoy's Complaint, when it was published in a blaze of publicity. I shall certainly be looking out now for more of his work.

Many thanks for NICNIC2 for re-introducing me to this great American writer. I hope everybody else enjoys it as much as I have!

Have PM'd penelopewanders for her address, and as soon as it arrives, the book will be on its way to Switzerland.

Edited 1/8/07 to add that as postal services in this country are a bit chaotic at present, and penelopewanders is anyway away from home for a while, I'll be hanging on to the book at least for another couple of weeks.
 

Journal Entry 5 by Annodyne from Sale, Cheshire United Kingdom on Monday, August 20, 2007

Posted today to penelopewanders in Switzerland. 

Journal Entry 6 by penelopewanders from Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Thursday, August 23, 2007

This book has arrived here safely and swiftly. I hope to be able to get to it quickly but as I've just returned from holiday I have a bit of catching up to do and some work-related books I have to read first. (But I'm a quick reader, so don't worry, shouldn't be more than a week or so). Thanks so much for making this available. I really enjoyed the Human Stain and could send it on a round if people were interested... 

Journal Entry 7 by penelopewanders at BookRing in controlled release, .---controlled release---. Switzerland on Thursday, September 13, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (9/13/2007 UTC) at BookRing in controlled release, .---controlled release---. Switzerland

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I finally got to this ring yesterday... I found the beginning of the book a bit confusing, but then Roth took off. What I appreciated was how deep his characterization goes - I feel I really had a sense of the main character, and with all his disappointments and foibles, Roth inspires empathy and, perhaps even understanding. But what a sad guy. At the end of the day I was reminded all too keenly of my own parents' encroaching deaths and the helplessness and grief of their final years. Perhaps as those deaths are still relatively fresh for me, this was a read I could have done without, as much as I appreciate Roth's style. I was very impressed by The Human Stain and recommend that one highly to anyone who may not yet have read it.
Thanks so much for making this book available and including me in this ring. The book is now on its way to Germany. 

Journal Entry 8 by lilifin from Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Sunday, September 30, 2007

thanks for sending...will be read soon... 

Journal Entry 9 by lilifin from Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Wednesday, December 05, 2007

A great book! I am definitely planning to read more by Roth. 

Journal Entry 10 by lilifin at Controlled Release in Postal Release, Mailed to another bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (12/5/2007 UTC) at Controlled Release in Postal Release, Mailed to another bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

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On its way to Sweden... 

Journal Entry 11 by ThursdayN from Göteborg, Västergötland Sweden on Monday, December 17, 2007

Received it today, thank you lilifin!

I'll start reading it a.s.a.p. =) 

Journal Entry 12 by ThursdayN from Göteborg, Västergötland Sweden on Tuesday, December 25, 2007

This is the first of his books that I read and I liked the way he writes and will definately read more of his books. However, I'm not so sure about the theme in the book, I found it rather depressing and a bit to morose for my taste for the moment.

I have nightraine56s adress and will send the book asap.

Thank you all for sharing! =)

Season greetings
ThursdayN 

Journal Entry 13 by ThursdayN at By mail in By mail, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, December 28, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (12/28/2007 UTC) at By mail in By mail, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

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Finally on its way! Sorry for the delay...

Happy new year!

THursdayN 

Journal Entry 14 by nightraine56 from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Thursday, January 10, 2008

I got this today. I'll get to it asap. Thanks for allowing me to participate. 

Journal Entry 15 by nightraine56 from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Wednesday, January 16, 2008

I am sending this on to nynjagrrrl. I will not be able to get to this in a timely fashion. Thanks however, for including me. 

Journal Entry 16 by nynjagrrrl from Elkhorn, Wisconsin USA on Saturday, January 26, 2008

I got this in the mail the other day. Thanks for sending it. 

Journal Entry 17 by nynjagrrrl from Elkhorn, Wisconsin USA on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

This was a sad book. It does make you really think about life. We need to appreciate the time that we have with people. After reading about all the medical procedures I thought about how important it is to take good care of yourself. 

Journal Entry 18 by starflash from Crawley, West Sussex United Kingdom on Friday, February 15, 2008

Received today, thank you!

 

Journal Entry 19 by starflash at by mail in sent by post, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, March 29, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (3/28/2008 UTC) at by mail in sent by post, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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Posted yesterday. I enjoyed this read, thanks for sharing. Apologies that its been a while, 4 rings arrived in Jan/Feb! 

Journal Entry 20 by silvia-pco from Murtosa, Aveiro Portugal on Monday, May 19, 2008

EHere it is! I got really worried when I saw your PM, NICNIC2, but fortunately it was in today's mail. I wonder why did it take so long to arrive :/ 

Journal Entry 21 by silvia-pco from Murtosa, Aveiro Portugal on Thursday, June 26, 2008

Hey there :)
I haven't read this book yet, and unfortunately I'll have to send it home without doing so. My TBR pile is huge, and I'm doing a sort of "clean up", sending along most of the books I have with me. I'm sorry for not reading it, but huge TBR piles ask for radical measures...

I'll PM jeniwren and send it along ASAP. 

Journal Entry 22 by silvia-pco from Murtosa, Aveiro Portugal on Saturday, December 12, 2009

Journal Entry 23 by silvia-pco from Murtosa, Aveiro Portugal on Monday, February 01, 2010

On its way to Nepal! Enjoy lils74! 

Journal Entry 24 by lils74 from Kathmandu, Bagmati Nepal on Friday, February 26, 2010

This arrived in the post today--safe and in great shape! Thanks for letting me participate in this, silvia-pco. I'll read this soon. It's fun to get a book with so many journal entries, though I think I will wait until I've read it to read them all. 

Journal Entry 25 by lils74 from Kathmandu, Bagmati Nepal on Tuesday, March 09, 2010

I was really blown away by this book--from a simple looking, short book that in a sense you know the 'end' of from reading the back cover or the first few pages, this blooms into a beautifully written portrait of an ordinary man's life. Ordinary you could say, but yet that commands so much beauty. I loved it!

As a small bit of trivia, I think that it is the first book I've read that has no chapters...

 

Journal Entry 26 by lils74 at Air Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (3/9/2010 UTC) at Air Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Put in the post today, to continue its travels--I really enjoyed it! 

Journal Entry 27 by davemurray101 from Maryville, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Just recieved in the post today. Should be an interesting read. Thanks to Sylvia-pco and lils74 

Journal Entry 28 by davemurray101 from Maryville, New South Wales Australia on Friday, March 19, 2010

I couldn't put this book down. But that is not unusual for a Philip Roth book. Not in the same category as The Human Stain or American Pastoral but a book still worth reading. thanks again to sylvia-pco. Posting to tinajaxie as soon as I confirm the postal address.
03/04 - send 2nd PM
07/04 - tinajaxie asked to be skipped 

Journal Entry 29 by davemurray101 at A Controlled Release, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (4/14/2010 UTC) at A Controlled Release, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

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Posted to helena100 of Athens 

Journal Entry 30 by helena100 from Athens, Attica Greece on Tuesday, May 04, 2010

arrived safely. I will read it after I am done with a couple of other rings.