Journal Entry 1 by aava from Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi Finland on Thursday, October 25, 2007

This beautiful book was sent to me as a gift from my birthday buddy Sota48. Huge thanks for her. I can't wait to start this book!

 

Journal Entry 2 by aava from Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi Finland on Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Oh, what a lovely book.I read this book almost in one sitting and enjoyed enormously. McEwan writes so elegantly, his sentences are superb, clear and to the point and it's all so good that I don't know what to say. Even the clumsy, awkward sex scenes are tender and humorous.After I had finished reading the book I wanted to start again from the page one and really enjoy this book.The last page was really sad and it will stay with you a long time haunting and making you think if it's possible to throw something so precious away...

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I've decided to make this a ring.The usual rules apply:
*make a JE when you receive the book
*read within a month (it's a quick read)
*PM the next in line for their address, economy mail is fine by me
*if there are any problems contact me, we'll sort it out
*enjoy the book

participants:

Tintti, Finland
besfriends. Belgiumn
kihli, Greece
queensissi, Portugal
crosspatch, Uk
themadjock, UK
scotsbookie, Uk
starflash,UK
pinkbuttercup, UK
arturogrande, UK
katayoun; Iran
neuilly, US (wants to ship within Us, so far there's no one else in the US to ship the book back to Europe...)

Ipsu, Finland

edit 3.11.2007:The ring will start its travel next week. Happy reading everybody! 

Journal Entry 3 by Tintti from Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi Finland on Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Got the book today. Thanks, aava! 

Journal Entry 4 by Tintti from Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi Finland on Friday, November 09, 2007

The book was okay, and I still admire McEwan's writing, but I didn't enjoy this as much as Atonement, for example. The characters didn't feel real to me and I didn't really care about them. Actually, after reading the book, I found this discussion (in Finnish), where someone claims that McEwan's characters are like plastic, too hygienic and pedantically built. That hasn't bothered me with McEwan's other books, but with this one I have to agree.

Not McEwan's best book but a nice read anyway. 

Journal Entry 5 by bestfriends from - Ergens in de provincie, Gelderland Netherlands on Friday, November 16, 2007

It landed in my mailbox today. The envelope was slightly torn and damaged, but the book itself seems not to have suffered from that.

Just in time, because I don't enjoy my current read, decided to abandon it and.....sofar found nothing else on MTBR that appeals to me right now. With no other rings or rays waiting, this can be up next.

 

Journal Entry 6 by bestfriends from - Ergens in de provincie, Gelderland Netherlands on Tuesday, November 20, 2007

I finished reading last night and can't really make up my mind, what to say about it. I neither loved, nor hated it. Oh yes, it's beautifully written and I enjoyed parts of it, but found others boring and dull. I think the few remaining chapters that did grab me, do not justify this having been published as a book on it's own. It's not a novel. It's more like a short story and those I like to find in a collection. I can imagine that some people who bought this (expensive) small hardcover, felt more or less disappointed, even cheated upon, quantity wise. It's as if the publisher must have thought, that it would sell anyway because McEwan is such a well known author, no matter how little value the reader would get for his money!!!

Well, I did not spent money on it and in art it's the quality that counts anyway, but I was more or less disappointed too. It did not make enough impression to remember it as a "good read". The only thing that will stay with me, is what McEwan already made clear to me in "Enduring Love": Your life can change completely in a split second by just one event, one word, one misunderstanding. I got the message!

Thanks for sharing. I will sent it to the next on the list soon.

 

Journal Entry 7 by bestfriends at Controlled release by mail in -- controlled release --, Liège / Luik Belgium on Friday, November 23, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (11/23/2007 UTC) at Controlled release by mail in -- controlled release --, Liège / Luik Belgium

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on it's way to Greece by surfacemail 

Journal Entry 8 by kihli from Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Greece on Friday, November 30, 2007

the book just arrived,thank you:) 

Journal Entry 9 by kihli from Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Greece on Thursday, December 27, 2007

I just finished reading the book. I can say I liked it a lot,but I found the end of it a bit too sudden and abrupt.
Nevertheless,I'll remember it,as with all of McEwan's books.

thank you for sharing :) 

Journal Entry 10 by kihli at on Saturday, January 05, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (1/7/2008 UTC) at

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going to Portugal :) together with the wonderful bookmark that came with it 

Journal Entry 11 by QueenSissi from Gouveia, Guarda Portugal on Monday, January 14, 2008

Arrived today! Thanks! 

