Journal Entry 1 by NICNIC2 from St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Not a bad whodunnit I suppose. Some aspects grated with me a little bit, like Freud's theories, but I'd say its worth a read.

I'm using this copy to restart a stalled bookring that was being run by lellie. You can find the original copy here The Interpretation of Murder Original Bookring

List of participants (subject to change):

NICNIC2 (UK)
brunton11 (UK)
maggiemo (UK)
chich (France)
mallary (France)
boirina (Portugal)
Sidney1 (Germany)
eicuthbertson (Canada)
devon612 (USA)
babsdotter (USA) <--currently with this member
lellie (UK)- END 

Journal Entry 2 by NICNIC2 at By mail in A bookray, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, January 10, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (1/11/2008 UTC) at By mail in A bookray, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 3 by brunton11 from Salford, Lancashire United Kingdom on Sunday, January 13, 2008

Received yesterday. Thanks for restarting this ring. 

Journal Entry 4 by brunton11 from Salford, Lancashire United Kingdom on Friday, February 01, 2008

I was worried when I started this book that it might take a while to get into but I was proved wrong! There were many twists and turns along the way and I enjoyed it, particularly the detail about New York. I'll keep an eye out for more books by Jed Rubenstein. It's always good to try a new author and enjoytheir work so thank you lellie and nicnic2 for starting this ring.

I have maggiemo's address so will get this book in the post to her tomorrwo. 

Journal Entry 5 by maggiemo on Thursday, February 07, 2008

Received at weekend. Sorry no access to computer until today. Just finished a book so will start tonight 

Journal Entry 6 by maggiemo on Monday, February 18, 2008

Good read. Enjoyed all the Psychobabble. Will be posting on shortly 

Journal Entry 7 by chich from Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Monday, March 03, 2008

Book received today, thanks a lot maggiemo! 

Journal Entry 8 by chich from Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Wednesday, March 12, 2008

I must admit I didn't expect much when I started reading this book. Too much hype, too many rave reviews, I feared this was going to be yet another disappointing historical murder mystery... Well it turns out I was pleasantly surprised! I liked the story, the characters and the depiction of New York in the early 20th century. The book also reminded me of Caleb Carr's excellent novel The Alienist. I did skip some passages that distracted the reader from the central plot, such as the analysis of Freud's Oedipus complex or the digressions on Hamlet. I also found the book to be confusing as far as the narrator was concerned and sometimes wondered if Rubenfeld hadn't got his characters mixed up at some point... Still, this was a pretty good read!

Thanks for sharing NICNIC2!

I've already PMed mallary for her address and will send her the book as soon as she confirms it. 

Journal Entry 9 by chich from Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Thursday, March 13, 2008

Book sent to Mallary today, enjoy!



Entry #11 for the 2008 Keep Them Moving Challenge
 

Journal Entry 10 by Mallary from Ginestas, Languedoc-Roussillon France on Monday, March 17, 2008

Received today in the Poitou-Charentes! Thanks chich!
I can't wait to read it! 

Journal Entry 11 by Mallary from Ginestas, Languedoc-Roussillon France on Sunday, May 11, 2008

I feel terrible that I forgot to journal after I finished this book. I'm so sorry.
I found this story to be incredibly absorbing and one of the most unusual I have read in a long time. I must look out for more by this author.
It has now been posted to boirina.
Thanks for sharing it with me. I will try to be more organised next time! 

Journal Entry 12 by boirina from Calvià, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Thursday, May 29, 2008

The book got here safely today. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 13 by boirina from Calvià, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Tuesday, August 05, 2008

The book has left for Sidney1 today.

I enjoyed the book although I must admit that I skimmed a bit. I guess that's because, being a psychologist, certain things didn't need such a huge explanation. But I enjoyed the thriller bit. :)

Thanks for the opportunity to read it! 

Journal Entry 14 by Sidney1 from München, Bayern Germany on Saturday, August 09, 2008

Book arrived safely in Denmark today - my holiday destination. Thank you boirina! 

Journal Entry 15 by Sidney1 from München, Bayern Germany on Monday, September 08, 2008

In spite of all the rave reviews, I was disappointed by this book. It simply doesn’t know what it wants to be: a history lesson? A psychoanalyst case study? A murder mystery? For the latter, the solution is too convoluted, and all too sudden. The whole story is explained in laborious detail in the last few chapters. That is always a lazy way out for the author, and rather an old-fashioned imitation of Agatha Christie’s style.

Mr Rubenfeld has obviously researched his story thoroughly and wants us to benefit from all his hard work, and thus weighs down the narrative with information. I do like the descriptive parts of New York in 1909, and Rubenfeld certainly has a feel for the period. But there are too many side lines to keep the tension in the story: I got confused about who is who, and what relevance did the whole Thaw story have to the main events, anyhow – except to act as a lame duck. And as reviewer chich points out, I am sure that Rubenfeld did indeed get his characters mixed up. Where does Grace suddenly spring from? We’ve only read about Susie Merrill, who incidentally also has a baby. To sum up my impressions: a convoluted book which tries too hard to educate the reader to be an exciting or even involving murder story. I am pleased I read it, though, thank you NICNIC2.

Sent to eicuthbertson on 09.09.2008.
 

Journal Entry 16 by eicuthbertson from Burnaby, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Just received - looking forward to a 'good read'. Thanks. 

Journal Entry 17 by eicuthbertson from Burnaby, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Just received - looking forward to a 'good read'. Thanks. 

Journal Entry 18 by eicuthbertson from Burnaby, British Columbia Canada on Monday, August 10, 2009

Enjoyed the historical background in this mystery - New York and the intellectual world of Freud, Jung and others in 1909. The plot had lots of twists - the ending seemed a bit too neat though.

This book is now on its way to devon612 in Florida. 

Journal Entry 19 by devon612 from Sanford, Florida USA on Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Thank you eicuthbertson for the bookmark and postcard also!! Looking forward to reading this!

I really enjoyed this book, one of the few I've actually finished reading lately. I'm presently going to school for psychology so all the references to psychoanalysis were enjoyable to me.

Getting it ready to send to babsdotter. 

Journal Entry 20 by devon612 from Sanford, Florida USA on Sunday, September 13, 2009

Sending to babsdotter. Enjoy!! 

Journal Entry 21 by babsdotter from Sparta, Missouri USA on Monday, October 26, 2009

arrived safely. Thanks, Theresa. It's next on my list. 

Journal Entry 22 by babsdotter from Sparta, Missouri USA on Tuesday, December 01, 2009

very fun mystery. The factual parts about Freud, Jung, and New York in 1909 were very interesting.