Journal Entry 1 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Friday, November 21, 2008

This is the journal that will accompany the Best of BC (#2) bookbox. By "best of BC" I generally mean that the participants are some of BookCrossing's best (in my humble opinion, as this is a private invite box), but also that the books will (hopefully) be some of the best. There's no particular theme for the box -- just what you consider good, quality books or at least books that you think someone else will be interested in. No limitations on genre (other than the obvious no romance, travel guides, or other craziness, etc.).

General courtesy guidelines apply, primarily being the following: please pass the box along in a timely manner, replace the box if necessary (writing the journal's BCID# somewhere inside the lid or somewhere visible), don't take out more books than you put in, and please make an online journal entry when you've received the box & again when you ship it off to the next person. If you've participated in boxes of mine before, you know that I usually like the arriving books to be surprises, so please DO NOT list the names of the books you're putting in or taking out here (although I would like you to do so in the journal that's enclosed in the box itself). Do feel free, however, to list the number of books you're exchanging in your journal entries here. Please send a PM my way if something comes up or you have a concern. Hopefully everyone can find at least a few books of interest.

Mailing order:

sweetsangria (OR)
tomsmama (CA)
LGinder (CA)
Bluestocking88 (WA)
KimKerry (AZ)
azuki (FL)
msjoanna (NY)
time-traveler (NY)
batty14 (NY)
chambejd (MA)
mrsjones (OH)
300dogs (NJ)
jnpert (KY)
indygo88 (IN)
 

Journal Entry 2 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Sunday, November 30, 2008

The box is now packaged up & ready to go -- I'll be taking it to the post office tomorrow. I'm not sure how long this particular box will last (it's been used a few times before for bookboxes), but it was the best fit I had! The box is starting out with 21 books. Happy travels! :')

12/1/08 -- Mailed today. DC #: 0308 1400 0000 9804 6302 

Journal Entry 3 by sweetsangria from Forest Grove, Oregon USA on Monday, December 08, 2008

I received the box today! The box is open on one side...thankfully no books were lost. I have to say that this is a fabulous bookbox...The best of BC. I see at least 12 books that I want. 4 are on my wishlist! I think I will take 5(the most I've ever taken out of a bookbox.)and replace with 5. I will mail this out as soon as I get a new box and address. Thank you Indygo88 for another great box!

 

Journal Entry 4 by sweetsangria from Forest Grove, Oregon USA on Saturday, December 13, 2008

Mailed to tomsmama on friday December 12th.
Delivery confirmation #03082690000068977597 

Journal Entry 5 by tomsmama on Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Sweetsangria has much more restraint than I have. She only removed 5 books. Well over half the books in the box are striking my fancy. RESIST TEMPTATION! RESIST TEMPTATION!

Box obviously made it here safe and sound, same can't be said for our postal carrier though, he was a might soggy when he came in! I'll make my choices today or tomorrow and get the box moving. Thanks for including me! 

Journal Entry 6 by tomsmama on Friday, December 19, 2008

Box is packed up and on its way to LGinder (aka: my Sis) via the customary method... United 'Paul'cel Service. (Inside joke cause I work with her husband and he complains constantly about only being needed for his delivery skills!) Took 6, added 6 plus 1 to grow on. Hey, it sounded good at the time!


 

Journal Entry 7 by LGinder on Saturday, December 20, 2008

Box made it here safely. Now to make my choices .... and it's going to be hard as I don't have much will power and there's so many good ones!

I'll get them sorted and repacked here shortly but I'll wait until the week of the 29th to mail to avoid the holiday postal madness. Will add another journal entry when it goes out. 

Journal Entry 8 by LGinder at by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (12/30/2008 UTC) at by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Box was mailed out yesterday, 12/29, media mail. Delivery confirmation # 0307 1790 0003 4685 6296 

Journal Entry 9 by Bluestocking88 from -- Wild released somewhere in the state, Washington USA on Saturday, January 03, 2009

This arrived this morning and I'm delighted at the contents. I have whittled my selection down to four (er, make that five) books, and have pmed KimKerry to send it on its way. Thank you so much--I'm looking forward to adding these books to my reading list.

