Journal Entry 1 by lucy-lemon from Llandudno, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 09, 2008

I really liked this book! I signed up to katrinat's ring for it as it's a Booker Prize winner and I'm trying to read all of them, and surprised myself by liking it so much.

This copy was to restart the ring. The original details can be seen here: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6670183

The order is:
lucy-lemon (UK, EU post)
mucker28 (UK, INTL)
Heaven-Ali (UK, INLT)
Krazykitkat123 (uk,uk)
annalux (UK, INTL)
arturogrande (UK, INTL)
LindyLouMac (Italy, EU)
benschu (Germany, INTL)
Qantaqa (Germany, (intl)
MarcThomas (France, intl)
AngelaPitcher (France, INTL)
Haugtussa (Norway, INTL)
mrbaggins1 (South Africa, ship INTL)
foxygirlACT (Australia, intl)
lauraloo29 (Canada, anywhere but Can)
ladybug74 (USA, US shipping only)
Supertalya (USA, INTL)
bakerwhencan (USA, USA/CANADA)


 

Journal Entry 2 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, December 15, 2008

Thanks for this : ) I will be reading over the next week or so. The book may end up coming to Devon where I am spending Christmas - if I can't get web access while I am away a journal entry will be delayed till I get back. 

Journal Entry 3 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, December 27, 2008

Beautifully written I can well understand why this won the Booker prize. The story of Veronica, her family and the past is sometimes rather disturbing, but it is very readable, and poignant. This is a novel about love and family, and facing up to life. I did occasionally, find I lost my way a little, with the way the narrator (veronica) tells the story of her family. Like a dream it is sometimes jumbled and fragmented - and this way of telling the story is in fact very powerful as it seems to echo the tumult of her mind. 

Journal Entry 4 by Heaven-Ali at sent by mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (12/31/2008 UTC) at sent by mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

If you have found this book, thank you for taking the time to look it up on the internet. Now please tell us what you thought of the book and what your plans for it are. 

Journal Entry 5 by annalux from Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Thursday, January 15, 2009

This was waiting for me when I got back from my Christmas holidays. Thank you! 

Journal Entry 6 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Saturday, February 14, 2009

Arrived safe and sound - thanks very much. I've got some rings ahead of this one, but I'll try not to hold it up for too long. Thank you. 

Journal Entry 7 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Saturday, March 28, 2009

A lot of rings arrived all at once and this was one of them. As it has been (very politely) pointed out to me that I have had this book a while, I thought it would be politic to move it on and not hold the ring up any loner.
It's now on its way to LindyLouMac in Italy - I hope you enjoy it. 

Journal Entry 8 by LindyLouMac from Viterbo, Lazio Italy on Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Arrived safely yesterday with thanks to arturogrande, but what a shame it sounds like you did not get a chance to read it after all. 

Journal Entry 9 by LindyLouMac from Viterbo, Lazio Italy on Monday, April 13, 2009

I was looking forward to reading this, as from the blurb plus the fact it was a Booker prize winner, it sounded like just the sort of novel I would enjoy. In fact it was a complete let down that I was glad to finish as it was so depressing. It was not difficult to read just for my taste the narrator Veronica's obsession with guilt over the death of her brother Liam just became somewhat boring and depressing.
The idea of reading the story of the Hegarty family, Midge, Bea, Ernest, Stevie, Ita, Mossie, Liam, Veronica, Kitty, Alice and the twins Ivor and Jem as the nine surviving children of the clan gathered in Dublin for the funeral of Liam was initially appealing as had been promised a novel about love and disappointment. A cast of potenially interesting characters that I never got to know at all, as none of them are given any personality by the narrator, Veronica.
Veronia is angry and finds fault in everything in her own life after the death of Liam the brother she was closest. Her childhood memories and imaginings of her grandparents and parents lives are all detailed, as her own sanity hangs in the balance as she tries to come to terms with the guilt and grief. Love and disappointment but certainly not from the angle I was expecting as the entire novel is a narration direct from Veronica's confused mind.
Technically a well written novel but I read for enjoyment not to get depressed. I am somewhat surprised that it won the 2007 Man Booker Prize , it is certainly not the title I would have voted for, my vote would have gone to On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan, but then I am no expert. 

Journal Entry 10 by LindyLouMac at to the next participant, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, April 25, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (4/25/2009 UTC) at to the next participant, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I now have an address for Benschu so book travelling again.

Happy reading

LindyLouMac 

Journal Entry 11 by benschu from Erftstadt, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Monday, May 04, 2009

Tanks, I got it.

7.10.
I think it's looong. The narrator talks a lot about her grandmother and her history. It seems, that she is more important than the brother who commited suicide. It's a bit difficult to follow her jumps in time. The book is not really boring but I often asked myself, why she is telling this or that.

Qantaqa want to be skipped 

Journal Entry 12 by benschu at Paris, Ile-de-France France on Saturday, October 10, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (10/12/2009 UTC) at Paris, Ile-de-France France

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On the way to MarcThomas 

Journal Entry 13 by MarcThomas from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Got it in the mail today. Thanks lucy-lemon for organising the ring and thanks benschu for sending it from Germany to France. Got a few ring books to read beforehand but I'll get on with this one as soon as possible. 

Journal Entry 14 by MarcThomas from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Sunday, November 01, 2009

Finished reading on Thursday. I must say it's a good description of grief, one can really get into the character's head. Yet I was a bit troubled by the handling of this family's history. A good read overall.

PMing AngelaPitcher for her address. 

Journal Entry 15 by MarcThomas at by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (11/10/2009 UTC) at by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to the Netherlands.

Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 16 by AngelaPitcher from Den Helder, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Monday, December 07, 2009

Received The Gathering through a ring from MarcThomas (THANKS!!) and will now send it along to Haugtussa.

 

Journal Entry 17 by Haugtussa from Stavanger, Rogaland fylke Norway on Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The book arrived today! 

Journal Entry 18 by Haugtussa from Stavanger, Rogaland fylke Norway on Monday, April 05, 2010

A beautiful book, I loved the way Veronica took us through her both disturbing and happy past.
I liked all the colourful characters in the book, and I believe the book to give a good insight to familylife not only in Irland, but also in other poorer parts of the world. It's all about surviving.

Edited 8th of May:
I've finally managed to get myself to the post office, thus the book is on it's way to the next reader.
Sorry for the delay. 

Journal Entry 19 by foxygirlACT from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Just received in the mail... 

Journal Entry 20 by foxygirlACT at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, May 31, 2010

I was able to get through this book pretty quickly, but it was quite depressing so I was very eager to get it over with and get onto something a bit more upbeat!

Will send on to Canda once I have the address  

Journal Entry 21 by lauraloo29 at Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Monday, June 14, 2010

This arrived safe and sound today. I'm reading another ring, but this one is next. Thank you! 

Journal Entry 22 by lauraloo29 at Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Saturday, June 26, 2010

This book is just not working for me. I have other rings, so I am giving up. I don't mind the depressing "ness" of this, perhaps the confusion..... I'm not sure. I can't seem to get into it.

I will be sending this on to Supertalya as ladybug74 does not have PM's activated.

Thank you for sharing. 

Journal Entry 23 by Supertalya at APO AP, -- US Military (all branches) -- USA on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Thanks, I will read this soon and move it along.