Journal Entry 1 by LadyIndigo from Orange, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, January 06, 2008

from google books:

'This powerful and affecting novel demonstrates that there are as many truths to a story as there are people to tell it.' -Publishers Weekly

Jane had always lived in somebody's shadow. Escaping a childhood of abuse by marrying oceanographer Oliver Jones, she finds herself taking second place to his increasingly successful career. However, when her daughter Rebecca is similarly treated, Jane's dramatic stand takes them all by surprise.

Leaving Oliver and his whale tapes behind in San Diego, Jane and Rebecca set out to drive across America to Uncle Joley and the sanctuary of the Massachusetts apple orchard where he works. Joley directs Jane across the United States in a series of letters waiting for her in designated post offices. Each letter gives concise directions to the next post office; each letter provides Jane with a chance to reflect on her forgotten past.

Oliver, used to tracking male humpback whales across vast oceans, now has the task of tracking his wife across a continent. To do so he must learn to see the world-and even himself-through her eyes.

 

Journal Entry 2 by LadyIndigo from Orange, New South Wales Australia on Monday, March 17, 2008

I read this book a couple of years on the recommendation of a friend in USA ~ I got to read several of Picoult's books before she got really popular in Australia and the library loan-reserves lists were not long.. in fact her books back then were on the shelves more than they were out

This is one of her earlier books.
Picoult's style was very fresh in this book - I liked the alternating points of view and the way she structured each character's story in terms of time. In this book it was very different and unusual - also the fonts were different for each character. (In subsequent books I am not finding this altering points of view interesting anymore..)

Uncle Jolie and his letter were interesting to follow.
I did think at the time she could have done a little more in terms of character development with Jane (the mother) - how her childhood affects her and the choices she makes; there is an attempt but it is not complete and it would be helpful for people who may have had similar backgrounds in real life to show effects in more detail and for those who have had wonderful childhood experiences fuller detail might help them understand their friends, colleagues in a different light.

Overall one of her better books - rating between 8 and 9 for me...

Happy reading ;-) 

Journal Entry 3 by LadyIndigo at sent by mail in RABCK, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Monday, March 17, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (3/16/2008 UTC) at sent by mail in RABCK, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:


sending on to a special bookcrosser (rabck)

happy reading

;-) 

Journal Entry 4 by Blundery on Saturday, March 29, 2008

WooHoo - As I lovingly gaze over this book I am filled with gratitude. thanks so much LadyIndigo for finding me a copy of this book - I have wanted to read it for so long. Although, did you notice how once you had ordered it and mentioned it to me, copies began appearing all over the bookshop shelves? It is so typical to look for something for so long, then once it is found, a hundred more just like it appear :-)

My TBR pile is almost to the roof!!!!