Journal Entry 1 by ChiBoiler from Chicago, Illinois USA on Sunday, October 21, 2007

On 1001 books to read list...This book was a quick read ...I think it is semi-autobiographical about a young French girl that begins an affair with a much older Chinese man in Indonesia. I had seen the movie years ago and I actually think that the movie flowed better. The book was very choppy focusing on a year and a half in this girls life but intertwined with memories throughout her life - both before and after the affair. Her thoughts literally change from sentence to sentence.

Would be curious to read another book by her... 

Journal Entry 2 by angela861 from Chicago, Illinois USA on Monday, December 24, 2007

I caught this book from ChiBoiler on Saturday. 

Journal Entry 3 by angela861 from Chicago, Illinois USA on Saturday, January 12, 2008

I think I would have liked this book if it weren't so choppy. I agree w/ ChiBoiler... the French girl's thoughts did change from sentence to sentence. I really don't enjoy that writing style and the last few 1001 books I've read have that same style. It was a quick read and pretty painless. :-) One more off the list!!

I will return to ChiBoiler this week. 

Journal Entry 4 by angela861 at -- By Hand or Post, Ray/ring, Meet-up, Rabck in Chicago, Illinois USA on Saturday, January 19, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (1/19/2008 UTC) at -- By Hand or Post, Ray/ring, Meet-up, Rabck in Chicago, Illinois USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Returning this book to ChiBoiler. 

Journal Entry 5 by Gayle62 from Crown Point, Indiana USA on Sunday, March 23, 2008

It wasn't that bad. 

Journal Entry 6 by Gayle62 at Controlled Release to Fellow Bookcrosser in Crown Point, Indiana USA on Sunday, March 23, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (3/23/2008 UTC) at Controlled Release to Fellow Bookcrosser in Crown Point, Indiana USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Returned to Chiboiler 

Journal Entry 7 by ChiBoiler from Chicago, Illinois USA on Sunday, March 23, 2008

This book is back in my possession and I am going to offer it up as a bookray.

How the bookray works (I've borrowed the rules from others):

- The person before you will PM you for your address, please PM them back with your address
- Please make a journal entry once you've received the book
- Please put the book at the top of your TBR pile but under other rings/rays that arrived first
- Read the book (take your time and enjoy the book, try to finish it within one month
- When you are close to the end, refer to the journal and PM the next person to get their address
- Once you finish the book, make another journal entry and let us know what you thought
- Please send the book to the next person on the list using surface mail, make release notes to help track
- If you are the last person please do whatever you would like with the book!!!... Happy Reading!!

Here is the list: (order subject to change)

1. livrecache (AUS - prefers australia)
2. tqd (AUS - prefers australia, but open)
3. jubby (AUS - will ship int'l)
4. bookworm76 (AUS - will ship int'l)
5. garibaldisghost (UK - will ship int'l)
6. brunton11 (UK - will ship int'l)
7. lucy-lemon (UK - will ship int'l)
8. cally-c (UK - prefers EU but will ship int'l)
9. NICNIC2 (UK - will ship int'l)
10. afraberg (Netherlands - ? ship)
11. seethroughfaith (Finland - open to ship)
12. perryfran (US - open to ship)

This RAY has reached it's last participant. Hope you all enjoyed it! (Or at least got to check one off the 1001 list!) 

Journal Entry 8 by ChiBoiler from Chicago, Illinois USA on Thursday, April 03, 2008

Mailing this book out today to livrecache! Happy travels little book!!! 

Journal Entry 9 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Received Down Under today. I feel privileged to be the first Aussie on this ring. I have a couple of other rings in front of it it, but I shall move it along as quickly as I can. 

Journal Entry 10 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Saturday, May 31, 2008

Once I finally got to this book, I found that I wasn't particularly engaged by it, although it was an easy read, and one more to check off the 1001 list.

Thanks for organising and sharing, Chiboiler. 

Journal Entry 11 by livrecache at By post in Melbourne, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, June 01, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (5/31/2008 UTC) at By post in Melbourne, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Off to the next participant in the ring . . . 

