The Master
12 journalers for this copy...
I loved this story so much I read it again as soon as I finished it. The synopsis is:
Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2004, a remarkable novel about Henry James, the American-born novelist and a connoisseur of exile.
In January 1895 Henry James anticipates the opening of his first play, Guy Domville, in London. The production fails, and he returns, chastened and humiliated, to his writing desk. The result is a string of masterpieces, but they are produced at a high personal cost.
In The Master Colm Tóibín captures the exquisite anguish of a man who circulated in the grand parlours and palazzos of Europe, who was astonishingly vibrant and alive in his art, and yet whose attempts at intimacy inevitably failed him and those he tried to love. It is a powerful account of the hazards of putting the life of the mind before affairs of the heart.
Initially I kept thinking that the story read just like a Henry James piece. I enjoyed this book so much that I've decided to start a bookring - that way I can share it and keep it at the same time :)
Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2004, a remarkable novel about Henry James, the American-born novelist and a connoisseur of exile.
In January 1895 Henry James anticipates the opening of his first play, Guy Domville, in London. The production fails, and he returns, chastened and humiliated, to his writing desk. The result is a string of masterpieces, but they are produced at a high personal cost.
In The Master Colm Tóibín captures the exquisite anguish of a man who circulated in the grand parlours and palazzos of Europe, who was astonishingly vibrant and alive in his art, and yet whose attempts at intimacy inevitably failed him and those he tried to love. It is a powerful account of the hazards of putting the life of the mind before affairs of the heart.
Initially I kept thinking that the story read just like a Henry James piece. I enjoyed this book so much that I've decided to start a bookring - that way I can share it and keep it at the same time :)
Bookring list so far. I'm doing my best to accomodate evryone's shipping prefs but if you want to me moved/removed please PM me:NICNIC2 (UK)
cat207 (Australia)
arugh48187 (India)
Marsala (Netherlands)
EmgeeNL (Netherlands)
Tubereader(Luxembourg)
brunton11 (UK)
shovelmonkey (UK)
Fluffy-Owl(UK)
pinkydinky(UK)Jozebedee (UK)
mafarrimond (UK)
NICNIC2(UK)- book is now home :)
Rules:
1. Journal when you recieve the book, journal again with your thoughts if you like and then again when you are releasing it to the next person on the list.
2. Please try and read the book within a month - if you'll take longer that's ok, just let us know you'll be keeping it longer :)
3. If the book dies when its with you (e.g. it falls in a puddle or something) don't panic, just let me know so I can get a replacement up and running.
Thanks for joining everyone! Enjoy!
Released 14 yrs ago (9/10/2009 UTC) at
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way at last. Can't wait to see what you all think of it!
On its way at last. Can't wait to see what you all think of it!
Arrived in today's mail. Wow, that was a long time coming! Thanks NICNIC2. I have got a few ahead, but shouldn't be any more than a month.
Sorry I've been so long with this book. Real life has interfered with my reading time of late. I'm about 3/4 through, so shouldn't be too much longer, but it is dense reading.
This took me forever to actually get into, but once I had time to read more than a few pages at a time, I found it exquisite. I'm glad I didn't give up on it.
Thank you Nic. I've PMed arugh48187 for her new address.
Thank you Nic. I've PMed arugh48187 for her new address.
Heading off to arugh48187 in tomorrow's mail.
Wow! I had given up on this bookring a long time ago. What a pleasant surprise to find it in my mailbox.
I have to say that although this book was very slow reading, it was rather enjoyable. Reading only a few pages at a time allowed me to savor the language and ambiance. I do not have any Henry James books, nor have I read any. But reading this book made me definitely interested in getting some and diving in, especially if his books read like this one.
Thanks for sharing. This one will go out to the next reader as soon as I get an address.
Thanks for sharing. This one will go out to the next reader as soon as I get an address.
The book arrived. It's going on my tbr for now.
january 16th; I'm curently about half way through the book. I hope to finish it soon.
January 29th: I finished reading the book today. It took me a bit longer than usual which had nothing to do with the book, but more with some stuff that is going on in my own life.
It's an easy read, but the book did not make any real impression on me, so I doubt that I will remember this book in a couple of years.
january 16th; I'm curently about half way through the book. I hope to finish it soon.
January 29th: I finished reading the book today. It took me a bit longer than usual which had nothing to do with the book, but more with some stuff that is going on in my own life.
It's an easy read, but the book did not make any real impression on me, so I doubt that I will remember this book in a couple of years.
Journal Entry 11 by EmgeeNL at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, February 1, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (1/30/2010 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book is on it's way to the next reader.
The book is on it's way to the next reader.
Journal Entry 12 by Tubereader from Lenningen / Lenneng, Kanton Remich Luxembourg on Friday, February 5, 2010
The book has arrived safely and I will start reading it as soon as I finish the one I am currently with. I will update the JE when I pick it up so that everybody knows what is going on.
Thanks NICNIC2 for organising the ring and EmgeeNL for sending it!!
