Journal Entry 1 by oliviapoolside from Seattle, Washington USA on Wednesday, November 05, 2008

A family that cares more about it's good name and fine sensibilities than about the health and happiness of the human beings that make it up. Add in jealousy and sexual repression and you've got a fine mess, Ollie. Someone has to pay and someone sure does. Now that it is nice and quiet and no one is being offended anymore everyone can go on with their lives. Not! The book is interesting throughout although I didn't like the ending very much. 

Journal Entry 2 by oliviapoolside at Seattle, Washington USA on Thursday, November 06, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (11/6/2008 UTC) at Seattle, Washington USA

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Sent to another bookcrosser as a wish fulfillment 

Journal Entry 3 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, November 13, 2008

This arrived today to warm up a cold afternoon. Thank you so much for this act of BC kindness! :-)

I look forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 4 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, January 13, 2009

[Booklist review:
O'Farrell's fourth novel brilliantly illustrates her talent for gradually revealing her characters' inner lives by jumping back and forth in time and juxtaposing different narrative points of view. Iris Lockhart, a young Scottish woman, is suddenly informed that she has the power of attorney for her great aunt, Esme Lennox—who Iris never knew existed. Esme has been locked away in a mental institution for over 60 years—a fact never mentioned by her sister Kitty, Iris' grandmother, who now has Alzheimer's. In compelling prose, O'Farrell gradually pieces together the puzzle of Esme's life up to the age of 16, when her cold and repressive parents sent her away to the hospital that is now closing down. Esme had a bold and independent spirit, unseemly for a girl at that time. That as well as a younger brother who died in her arms and a never-mentioned rape contributed to her lost life—a life "half strangled by what-ifs." A gripping read with superbly crafted scenes that will blaze in the reader's memory long after the novel is returned to the shelf.]

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I found this novel gripping while I was reading it and haunting after I finished, but the abrupt ending really bothered me. I found little resolution to either of the major storylines, and I actually had to go back and reread to figure out exactly what had just occurred. It almost literally ended in the middle of a conversation between Iris and Esme, with no hint as to what happened to either one of them afterwards.

Other than that, the book was extremely well written and engaging. Esme's story is a terribly tragic one and I'm having a hard time getting it out of my head.

Thank you again, oliviapoolside my friend, for sending this to me. I'll find a good way to pass it on. 

Journal Entry 5 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, February 04, 2009

International Bookray

Please journal this when you receive it, again to share your comments on it, and one more time when you send it on. Once it has finished its travels, the last person listed may do what they wish: give it to another Crosser, leave it at an OBCZ, release it, keep it.

Mailing order:
Bug2004 (NE) (US only)
allthesepieces (PA) (prefers US)
rebeccaljames (OH) (prefers US) - Book is here
Tori58 (WI) (anywhere)
yayajanuary (Indonesia) (anywhere but US)
 

Journal Entry 6 by Guinneth at sent by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, February 12, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (2/12/2009 UTC) at sent by mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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I'll be mailing this to Bug2004 this morning. Enjoy!

Del. conf.# 0308 2690 0001 7695 8006 

Journal Entry 7 by Bug2004 from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Thursday, February 19, 2009

Re'cvd today. I have a few in front of it, but will get to it as quick as I can. Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 8 by Bug2004 from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Saturday, April 18, 2009

Haunting. That is the word that best describes this read. Once I really got going w/ it, I had a hard time putting it down. It is such a tragic tale...some of the twists I didn't see coming. I agree that it ended rather quickly, but it seems that it was yet another illustration as to how things can just change course w/out much warning...like Esme's life...like anyone's life. I will remember Esme for some time.

The writing was lovely...the perfect combo of simplicty and description...very vivid, but not heavy.

Thanks for sharing this, Guinneth...I will find more by this author!!

Mailed off yesterday! 

Journal Entry 9 by allthesepieces from Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, May 04, 2009

Oooh, I'm anxious to start reading this one. 

Journal Entry 10 by allthesepieces from Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania USA on Sunday, May 24, 2009

I'm sorry to report that I'm unable to finish this book. I've tried several times, but I can't make it past the first fifty pages of relentless, meaningless, floridly descriptive bunk. The author was clearly trying too hard.

I am, however, grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book. The synopsis captured my interest. I do want to know more about Esme, so I might need to give it another try when I have more time to grit my teeth between readings.

I'll be sending a PM to the next participant tonight. I hope the rest of you enjoy this book more than I did. 

Journal Entry 11 by allthesepieces from Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, May 30, 2009

I decided to hang onto this for a few more days. It must've been my guilty conscience that tricked me into finishing it. I'm very sorry, but I didn't like it.

Thank you again, though, for the opportunity to read it. I'll see if I can have it in the mail by Monday. 

Journal Entry 12 by allthesepieces at Bookring, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (6/1/2009 UTC) at Bookring, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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On its way to the next participant. 

Journal Entry 13 by rebeccaljames from Cincinnati, Ohio USA on Tuesday, June 23, 2009

I received this book a while ago. I will get to it as soon as possible. Thank you for sharing.