Journal Entry 1 by sintra from Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Monday, January 14, 2008

The young women of Nightingale House are there to learn to nurse and comfort the suffering. But when one of the students plays patient in a demonstration of nursing skills, she is horribly, brutally killed. Another student dies equally mysteriously and it is up to Adam Dalgliesh to unmask a killer who has decided to prescribe murder as a cure for all ills. 

Journal Entry 2 by sintra from Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Saturday, January 19, 2008

Another enjoyable Dalgliesh mystery by P.D. James. Even though I'm not a big reader of crime fiction (apart from Ian Rankin's Rebus series) I got hooked on the Dalgliesh books after a symposium with P.D. James at my university department. What I particularly like about her books is that they are well-written and a little old-fashioned in a nice way (one of the reasons being of course the fact that the earlier books in the series are quite old - I don't think you'll easily find a secretary operating a switchboard with a plug nowadays...). She also makes a great effort to create the atmosphere of the location of the crime, in this case an old hospital building where privacy is a rare luxury. But although her accurate descriptions sometimes take the focus from the investigation a little, this was still an enjoyable read. A bit like a cup of good, strong English tea with scones... ;-) 

Journal Entry 3 by sintra from Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Thursday, January 31, 2008

This is an international bookring! Please PM me with your shipping preferences if you'd like to join.

List of participants so far (the order may still change slightly depending on shipping preferences):

Bookworm-lady, Spain (Europe)
sota48, Norway (anywhere)
NMReader, USA (USA)
carrie1, USA (anywhere)
hippolein, Finland (Europe)
haley79, Germany

...and back to me.


I'm not a big fan of a strict reading time limit since I prefer a comment on the book to a hasty "Sent on unread", however, if you feel you need more than say 6 weeks to read and send on this book please edit your journal entry accordingly to let the other participants and me know the bookring isn't lost or stalled. As I already mentioned I very much appreciate your comments though you don't have to, of course.
Most of all: Have fun! :-)
 

Journal Entry 4 by Bookworm-lady from Madrid, Madrid Spain on Tuesday, February 26, 2008

I picked it up from the post office this evening; it arrived while I wasn't at home (which is most of the day!)

However, I am looking forward to reading it again...

So thank you for sharing, Sintra!

 

Journal Entry 5 by Bookworm-lady from Madrid, Madrid Spain on Sunday, July 06, 2008

I am currently reading it, and will ask for Sota48's address...
Thanks for sharing!
Eva 

Journal Entry 6 by Bookworm-lady from Madrid, Madrid Spain on Wednesday, July 16, 2008

One of P.D. James' best; I think it was the first one I read with Adam Dalgliesh years ago (before he even met Troy!)
This is beautifully written, besides having a great plot full of twists and red herrings.
All characters are very well-depicted, and they really stand out, and are clearly differentiated.
A surprising ending, nevertheless quite logical.
Thanks for sharing this, Sintra;it will soon be on its way to Sota48...
Eva 

Journal Entry 7 by Bookworm-lady from Madrid, Madrid Spain on Thursday, July 24, 2008

Sent last evening to Sota48, in Norway,
Enjoy!
Eva 

Journal Entry 8 by sota48 from Hokksund, Buskerud fylke Norway on Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The book arrived today. Thanks! I'm looking forward to this. I have half an Agatha Christie to finish before I start reading. 

Journal Entry 9 by sota48 from Hokksund, Buskerud fylke Norway on Sunday, August 10, 2008

This is one of the best Dalgliesh-novels I've read. I agree with sintra in the view of the oldfashioned atmosphere and I like the painstaking details with which the location and the murders are described. That is what makes James such a brilliant author and she gives you a feeling that you have all the information you need to solve the crime yourself. But as always it took an Adam Dalgliesh to do it.

I really enjoyed this novel. I have NMReader's adress so I'll send it along tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 10 by sota48 at sent by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, August 10, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (8/11/2008 UTC) at sent by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book is on it's way to NMReader by air mail. 

Journal Entry 11 by NMReader from Herndon, Virginia USA on Sunday, August 17, 2008

This arrived while I was out of town on vacation I am looking forward to reading. 

Journal Entry 12 by NMReader at Albuquerque, New Mexico USA on Sunday, August 24, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (8/24/2008 UTC) at Albuquerque, New Mexico USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

When i started reading the back cover I relaized I had read this book previously. Since I have the next person's address it will be on its way to them.

Will mail after work today

Delivery Confirmation Number: 0308 0070 0000 7605 7197
 

Journal Entry 13 by carrie1 from Crossville, Tennessee USA on Monday, September 01, 2008

Got it! Will try to read ASAP... 

Journal Entry 14 by carrie1 from Crossville, Tennessee USA on Thursday, September 11, 2008

Good book! It is now on its way to hippolein in Finland. Thanks for letting me be a part of this bookring :D 

Journal Entry 15 by hippolein from Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Thursday, September 18, 2008

PD James arrived safely in Helsinki today.
Only 4 books before it, will try to do my best...

Thanks a lot carrie1 for sending it all the way to Finland and sintra for the bookring! 

Journal Entry 16 by hippolein from Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Monday, October 06, 2008

Wonderful P.D. James as always. The people are so vividly described that you can almost see them in front of your eyes, the actions are so surprisingly that you wonder how they have been invented and the end is a surprise as you would expect it to be. Certainly worth reading, even though it took me more than one week to finish it!
 

Journal Entry 17 by hippolein at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, October 06, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (10/6/2008 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book continues its travel today, now to Germany, Stuttgart.
Hope it arrives there fast and safe.
Included a small surprise to come in the Holiday Gift Giving atmosphere! 

Journal Entry 18 by haley79 from Bensheim, Hessen Germany on Friday, October 24, 2008

The book arrived already some time ago, yet I've been busy moving to another city. So please excuse the delay of the journal entry.

I took the book on a long train ride, knowing it would be a good and diverting read. And I wasn't disappointed. The story was well developed, the characters diverse and vivid as always. What I especially love about P.D. James' writing, is her most detailed and accurate description of the different characters, of time and society.

Just wonderful are her descriptions of surgeons ("I've never met yet met a surgeon who wasn't convinced that he ranked only one degree lower than Almigty God.") and men ("That's what gives you your strength, this ability to devote yourselves entirely to your own interest"). One of the sisters' opinion of course and not mine. ;-) Yet a nice description that made me grin.

A wonderful book! Thank you, sintra, for sharing.