Journal Entry 1 by cat207 from Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Friday, January 18, 2008

'Michel knows nothing about love when he marries the gentle Marceline out of duty to his father. They travel to Tunisia for their honeymoon, where Michel becomes very ill. During his recovery, he meets a young Arab boy, whose radiant health and beauty captivate him. This is an awakening for him both sexually and morally and, in seeking to live according to his own desires, Michel discovers a new freedom. But, as he also finds, freedom can be a burden.' 

Journal Entry 2 by cat207 from Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Thursday, February 14, 2008

Not exactly riveting stuff, but some beautiful descriptions. 

Journal Entry 3 by cat207 from Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Thursday, February 14, 2008

A '1001 ...' Book going travelling.

pammykn - US

arugh48187 - INDIA

kiyoitsukikage - POL (prefers EU)

NICNIC2 - UK (asked to be skipped)
stubee - UK
KT-J - UK

No special rules or conditions - just manners! 

Journal Entry 4 by cat207 from Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Friday, March 07, 2008

Off to pammykn in US in Monday's mail. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 5 by pammykn from Decatur, Alabama USA on Thursday, March 20, 2008

Thanks -- look forward to reading. 

Journal Entry 6 by pammykn from Decatur, Alabama USA on Monday, April 07, 2008

04/14/08 -- Sending off to arugh48187 today w/ Drop City.
Thanks for sharing this book. I will be sending to arugh48187 soon. I am reading Drop City now and will send both books at once.

04/06/08
TITLE/AUTHOR: The Immoralist by Andre Gide
RATING: 3.5/C+
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Fiction/1902 -- current translation 2000
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Stand Alone
TIME/PLACE: Early 1900's/France/Tunisa
CHARACTERS: Michel
FIRST LINES: My dear friends, I knew I could rely on your loyalty.

COMMENTS: 03/20/08 rec a bookcrossing ring/ray Michel marries a young woman Marceline out of duty to his father. He does love her but soon discovers not in the all-encompassing way. His proclivity is for a relationship w/ a man rather than a woman. OK, 

Journal Entry 7 by arugh48187 from Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Received in my mailbox today. 

Journal Entry 8 by arugh48187 from Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Wednesday, June 18, 2008

When I first read the Introduction, I was very afraid. It says that Andre Gide was a friend of Oscar Wilde and I have not had good experiences reading Oscar's books. So, I thought that if Gide wrote anything like Oscar, I was in for another interminable read. I was wrong. Gide is a very eloquent writer. His prose is lyrical and the pictures he paints are to be admired. The story was lacking a bit, but that is the only real complaint I had.

Thanks for sharing. 

Journal Entry 9 by arugh48187 at Post Office in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Postal Release -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (6/18/2008 UTC) at Post Office in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Postal Release -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed off to kiyoitsukikage who is next on the list. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 10 by kiyoitsukikage from Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, June 30, 2008

It's here - thank you so much for posting overseas ^^ 

Journal Entry 11 by kiyoitsukikage from Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Hmm..It's hard for me to say something about this book. The main character is a weird person... I don't like characters that hesitate too much between two juxtaposed vantage points/ways of life.
The book was an OK read. Thank you for sharing.

==Posted Sept 2== 

Journal Entry 12 by stubee from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Thanks kiyoitsukikage for sending this to us from Poland, and thank you again Cat207 for sharing another book with us (do you want this back when we’ve read it?).

KT-J and I have a few rings above this one but will hopefully get onto it very shortly.
 

Journal Entry 13 by KT-J from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Thursday, October 02, 2008

As I have just finished my current read (coincidentally another of cat207's bookrings!) and Stubee is in the middle of a book, I have started this today. 

Journal Entry 14 by KT-J from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Friday, October 03, 2008

I was surprised at how quickly I read this book. I enjoyed the descriptions and I found Michel's self-discovery and his conflicting desires interesting with the questions this raised about duty and morality. But I really didn't like him as a character and if I'd been one of the three friends that he'd asked to travel for miles to listen to his story I'd have been really annoyed!

Thanks cat207 for sharing another 1001 book. I've passed this back to Stubee to read next. 

Journal Entry 15 by stubee from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Friday, October 03, 2008

Thanks KT-J I'll read this once I've finished my current read.

EDIT (13/10/2008): Started. 

Journal Entry 16 by stubee from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 15, 2008

I actually quite liked Michel’s story of self discovery, I don’t think I had a particular liking or disliking of Michel but I found it a fascinating read. Gide’s descriptive prose as others have said is wonderful and I found this a difficult book to put down! (A three day turn around is good for me! Even considering its shortness).

Thanks once again Cat207 for sharing another 1001 book with us.

This will is reserved for the 1001 UK Book Box hosted by cally-c

Next up: Muriel Spark - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
 

Journal Entry 17 by lucy-lemon from Llandudno, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, March 09, 2009

Journal Entry 18 by lucy-lemon from Llandudno, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, March 23, 2009

I really, really liked this book! I thought it was much better than Strait is the Gate, which is definitely a good thing. I thought the descriptions of Tunisia were lovely, and liked the characters. Poor Marceline!

