House of Orphans
21 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by seethroughfaith from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Friday, January 4, 2008
Penguin Edition (2007)
Vivid and exciting ... Dunmore creates a beautiful sense of stillness ... she conveys a passion for Finland's icy landscape Observer
Synopsis
Finland, 1902, and the Russian Empire enforces a brutal policy to destroy Finland's freedom and force its people into submission.
Eeva, orphaned daughter of a failed revolutionary, also battles to find her independence and identity. Destitute when her father dies, she is sent away to a country orphanage, and then employed as servant to a widowed doctor, Thomas Eklund.
Set in dangerous, unfamiliar times which strangely echo our own, the story reveals how terrorism lies hidden within ordinary life, as rulers struggle to hold on to power. House of Orphans is a rich, brilliant story of love, history and change.(backcover)
I bought this simply because it's set in Finland at the turn of the last century. I don't think I've read any other Helen Dunmore, but she has won the orange prize, the McKitterick prize and was also shortlisted for the Whitbread novel of the year and Orange prize for fiction 2002.
I will offer this as a book ring here in Finland.
Vivid and exciting ... Dunmore creates a beautiful sense of stillness ... she conveys a passion for Finland's icy landscape Observer
Synopsis
Finland, 1902, and the Russian Empire enforces a brutal policy to destroy Finland's freedom and force its people into submission.
Eeva, orphaned daughter of a failed revolutionary, also battles to find her independence and identity. Destitute when her father dies, she is sent away to a country orphanage, and then employed as servant to a widowed doctor, Thomas Eklund.
Set in dangerous, unfamiliar times which strangely echo our own, the story reveals how terrorism lies hidden within ordinary life, as rulers struggle to hold on to power. House of Orphans is a rich, brilliant story of love, history and change.(backcover)
I bought this simply because it's set in Finland at the turn of the last century. I don't think I've read any other Helen Dunmore, but she has won the orange prize, the McKitterick prize and was also shortlisted for the Whitbread novel of the year and Orange prize for fiction 2002.
I will offer this as a book ring here in Finland.
Journal Entry 2 by seethroughfaith from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Sunday, January 6, 2008
This will become a Finnish bookring. (I'll edit as we go along)
seethroughfaith (Tku) started 9.1.08
Aspen (Tku)
Thalasse (Tku)
teddyke (Hki)
hippolein/ (Hki)
Niora (Joensuu)
Chania (Kokkola)
Em64 (Tre)
Savotar (Tku)
dotdot (after July)
Autumn 2008 - a EU ring will start
Dot-Dot (Finland)
Mallary (France) - my BC birthday buddy (corrected to amend spelling, sorry for the confusion!)
Dare to Believe (Italy)
Lindy Lou Mac (Italy)
Martjxox (Italy)
Pell (Italy)
Brujula(France)
KiwiinEngland (UK)
lucy-lemon (UK)
WigglyWoods (UK) can ship abroad if necessary
mazzlestar (UK)
Iagegu(UK)
Caroley (UK) willing to ship internationally <= here! Sept 09
MarcThomas (France) will ship within Europe
IWISHIWAS (UK) (willing to ship within Europe)
Seethroughfaith (Tku, Finland)
Thalasse (Tku)
teddyke (Hki)
hippolein/ (Hki)
Niora (Joensuu)
Chania (Kokkola)
Em64 (Tre)
Savotar (Tku)
dotdot (after July)
Autumn 2008 - a EU ring will start
Dot-Dot (Finland)
Dare to Believe (Italy)
Lindy Lou Mac (Italy)
Martjxox (Italy)
Pell (Italy)
Brujula(France)
KiwiinEngland (UK)
lucy-lemon (UK)
WigglyWoods (UK) can ship abroad if necessary
mazzlestar (UK)
Iagegu(UK)
Caroley (UK) willing to ship internationally <= here! Sept 09
MarcThomas (France) will ship within Europe
IWISHIWAS (UK) (willing to ship within Europe)
Seethroughfaith (Tku, Finland)
Journal Entry 3 by seethroughfaith from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Monday, January 7, 2008
I started House of Orphans this weekend and am throughly enjoying it.
