Journal Entry 1 by bluesneak from Lawrenceville, Georgia USA on Tuesday, October 30, 2007

"The Lovely Bones," it ain't.

This book is about a middle-aged woman who smothers her elderly mother to death and follows the next 24 hours as she alternatively tries to cover up the crime and has flashbacks of her difficult childhood. 

Journal Entry 2 by bluesneak from Lawrenceville, Georgia USA on Sunday, November 04, 2007

Bookray successfully completed!
 

Journal Entry 3 by bluesneak from Lawrenceville, Georgia USA on Monday, November 12, 2007

On the way to karenlea. 

Journal Entry 4 by Karenlea from Glendale, California USA on Saturday, November 17, 2007

Caught! I have one other ring ahead of it, but I should be able to start it within the week. A huge thank you to bluesneak for sharing. I am very excited to read this! 

Journal Entry 5 by Karenlea from Glendale, California USA on Sunday, November 25, 2007

Not so sure about this one...kind of an odd book. I read it fast and found parts of it, especially the flashbacks, to be more relatable than felt comfortable. I can relate a lot to the family dynamics, especially the main character being an only child and the pressure that comes along with it. I also related to this book in a way that I don't think I would have a few weeks ago. I am kind of in a strange place and this book hit my funny. Overall, I felt uncomfortable reading it, yet I could not put it down. The ambiguity at the end bothered me.

Thank you to Bluesneak for sharing. I will mail this out to the next reader as soon as I have an address. I will update here with the date that I mail it out.

Mailed out this morning 12-1-07. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 6 by dabercro from Clinton, Utah USA on Friday, December 07, 2007

Received in the mail yesterday. I've already started reading it. 

Journal Entry 7 by dabercro from Clinton, Utah USA on Saturday, December 15, 2007

This was a strange book yet I couldn't stop reading. The book goes back and forth between the past (growing up as an only child of mentally ill parents) and the present. I really didn't like the ending. Overall, the book was a disappointment.

Will be sending the book on its way to oi-reader in OH on Monday. 

Journal Entry 8 by oi-reader from Toledo, Ohio USA on Monday, December 24, 2007

arrived safely today. I'm currently reading 2 others, and with tomorrow being Christmas it may be a week til I get started but will get to it very soon. Thanks for allowing me to participate! 

Journal Entry 9 by oi-reader from Toledo, Ohio USA on Saturday, December 29, 2007

First, thanks to bluesneak for allowing me to participate in this bookring.

Hmmm..I agree with bluesneak, it's not The Lovely Bones, and it's not Lucky either, but The Almost Moon is a good read in its own right. Sebold has a way of exploring the darker side of human nature, of placing the reader in uncomfortable situations that make one question their own lives and motives. I feel that is what she has done here. There were several times while reading this book that I stopped and comtemplated my own relationship with my mother and the neighbors we had when I was a child. The Almost Moon may not get the rave reviews that Sebold's previous writings have received, but I think it is because the premis of the book may hit a little too close to home for many readers.

Have already received quinaveve's address and it is packaged and ready to be shipped to her Monday morning when the post office opens. 

Journal Entry 10 by guinaveve from Mason, Ohio USA on Monday, January 07, 2008

I received this today and look forward to reading it after I finish my current read. I will start this within a few days. I am going to go ahead and PM the next participant so that when I am done with the book, I can move it along.
Thanks for sharing it bluesneak. 

Journal Entry 11 by guinaveve from Mason, Ohio USA on Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Journal Entry 12 by guinaveve at by postal services in Sent by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (1/23/2008 UTC) at by postal services in Sent by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 13 by pammykn from Decatur, Alabama USA on Monday, January 28, 2008

Thanks rec'd today -- look forward to reading!

Update 02/26/08: Reading now & have added 2 new readers to the ring:

Sarradee/TX US
Scarlett07/CO US 

Journal Entry 14 by pammykn from Decatur, Alabama USA on Friday, February 29, 2008

Thanks for sharing this book w/ me. I wanted to read it because of the author. If I had known what the topic was I may have opted out. Ultimately, I'm glad I read it. Will be passing on to sarradee, mailing off today 02/29.

02/29/08
TITLE/AUTHOR: ALMOST MOON by ALice Sebold
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Fiction/2007/291 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Stand-Alone
TIME/PLACE: Present/PA
CHARACTERS: Claire Knightly/mother; Helen/daughter
FIRST LINES: When all is said & done, killing my mother came easily.

COMMENTS: 01/28/08 rec via bookcrossing ring/ray. Very disturbing subject. Middle-aged daughter, Helen, is a divoreced mother w/ 2 grown daughters and grandchildren. She is nude model for art classes at the university. She grew up w/ a mother who was different not understanding until later that her mother's difference was mental illness. Now her mother, Claire, is in her late 80's w/ dementia and various physical ailments. She is still living in the same home. The neighbors check in on her and Helen lives close enough that she regularly visits. A very edgy/icky subject to want to delve into but curiousity & Sebold's writing kept me going. 

Journal Entry 15 by sarradee from Dallas, Texas USA on Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Arrived here safely today, I just have to finish the ring I'm currently reading before I can dive on in. Thank you for letting me join this ray for a wishlist book. 