And thank you for the one the was on my wish list. 

Journal Entry 10 by Bluestocking88 from -- Wild released somewhere in the state, Washington USA on Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Mailed out to KimKerry in the afternoon's mail in a new, and smaller box. 

Journal Entry 11 by KimKerry from Prescott, Arizona USA on Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The box arrived today!! It had been shrink-wrapped and was stamped by the PO down in Phoenix: "Damaged in Handling. Please accept our apologies. U.S. Postal Service. Phoenix, AZ 85026-9998." The box was in bad shape, but the books appear to have suffered no ill effects.

I've been having so much fun! I started to make three piles -- the "Oh yes, I must keep these", the "I'm fairly sure I want these too", and the "I'll put these back in the box" piles. First go-round I had 12 books in the "gotta-have em" pile, 3 in the "maybes", and 4 in the "put back" pile (I'd read those four). I'm still working on it. What a great box! 

Journal Entry 12 by KimKerry from Prescott, Arizona USA on Thursday, January 15, 2009

The books are in TWO boxes -- mailed (priority) today, Jan. 16.
Delivery Confirmation #0103 8555 7496 5743 7638
Delivery Confirmation #0103 8555 7496 2610 3298 Boxes shown as delivered January 20.

Note:
As I mentioned, the box arrived damaged by the Phoenix PO. The books seemed fine, but... What I didn't realize until I started to read the journal is that three books are missing. These three:
Sara (from indygo88)
I Feel Bad About My Neck (from Tomsmama)
Crazy Quilt (from LGinder)

I'm taking five books and putting in eight.

Thanks for including me in this! 

Journal Entry 13 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Boxes has arrived!!!
Gosh, this is an insanely good box...I need a bib to keep my drool off the books. Excellent collection.
I will register and finalize my selection this weekend. So happens a few books I plan to put in are in the box already. I guess great minds think alike, but it does mean I need to re-plan.
Can I be in for the next round please? 

Journal Entry 14 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Friday, January 30, 2009

I've finished my selection, registering and journalling the books, and box is now ready to go to MsJoanna.

All the books are so good, I am worried that mine are not good enough, so I have put in extra - as there is room and also hoping that quantity will make up for what may lack in quality. I've taken out 6 and put in 8. Look like I have worst restrain! Also took a book out to see its creator and got it autographed.

Just to share a tip I use for bookboxes: I will line the box w a big bag: oversized shopping bag or garbage bag, then put the books in. I put the address on a piece of paper and lay it on top, seal the bag, then close the box. Should the box come apart hopefully the bag will keep the content whole and the address inside can get it to its destination. Have yet a chance to see if it works but I like to think it helps. 

Journal Entry 15 by msjoanna from Columbia, Missouri USA on Tuesday, February 10, 2009

This box is here in NYC. Looks like a fabulous box. Looking forward to going over it in more detail this week. I'm going out of town for the weekend, so probably won't be able to mail it until next week when I return. 

Journal Entry 16 by msjoanna from Columbia, Missouri USA on Saturday, February 21, 2009

This is now in the mail to time-traveler.
DC 0306 0320 0001 1765 9742

I removed four books and added five. Great box! 

Journal Entry 17 by time-traveler from Westchester, New York USA on Tuesday, February 24, 2009

It's here! It was on my front porch this morning when I headed out to work. I brought it inside but couldn't open it until just now when I got home. I've been thinking about it all day :)

It's a fantastic box and I'm sure I'll be making a lot of trades before sending it to batty14. 

Journal Entry 18 by time-traveler from Westchester, New York USA on Friday, March 06, 2009

I went through the books in this box so many times before making my final selection. The box was filled with so many great titles! Luckily, I read a lot of them already, and I managed to keep my selection to 5 books. (I added 5 more). The box was getting worn so I replaced it.

I really enjoyed reading the journal & got a chuckle out of some of the stickers. I managed to find a sticker of my own to add to the page I journalled.