Journal Entry 12 by QueenSissi from Gouveia, Guarda Portugal on Thursday, February 14, 2008

I is a really nice book though I wished the end would tell us more. Can't say more or will be a spoiler. I also laughed a lot because some situations are indeed awkward...

Sending it forward as soon as I receive the address. 

Journal Entry 13 by themadjock from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, February 22, 2008

Received today - thank you. Just finished my current book, so I'll be able to start it straight away. 

Journal Entry 14 by themadjock from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, March 01, 2008

I really enjoyed this. It is the first book I've read by McEwan and felt the tragic story was very powerful. His detailed writing painted 2 very intricate and interesting characters.

It was a bit shorter than I would have liked and felt the final part was perhaps a bit rushed, but an excellent story - thank you aava for sharing.

04/03 sent to scotsbookie 

Journal Entry 15 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Arrived safely this morning, thank you. I have a few other books to read before this but will get to it asap. 

Journal Entry 16 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 18, 2008

A fantastic read, one of my best so far this year. This tragic tale is beautifuuly written, with tenderness & clarity. The last few paragraphs are haunting in their sadness.

Thank you aava for the chance to read the book. I already have starflash's details & will get it on its way again asap. 

Journal Entry 17 by scotsbookie at to a fellow bookcrosser in Bookring, a postal release -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (3/19/2008 UTC) at to a fellow bookcrosser in Bookring, a postal release -- Controlled Releases

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on its way to starflash.

 

Journal Entry 18 by starflash from Crawley, West Sussex United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Arrived at work, today. Read it in my lunch hour and whilst eating dinner, half way through already and loving it!

Ian McEwan is new to me, looks like hes going to be on the lookout list-thank you for sharing! 

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

Released 4 yrs ago (3/31/2008 UTC) at by mail in sent by post, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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Sending out in the post Monday.

My first McEwan, and certainly no the last. A strange contradcition between starchy behaviour and complete access to the characters emotional undercurrents. Beautifully written. 

Journal Entry 20 by PinkButtercup from Larkfield, Kent United Kingdom on Monday, April 07, 2008

Thank you Starflash. Book arrived safe and sound and was waiting for me when I got home from work on Friday. Can't wait to read, will let you all know what I think about it 

Journal Entry 21 by PinkButtercup from Larkfield, Kent United Kingdom on Monday, May 19, 2008

Excellent book, really different from anything I have read before, but I really enjoyed it and the way the characters are built 

Journal Entry 22 by PinkButtercup at Sent by post in Kent, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Monday, May 19, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (5/17/2008 UTC) at Sent by post in Kent, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

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Book has been posted to Arturogrande (sorry your email arrived one day after I had left for my holiday) Hope you enjoy. 

Journal Entry 23 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Saturday, May 24, 2008

Arrived safe and sound - thanks very much. 

Journal Entry 24 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Sunday, June 08, 2008

This book moved me to tears - not only because of the sadness of the story but also the beauty of the prose. There is nothing laboured or contrived about McEwan's use of metaphor and there is not a word or phrase which strikes a wrong note.
It is a beautiful study in the distance between two people who find it impossible to communicte with each other - with tragic consequences.

Thank you, aava, for sharing this lovely book. Ktayoun has asked to be skipped, the book is on its way to neuilly. 

Journal Entry 25 by Neuilly from Brooklyn, New York USA on Wednesday, July 23, 2008

I thought I journaled this when I caught it! My apologies. I'm finished with it now and I guess will have to figure out how to ship it on to Finland.

McEwan is a very talented writer, every word seems so carefully chosen. I've only read one other book by him (Atonement) and while this wasn't my favorite book, I still enjoyed it. I love how he can break down a single evening and express all the emotions and miscommunications that occur between two people. Admittedly I didn't feel drawn to the characters but I don't think he particularly wanted "me" to. It's more a look at life than about these two people. Very intriguing.