Journal Entry 16 by sarradee from Dallas, Texas USA on Thursday, March 13, 2008

This book is kind of creepy and very depressing. I also found the ending disappointing. The family dynamics were interesting, as were the flashbacks into the protagonist's upbringing by her mentally ill parents. I suppose the author intended for the reader to believe that this was the only outcome that could be possible based on the past, but I had a hard time buying into that theory.

Messaging Scarlett07 and will pass it on as soon as I have an address.

03/17/07 Mailed this morning. 

Journal Entry 17 by Scarlett07 from Colorado Springs, Colorado USA on Sunday, March 23, 2008

Got this in the mail yesterday! Thanks and I will read it as soon as I finish the book I'm reading now. 

Journal Entry 18 by Scarlett07 from Colorado Springs, Colorado USA on Thursday, April 10, 2008

I finished this book yesterday and had to have some time to think about it. I liked the book once I got into it although it is difficult and very disturbing. This is one of those books that stays with you long after you've finished. After learning of Helen's background, I could feel for her situation and why she did what she did. I was happy with the ending because she did not follow in her father's footsteps, and she considered her family first, which is not how she grew up.

I will either put this book back up for a ray (since I was last on the list) or will release it here, haven't decided yet.

Thank you bluesneak for starting this book and including me on the list.

I have put this out for a ray. Here is the order:

Supertalia - US (APO)
Ivylibra224 - US (MO)
Pati13 - US (OR)
HeresDeb - US (IL)
Daniellechonody - US (TX)
House-elf (Canada)

COMPLETED 

Journal Entry 19 by Supertalya on Monday, August 11, 2008

Guess who came in the mail! It was waiting for me today at the post office. It took the slow boat, but it's here!!!

Update: Wow, this is not at all what I expected. I should have read a couple of reviews before I signed up for this one. What a disturbing book. I hated Helen through the whole book. She was so selfish and the mildly redeeming ending did not make up for all her actions. I may add more later, when I have had time to think about things, but I am on my way to read something light and fun after this one. 

Journal Entry 20 by Supertalya at APO, -- US Military (all branches) -- USA on Saturday, August 16, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (8/18/2008 UTC) at APO, -- US Military (all branches) -- USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting this to Ivylibra! 

Journal Entry 21 by ivylibra224 from Kimberling City, Missouri USA on Thursday, August 28, 2008

Received this one on Monday on my way out of town. I have a couple books to finish before I start this one. 

Journal Entry 22 by ivylibra224 from Kimberling City, Missouri USA on Monday, September 15, 2008

I enjoyed this book a lot. The subject matter is definitely sensitive and I believe it was well done. I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's work. 

Journal Entry 23 by pati13 from Gresham, Oregon USA on Sunday, October 12, 2008

I received this book in the mail yesterday and have contacted the next in line for her address. I had to read "A Northern Light" by Jennifer Donnelly (which I thoroughly enjoyed!) and will be starting this book tonight. 

Journal Entry 24 by HeresDeb from Grayslake, Illinois USA on Friday, November 07, 2008

I received this book a couple days ago and am ready to send it on. I had actually just bought a copy and read it right before it was sent to me.

All I can say is wow... This book is darker, and more of a psychotic thriller (or at least psychotic) than even Lucky and Lovely Bones, which I had enjoyed. I had a real hard time finding any sympathy at all for the main character in this book. I was very disgusted with her and almost put the book down a few times because I couldn't stand her. The author finally makes me get it a little bit towards the end. I did like the ending because it looks like the character finally learned something. This was the least favorite of my Alice Sebold books. However, I usually read fluffier fare so maybe someone else who normally reads a more thrilling genre may enjoy this more. 

Journal Entry 25 by HeresDeb at Mailed, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 10, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (11/10/2008 UTC) at Mailed, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing to the next person on the list. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 26 by daniellechonody from Dallas, Texas USA on Monday, November 17, 2008

Despite the unsual topic of this book - I really enjoyed the depth of the characters and the unpredictability of the story. 

Journal Entry 27 by daniellechonody at Euless, Texas USA on Saturday, January 03, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (12/30/2008 UTC) at Euless, Texas USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to the next reader on the book ray 

Journal Entry 28 by house-elf from Brookfield, Nova Scotia Canada on Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Got this book safe and sound in the mail today. Yay! Thank You. It will be my next book after I finish the one I'm currently reading. 

Journal Entry 29 by Scarlett07 from Colorado Springs, Colorado USA on Thursday, January 15, 2009

Now this book's journey on this bookray has been completed. Thanks everyone who participated to make it a successful one! 

Journal Entry 30 by house-elf from Brookfield, Nova Scotia Canada on Saturday, February 14, 2009

I had very mixed feelings about this book. It is usually hard for me to read a book if I don't like the main character, and it took me a while to get into this book because the main character's actions are quite detestable. Within the first few chapters there are 2 major actions that repulsed me. How could I like this character?

But it was not about liking her. It was about her back story- not that her experiences as a child justified her behaviour, but perhaps they explained it to an understandable degree. The themes were interesting and exploring Helen's major life relationships was engaging. I'm glad I read it and feel I experienced something new as a reader: the realization I can enjoy a story without completely identifying with the main character and liking her.