Journal Entry 12 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Ah, a nice parcel on my desk as I got to work today! Thanks livrecache, I'll get onto this asap (but, of course, I do have a few bookrings ahead of it). 

Journal Entry 13 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, June 11, 2008

A rather beguiling, languid and atmospheric novel... but at the end, there didn't really seem to be that much in the way of plot. (And a fair amount of plot - revolving around the oldest brother - had been promised, to my way of thinking.)

Our narrator is an older French woman, looking back on her adolescence in Vietnam, prior to World War 2. And on her lover, a young Chinese millionaire, who is besotted with her. (Was he the lover of the title? Or her? I found it rather intriguing trying to work out which one the title referred to.)

She has since become a writer, and has in her previous books danced around the truth about her family and her relationship with her mother, who seems to have suffered from bi-polar disorder. And, in this book, she claims to tell the truth (but still seems to be dancing around an awful lot). It brought up many questions for me about the autobiographical aspects of this book, but I think I'd really rather not know. It's quite beautifully written (if annoyingly vague at times), and if I were to track down the truth of Marguerite Duras's young life, it might all become a bit too sordid in the harsh light of reality.

And I shall be eternally grateful to whoever can explain this bit to me:

Sometimes I realize that if writing isn't, all things, all contraries confounded, a quest for vanity and void, it's nothing. That if it's not, each time, all things confounded into one through some inexpressible essence, then writing is nothing but advertisement. But usually I have no opinion, I can see that all options are open now, that there seem to be no more barriers, that writing seems at a loss for somewhere to hide, to be written, to be read. That its basic unseemliness is no longer accepted. But at that point I stop thinking about it.

Journal Entry 14 by jubby from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Friday, June 13, 2008

Another bookring has arrived in the post.
Argh!

Will try and read and post this one quickly.
Thanks TQD. 

Journal Entry 15 by jubby from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Friday, July 18, 2008

Well, after reading all the other bookrings that I had before this one, and then TQD's journal entry, I was a bit put off with this one.

So, I took it along with me to the park yesterday, while I laid on a blanket, and made myself read it. As a treat, I bought myself a little lunch - but only when I was half way through. Yes, rewarding myself with food.

I napped twice (the sun was nice, and the book... was confusing), but was able to complete before the sun set, and got home in time for dinner. It's a hard life.

Now, I do have a niggle about this book being on the '1001 books to read before you die' list. Was this book fiction, or memoir, like 'I know why the caged bird sings'?

My other question is, is this book any better when read in its original French?

Anyway, I can now tick this book off my list (only there is a new list with more titles on it - I'll have to put in another 20 years of reading I think), and thank ChiBoiler and TQD for sending this book my way. 

Journal Entry 16 by jubby at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, July 18, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (7/18/2008 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to bookworm76. 

Journal Entry 17 by bookworm76 from Kedron, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, July 22, 2008

This was bit of a strange book. The writing was a bit flowery so I can understand why it was not some people's thing but I really liked it.

I thought the relationship between the girl and her chinese lover was very complex and it was even more complex by the social context and the family situation.

Good read. 

Journal Entry 18 by bookworm76 at Lutwyche, Queensland Australia on Friday, October 10, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (10/10/2008 UTC) at Lutwyche, Queensland Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting off to the next person on the bookring 

Journal Entry 19 by garibaldisghost from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Saturday, October 18, 2008

Arrived safely in the post today, thanks. 

Journal Entry 20 by garibaldisghost from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Friday, October 24, 2008

I agree with many of the previous readers of this book, i.e. that it is a bit choppy. I can't really say I enjoyed it that much, but at least it's only 117 pages long (or should I say short!)

Nottingham Round the World Reading Challenge: VIETNAM
 

Journal Entry 21 by garibaldisghost at Posted to another bookcrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Friday, October 24, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (10/24/2008 UTC) at Posted to another bookcrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I already have brunton11's address so I'll pop it in the post later today. 

Journal Entry 22 by brunton11 from Salford, Lancashire United Kingdom on Monday, October 27, 2008

Received today - Looks interesting given the mixed reviews. 