I don't know Helen Dunmore's background -but if she doesn't have any Finnish background - she's done superb research on Finland in the early 1900s.
What I particular like is the juxtapositioning of the situation at the turn of last century for Swedish-speaking Finns, and Finnish speakers - and the appropriate mixing of names of cities (H:fors /Hki, Åbo/Turku) depending on who is speaking. It's also lovely to read Finnish sounding Christian names, and experience the thaw of winter and saunas through the eyes of the characters.
On p 27 there's a GREAT quote for BC!
She had her own candlestick. made of pewter, and she burned the candles in it until they were halfway down, and then she hid them in her drawer, and took a fresh candle fro the store cupboard. This way she would always have light to read by, even if the doctor changed his mind. Made me appreciate that 100 years on, in 2008, we don't have to worry about not having enough light to read by - how fortunate we are!
I don't know Helen Dunmore's background -but if she doesn't have any Finnish background - she's done superb research on Finland in the early 1900s.
What I particular like is the juxtapositioning of the situation at the turn of last century for Swedish-speaking Finns, and Finnish speakers - and the appropriate mixing of names of cities (H:fors /Hki, Åbo/Turku) depending on who is speaking. It's also lovely to read Finnish sounding Christian names, and experience the thaw of winter and saunas through the eyes of the characters.
On p 27 there's a GREAT quote for BC!
She had her own candlestick. made of pewter, and she burned the candles in it until they were halfway down, and then she hid them in her drawer, and took a fresh candle fro the store cupboard. This way she would always have light to read by, even if the doctor changed his mind. Made me appreciate that 100 years on, in 2008, we don't have to worry about not having enough light to read by - how fortunate we are!
Journal Entry 4 by seethroughfaith from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Wednesday, January 9, 2008
This is a really good read.
I enjoyed the first half (set in the country) a bit more than the second half (set in Helsinki) and was very surprised by the ending! (I re-read the last few chapters to check if I'd missed any clues!)
I don't want to write more because it will spoil the book for others. I found most of the characters very interesting and I'd love to know more of Magda's story!
One more quote to whet your appetite!
It was no good trying to sleep now. It was full daylight outside, anyway, and on summer nights Lauri never slept very long. He made up his sleep in the winter. I can soidentify with that.
The book ring can start soon. Sign up is by the end of Jan 08!
Part love story, part tragedy Indpendent on Sunday
ETA
in a later JE Savotar talks of Bobrikov. You can read more about him
here.
I enjoyed the first half (set in the country) a bit more than the second half (set in Helsinki) and was very surprised by the ending! (I re-read the last few chapters to check if I'd missed any clues!)
I don't want to write more because it will spoil the book for others. I found most of the characters very interesting and I'd love to know more of Magda's story!
One more quote to whet your appetite!
It was no good trying to sleep now. It was full daylight outside, anyway, and on summer nights Lauri never slept very long. He made up his sleep in the winter. I can soidentify with that.
The book ring can start soon. Sign up is by the end of Jan 08!
Part love story, part tragedy Indpendent on Sunday
ETA
in a later JE Savotar talks of Bobrikov. You can read more about him
here.
Journal Entry 5 by AspenYard from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Thursday, January 10, 2008
Thanks for bringing the book today!!
The author has spent couple of years in Finland, teaching. As she is non-Finnish, I expect she therefore (maybe) has different view on history and happenings in Finland. I'm pretty curious about this book.
The author has spent couple of years in Finland, teaching. As she is non-Finnish, I expect she therefore (maybe) has different view on history and happenings in Finland. I'm pretty curious about this book.
