A riveting tragedy about a whore. Yes, I said a whore. Read it and find out why I didn't call her a prostitute. Strangely, the author manages to extract a great deal of sympathy for the main character. And the writing style is delightful, rich, colorful, and full of textures you can almost feel.

Released via mail to the one who requested it! Looking forward to the exchange, thanks!

"Caught" this book in my mailbox...thanks MPurr. I will make another entry once I read the book!

This is a historical fiction based on the real case of Mary Saunders, in 18th century England, whose
life is changed by the lust for a red ribbon. This is a compelling story. The vivid description of life in working-class london made me grateful for running water. I often felt uneasy reading about Mary's encounters with "cullies" but I was so absorbed in wanting to know if her luck would change. It became a page turner for me. It's a story about the choices women had to make during that time. All the female characters from Doll, to Abi, even to Gwyn (!!) made choices for better or worse. Emma Donoghue's literary skills created a tittilating, suspenseful, but somber story. MANY Thanks to Mpurr for trading this book with me. It will now go on tour as a BOOKRAY!

Join This Bookray at any time




Slammerkin - Bookray Members

SallyLooney  (ME)
nillabreen (MA)
kimsbooks03   (PA)   
bkwrm23  (NJ)
krin511  (MD)
Genevalove  (MD)
LeapingLizzards  (FL)
appaloosatb  (MN)
wittyjean  (CO)
bookwormmom2   Alberta, Canada
Robbiesmum   UK
Zyana  Portugal
tho  Portugal
Cinel Ontario, Canada
pchemphd  (FL)
LeighBCD  UK
MaryZee   (MD)

How Does a Bookray work?

A book passes from BCer to BCer based on the list of members who've signed up.

To join this bookray please send a PM (private message) to me and I will add you to the list. New members will be added to the end of the list in the order in which I receive the messages. Please be aware that this is an international bookray and you may have to ship overseas. The list of members will be listed here at the book's home page.

As a member, you will receive the book from the person listed before you. When you receive the book please make a journal entry stating that you’ve received it. Please read it as soon as you can (don't rush, just be reasonable about the length of time). After you read the book, please journal again with your comments. You will then need to PM (private message) the next person on the list for their mailing address. Mailing the book by media mail is the least expensive way in the US. Check to see if air mail is cheaper to send overseas, sometimes it is!

If you are unable to reach the person after you on the list, in a reasonable amount of time, then PM the next person on the list. If any questions come up, please send me a PM. Thank you all for participating in this bookray. ~ Happy Reading ~

received book--love it already. will journal again with my thoughts when done!

Really liked this book. Wished it had ended differently. Highly recommend reading this book.

I received this book in the mail today along with another book ray book. Oh irony! months passed with no bookrays and now I have two at once! I'll do my best to get this out in a timely manner. I'm guessing three weeks or so. Thanks to everyone for your patience.

I just got this book in the mail today. I am in the middle of a book right now so I will start this one in a couple of days.

I will post again when I finish the book and mail it on.

Received Saturday, Nov 29th...

I really enjoyed this book. I love historical fiction. I really was intrigued by the way people lived in 18th century London. I did wish that the novel ended differently. I really had sympathy for Mary....No matter what she tried to do to better herself, it just seemed to dig her deeper in a hole. It's difficult to believe that a/ a mother would throw her child out into the night at 14, and b/ that all that occurred in the novel was only over a space of two years. That's a lot to happen in a short amount of time.
Ready to send on to the next person in the ring.

Received today in the mail

Finished this book today on the bus. Riveting throughout - and I loved the accompanying bookmark! :)

Mailed yesterday (12/20/2003) to genevalove.

Woohoo! Slammerkin has officially arrived in China. I just started a big, thick book--but I'm dropping it and reading this instead. Thanks!

This was a tragic tale of one girl's descent into hell, when all she wanted was a bit of color in her life, something to help her rise above the drab drudgery of her mother's existence. It was a heartbreaking and bitter story, the kind that leaves you thinking of a dozen "if only"s that might have changed the course of Mary Saunders' life.

This book inevitably draws comparison to The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber, but the two novels are different in almost every way but the basic outline of the plot. All in all, I'd have to say Crimson Petal is the better novel, but this book is gripping, brutal and completely worth reading. In some ways, it also reminded me of Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood.

Thanks very much to cafemundo for starting this bookray--I would never have read this book otherwise!

Hi! Received this in the mail today. I am in the middle of another book and will start Slammerkin as soon as I finish. Thanks!

This just arrived, thanks! I have one more book to finish up before starting it but should be ready in less than a week.

Wow.

I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said, but I both thoroughly enjoyed and thoroughly hated this book. This was an emotional, roller-coaster read that kept me up late wondering what would happen to Mary next. My only complaint is that everything was foreshadowed so early that the ending wasn't really a surprise.

I will send this on as soon as I have an address. Thanks!