Journal Entry 23 by brunton11 from Salford, Lancashire United Kingdom on Monday, November 17, 2008

Garibaldisghost's entry pretty sums up my feelings too. There were sections of this book that I got and really liked and others that left me scratching my head. I probably wouldn't have chosen to read this book myself but I'm glad I did as I've promised myself to try different styles and authors. Thanks all for sharing.

I have the day off and lucy-lemons address so will take this book to the post office shortly. 

Journal Entry 24 by lucy-lemon from Llandudno, Wales United Kingdom on Friday, November 21, 2008

Arrived yesterday, looking forward to reading this one.

27.11.08

Thought I would take some time to write a proper journal entry while I have the chance! Looking at the reviews of other people, I really didn't know what to expect from the book. I don't think I enjoyed it. It was all a bit vague for me to be honest, and I spent quite a lot of the time confused. Maybe it's a lot better in the original language...

Thank you for sharing :-) 

Journal Entry 25 by cally-c from Alfreton, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Arrived this morning. Will read asap! 

Journal Entry 26 by cally-c from Alfreton, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 29, 2008

I think I enjoyed this - it was a very quick read! I also found it quite choppy, especially the way she changes from 1st to 3rd person narration & back again. Sometimes it took a whole paragraph before I realised she was talking about herself! Perhaps it's a means of distancing herself from certain memories?
Anyway, I liked the way she portrays this relationship, it's very different from a lot of the 1001 books.
Thanks ChiBoiler for sharing & lucy-lemon for sending on!

NICNIC2 has asked to be skipped, so I will PM afraberg now & get The Lover on its way.
30th Dec 2008 - afraberg has also asked to be skipped. Have PM'd seethroughfaith.
8th Jan 09 - Apologies for the delay. Book will be off to seethroughfaith today! 

Journal Entry 27 by cally-c at Sent To The Next Bookcrosser, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, January 08, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (1/8/2009 UTC) at Sent To The Next Bookcrosser, Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to seethroughfaith. 

Journal Entry 28 by seethroughfaith from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Wednesday, January 14, 2009

arrived today thanks

I'm leaving for the UK for a month (next week) and unlikely to be able to read it before then - but will take it with me and ship to perryfran from there

PMing perryfran for her address etc now

ETA it arrived. I'll either read this during the week and send it to Perryfran from Finland or then on the plane and pop it in the post when in the UK. Let's see :) 

Journal Entry 29 by seethroughfaith from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Saturday, January 17, 2009

I didn't like this at all. It was boring! Iread about half way and then skimmed the rest so won't include it in my 'read in 2009' either as skimming isn't reading -not really. 

Journal Entry 30 by seethroughfaith at Rockville, Maryland USA on Saturday, January 17, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (1/18/2009 UTC) at Rockville, Maryland USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:



2009 KTMC #2

PerryFran you are the last on this book ray.



Please remember to make a JE when it arrives :) Have to say I didn't like it at all - and hope it's more your cup of tea! 

Journal Entry 31 by perryfran from North Ogden, Utah USA on Monday, January 26, 2009

Received today from seethroughfaith along with a surprise RABCK. Thanks for both! Also thanks to ChiBoiler for sharing this book as a bookray. I am last on the list for this one so may not get to it right away, but hopefully it won't be too long. 

Journal Entry 32 by perryfran from North Ogden, Utah USA on Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Journal Entry 33 by perryfran at Controlled Release, Ray-It-Forward -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (5/13/2009 UTC) at Controlled Release, Ray-It-Forward -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to Danielle23 in the UK as a Ray-It-Forward.

EmgeeNL in the Netherlands would like to read after Danielle.

Please try to pass this book on to other bookcrossers when finished.
Thanks 

Journal Entry 34 by Danielle23 from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Thank you for sending this so quickly seethroughfaith. I will read it soon and then send it straight on xx 

Journal Entry 35 by Danielle23 from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, May 23, 2009

This was a very quick read but I'm not sure what I thought of it. It was very choppy, as many others have said, but I felt this just gave me more insight into the young girls thoughts.