Journal Entry 6 by AspenYard from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Wednesday, January 16, 2008
I got hooked after couple of chapters, started to wait what'll happen next, got even thrilled in some places. Very nice quotes and "conclusions" and very cleverly chosen timeframe for the book, in the middle of all kinds of dramatic historical happenings in Finland. Sometimes I was thinking, is it possible that people had such thoughts 100 years ago, sometimes everything seemed so similar to what's going on now - I wonder if anything has actually changed in this world.
I wish there'd be similar politically rebellious moods/movements nowadays, too, against some stupidities in this country; but no, today's people are so obidient and nice :)
I liked many characters, but some of them had kind of disgusting sides, but so realistic anyway. Funniest thing was that people saw things so differently, believing to be right, even though they were completely wrong, and some of them were so easily condemning "different" behaviour.
I suppose I'll finish this book within couple of days, and can forward this already on Saturday...
Edit 17.1.2008: I managed to finish this, or actually I was "forced" to finish this (that badly hooked, you see), and this will be book #4 in Keep them moving challenge 2008.
Edit 19.1.2008: Unfortunately I forgot to bring this book along today, hope to manage forwarding following week.
Journal Entry 7 by -solaria- from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Thursday, January 24, 2008
Received this today, thanks Aspen! I was curious so I already read the first 30 pages. The story seems to be well written and intriguing!
Journal Entry 8 by -solaria- from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Monday, February 18, 2008
Like seethroughfaith and Aspen72, I enjoyed this novel as well. The beginning of the 1900's is such an interesting era in Finland's history, and Dunmore seemed to capture it well. The only thing I found strange was the way the Finnish people used each other's names while discussing ("You've never been to Helsinki, have you, Matti?") That's a bit un-Finnish. :-) My favourite character was the doctor Thomas, Eeva remained a mystery to me.
The book was very easy to read, and I fell in love with Dunmore's writing style. I wish I could achieve the same! She is suberb in creating athmosphere and describing moods and surroundings, including the spring weather. Now that I think about it, actually very little happened in the book. The main thing was not action and movement, but moments and details. Very interesting reading experience.
Here's one of my favourite little moments:
When she'd first stood in the doctor's kitchen she almost couldn't remember what it was like to walk around a room and hear only the sounds of her own body, her own movement and voice. She raised her arms above her head, and let them fall. She stretched them as wide as she could, pointing her fingers until they ached. Nobody saw. Nobody asked what she was doing.
I'll mail the book today to Hippolein.
The book was very easy to read, and I fell in love with Dunmore's writing style. I wish I could achieve the same! She is suberb in creating athmosphere and describing moods and surroundings, including the spring weather. Now that I think about it, actually very little happened in the book. The main thing was not action and movement, but moments and details. Very interesting reading experience.
Here's one of my favourite little moments:
When she'd first stood in the doctor's kitchen she almost couldn't remember what it was like to walk around a room and hear only the sounds of her own body, her own movement and voice. She raised her arms above her head, and let them fall. She stretched them as wide as she could, pointing her fingers until they ached. Nobody saw. Nobody asked what she was doing.
I'll mail the book today to Hippolein.
Arrived today in the mail... we'll do our best to read it soon!
Thanks seethroughfaith for offering this book as a ring ;-)
Thanks seethroughfaith for offering this book as a ring ;-)
book read now, will go over to hippolein.
Very interesting theme as I'm ashamed to say I don't know all that much about Finnish history, but of course there are many points which is not at all only about that particular time and not just Finland (&Russia)... I found it was well written, and it made me interested in having a look at other books by Helen Dunmoore as well. The author is using a lot of "inner monologue" (I translated this term literally from German!) and not a lot of dialogue. So you get to know the thoughts and feelings of a few characters, & as I think at that time Finnish people must have been still more taciturn than now, and then it's also partly set in a small town (& the doctor lives outside the town...), so I find this technic gives you some of an idea of the "athmospehere"...
Great written book about "old" history in Finland, the way it's described makes you want to have a closer-up look at what really happened during those days in Finland. Would certainly advise the book to other persons, was a nice read that makes you anyway think about things!
ps. book leaves today for Niora ;-) just noticed have address already!
ps. book leaves today for Niora ;-) just noticed have address already!