Thanks so much, indygo, for hosting this bookbox :) It was FUN!!!

The bookbox was mailed this morning to batty14. Delivery confirmation # 0306 2400 0000 5976 0116. 

Journal Entry 19 by batty14 from Ballston Spa, New York USA on Wednesday, March 11, 2009

IT'S HERE!!! I will have to say this is one of the best boxes I have seen in a long time! What fun. I am having a hard time choosing! 

Journal Entry 20 by mrsjones from Hamilton, Ohio USA on Wednesday, April 08, 2009

I received the box today and it was full of great books! I've read more than half of them, but started snagging the ones I haven't read yet. Thanks, chambejd, for adding books off my wishlist. How sweet!!

I'll make my picks and send it on to 300dogs. 

Journal Entry 21 by mrsjones from Hamilton, Ohio USA on Monday, April 13, 2009

Box is on its way to 300dogs. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 22 by 300dogs from Jackson, New Jersey USA on Monday, April 20, 2009

The bookbox arrived safely on Saturday. Wow-what a great selection. I've read 9 of the books, found one from my wishlist and another from a favorite author that I hadn't read yet. This really was a "best of" bookbox! Thanks indygo88!! I will send on to jnpert as soon as I get an address. 

Journal Entry 23 by 300dogs at by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Friday, April 24, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (4/25/2009 UTC) at by mail, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed out today--happy travels!! 

Journal Entry 24 by jnpert from Ridgefield, Connecticut USA on Tuesday, May 05, 2009

It arrived in Louisville safe and sound. Lots of great books. Will sort through and make my selections/additions!

Thanks to all involved! 

Journal Entry 25 by jnpert from Ridgefield, Connecticut USA on Friday, May 15, 2009

Mailed home to indygo88 on Wednesday!

Thank you so much! 

Journal Entry 26 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Saturday, May 16, 2009

The box has returned home -- yippee!!! :')
Despite the fact that it lost a few books near the beginning, it seems to have traveled safely since then. The postman delivered the rather LARGE box into my waiting arms today (literally), & I had to force myself to be calm & collected as I ripped it open. Many of the books that arrived are those I've either already read or are already on my Mt. TBR (but that's perfectly okay -- it reinforces that I have good taste!), but I must say you all did a GRAND job with your giving & taking, & there's a great variety in here. :') I'll be sifting through & making journal entries within the next day or two. I hope everyone enjoyed the box. I think I'll be doing a round #3, but probably not until the end of summer or early fall. Let me know if you're interested, and if you are, start saving those "Best of BC" books! :')


*As a side note, I know a few of you read audiobooks as well. I have a quickly growing number of books on CD that I'd like to start a bookbox with eventually, but I'd kind of like to be choosy with who I invite for that box, & I already know all of you have good taste, so if you're interested in something like that, let me know that too! Thanks! :') 

Journal Entry 27 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Sunday, May 17, 2009

Oh! In case you were wondering which books were in the box at the end.....

The Bean Trees - Barbara Kingsolver
These is My Words - Nancy E. Turner
Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates
Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
Plain Truth - Jodi Picoult
Happy Birthday or Whatever - Annie Choi
The Night Watch - Sarah Waters
Bel Canto - Ann Patchett
Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain
The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett
The Rapture of Canaan - Sheri Reynolds
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
The Dive from Clausen's Pier - Ann Packer
A Girl Named Zippy - Haven Kimmel
Mercy - Jodi Picoult
Dear Exile - Hilary Liftin & Kate Montgomery
The Art of Mending - Elizabeth Berg
Spook - Mary Roach
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress - Dai Sijie
The Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood - Rebecca Wells
Little Altars Everywhere - Rebecca Wells
The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler
Endurance - Alfred Lansing
Shelter Me - Juliette Fay
Still Life with Chickens - Catherine Goldhammer
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Julie & Julia - Julie Powell

29 books altogether (no wonder the box was so big), so thank you to those who added extras! I think I also forgot to say in my other journal entry that NONE of the books that I started the box with came back home. YEAH! Kudos to you all!!!