Wife in the North
11 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by AgnesXNitt from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Monday, October 20, 2008
'How far would you go to be the perfect mother?
Maybe hormones ate her brain. How else did Judith's husband persuade her to give up her career and move from her beloved London to Northumberland with two toddlers in tow?
Pregnant with number three, Judith is about to discover that there are one or two things about life in the country that no one told her about: that she'd be making friends with people who believed in the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse; that running out of petrol could be a near-death experience; and that the closest thing to an ethnic minority would be a redhead.
Judith tries to do that simple thing that woman do, make hers a happy family. A family that might live happily ever after.
Possibly even up North...'
Bought second hand at the Shakespeare Hospice charity shop in Stratford Upon Avon on 10th October 2008. I was in Stratford to see my favourite Dr Who actor in 'Loves Labours Lost' and I fear the call of the second hand bookshop was unavoidable during the day! This is on my wishlist (but I will now remove!) and though I've only dipped my toe in it so far it looks like it will be a revealing read.
Maybe hormones ate her brain. How else did Judith's husband persuade her to give up her career and move from her beloved London to Northumberland with two toddlers in tow?
Pregnant with number three, Judith is about to discover that there are one or two things about life in the country that no one told her about: that she'd be making friends with people who believed in the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse; that running out of petrol could be a near-death experience; and that the closest thing to an ethnic minority would be a redhead.
Judith tries to do that simple thing that woman do, make hers a happy family. A family that might live happily ever after.
Possibly even up North...'
Bought second hand at the Shakespeare Hospice charity shop in Stratford Upon Avon on 10th October 2008. I was in Stratford to see my favourite Dr Who actor in 'Loves Labours Lost' and I fear the call of the second hand bookshop was unavoidable during the day! This is on my wishlist (but I will now remove!) and though I've only dipped my toe in it so far it looks like it will be a revealing read.
Journal Entry 2 by AgnesXNitt from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Friday, October 24, 2008
A really interesting, at times very emotional and honest account of one woman's move to the North.
With precious little practical assistance, Judith packs up her home, two toddlers and her worries and heads for Northumberland and an uncertain welcome.
Torn between her longing to return to London, her career, her organised life and her friends and the attempt to try and settle her family, find new friends and make everything alright in their new home, she is hampered by her husband - the man who orchestrated the move - disappearing off for lengths of time leaving her to cope alone.
As time marches on, Judith faces the arrival of a new baby, her mother's declining health, her eldest son being bullied at school, and mammoth home improvement leaving her at the mercy of her builders.
Things do improve slowly and the upward climb is a bit of a struggle, but it's a fascinating and compelling read.
Currently reserved for my colleague to read.
With precious little practical assistance, Judith packs up her home, two toddlers and her worries and heads for Northumberland and an uncertain welcome.
Torn between her longing to return to London, her career, her organised life and her friends and the attempt to try and settle her family, find new friends and make everything alright in their new home, she is hampered by her husband - the man who orchestrated the move - disappearing off for lengths of time leaving her to cope alone.
As time marches on, Judith faces the arrival of a new baby, her mother's declining health, her eldest son being bullied at school, and mammoth home improvement leaving her at the mercy of her builders.
Things do improve slowly and the upward climb is a bit of a struggle, but it's a fascinating and compelling read.
Currently reserved for my colleague to read.
Journal Entry 3 by AgnesXNitt from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Friday, September 25, 2009
This one has sat on my work bookshelf (yes, I do actually have my own bookshelves sitting behind my desk at work!) for long enough. This book has been offered to Plum-Crazy in Yorkshire as a RABCK and I only await her address before I bung it in the post!
Journal Entry 4 by 
Plum-crazy
from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Plum-crazy from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thank you AgnesXNitt! I'm really looking forward to reading this & seeing if it features the parts of Northumberland that I know & love.
I'd love to start it straightaway but it will have to sit under a few other books including a pile of horror books destined for Halloween releasing...I have a feeling though it might just fight it's way to the top pretty soon :o)
I'd love to start it straightaway but it will have to sit under a few other books including a pile of horror books destined for Halloween releasing...I have a feeling though it might just fight it's way to the top pretty soon :o)
Journal Entry 5 by Plum-crazy from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, November 2, 2009
Plum-crazy from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, November 2, 2009
This book could have been like so many others on this theme but it was certainly a cut above the rest. Beautifully written, Judith is quite poetic in some of her descriptions, & just when you are immersing yourself in Northumbrian countrylife, wham!...a cracking one liner hits you & you can't help but snigger & smile.