Journal Entry 13 by 
Niora
from Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo / Norra Savolax Finland on Friday, March 14, 2008
Niora from Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo / Norra Savolax Finland on Friday, March 14, 2008
Arrived in the mail this morning, thanks hippolein and seethroughfaith! I'll get into it as soon as I've finished the library(!) book I'm currently reading.
Journal Entry 14 by Niora from Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo / Norra Savolax Finland on Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Niora from Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo / Norra Savolax Finland on Wednesday, March 19, 2008
It's always intriguing to read fiction (and non-fiction) about Finland written by non-Finns, and rare too, for me anyway. And a historical novel like this I've never come across before. I too would like to know how Dunmore came to write about Finland - I think I read somewhere that she has worked in Finland for some short period of her life or something like that, but I don't really know anything about it. She certainly seems to know the literal Finnish expressions for various things and uses direct English translations of them instead of the actual English expression, which makes for a funny verbal effect from time to time.
This is an interesting novel about different people living in uncertain times: the Russification period in the Finnish history in the early 20th century. I liked how many different (and probably more or less authentic) points of view it covered, but I did have some trouble "believing" both in the characters being Finnish and them living a hundred years ago. Somehow they always came across to me a bit too modern in their views and knowledge and, I don't know, just none too Finnish by their basic nature and way of talking, even if many of the characters were Swedish-speaking Finns.
Thanks for the ring, seethroughfaith! I'll mail the book tomorrow to Chania.
Update (March 20): in the mail.
This is an interesting novel about different people living in uncertain times: the Russification period in the Finnish history in the early 20th century. I liked how many different (and probably more or less authentic) points of view it covered, but I did have some trouble "believing" both in the characters being Finnish and them living a hundred years ago. Somehow they always came across to me a bit too modern in their views and knowledge and, I don't know, just none too Finnish by their basic nature and way of talking, even if many of the characters were Swedish-speaking Finns.
Thanks for the ring, seethroughfaith! I'll mail the book tomorrow to Chania.
Update (March 20): in the mail.
Journal Entry 15 by 
Chania
from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Got it! I don't want to read the journal entries just yet, I will read the book first. Looks interesting, though!
Journal Entry 16 by Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Monday, April 7, 2008
Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Monday, April 7, 2008
I liked the book, yes, but somehow I even waited more of it. At first it was quite strange because I kept thinking how this sentence and this sentence would be in Finnish - probably because it is not so common for me to read a book about Finns and Finland in another language. But after a while I got over it and got to enjoy the book. The nature and the seasons - the description was really good and felt real, and somehow I was left with the desire to know more about the future of the main characters. So, all in all, a good but not exellent reading experience. Thanks Seethroughfaith, I'll try to get Em64's address soon!
The book arrived yesterday. Haven't got any other ring books at the moment so it shouldn't take long to get started.
I have very mixed feelings about the book; I kind of liked it but then again at times I didn't like it all. The story was quite interesting but I found most of the characters more or less unsympathetic. It took a while to get used to Finns speaking English, it felt weird. The historical setting was interesting, though. The ending was bit of a disappointment. It was an interesting reading, even if I was not overly impressed.
I'll pm dotdot to see if she wants to have it even though it is not yet July :-)
EDIT 28.4.2008: dotdot wanted to switch places with somebody else in the ring so I'm sending the book to savotar today.
I'll pm dotdot to see if she wants to have it even though it is not yet July :-)
EDIT 28.4.2008: dotdot wanted to switch places with somebody else in the ring so I'm sending the book to savotar today.
Journal Entry 19 by Savotar from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The book arrived safely today. Thank you Em64 for sending it and seethroughfaith for the bookring! I should be ready with the book before July when dotdot is ready to read it.
