Journal Entry 1 by debnance from Alvin, Texas USA on Sunday, January 27, 2008

Welcome to BookCrossing!

Please make a journal entry to let me know that this book has been caught so I know that it has found a good home with you. If you are new to BookCrossing, when you join please indicate that you were referred by debnance. I hope that you enjoy the book. You can make another journal entry with your comments when you are done reading.

Then, whenever you are ready to send it on its way, make a journal entry if you are giving or sending this book to a known person, or a release note if you are leaving it “in the wild” again for anyone to catch. Then watch its journey. You’ll be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry. And it’s confidential (you are known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free.

I hope that you will enjoy the BookCrossing experience!

Journal Entry 2 by debnance at U.S. Mail in Alvin, Texas USA on Saturday, February 23, 2008

Released 5 yrs ago (2/23/2008 UTC) at U.S. Mail in Alvin, Texas USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Off in the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die Bookbox.... 

Journal Entry 3 by perryfran from North Ogden, Utah USA on Saturday, May 03, 2008

Taken from ivylibra224's 1001 Books to Read Before You Die Bookbox. Thanks!

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Amazon Editorial Review:
What makes this masterpiece a pure delight for contemporary readers is its vibrant portrait of life in Edwardian England, and the wonderful characters who inhabit the charming old country house in Hertfordshire called Howards End. This cozy house becomes the object of an inheritance dispute between the upright conservative Wilcox family and the Schlegel sisters, Margaret and Helen, sensitive and intuitive women loved by men willing to leap wide social barriers to fulfill their ardor. Through romantic entanglements, disappearing wills, and sudden tragedy, the conflict over the house emerges as a symbolic struggle for England’s future. Rich with the tradition, spirit, and wit distinctively English, Howards End is a remarkable novel of rare insight and understanding. As in his celebrated A Passage to India, E. M. Forster brings to vivid life a country and an era through the destinies of his unforgettable characters.

This is also No. 754 on the 1001 books you must read before you die list.

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Bookray

Starting a bookray for this book. Please PM me if interested. Bookray will remain open until last person has the book.


Participants so far:

. tootshelling from Germany (international)
. CaterinaAnna from UK (international)
. molekilby from UK (international)
. KT-J from UK (international)
. Stubee from UK (international)
. fushmush from UK (UK preferred but will ship international if necessary)
. Tubereader from Luxembourg (international)
. PepeLePew from Bosnia (international)
. cat207 from Australia (international)
. liz-z from Ohio, USA (USA only)
. olered from Oregon, USA (USA and Canada only)
. kplatypus from California, USA (USA preferred - will ship international)
. Neuilly from New York, USA (US or Canada only)
. ealasaidmae from West Virginia, USA (international)<----Asked to be skipped
. nancynova from Pennsylvania, USA (international)<----Book is here

Note: Order is subject to change based on shipping preferences and others joining the bookray.

How the bookray works:
* Someone will PM you for your address, PM them back and provide your address
* When you receive the book, please make a journal entry letting everyone know that you received it
* Put the book at the top of your TBR pile (under other rings/rays that arrived first)
* Read the book (take your time and enjoy the book, don't feel rushed to finish it but try to get it out to next reader within a couple of months)
* When the end is in sight, check the book's journal and PM the next person to get their address
* Finish the book, make another journal entry and let everyone know what you thought of the book
* Send the book to the next person on the list (please use the cheapest shipping method available), make release notes (Controlled Release) or journal entry to let everyone know that it's in the mail
* END OF THE RAY, The last person on the ray could try and continue the ray or just give/mail the book to someone else who might like to read it, perhaps a RABCK. You could also donate it to the 1001-library

Please feel free to PM me at any time with questions

Journal Entry 4 by perryfran at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 02, 2008

Released 5 yrs ago (6/2/2008 UTC) at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to Germany to start this bookring. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 5 by tootshelling from Wynnewood, Pennsylvania USA on Sunday, June 15, 2008

Got this today, thanks!

I've started reading it and will PM the next in line for their address when I'm close to done.

updated 19 June:
about 1/2 way through, just PMed the next in line for addy. 

Journal Entry 6 by tootshelling from Wynnewood, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, July 03, 2008

I thoroughly enjoyed this read! What a story - so much packed into 271 pages. I've never ready any of Forster before and this was a nice introduction. I will be on the hunt for his other titles now. AND, I've added another title to my 1001 list! Only 19 more to go this year in order to read them all before I die! LOL!!

Thanks for the bookring!

Its off in the mail today to the UK - ENJOY! 

Journal Entry 7 by Caterinaanna from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, July 17, 2008

Arrived safely and, in spite of the out-of-date information on my profile, started.

Finished in time to send back to Cardiff with Spike1972, who didn't give me a chance to do a JE before passing it on to molekilby - far too efficient for a change!

Although this had more plot than I had anticipated, I could understand its reputation as an elegy for what remains, a few days after finishing, is the sense of time. A time where the final destinies of the characters makes perfect moral sense. A time that I'm glad I don't live in: I repeatedly thought 'Why is she doing this?' about the elder sister (but that's probably to do with the existence at least one intolerant man in my own past rather than a mere 21st century perspective), proud of the disgraced younger and really annoyed at the way the Basts were treated throughout the book - by the author as well as the characters and circumstances.

