Journal Entry 1 by perryfran from North Ogden, Utah USA on Saturday, August 30, 2008

From Library Journal
For decades, writers have been striving to comprehend the Holocaust, and while its horror remains indelible, readers may wonder if there is another way of going over this relentlessly examined ground. In this swift, incisive little book, Amis succeeds in rendering the shock of the Holocaust wholly new by traveling backward in time. At the end of his life, the German-born American doctor Tod T. Friendly suffers a paralysis from which emerges "the soul he should have had." This innocent soul follows "time's arrow" back through Tod's stay in America and his flight to Germany, finally arriving at the concentration camp where Friendly, as Odilo Unverdorben, served as a doctor of death. Trying to discover "when the world is going to make sense," the confused if patient soul watches as the doctor injures the healed, revives Jews who have been gassed, and grows closer to his estranged wife. It concludes, "We all know by now that violence creates, here on earth . . . it heals and mends." Amis's device, which at first seems merely a clever conceit, is handled so skillfully that living backwards becomes not only natural but a perfect metaphor for the Nazis' perverted logic. If he can't finally probe to the bottom of a mind that embraces atrocities, Amis has nevertheless written a thought-provoking, compelling book.

More information on the book at wikipedia.

Very cleverly written novel telling the story of a Holocaust doctor's life going backward from his death to his birth. At first, I found the narrative to be very disconcerting. Dialogue and events were all written in reverse chronological order. The doctor's experiences after the war seem as if he is harming the patients while the atrocities committed during the war at the death camps read as if he is raising the dead and helping the Jews go to their original lives. For example on page 76 while the doctor is working in a hospital emergency room -- "You want to know what I do? All right. Some guy comes in with a bandage around his head. We don't mess about. We'll soon have that off. He's got a hole in his head. So what do we do? We stick a nail in it. Get the nail--a good rusty one--from the trash or wherever. And lead him out to the Waiting Room where he's allowed to linger and holler for a while before we ferry him back to the night..." Some of the scenes during the war at the death camps were pretty hard to take but overall this was an exceptional novel - very creative and engrossing.

This is also No. 167 on the 1001 books you must read before you die list.
 

Journal Entry 2 by perryfran from North Ogden, Utah USA on Monday, September 01, 2008

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:

. heartsong2 from Nebraska, USA (International if needed)
. ChiBoiler from Illinois, USA (International)
. bookbabe71 from Canada (international)
. lauraloo29 from Canada (anywhere but Canada)
. bearyfriend from Singapore (International)
. Dukesa from Portugal (International)
. christina82 from Denmark (International)
. BecksterCa from California, USA (International)<----Traveling 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 pass it on within a couple of months - others are waiting!)
* 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, if possible, or donate it to the 1001-libray.

Please feel free to PM me at any time with questions

Journal Entry 3 by perryfran at Bookray, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (9/2/2008 UTC) at Bookray, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to heartsong2 in Kearney, NE to start this bookray. 

Journal Entry 4 by heartsong2 on Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Arrived today! Wow! There's lots of people signed up! I should be able to get started on this in the next week or so. Thank you! 

Journal Entry 5 by heartsong2 on Saturday, September 20, 2008

Although this book has been on my reading list, I wasn't sure if I would like it. It did take me awhile to get the hang of reading a story from end to beginning, but it was intriguing when he made transitions by saying he went back somewhere... those phrases would catch me every time.

I'm glad I had the chance to read it and I will be interested to hear what others think.

Thank you for sharing this with me.

I will pm the next reader and get this sent off straight away! 

Journal Entry 6 by heartsong2 on Saturday, October 11, 2008

Off to downtown this morning to visit the post office to mail this book and then to the University homecoming parade where my daughter will march with her Girl Scout brownie troup.

ChiBoiler, your address has me dreaming of Lake Michigan. 

Journal Entry 7 by ChiBoiler from Chicago, Illinois USA on Wednesday, October 15, 2008

This book arrived in the mail today. I have 2 in front of it, but I read quick, so I should be passing it on soon! 

Journal Entry 8 by ChiBoiler from Chicago, Illinois USA on Wednesday, October 29, 2008

This was a very interesting book. I definitely liked the concept and how it twisted the reality of situations. Sometimes it was a little confusing, but not as much as it could have been. Glad I had a chance to read it! Another book to check off of the 1001 list. 

Journal Entry 9 by ChiBoiler at Chicago, Illinois USA on Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (10/29/2008 UTC) at Chicago, Illinois USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing this book onto the next reader at lunch today! Happy travels! 

Journal Entry 10 by bookbabe71 from Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada on Friday, November 07, 2008

Looking forward to reading this book - it is the next one on my list. 

Journal Entry 11 by bookbabe71 from Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada on Thursday, December 11, 2008

This book was amazing. I have never read anything like it before (and that is a good thing). I apologize that it took me so long to get this book off but it is that time of year. I am waiting for the next address and this will be off in the mail.

Thanks for including me in this bookring. 

Journal Entry 12 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Monday, December 22, 2008

Arrived on a terribly cold day. I have another ring before it and CHristmas holidays. Not to worry. I will keep it moving. 

Journal Entry 13 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Oh this was an intersting book! It made me think and I love that. Interesting to view life backwards and how it is perceived. Thank you for sharing!

This book will be on its way to Singapore this weekend. 

Journal Entry 14 by bearyfriend from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Thursday, January 29, 2009

Book arrived today, thanks. Surprised to see the book attn to my name in the front page, but recovered soon to realise it's just a coincidence =P 

Journal Entry 15 by bearyfriend from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Saturday, February 07, 2009

I find this to be quite a challenging read - didn't finish reading, though I would have loved to know more about WWII and what the Nazi doc had gone through during the holocaust. The part where the soul was talking is quite confusing. Book will travel to Dukesa on Mon. 

Journal Entry 16 by bearyfriend from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Sunday, February 08, 2009

Book travelling to Dukesa via air. Surface takes 9-17 weeks so decided better not let you wait too long =P

It's already Mon here. 

Journal Entry 17 by Dukesa from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Friday, February 20, 2009

It arrived yesterday :D
Thank you bearyfriend and perryfran! I have 2 other bookrings to read, but I hope I don't keep it too long :) 

Journal Entry 18 by Dukesa from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Friday, August 07, 2009

I didn't get to read this book, no time, unfortunately...
Sorry for keeping it too long... It went traveling yesterday to christina82.
Thank you, perryfran! 

Journal Entry 19 by christina82 from Stege, Storstrøms Amt Denmark on Saturday, August 15, 2009

This arrived safely in my mail box. Will begin reading this after I finish my current read. 

Journal Entry 20 by christina82 from Stege, Storstrøms Amt Denmark on Monday, September 28, 2009

Let me start by saying sorry for keeping this for so long. I've had a hard time concentrating on reading since ending the July Readathon - don't know why exactly, but guess it has been a combination of many things including starting work after the holidays - it is always a busy time for a teacher, but anyway back to the book....

I did not enjoy this book as much as I had expected. I've read Information and liked it a hole lot more. I actually thought it was an interesting topic and an interesting idea to write a story from end to beginning - but somehow that did not work very well for me with this book. I found it extremely boring and hard to get through...

I've pm'ed the next person on the list and the book will be travelling there as soon as I get an address. 

Journal Entry 21 by christina82 at a bookring, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, October 17, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (10/17/2009 UTC) at a bookring, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Will be on its way to the next reader on monday. Enjoy!