But as well as some very funny moments there's sadness & the entry titled All My Sons where she talks of her lost baby is heartwrenching.
It's a well written, amusing & poignant account of a family beginning a new life...loved it!
It will soon be travelling to the other ends of the earth to a Lancashire lass now living in Australia.
But as well as some very funny moments there's sadness & the entry titled All My Sons where she talks of her lost baby is heartwrenching.
It's a well written, amusing & poignant account of a family beginning a new life...loved it!
It will soon be travelling to the other ends of the earth to a Lancashire lass now living in Australia.
Journal Entry 6 by Plum-crazy at by Post, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 2, 2009
Plum-crazy at by Post, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 2, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (11/4/2009 UTC) at by Post, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On it's way to J4shaw. Sadly it's having to go surface mail so it maybe sometime before we hear from it again. Happy travelling book!
Released as part of the 2009 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE
the 2009 KEEP THEM MOVING CHALLENGE (#30)
& the 2009 RABCK RELEASE CHALLENGE (#47)
On it's way to J4shaw. Sadly it's having to go surface mail so it maybe sometime before we hear from it again. Happy travelling book!
Released as part of the 2009 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE
the 2009 KEEP THEM MOVING CHALLENGE (#30)
& the 2009 RABCK RELEASE CHALLENGE (#47)
Journal Entry 7 by 
J4Shaw
from finding my place, Somewhere -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, January 14, 2010
J4Shaw from finding my place, Somewhere -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, January 14, 2010
Yay! It's arrived!
Thank you so much Plum-crazy for sending this to me. Can't wait to read it.
Thank you so much Plum-crazy for sending this to me. Can't wait to read it.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This is going out to a new BookCrosser as a loan
RELEASED AT THE BEACH, SANDRINGHAM, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
This is going out to a new BookCrosser as a loan
RELEASED AT THE BEACH, SANDRINGHAM, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
A friend (J4shaw) just got me into BookCrossing and this is one of the four books she gave me to read to start me off.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Returned to J4Shaw.
Returned to J4Shaw.
Journal Entry 11 by J4Shaw from finding my place, Somewhere -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, February 24, 2010
J4Shaw from finding my place, Somewhere -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Back with me, and I have read it.
Me being from "Up North" I thought I would enjoy this greatly. Unfortunately, that was as close as I came to being able to enjoy it. I am what my eldest sister has kindly reminded me as a DINKY.
I had the odd chuckle, but on the whole it was a struggle to persevere with it at times.
Don't get me wrong, the basis of the book was good, I just think I need to have my vagina excruciatingly stretched by 3 kids and then thrown into a field for 6 months, to fend for myself and bubs, before I can appreciate this read whole heartedly.
Me being from "Up North" I thought I would enjoy this greatly. Unfortunately, that was as close as I came to being able to enjoy it. I am what my eldest sister has kindly reminded me as a DINKY.
I had the odd chuckle, but on the whole it was a struggle to persevere with it at times.
Don't get me wrong, the basis of the book was good, I just think I need to have my vagina excruciatingly stretched by 3 kids and then thrown into a field for 6 months, to fend for myself and bubs, before I can appreciate this read whole heartedly.
Released 13 yrs ago (8/12/2010 UTC) at Larrakeyah, Northern Territory Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending North to the edge of Arnhem Land for Nikkilovesbooks to enjoy as part of my "Do you live in the middle of nowhere?" RABCK
I see on RABCK.com that you miss a good coffee, so I'm enlosing some of my own favorite coffee for you.
Enjoy!
I see on RABCK.com that you miss a good coffee, so I'm enlosing some of my own favorite coffee for you.
Enjoy!