Oh, and what is the point of Tibby? What does he bring to the novel? Is it just to counterpoint how easy life could be for a young gentleman while his sisters struggled? Answers on a postcard, I mean PM...

Thanks for sharing perryfran and everyone who has got the book thus far. In spite of the criticisms above, it rates a seven which means that I might re-read it should it fall into my hands again. 

Journal Entry 8 by molekilby from Brithdir, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, July 28, 2008

Received today and this will be my next read. Thank you CaterinaAnna for passing along and perryfran for sharing. 

Journal Entry 9 by molekilby from Brithdir, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, August 07, 2008

I find with books that were written many years ago a strange attitude to class and gender. This was no different, although Forster tries to be politically correct at times. The story was engaging and I found there was a certain amount of humour. I remember feeling the same way about "A Passage To India" which I read many years ago (and would like to read again now). Forster paints a good picture of social conventions of the time and this is why I enjoy reading him.

I seem to remember that Howards End was the first book given to Rita in the film "Educating Rita". In many ways the film reflects some attitudes seen in the book.

Already on it's way to the next reader. 

Journal Entry 10 by molekilby at Royal Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, August 07, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (8/7/2008 UTC) at Royal Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Enjoy. 

Journal Entry 11 by KT-J from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Friday, August 08, 2008

Received today, thanks molekilby for sending this on and thanks perryfran for letting us join another one of your bookrings! Either Stubee or I will get onto this shortly, we've received a few bookrings recently but hopefully it won't take long to get through them! 

Journal Entry 12 by KT-J from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Thursday, August 28, 2008

I don't really know what to think about this book. I didn't enjoy it as much as A Passage to India and found it quite a struggle to get through up until the final third of the book.

That said, I thought it was a very good description of English society and the roles that different people and families played during that period. I thought the characters were very annoying in places and some of the philosophical discourses were a bit much, but it was an interesting story with the interweaving characters and the underlying questions of morality and responsibility.

I have passed this over to Stubee. Thanks again perryfran, another 1001 book down, unfortunately many still to go! 

Journal Entry 13 by stubee from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Thursday, August 28, 2008

Thanks KT-J, I'm almost finished with Colm Toibin's "The Master" and then I have Giuseppe di Lampedusa's "The Leopard" to read. After that I’ll get onto this one, thanks perryfran as always for sharing so many 1001 books with us!

EDIT (10/09/2008): Started! 

Journal Entry 14 by stubee from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Sunday, September 21, 2008

Thanks perryfran - I'm glad I read this although I found it a bit of a struggle to get into at first. The characters annoyed me a lot of the time but I'm guessing that's what it was like back in Edwardian England!

I've got fushmush's address so this will be in the mail shortly.

Next up: Emile Zola's - Nana (thanks Perryfran!)

Edit (22.09.08) - Posted! 

Journal Entry 15 by fushmush from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, September 27, 2008

Received. Thank you! I have one bookring ahead of it. Should get to it soon :D 

Journal Entry 16 by fushmush from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Wow, for such a short novel, it took me quite a while to read. It’s very dense. I must admit it wasn’t what I was expecting. I was thinking it would be more like A Room with a View and that the novel would revolve around Howards End (which it does in a way, but not really.)

A character driven novel it focuses on two families the Schlegels and the Wilcoxes. The cultured Schlegels love art and literature and the Wilcoxes love money. I really didn’t like any of the Wilcoxes (especially not Charles, although you do pity him in the end.) Although, the Schlegels had their annoying moments as well. I thought that Helen and Margaret were a little independent and headstrong for the era but I guess it was set at the time of the suffragette movement.

Really not sure what my impressions are of the book. I will have to think on it.

Should send this to the next reader sometime this week.
 

Journal Entry 17 by fushmush at sent to the the next bookcrosser, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 03, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (10/31/2008 UTC) at sent to the the next bookcrosser, Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to the next bookcrosser. 

Journal Entry 18 by Tubereader from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Monday, November 17, 2008

The book has arrived safely and is now in my TBR pile. I will update this JE when I start reading it (hopefully within a month at the latest!).

Thanks a lot fushmush for sending it and perryfran from sharing!

14TH DEC UPDATE: I have started reading this book today.

25TH DEC UPDATE: I have read more than 2/3 of the book so I have PMed PepeLePew for their address. Will post a proper JE when I finish reading the book. 

Journal Entry 19 by Tubereader from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Monday, December 29, 2008

I haven't managed to fully get into the book. I cannot say that I disliked it, but I did not manage to get enticed by the story. I found that Margaret was far too "cold", always thinking of what she should do rather than really listening to her heart. The rest of the characters in the book were quite bland for my taste. Nevertheless, when I finished the book, I had a feeling of completeness so that is why I cannot really say that I disliked the book.

Another 1001 book crossed from my list. Thanks perryfran for sharing it with all of us!!