10th FEBRUARY UPDATE: Quick note to let everybody know that I will start reading this book today.
Thanks NICNIC2 for organising the ring and EmgeeNL for sending it!!
10th FEBRUARY UPDATE: Quick note to let everybody know that I will start reading this book today.
Journal Entry 13 by Tubereader from Lenningen / Lenneng, Kanton Remich Luxembourg on Thursday, March 11, 2010
I have finally finished reading this book. It was interesting to learn about Henry James' life. I wonder how much of it is a biography and how much is fiction?
Nevertheless, the book did not make a big impression on me. Maybe it is because I did not have much time to read it properly (i.e. I have been reading 5-6 pages at a time) so that doesn't help to get a good grasp of the full book.
Thanks NICNIC2 for sharing. I have Brunton11's address and will post it shortly.
Nevertheless, the book did not make a big impression on me. Maybe it is because I did not have much time to read it properly (i.e. I have been reading 5-6 pages at a time) so that doesn't help to get a good grasp of the full book.
Thanks NICNIC2 for sharing. I have Brunton11's address and will post it shortly.
Journal Entry 14 by Tubereader at Luxembourg / Lëtzebuerg, Kanton Luxemburg Luxembourg on Saturday, March 13, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (3/13/2010 UTC) at Luxembourg / Lëtzebuerg, Kanton Luxemburg Luxembourg
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book was posted to the next in line.
Happy reading!
The book was posted to the next in line.
Happy reading!
Arrived on Thursday. Will get stuck in to this one once I've finished my current book. Thanks all for sharing.
It took me a while to get into this one. There were sections that flowed beautifully and others that dragged and made me a little impatient at times. I'll be on the lookout for anything by HJ as I'm curious to see what his actual books are like.
Shovelmonkey1 has recently received a copy of this book so I will be posting this one to Fluffy-Owl tomorrow. Thanks all for sharing.
Shovelmonkey1 has recently received a copy of this book so I will be posting this one to Fluffy-Owl tomorrow. Thanks all for sharing.
Received in the post, thank you!
Journal Entry 18 by Fluffy-Owl from Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom on Saturday, May 15, 2010
I quite enjoyed this. I've never read anything by Henry James, nor do I know much about his life story, so this was an interesting book. A nice slow book, not one to rush. Think I will try and read something by James in the future, especially Portrait of a Lady as that was mentioned quite often.
Posting off to the next in line next week.
Posting off to the next in line next week.
Released 13 yrs ago (5/17/2010 UTC) at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posting off to the next in line, hope it travels well and arrives safely.
Posting off to the next in line, hope it travels well and arrives safely.
Arrived safely today. Nearly finished my current read so should start this soon.
What a great read. Initially not easy to get into but then it gently sweeps you along. Well written and a fascinating story. You do wonder how much is gleaned from actual fact and how much is embellished but that does not detract from the story.
Have PM'd next in line
Have PM'd next in line
Journal Entry 22 by pinkydinky at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (6/9/2010 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On it's way to Jozebedee. Sorry for the delay in posting.
Thanks so much for sending on pinkydinky - I have received it today :)
Thanks for including me in this ray - I have a few books before it to read first.
Thanks for including me in this ray - I have a few books before it to read first.
Just an update to let you know that I am still reading this at the moment. It should be moving again soon!
Like others I found this quite slow in parts, but a beautifully written story which despite having only been able to read this in fits and starts, I found easy to pick it up and carry on where I had left off.
Apologies for having held on to this longer than planned.
Apologies for having held on to this longer than planned.
Now in the post - heading mafarrimond's way. ENJOY! :)
The book has arrived safely. I look forward to reading it.
I really enjoyed reading this. It took some concentration as the storyline kept switching around in time but that made it more enjoyable somehow.
I am inspired to read some Henry James now if I can find any. Thanks for sharing it with me.
I am inspired to read some Henry James now if I can find any. Thanks for sharing it with me.
Travelling home.
This arrived home safe and sound a long time ago - I've been out of the BC loop for a while but am now back in full swing :)
Thank you all for taking part, I'm glad I got to share this wonderful book with so many people.
Thank you all for taking part, I'm glad I got to share this wonderful book with so many people.
Donated to The 1001 Library
Thanks so much for your donation NICNIC2!
This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.
Currently reserved for soffita1's 1001 VBB
Journal Entry 33 by rem_IUM-600892 at Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thanks NICNIC2, I'm looking forward to this.
Journal Entry 34 by rem_IUM-600892 at Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Finally got round to this. I've never read anything by Henry James either, so I think that made getting into it a little harder. Once I had I enjoyed it, especially the parts about Constance Fenimore Woolson and Henrick the sculptor, but I found a lot of it quite dry.
Back to the library!
Back to the library!
This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing jaynereader:)If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
Journal Entry 36 by rem_IUM-600892 at Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, May 16, 2020
I'm releasing this book as I am deleting my bookcrossing account after several years of these books lying dormant on my shelves.