Journal Entry 20 by Savotar from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Monday, June 2, 2008
This was a strange book. I wonder if anyone who doesn't know the Finnish history can get anything out of this. Ok, if someone likes the story, it might do the trick. You should have studied quite a bit of Finnish history to understand who Bobrikov (why this Finnish spelling in an English book GRRRR!) or Alexandra Kollontai are.
The atmosphere in this book is strange. It doesn't feel like Finland, it's rather like some weird country without connections to the rest of the world. Maybe that's Finland for the writer. :)
Speaking of the writer, she hasn't done her homework. In 1902 people living in towns knew where milk and potatoes come from. In Finland you don't call anyone a country pumpkin. And Russian people don't have difficulties in pronouncing Finnish r-sound. It's the problem many English-speakers have, but not Russians!
I don't know to whom to recommend this book if I had to. Maybe to someone who likes stories and doesn't care if the facts are right or not.
The atmosphere in this book is strange. It doesn't feel like Finland, it's rather like some weird country without connections to the rest of the world. Maybe that's Finland for the writer. :)
Speaking of the writer, she hasn't done her homework. In 1902 people living in towns knew where milk and potatoes come from. In Finland you don't call anyone a country pumpkin. And Russian people don't have difficulties in pronouncing Finnish r-sound. It's the problem many English-speakers have, but not Russians!
I don't know to whom to recommend this book if I had to. Maybe to someone who likes stories and doesn't care if the facts are right or not.
Halvast brought this to me from Suomenlinna. Thank you, seethroughfaith.
I'm sorry I've kept this book for so long. Thank you for your patience, Seethroughfaith. I tried and tried but just couldn't get in to this. Perhaps it was inaccuracy in history that irritated me. It felt like this book wasn't really set in Finland. I'l give House of Orphans another try later, if I happen to get a copy.
Sent to Mallary today.
Journal Entry 24 by Mallary from Ginestas, Languedoc-Roussillon France on Saturday, September 20, 2008
Thanks so much for sending this, I can't wait to read it. I know next-to-nothing about Finland's history so I hoping to learn something!
I am just in the process of moving (next week) but I will try not to hold this bookring up. As soon as I have finished my present book I will get onto this one. I am pming Dare to Believe today to ask for her address as I may not have internet access when I finish this book.
I am just in the process of moving (next week) but I will try not to hold this bookring up. As soon as I have finished my present book I will get onto this one. I am pming Dare to Believe today to ask for her address as I may not have internet access when I finish this book.
Journal Entry 25 by Mallary from Ginestas, Languedoc-Roussillon France on Tuesday, September 30, 2008
I loved this book so much, I didn't want it to end. I knew nothing about Finland before reading this, for example I didn't know there were two names for Helsinki. I didn't know there were Swedish Finns who don't speak Finnish(sorry, I guess this is obvious if you live there) and I didn't know about the Russification back in the early 1900s. Anyway, even if some of the facts were not really correct it has encouraged me to learn more about this wonderful country.
Thanks for including me in the bookring.
I pmed Dare2Believe a week ago for her address but still haven't received it. I will pm again and if I don't hear back I will send this onto LindyLouMac because I have her address already!
Thanks for including me in the bookring.
I pmed Dare2Believe a week ago for her address but still haven't received it. I will pm again and if I don't hear back I will send this onto LindyLouMac because I have her address already!
I pmed dare2believe twice but never heard back. The book has also been delayed with me due to moving house but I am now sending it to Lindyloumac as soon as I have checked with her that that is OK.
13th Nov- edit to add: book was posted a week ago to Lindyloumac.
13th Nov- edit to add: book was posted a week ago to Lindyloumac.
Arrived safely today thanks Mallary, also for the postcard of the area you have recently moved to. One of my favourite French regions.
I will try and contact Dare to Believe again when I have read this, but coincidentally this Bookcrosser dropped out of another ring we were both participating in recently. It seems they are maybe no longer interested in rings and rays due to a change in circumstances.
Update: As no response from Dare to Believe I am assuming they are not interested in this one either.
Anyway I am looking forward to reading this, having glanced at the reviews here they seem to be all 7* with one 4*. It is set in a period of history and in a country I know very little about.