I am still waiting for PepeLePew's address and as soon as I get it I will send the book over. 

Journal Entry 20 by Tubereader at postal mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Released 4 yrs ago (1/2/2009 UTC) at postal mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book was posted to PepeLePew last Friday.

Happy new year and happy reading! 

Journal Entry 21 by PepeLePew from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday, January 09, 2009

Arrived today. Perfect timing, since I have no other bookring book at the moment. Already started reading it. Thank you Tubereader for sending it my way and thank you Perryfran for squeezing me in the list :) 

Journal Entry 22 by PepeLePew from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday, January 12, 2009

Very enjoyable read. So many things happening so quickly. And still space for a writer to inject plenty of descriptions and thoughts of his own. Excellent presentation of different views on life, serious and yet so entertaining. Really great book. Thank you Perryfran for sharing :)


I have cat207's address and this will be in the mail tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 23 by PepeLePew at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Released 4 yrs ago (1/13/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to Australia. Hope it gets there soon :) 

Journal Entry 24 by cat207 from Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Monday, February 02, 2009

Arrived in today's mail. Thank you PepeLePew, and perryfran (again) for sharing. X 

Journal Entry 25 by cat207 from Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Saturday, February 07, 2009

I think this came too close on the heels of 'The Woman in White' which was more enjoyable but just as slow-moving.

Waiting for liz-z's address. 

Journal Entry 26 by cat207 from Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Heading to liz-z in tomorrow's mail. 

Journal Entry 27 by liz-z from Parma Hts., Ohio USA on Tuesday, February 24, 2009

This book has arrived safely in the US. I am finishing up another book and will start on this one soon. Thanks for sharing!

 

Journal Entry 28 by liz-z at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, March 06, 2009

Released 4 yrs ago (3/5/2009 UTC) at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I have sent this book off to the next person. Thank you for sharing, the book is great! 

Journal Entry 29 by olered from Salem, Oregon USA on Monday, March 09, 2009

I received the book today and will read it soon -- need to finish my current book first. 

Journal Entry 30 by olered from Salem, Oregon USA on Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I've kept this book entirely too long....so not finished I am sending it on it's way. Picked up another copy - to read while on vacation. Am enjoying but is slower for me to read than I expected. Mailing tomorrow to Kplatpus. Thanks for the opportunity. Sorry I got mixed up here. 

Journal Entry 31 by kplatypus from Kensington, California USA on Saturday, August 29, 2009

Aha! Finally! Sorry everyone- I got this a while back, right before I moved and then left on my honeymoon, then forgot how to journal it. But I have good news for those waiting- I have finished the book, emailed Neuilly, and will be popping into the mail asap. I will try to write a review before too long, but I'm super busy so it may not happen. Alas. 

Journal Entry 32 by kplatypus at Kensington, California USA on Saturday, September 05, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (9/5/2009 UTC) at Kensington, California USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Popped it in the mail today.

ETA: Oops- forgot to fix the date. Popped it in the mail yesterday/Friday in truth. 

Journal Entry 33 by Neuilly from Brooklyn, New York USA on Sunday, October 18, 2009

I thought I had journaled this! My apologies to anyone who feared it lost. It is happily in my hands and I have about 100 pages left to go. I will go more into my thoughts once I've finished reading it. 

Journal Entry 34 by Neuilly from Brooklyn, New York USA on Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Finished! I have to say that I've never been able to love an E.M.Forster novel, and yet I always feel drawn to reading him. I think that he has some really interesting views on the world and culture, yet at the same time I think he's rather naive when it comes to what's really going on with the lower classes. I did copy down several quotes though for my quotes book.

I'd seen the movie once and had forgotten the entire plot until I started reading. Again, I couldn't really identify or particular like any of the characters. It felt a bit like watching an older play. Everyone has their role and you're very aware that you're in the audience.

The beginning was slow but I did really get sucked in. My one issue is - did I miss a resolution with Mrs. Bast? Or does she just disappear completely without explanation? I find it interesting that the women were so eager to help him, but found it just as easy to put down his wife.

Status update: ealasaidmae asked to be skipped, so I've sent of a PM to nancynova asking for and address. 

Journal Entry 35 by NancyNova from Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, November 02, 2009

Got in the mail today. Looks like I'm the last one on this leg of the ray. Will read then try to ray it forward. 

Journal Entry 36 by NancyNova at Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, September 04, 2010

change to reserved for rabck 

Journal Entry 37 by NancyNova at Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, December 02, 2010

Change back to TBR, then ray it forward 

Journal Entry 38 by NancyNova at Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Sunday, February 17, 2013

A very dense read. A lot of description, which I find is true of books written around the same time, such a Fitzgerald's books. I finally just skimmed it, picking out the plot as I went, instead of trying to read all the words, which worked better for me. Now it's off as a tagged book to the UK. 

Journal Entry 39 by NancyNova at Croydon, Surrey United Kingdom on Sunday, February 17, 2013

Released 4 mos ago (2/18/2013 UTC) at Croydon, Surrey United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

A tagged book. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 40 by Blue_berry at Croydon, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, February 28, 2013

Thank you for sending this wishlist tag!