Will be posted off to EmgeeNL as soon as I get the address xx 

Journal Entry 36 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Friday, May 29, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (5/29/2009 UTC) at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On the way to EmgeeNL now, enjoy xx 

Journal Entry 37 by EmgeeNL from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, June 06, 2009

The book arrived save and sound.

3 July: In favor of the book I can say that it is a small book, but that's about it. I agree with other readers that it's just to jumpy.

I will let this ray continue to:

- Iiwi (Netherlands)
- Jozebedee (UK, only UK)
- Fluffy-owl (Uk, Uk or EU)
- Vilda (Sweden, int)
- Amestisi (fin, int) prefers near the end
- Davemurray101 (aus, int)
- Darkpunkangel (Canada, int)
- mrsboknows (USA, pref USA but int if needed)
 

Journal Entry 38 by EmgeeNL at by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, July 13, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (7/13/2009 UTC) at by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book is on it's way to the next reader 

Journal Entry 39 by iiwi from Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Wednesday, July 15, 2009

received!
 

Journal Entry 40 by iiwi from Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Thursday, August 13, 2009

I, in contrast of many others, rather liked the style of the novel. It needs concentration, as it isn't a round novel, but meandering in time and thoughts. That helps to get the feelings of a adolencent child towards her strange mother, the desperation and loneliness she feels at the same time as the love and loyality towards her mother.
It realy liked the way the feelings of her towards leaving her lover, the death of her younger brother years later, and her understanding them and her own feelings towards them, intertwine. Every character seems lost in this novel, lost in family, in insanity, in culture and in colonial balancing of power. It is really amazing that Duras can get some much feelings accross in so little words. 

Journal Entry 41 by Jozebedee from Nantwich, Cheshire United Kingdom on Thursday, August 20, 2009

Received today thank you. In the TBR pile - will get to it asap :) 

Journal Entry 42 by Jozebedee from Nantwich, Cheshire United Kingdom on Friday, November 27, 2009

I really didn't like this very much. I feel that the story lacked substance. I didn't like the way the book was narrated in the past, present and future - there seemed to be no definite distinguishing between them - it just jumped about all over the place, so I found it hard to get to grips with the events that had happened chronologically.
Also I found the constant switching into the third person very irregular, and found myself confused at times whether I was reading about the girl, or her mother, or about someone else.
I still don't understand who her eldest brother was supposed to have murdered!
Had this book been any longer I wouldn't have bothered finishing it.
Thanks though for giving me the opportunity to cross this off my 1001 list - I am sending off now to the next reader. 

Journal Entry 43 by Jozebedee at BOOK RING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Friday, November 27, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (11/27/2009 UTC) at BOOK RING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way now to fluffy-owl. Hope you enjoy it more than I did! 

Journal Entry 44 by Fluffy-Owl from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Saturday, November 28, 2009

Received in the post today, thank you! 

Journal Entry 45 by Fluffy-Owl at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Sunday, December 06, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (12/7/2009 UTC) at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting off to Vilda, hope it travels well and arrives safely. 

Journal Entry 46 by Fluffy-Owl from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Sunday, December 06, 2009

Dreadful. Didn't like the characters, the style of writing, the ridiculously short paragraphs, the constant changing from first to third person narration. What did I like? It's only 117 pages long, and as there are so many short paragraphs, there really isn't that much text! How did this get on the 1001 BTRBYD?!

Will be glad to pass it on asap. 

Journal Entry 47 by Vilda from Stockholm, Södermanland Sweden on Thursday, December 10, 2009

Arrived today, thanks! I'llget to it after 2 oter bookrays 

Journal Entry 48 by Vilda at by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, December 21, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (12/21/2009 UTC) at by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I never took so lont to read 117 pages. The book didn't touch me at all. I'm left with a "hm, was that it?"-feeling. Anyway, I can at least tick it off the 1001-list.

Now it travels. I hope you enjoy it more than I did.

And merry Chistmas! 

