I just got this book in the mail from Barnes and Noble. I am trying really hard not to buy books but I just couldn't resist myself on this one! I am reading a few books right now but I think I am going to start this one and put the others on hold for a bit.

This is a great book so far, I haven't finished it yet but I'm sure I'll love it even more once I have read it completely. I would recommend this book to anyone who is even remotely interested in American history...or if you don't know much about American history then this is a great book for you!


Reserved for RABCK or Bookring.

Here is the website for the book that has great reviews.

http://www.kurtandersen.com/heyday.html


Here is the order of the ray (subject to change).

pammykn (FL)
perryfran (MD )
rebeccaljames (OH)
Back to me<--------BOOK IS HERE


There are no specific rules for this ray, just a few guidelines that will make the ray enjoyable to everyone. Please be sure to journal the book when you receive it. Also, make a journal entry again after you have read the book to let us know what you thought. Say as much or as little as you like. It helps keep the ray going at a comfortable pace if you PM the next person when you are nearing the end of the book. Be respectful of other members of the ray! Have fun reading, I hope you enjoy the book!

Thanks -- rec'd today & looking forward to reading (have a few ray/rings here).

Thanks for sharing this book & sorry for taking so long. I really did enjoy immersing myself in this very vibrant era. I will mail off to perryfran 07-11-08.

07/10/08
TITLE/AUTHOR: HEYDAY by Kurt Anderson
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Fiction/620 pgs/2007
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Stand Alone
TIME/PLACE: 1848/New York
CHARACTERS: Benjamin Knowles/English aristocrat; Timothy Skaggs/muckraking journalist; Duff Lucking/Fireman; Polly Lucking/actress
FIRST LINES: Benjamin Knowles wobbled into the New World.

COMMENTS: rec from bookcrossing ring/ray. This seemed thoroughly researched w/ lots of interesting bits of information. The time is 1848/1849 and our characters from the UK and NY are ready for the new frontier -- California and the enticing lure of gold. A lot of time, probably 2/3 of the book, is spent on setting up their backgrounds and the final 1/3 we experience their travels, tribulations and triumphs in the Wild West

Received in the mail today. Thanks JenKazoo for including me in this bookring and pammykn for sending it on. I've heard good things about this book and am looking forward to reading. However, I have a couple of lengthy bookring books in front of this but I'll try to get to it ASAP.

Update 8/24/08: Starting this one today. Hope to have it moving in a few weeks (another rather lengthy tome - 620 pages!).

Just finished this great historical novel this morning on the Metro ride into work. I thought it was a super epic that detailed some of the momentous events both in Europe and America from 1848-1850. It ranged from the revolution in Paris in 1848 to the California gold rush. It follows the life of Ben Knowles as he moves from Europe to America, falls in love, and journeys to the far west along with a few flawed friends he meets in New York. Along the way they encounter various religious groups living in “utopias” in the Midwest as well as the Mormons emigrating from Missouri to Salt Lake City. I could definitely relate to this part of the novel since I grew up in Utah and have a Mormon background. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of early New York – it reminded me of another great novel about New York in the late 1800s that I read recently and would recommend: Metropolis by Elizabeth Gaffney. All in all, I would highly recommend “Heyday.”

Thanks again JenKazoo for sharing this one. I have rebeccaljames’ address and will be getting this in the mail today. Sorry I took so long with this – I had a few other rings in front of it.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to rebeccaljames in Cincinnati, OH. Enjoy!

USPS DC# 0308 0660 0001 7101 8519

I received this book today. I will read it and pass it on as soon as possible. Thank you for sharing.

I'm sorry for keeping it for so long. I had the wrong email address for receiving PMs and didn't realize it. I have fixed this know. I will send it out as soon as I receive an address from the next in line.

I mailed this out yesterday.

This book has made its way back home to me. I have loaned it out to a friend who is on BC but will most likey never make a JE. When he gives it back I am not sure what I'll do with it. I liked it so much I think I may make it part of my PC but I might also find someone else who wants to read it.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book was given to a friend.