Journal Entry 13 by nikkilovesbooks at Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory Australia on Monday, August 30, 2010
Thanks so much for a chance to read this book. It looks really interesting & there are certainly some comparisons there, although I am sure the climates differ greatly between remote north England & north Australia :)
The coffee looks and smells divine. I love the Mindle Markets & always attend when we are lucky enough to be in Darwin during the dry. Hmmmm, I'm off for a coffee & a read :))
The coffee looks and smells divine. I love the Mindle Markets & always attend when we are lucky enough to be in Darwin during the dry. Hmmmm, I'm off for a coffee & a read :))
Journal Entry 14 by nikkilovesbooks at Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory Australia on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
As I am heading down to WA to live, I've chosen some books to leave my shelf and continue down the East Coast, all the way to Vic in a BookBag. Off they go...have fun little books :)
This book was such fun. Ironic I chose to read it just as we are moving BACK to civilisation...LOL...I laught through much of the book & was really glad I had the chance to read it. Thanks
This book was such fun. Ironic I chose to read it just as we are moving BACK to civilisation...LOL...I laught through much of the book & was really glad I had the chance to read it. Thanks
Thanks so much, nikkilovesbooks, for sending this along with so many others in a huge bookbag! This sounds really good, so I look forward to reading it soon. Thanks again :)
This has been sitting on my shelf for far too long, so it's travelling as a Christmas RABCK.
Hope the next recipient enjoys it!
Hope the next recipient enjoys it!
Arrived today. Thank you
A look at moving to the country when she didn't want to. Didn't do it for me. I found her negativity annoying.
Journal Entry 19 by amberC at Mail in by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 15, 2021
Released 3 yrs ago (1/15/2021 UTC) at Mail in by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Into the book bag.
Received this in a Bookcrossing Book bag. Looking forward to reading it.
Journal Entry 21 by ally11 at Mount Barker, South Australia Australia on Saturday, December 10, 2022
Released 1 yr ago (12/10/2022 UTC) at Mount Barker, South Australia Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Had this book on my shelf for a while. Sent it in a Book Bag for another Bookcrosser to enjoy.
Received in the book bag....This one has travelled a bit, love looking at it's journey.
Popping aside to read at a later date.
Popping aside to read at a later date.
Journal Entry 23 by mattandmandy75 at Riddik Cafe in Templestowe Lower, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Released 2 mos ago (1/31/2024 UTC) at Riddik Cafe in Templestowe Lower, Victoria Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
To the finder of this book:
Please journal that you’ve found me, read and re-release. I’d love to follow the book’s journey. Bookcrossing is free & fun and let’s face it, not much is these days! :)
Please journal that you’ve found me, read and re-release. I’d love to follow the book’s journey. Bookcrossing is free & fun and let’s face it, not much is these days! :)
This little book has been on the move for a long time, originating in the UK, it is now ensconced in Templestowe. Caught today at Riddik Cafe.
Judith O'Reilly's book, based on her blog of the same name, is a unique combination of dry humour and poignant, heart-wrenching family stories. Entertaining.
Journal Entry 26 by 
marmee463
at Riddik Cafe in Templestowe Lower, Victoria Australia on Thursday, March 28, 2024
marmee463 at Riddik Cafe in Templestowe Lower, Victoria Australia on Thursday, March 28, 2024
Released 2 wks ago (4/4/2024 UTC) at Riddik Cafe in Templestowe Lower, Victoria Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
To the finder of this book -
Bookcrossers are generous folk who send books in to the world for strangers to find and enjoy. Sadly we rarely hear any more of their whereabouts. Please let us know you have found this book, you are under no obligation to read it and Bookcrossing is completely anonymous. By doing this you will be encouraging Bookcrossers to continue to spread the joy of coming across a free book.
Bookcrossers are generous folk who send books in to the world for strangers to find and enjoy. Sadly we rarely hear any more of their whereabouts. Please let us know you have found this book, you are under no obligation to read it and Bookcrossing is completely anonymous. By doing this you will be encouraging Bookcrossers to continue to spread the joy of coming across a free book.
Journal Entry 27 by AnonymousFriend at Templestowe Lower, Victoria Australia on Thursday, April 4, 2024
Wow! I love well travelled books!Maybe hormones ate her brain. How else would Judith's husband have prised her away from London to the depths of Northumberland? Pregnant with number three and a long way from home, Judith is about to discover that there are one or two things about life in Northumberland he never mentioned - the fact that the nearest thing to an ethnic minority would be a redhead, that running out of petrol in a snowstorm was a really bad idea and that she'd be making friends with people who believed in the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Judith tries to do that simple thing that women do, make hers a happy family. A family that might live happily ever after. Possibly even up North.