I will try and contact Dare to Believe again when I have read this, but coincidentally this Bookcrosser dropped out of another ring we were both participating in recently. It seems they are maybe no longer interested in rings and rays due to a change in circumstances.
Update: As no response from Dare to Believe I am assuming they are not interested in this one either.
Anyway I am looking forward to reading this, having glanced at the reviews here they seem to be all 7* with one 4*. It is set in a period of history and in a country I know very little about.
Although this book is titled 'House of Orphans', we actually meet very few orphans, in fact only Eeva, female protagonist of the story, and Anna Lusa, who runs the orphanage. The orphanage is just used to set the scene for the story of Eeva because it is to the orphanage that she is sent when her father, a revolutionary and her only family dies.
When she is older the orphanage places her in service with a widowed doctor who finds himself falling in love with her. So he is somewhat relieved when she decides to return to live in her home town of Helsinki, to be near her childhood sweetheart Lauri. Now a grown man himself he has also become involved in the fight for freedom against the Russians.
An opportunity for me to learn about somewhere I knew nothing about historically it is an absorbing account of life in Finland in the early 1900s. I preferred the earlier part of the book which is centred on Eeva’s childhood growing up in the Finnish countryside and must admit to finding myself less interested in the account of the political turmoil once the story transferred to Helsinki.
A compassionate story of love and loneliness set against an interesting background.
I have already heard from Martjxox so this will in the post within the next few days. Maybe you or Pell could try Dare To Believe again after reading before it leaves Italy?
When she is older the orphanage places her in service with a widowed doctor who finds himself falling in love with her. So he is somewhat relieved when she decides to return to live in her home town of Helsinki, to be near her childhood sweetheart Lauri. Now a grown man himself he has also become involved in the fight for freedom against the Russians.
An opportunity for me to learn about somewhere I knew nothing about historically it is an absorbing account of life in Finland in the early 1900s. I preferred the earlier part of the book which is centred on Eeva’s childhood growing up in the Finnish countryside and must admit to finding myself less interested in the account of the political turmoil once the story transferred to Helsinki.
A compassionate story of love and loneliness set against an interesting background.
I have already heard from Martjxox so this will in the post within the next few days. Maybe you or Pell could try Dare To Believe again after reading before it leaves Italy?
Journal Entry 29 by LindyLouMac at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 24, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (11/26/2008 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
En route to Martjxox
En route to Martjxox
got it yesterday!!! following one other ring! Thank you!!!
Journal Entry 31 by Martjxox at -- via posta o passaggio a mano --, Umbria Italy on Monday, January 12, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (1/12/2009 UTC) at -- via posta o passaggio a mano --, Umbria Italy
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
sent the book on wednesday morning. pell should be getting it either today or anyday now! sorry i forgot to post the release note!!!
sent the book on wednesday morning. pell should be getting it either today or anyday now! sorry i forgot to post the release note!!!
Book arrived today, thank you martjxox for sending it on. I am reading a ring at the moment so will start this one as soon as I have finished. Thank you too Seethroughfaith for starting this ring.
Although I dont know much about the history of Finland, I found the beginning quite a good plot, however, we really didnt have much written about the orphans, also I felt the author lost enthusiasm towards the end of the story and like one of the other journals I thought maybe I had missed out on a chapter or two. I have posted the book today to France and I do hope the next reader enjoys it more than I did.
The book arrived safely in my mailbox this morning! thank you!
Journal Entry 35 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I have mixed feelings about this novel and would tend to agree with Pell.
Some of the descriptions of the winter and the summer in Finland were really nice, but the title doesn't seem to have much to do with the rest of the story.
Thank you for including me in this ring, seethroughfaith!
Now, on to the next reader!
Some of the descriptions of the winter and the summer in Finland were really nice, but the title doesn't seem to have much to do with the rest of the story.
Thank you for including me in this ring, seethroughfaith!
Now, on to the next reader!