Journal Entry 49 by Ametisti from Klaukkala, Uusimaa Finland on Monday, December 28, 2009

The book arrived to Finland! Thank you, Vilda, for sending the book :)
 

Journal Entry 50 by Ametisti from Klaukkala, Uusimaa Finland on Sunday, January 17, 2010

I finally came to read this book - a couple of pages at a reading session was enough. Maybe I expected it to be so much more but what on earth has all the brouhaha been about this novel?! Duras managed to impress me a couple of times with her descriptions of the girl's thoughts when she described herself but the story was (I'm sorry) boring, the family too disfunctional and sad to get my compassion. The text was in a way too polished and tight and aimed to perfection that the edge was missing.

I would have liked to get more descriptions of Indochina and the observations of the two outcasts who become lovers. Yes they searched comfort from each others' arms but did they heal one another at any level? Did anything change due to their relationship? A cliché but I only saw two ships meeting in the dark of the night. Whoever wrote the manuscript for the movie was a magnificent writer.

I'll ask the next reader's address and will send this bookray forward next week. Thanks for sharing this book, EmGeeNL!
 

Journal Entry 51 by Ametisti at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (1/26/2010 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book was mailed to the next reader in the ring, DarkPunkAngel as DaveMurray101 asked to be skipped in the ring.

Thanks for sharing this book as a ring and happy reading, DarkPunkAngel ;)

 

Journal Entry 52 by darkpunkangel from Barrie, Ontario Canada on Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Thanks, the book has arrived safe and sound. Will probably start reading this tonight. 

Journal Entry 53 by darkpunkangel from Barrie, Ontario Canada on Saturday, March 06, 2010

I didn't really enjoy this book so I will pass this to the next person soon. 

Journal Entry 54 by darkpunkangel at sent by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, March 08, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (3/8/2010 UTC) at sent by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent today to the next participant, thanks EmgeeNL for setting this up! 

Journal Entry 55 by mrsboknows from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina USA on Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Book arrived today with a few bent up pages. I've tried to unfold them as best I can but, I think that the crease marks will remain. This book is 3rd in line TBR. I will try to be quick! 

Journal Entry 56 by mrsboknows from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina USA on Saturday, April 10, 2010

Definitely not one of my favorite 1001 books. The short, choppy paragraphs combined with the back and forth memoy recall was confusing and frustrating. Had the book been made up entirely of stories about her relationship with the lover, it would have been much more entertaining.

I plan to let this book continue its travels. . . 

Journal Entry 57 by mrsboknows at Kathmandu, Kathmandu Nepal on Thursday, June 24, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (6/24/2010 UTC) at Kathmandu, Kathmandu Nepal

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book continues its journey to Nepal. Happy Reading! 

Journal Entry 58 by lils74 at Kathmandu, Bagmati Nepal on Thursday, July 08, 2010

Received today in my post box--and as I had to then sit and wait for my motor-scooter to undergo a minor repair, I've begun reading it already. I can see it has a lot of JEs--I love seeing what others have thought of a book, and I will add my comments as well, once I'm done. Thank you for sending it, mrsboknows, and for the BC labels you included with it. All the best! 

Journal Entry 59 by lils74 at Kathmandu, Bagmati Nepal on Monday, August 02, 2010

Finished reading this the same week I received it, but wanted to take the time to write a proper JE, and then I forgot! Well, this is one of those books that I've been wanting to read for ages...heard quite a bit about the movie. Overall, I liked the whimsical, odd style in which it was written, strangely poetic. I was surprised at how well I was able to follow the general story despite how much she jumped around and went off on tangents, etc. One negative for me was that most of the characters are not really likable, but pretty selfish and self-serving, so I found it hard to care about them or feel for them, so to speak. On the other hand, I did find it startling honest; it is nice at times to see characters and all their flaws--life is like that, after all. It's nice to see a book with so many journalers, I will have to find a new home for this one, now. And I'll enjoy reading what everyone else has written now too--I didn't want to do it till after I'd written myself. Thank you mrsboknows for sending it to me!