I will be sending this off as a bookring:
Danielle23 - UK (UK)
Caroley - UK (Intl)
WigglyWoods - UK (Intl)
rebeccaljames - US (US)
ealasaidmae - US (Intl)
Pellu - Finland (EU)
Jozebedee - UK (UK) 

Journal Entry 19 by Danielle23 from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Arrived today, thanks Lucy. I got your note too and you are more than welcome, hope you had a lovely birthday xx 

Journal Entry 20 by Danielle23 from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Wow, I really enjoyed this book and read it within my breaks at work and on the way home. Was a little anti-climatic IMO but I really enjoyed it. Will be passing it along very soon xx 

Journal Entry 21 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Friday, April 03, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (4/3/2009 UTC) at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to Caroley, the next in the ray xx 

Journal Entry 22 by Caroley from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, April 06, 2009

Received today thanks! 

Journal Entry 23 by Caroley from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, April 09, 2009

This was definitely much more readable than Strait is the gate. I'm so glad I didn't let that one put me off reading any more of Gide's books.
The descriptions of the places they visited were beautiful but I wasn't at all keen on Michael. Self-discovery or not, he was very selfish, I thought.

Thanks for starting the ring Lucy. I have Wiggly's address so will get this sent off asap. 

Journal Entry 24 by Caroley at Birmingham, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Sunday, April 12, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (4/12/2009 UTC) at Birmingham, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posted to Wigglywoods 

Journal Entry 25 by WigglyWoods from Chorley, Lancashire United Kingdom on Sunday, April 26, 2009

Received from Caroley thanks - sorry it's taken me a while to journal receipt, my internet access has been down. 

Journal Entry 26 by WigglyWoods from Chorley, Lancashire United Kingdom on Monday, July 20, 2009

Posting off to rebeccaljames this week, I too enjoyed this much more than Strait is the Gate, thanks for the opportunity to read it Lucy. 

Journal Entry 27 by WigglyWoods from Chorley, Lancashire United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Posted off to rebeccajames today. 

Journal Entry 28 by rebeccaljames from Cincinnati, Ohio USA on Monday, August 03, 2009

I received this book today. I am looking forward to reading it. I will get to it as soon as possible and then pass it along to the next person. Thank you for sharing. 

Journal Entry 29 by ealasaidmae from New Orleans, Louisiana USA on Monday, January 25, 2010

It's here and, as usual, it's either drought or deluge! This arrived today with another ring book, bringing me to a total of three in my possession. It may take me a little while to get through them but I promise to be diligent. 

Journal Entry 30 by ealasaidmae from New Orleans, Louisiana USA on Friday, February 19, 2010

Once I started this it didn't take long to read at all. Michel isn't really a likable character but he's certainly an interesting one, and even sympathetic, I think. He's doomed to be disappointed in his search because he isn't strong enough to handle what he wants. I find that very sad. I have a friend in Tunisia and I've always wanted to go visit her. After reading this I want to go *now*. 

Journal Entry 31 by ealasaidmae at St. Albans, West Virginia USA on Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/23/2010 UTC) at St. Albans, West Virginia USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I mailed this yesterday to Pellu in Finland. 

Journal Entry 32 by Pellu from St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg (Federal City) Russia on Monday, March 15, 2010

The book is here in Lappeenranta. Seems interesting and fits well to the Countries and Continents -reading challenge we have in Finnish forum.

Thank you ealasaidmae for the nice postcard that arrived with the book. 

Journal Entry 33 by Pellu from St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg (Federal City) Russia on Sunday, April 18, 2010

Sorry for taking so long with such a short book. I have little mixed feeling about the story. Somehow it felt little boring but in the same time there was lots of interesting thoughts. The main character is told to be fascinated about everything evil, but somehow it’s hard to see his interests and actions very bad. For example when the main character poaches on his own land it seems more like breaking some cultural code than truly evil thing to do.

I will send this book as soon as I get address from Jozebedee, but I’m afraid it will take some time to travel if the aircraft isn’t working. Thank you lucy-lemon again for organising an interesting ring! 

Journal Entry 34 by Jozebedee from Nantwich, Cheshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Thanks to Pellu for sending me on the book :) And thanks to Lucy for another 1001 read! 

Journal Entry 35 by Jozebedee from Nantwich, Cheshire United Kingdom on Thursday, May 13, 2010

Like Caroley - I also enjoyed this far more than Strait is the Gate. In fact although I really detested Michels character the book was very readable. Poor Marceline! I found myself huffing and puffing and thinking 'yeah right!...' every time Michel tried to convince everyone (including himself) how much he cared for her. I was a bit confused to be honest as the blurb on the back made me think that he had met one person who awoke his sexual feelings - not that this would involve many objects of his affection. He was a very sorry character although a lucky one. He was very dismissive of his old friends and the way they thought and behaved, however it seems that they were still there to be relied upon when he needed them the most. I found it quite helpful to go back at the end of the book and re-read the letter at the beginning, which impounded again that this was not just a tale of his frivolities but almost an admission of the person that he had become.
Thanks Lucy for including me in the ray. :)