Journal Entry 1 by Centenaro from São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil on Friday, August 24, 2007

Reserved for SKingList. 

Journal Entry 2 by Centenaro from São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil on Thursday, September 06, 2007

Sent to SKingList today. Hopefully, it will arrive soon. 

Journal Entry 3 by SKingList on Thursday, September 13, 2007

Muito obrigado Marcelo!

This was very generous, I, along with the others on the ring appreciate it very much. 

Journal Entry 4 by SKingList on Thursday, September 13, 2007

New ring as of 13 September

kiyoitsukikage - Poland (Prefers Europe)
LeishaCamden - Oslo Norway (Anywhere by surface)
Franciek - Italy (Ship Anywhere)
Drusillamac - Scotland (overseas via surface)
molekilby - UK (Ship Anywhere)
safrolistics - UK (UK Only)
LyzzyBee - UK (Ship Anywhere)
Tregossip - UK, (EU OK)
QueenSissi - Portugal (Europe)
librissima - Greece (Ship Anywhere)
sudokugirl - Sarajevo (Anywhere OK)
Icila - France (Anywhere OK)
duza-kaluza - Poland (Prefers Europe) - apparently now in Chile, have moved it to create a somewhat logical mailing order.
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.
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Centenaro - Brazil 

Journal Entry 5 by SKingList at bookring in bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, September 16, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (9/15/2007 UTC) at bookring in bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to Poland. Can't imagine airmail will take more than a week - ten days or so. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 6 by kiyoitsukikage from Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, September 27, 2007

It's arrived! :) 

Journal Entry 7 by kiyoitsukikage from Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 07, 2007

I finally finished the book. It really took me some time to get through the first 100+ pages... Issues described in the book are interesting, but for some reason the book as a whole wasn't VERY enjoyable... Maybe it's because I read a similar book by a Polish author and it was very enjoyable for me - I probably expected something very similar to that one and was disappointed that it wasnt it ;) Anyway, I got on with the book faster in the end. It was interesting to gain a little insight - if chaotic - into the orderly world of Japanese schools and students.
Thank you for letting me read this! I will post the book within a couple of days (unfornatunately I'm sick at the moment).
 

Journal Entry 8 by LeishaCamden from Alna bydel, Oslo fylke Norway on Tuesday, November 20, 2007

This book arrived in the mail from Poland today. It looks like a fascinating read, I'm thrilled to get the chance to read it. But I do have a lot of rings & rays in the house right now so I suspect I may end up reading it a little 'behind schedule'. I hope I can be forgiven for that. :-)

Thanks for taking such wonderful care of this ring, SKingList!! 

Journal Entry 9 by LeishaCamden from Alna bydel, Oslo fylke Norway on Thursday, December 20, 2007

I started reading this book on Thursday, December 6th. Have read about 160 pages so far. It's a very interesting book - slightly repetitive, but entertaining. I'll journal again when I've finished the book. 

Journal Entry 10 by LeishaCamden from Alna bydel, Oslo fylke Norway on Sunday, December 30, 2007

I finished reading this book today. It was a very interesting read. I actually gave a copy of it away for Christmas - I decided to do so even though I at that point had only read half the book, but it seemed to be the perfect gift to a British friend of mine who is planning to spend a year as a teacher in Japan. He has gotten the book but has not read it yet, so I'm still waiting to hear what he thinks ... :-)

What I think is the following: that the book is well written and a pleasure to read, and gives a lot of insight into the mindset behind the Japanese education system. I have read some reviews from people who felt it was very repetitive ... I didn't really agree with that, I thought it was slightly repetitive at times but certainly not very much so. Yes, he does make it out that most Japanese are very much alike ... but isn't that the whole point of the book, that he wants to describe the ways in which Japanese society strives to achieve this strong similarity, that this is what is primarily appreciated in Japan, and also how this gives the society both strengths and weaknesses. I think this is quite a nuanced account and I loved getting to know the various characters that Bruce struck up friendships with during his year in Japan. These people all 'ring true' for me as I see a lot of my own Japanese friends in them.

All in all an informative and entertaining read.

I will PM Franciek for an address and get the book on its way again soon. Thanks for sharing, everyone - especially Centenaro for your help in getting the ring back on track!! :-) 

Journal Entry 11 by LeishaCamden at to the next participant in sent by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, January 07, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (1/6/2008 UTC) at to the next participant in sent by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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Journal Entry 12 by Franciek from Firenze, Toscana Italy on Thursday, January 17, 2008

I've got it!!! thanks Kristin! 

