Have bought this book as a birthday suprise for a bookcrossing friend overseas and will be popping it in the post later this week.

If you've found the book and you are reading this please make a journal entry and let me know where it has ended up - if you decided to join BookCrossing, please consider using my name, house-elfdobby as a referral. Many thanks!

Ooooooh! Thank you so much house-elfdobby!! I am so excited about receiving this book. I know that I am going to enjoy it as it is just my type of book. What a wonderful surprise!! :o)
(I have taken a picture of the book here lying on the centre pages of the accompanying booklet, showing the pages with the map. Also the lovely gift-tag you sent me is peeking out of the book!!)

Back again .... Thank you so much for this Birthday surprise! I loved it! Thank you also for the lovely guide that came with this book which had a detailed map that was wonderful! This is the fourth of Tracy Chevalier's books that I've read. I've enjoyed them all. I think with this one there is a nice balance of the historical with the fiction. We get a glimpse of Georgian London 1792-1793, also the effects of the French revolution on the city. I liked reading about the people, the clothing, jobs, flowers, places and lots of little things that were mentioned ..... I was keen to see what those Dorset buttons looked like ... so I've been googling away and they look absolutely beautiful. I also found more old maps of Lambeth. (There was another book I read which also started out in Lambeth .... Surgeon of Crowthorne... )
This book brought back memories of William Blake from my school days (Tyger,Tyger burning bright .... ) and also University where we went into Songs of Innoscence and Experience in more detail. I remembered little things that I thought had long been forgotten ... things from another time, when life was less hectic.... And yes, I had to look up William Blake's plates .... how wonderful is this internet!!
It has been so appropriate that this book has travelled all the way here from your end.... and it has been such a treat to read it. ☺
Adding this link: Burning Bright

I saw a documentary on telivision today, about architecture in the UK around the time of the setting of this book and I just had to come back and make another entry. Last month, The Gorgeous Georgians (Horrible Histories series) caught my eye, while I was browsing the library shelves with the kids and I read that too, to get more infomation on the period. I've offered this up as a ring within Australia, and so far there is one person keen to read it. I will try again later. I might suggest this book for a bookclub read next year before sending it off on it's travels as it would be great to have a discussion about it. Will let you know.
Addit(Dec 08) - It is now down for Bookclub's discussion in March 09!!
Addit(Mar 09) - We had our meeting this week. There were mixed reactions to the book. Some enjoyed the book while others commented that they preferred her other two books(Girl with the Pearl Earing and The Lady and the Unicorn) to this one as to them, the characters did not seem to be as real .... however EVERYONE loved the historical part of the book.... and the insight into Blake's life and Lambeth in the 1790's .... not to mention the way it was set out ... the parallels between the characters and "Songs of Inoscence and Experience"!! We had a great discussion and it was good to get a chance to read this and compare notes as a group.
Now ..... to make plans for this book!! It will be traveling soon:

scrapaholic (Darwin)
kzel (Melbourne)

Addit - Jul 09 ..... One of our Bookclub friends is back from a trip to the UK and has visited the twin villages (Piddlehinton and Piddlenthride) in Dorset (from the book) ..... We are all so excited to see her pictures!! It is a pity that we didn't have time to stop when we drove through Dorset, last year ..... I saw the villages on the map and it would have meant a detour .... but we just couldn't do it!!
map showing location of Piddlenthride

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Book is on it's way ...... Happy reading!

Arrived safely in darwin today

What an interesting read. I felt like I too was living in London.
The extras that came with the book were interesting too as I hadn't realised when I joined this ring that the book contained characters that existed.
Thanks for sharing this book. I will send onto next person soon.

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Am posting this book to next in ring

Picked this up this morning - might be just what I need as I haven't read much at all the past month - I think I read myself out in the first two months of the year. However, I love Chevalier, so hopefully this will kickstart me into reading again.

Every time I read Chevalier, I fall more in love with her writing, and this book was no exception. She has the ability to recreate places and times and make you feel that you're part of the experience.

Thanks Carole888 for sharing!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Back to Carole888 - thanks for sharing this book.

The book has arrived safely back to me. Thank you to scrapaholic and kzel for your lovely journals which were great to read. I am glad that you both enjoyed the book too!! I have more plans for this book! ☺

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Just a quick message to let everyone know that this book is sitting in a little package and travelling now!! (It's notes have gone travelling with it too .... ) I hope it reaches it's destination safely.... and that it's new reader enjoys it too.

Thanks very much house-elfdobby - received today - look forward to reading Burning Bright and then to sending it on.

Many thanks
Alison / Skyblueyes

Sorry - meant to say thank you Carole888!!!(that's if my other journal entry is there!) received the book today and it was a lovely surprise! Thanks for all the information with it!!! looking forward to reading it and to reading about London - where I used to live and miss very much!
x Skyblueyes/Alison