Released 14 yrs ago (4/27/2009 UTC) at
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
mailed to kiwiinengland!
mailed to kiwiinengland!
Three days from France to Dublin - now that's an impressive mail system.
I will read this after another ring I have. Thanks for starting this seethroughfaith, and thanks to Brujula and other participants for sending it on.
I will read this after another ring I have. Thanks for starting this seethroughfaith, and thanks to Brujula and other participants for sending it on.
The historical setting of the book and the description of the weather changes was good, but it was an effort to finish it. I found this book slow, and the characters rather uninteresting.
I think the title "House of Orphans" has little to do with the actual orphanage and more to do with the fact that Finland was being ruled by a different country and not treated as an individual nation(a direct comparison with orphans being raised by different people and not being treated as individuals.)
I think the title "House of Orphans" has little to do with the actual orphanage and more to do with the fact that Finland was being ruled by a different country and not treated as an individual nation(a direct comparison with orphans being raised by different people and not being treated as individuals.)
Journal Entry 39 by kiwiinengland at Manchester, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (5/16/2009 UTC) at Manchester, Greater Manchester United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted to the next on the list. I hope you enjoy this book.
Posted to the next on the list. I hope you enjoy this book.
Oh my gosh, I thought I had already journalled this book but apparently not! It's safe and sound here in Wales, and I'm currently about half way through, and I'm really enjoying it so far.
Arrived this week, thanks Lucy I'm looking forward to reading this.
Just waiting on an address so that I can post this one on, Mazzlestar has asked to be skipped so I'm pming Iagegu next.
update : I have tried to pm Iagegu but there's no pm link available so I'll post off to Caroley who is next on the list.
update : I have tried to pm Iagegu but there's no pm link available so I'll post off to Caroley who is next on the list.
Journal Entry 43 by Caroley from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Received today thanks.
Journal Entry 44 by Caroley from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, September 5, 2009
I've just finished this and really liked it. I enjoyed learning a little about this piece of Finland's history, and thoroughly enjoyed the story also.
I loved the character of Eeva and thought it interesting how you learned more about the character of Anna-Liisa as the book went on.
Thanks for sharing this Seethroughfaith.
I've PMd MarcThomas and hope to get the book posted on asap.
I loved the character of Eeva and thought it interesting how you learned more about the character of Anna-Liisa as the book went on.
Thanks for sharing this Seethroughfaith.
I've PMd MarcThomas and hope to get the book posted on asap.
Got it in the mail today. I'll read it as soon as I've finished my current reading.
Thanks seethroughfaith for organising the ring and thanks Caroley for sending it from England.
Cheers all!
Thanks seethroughfaith for organising the ring and thanks Caroley for sending it from England.
Cheers all!
I quite liked the book but somehow I found it difficult to get into the story. I thought the author takes too much time before getting us really into the story. We never really know if it's the story of the doctor, or of Eeva, or of the Finnish independance. Really, it's quite a mess in there. But rather enjoyable overall.
PMing IWISHIWAS for the address.
PMing IWISHIWAS for the address.
Journal Entry 47 by MarcThomas at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (10/6/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to the next reader. Enjoy!
On its way to the next reader. Enjoy!
Journal Entry 48 by IWISHIWAS from Stockton-On-Tees, County Durham United Kingdom on Monday, October 12, 2009
Arrived today, just as I finished a book! Will get started later today.
Journal Entry 49 by IWISHIWAS from Stockton-On-Tees, County Durham United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 20, 2009
I found this to be a book of two halves. The first I liked exploring the relationship of the Doctor with Eeva. The second part of the book I found just didn't hold my interest and was almost boring. I was tempted to give up before the end. I really wasn't that bothered what happened but managed to get through it and was disappointed that it was rather a weak ending. Contacting Seethroughfaith to see where the book goes now.
Journal Entry 50 by seethroughfaith from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Thursday, October 29, 2009
This arrived home safely today. Thanks to all who participated in the book ring.