Journal Entry 13 by Franciek from Firenze, Toscana Italy on Monday, February 25, 2008

Interesting book, very nice to read. I've been interested into Japanese culture for years and tried to learn some of it with books and other stuff. I'm planning to go to Tokyo soon!!! 

Journal Entry 14 by molekilby from BRITHDIR, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Received today. Many thanks franciek for sending on, SKingList for organising and Centenaro for rescuing. It's my next read and then I'll pass on. 

Journal Entry 15 by molekilby from BRITHDIR, Wales United Kingdom on Sunday, March 16, 2008

I signed up to this ring many months ago when looking to diversify my reading. It certainly did that. I had a vision of Japan being built around ceremony, but never realised how wide or deep that actually went. It made me smile on many occasions. I wonder if it has changed in recent years. This book also reminded me of another book I've read, Lessons To Learn, although this was set in Korea.

I have the next address and hope to send it this week. 

Journal Entry 16 by safrolistics from Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Northumberland United Kingdom on Monday, March 31, 2008

Received in the post today, and thanks for the note Jase! 

Journal Entry 17 by safrolistics from Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Northumberland United Kingdom on Thursday, April 10, 2008

I really enjoyed this book, I've read a few books about Japan, but this is the first centred mainly around the education system. An interesting look at the pros and cons of Japanese verses American schooling. 

Journal Entry 18 by safrolistics at controlled release in controlled release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, April 10, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (4/10/2008 UTC) at controlled release in controlled release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases

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RELEASE NOTES:

Going to the next person in the bookring. 

Journal Entry 19 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, May 02, 2008

Received today - thank you - with another book as a RABCK and a little book of Japanese notelets. I may just leave a note in the book for the next reader!

Should get to this soon and on to the next person. 

Journal Entry 20 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, May 11, 2008

I really enjoyed this account of a teacher's year in Japan. He seemed to stand back from the action, while still recounting his tales, and takes a really deep and careful look at the way Japanese society operates, particularly in regard to schooling/education, and how that early experience really informs the whole of Japanese society.

It's not a dry academic text, though - far from it - we go dating with Bruce, and see him experiencing the newer, as well as the older ways.

A thoughtful and mature, insightful book which I heartily recommend.

ETA: Skinglist said yes to my request that my other half, Matth3w, could read this too while it was in the house! 

Journal Entry 21 by Matth3w from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, May 26, 2008

Thanks a lot to SKingList for agreeing to "fit me in" after LyzzyBee. I'm very grateful and very glad that I got a chance to read this excellent and evocative book about Japanese culuture and in particular the Japanese education system.

I have read a number of books about Japan now and I felt that this one really managed to convey how the apparent "otherness" of Japanese culture arises as a result of the way children in Japan are brought up. Withe ach chapter providing an insight into different aspects of Japanese culture and tradition the whole ends up providing a rounded and insightful commentary on Japanese life.

Thanks once again to SKingList and we'll pass it on to the next person on the list after LyzzyBee very shortly.





 

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, May 30, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (5/31/2008 UTC) at Sent to another BookCrosser in Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to Tregossip on Saturday.

Thanks again for letting us both join the ring, Skinglist - and look, we have sent it on in good time, too! 

Journal Entry 23 by Tregossip from St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Monday, June 02, 2008

Arrived this morning and thanks for the postcard, retirement is great, how did I find time to work full time??

Update 5/6/08
Rather repetative in places but not boringly so at all, more there to remind the reader.
See published 1991 and referces back to 1988 in places.
Have things changed in past 7 yrs?

Wherever I travel there are couples/parties of happy, friendly, very polite Japaneese tourists who are enjoying the travel experience.
And the parties of travelling students have manners that put most of Uk/EU young people to shame.

Thanks for letting me share

Thank you for sharing this book - it certainly educates the reader

 

Journal Entry 24 by Tregossip at In the hands of the Royal Mail in St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (6/6/2008 UTC) at In the hands of the Royal Mail in St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom

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RELEASE NOTES:

Off to Portugal, sent airmail 9th July 

Journal Entry 25 by QueenSissi from Gouveia, Guarda Portugal on Friday, June 13, 2008

It has arrived. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 26 by QueenSissi from Gouveia, Guarda Portugal on Friday, July 25, 2008

It was a really nice read though I am afraid it was, as previously said, repetitive though educational. Thank you for the possibility of reading it - I have learnt much.

Sent it to Librissima!