Journal Entry 1 by J4shaw from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Loved this book, such a refreshing storyline, and very funny. This was the 1st Australian book I've read.
Sent it on its travels to Somerset, UK, to my sister's Mother in Law, then it'll do the rounds of the sisters, then on its way!


"A brilliantly moving and darkly comic novel, which charts the attempts of dying heroine Delia -- a modern day Mrs Beeton -- to prepare her family for the future and lay to rest a ghost from her past. Inspired by her heroine, Isabella Beeton, Delia has made a living writing a series of hugely successful modern household guides, as well as an acerbic domestic advice column. As the book opens, she is not yet forty, but has only a short time to live. She is preoccupied with how to prepare herself and her family for death, from writing exhaustive lists to teaching her young daughters how to make a perfect cup of tea. What she needs, more than anything, is a manual -- exactly the kind she is the expert at writing. Realising this could be her greatest achievement (for who could be better equipped to write The Household Guide to Dying?) she sets to work. But, in the writing, Delia is forced to confront the ghosts of her past, and the events of fourteen years previously. There is a journey she needs to make, back to the landscape of her past, and one last vital thing she needs to do.Hugely original, life affirming and humorous, The Household Guide to Dying illuminates love, loss, family and the place we call home."

Sending this over to the UK for some of my friends and family to read and then will be making it into a Bookring

List of Bookring Participants
1) J4shaw Australia
2) Jennie (none BCer) Somerset, UK
3) Babydoll London, UK
4) Jane (none BCer) Mold, Wales
5) 24-7-365Reader Worcestershire, UK
6) Kryssa Weston-super-Mare, UK
7) JudeK Scarborough,UK stalled for a total of 28 months
8) Laui Utrecht, Netherlands, Europe <---------- BOOK IS HERE
9) Alienagr, Netherlands, Europe
10) Icila France,
11) Debnance Texas, USA
12) Llednyl Chesterland, Ohio USA
13) Mikimouse Georgia, USA
14) 2of3Rs Hillsboro, Oregon INT
15) Luckof Ontario, Canada
16) Dreamer-kitty Calgary, Alberta, Canada
17) Lauraloo29 Alberta, Canada
18) Tinina67 Queensland, Australia
19) Wombles Queensland, Australia
20) Mozette Queensland, Australia
21) Bookworm76 Queensland, Australia
22) BookseekerAT Sydney, Australia
23) Lisagt Sydney, Australia
24) FreePages Canberra, Australia
25) Makita21 Victoria, Australia
26) Blue1236 Melbourne, Australia
27) Livrecache Melbourne, Australia
28) Jean-Sol Melbourne, Australia
29) Wodfest Melbourne, Australia
30) Arrietty Adelaide, South Australia
31) Blundery Baldivis, WA, Australia




 

Journal Entry 2 by J4shaw at Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Monday, February 09, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (1/31/2009 UTC) at Melbourne, Victoria Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent by mail to an extended member of my family in Somerset, UK 

Journal Entry 3 by AnonymousFinder on Wednesday, February 11, 2009

I'm about half way through and will then send on to Gillian.

CAUGHT IN BRIDGWATER SOMERSET ENGLAND 

Journal Entry 4 by babydoll857 from Isleworth, Middlesex United Kingdom on Saturday, March 07, 2009

I received this book mysteriously through the post! 

Journal Entry 5 by babydoll857 from Isleworth, Middlesex United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Any novel in which the protaganist's surname is Bennet and she names her 5 hens after the 5 Bennett daughters in 'P&P' according to their personalities is a winner for me! I can't believe how many negative or disinterested reviews there have been for this wonderful brave book. I had to read the last few chapters in short bursts because it was so affecting. As a mother of a little boy myself I could totally empathise with the mad things she came up with to try to protect her children even in death - hers or their's. When I read in the author notes that Debra Adelaide's son had contracted and fought successfully leukemia whilst she was writing this book I thought it was even braver a subject for her to take on. And how sexy is Archie?! Loved it. 

Journal Entry 6 by AnonymousFinder on Thursday, March 19, 2009

This book was mailed to me by my bookworm older sister who lives in London England. I plan to read this book and pass it on to share the love.

CAUGHT IN WALES 

Journal Entry 7 by 24-7-365Reader on Thursday, May 28, 2009

Arrived this week, I have one in front of it, will start it as soon as I can, thanks for sharing :) 

Journal Entry 8 by 24-7-365Reader on Friday, July 24, 2009

Firstly huge apologies for keeping this book longer than I should have, thanks to J4shaw for the gentle reminder and understanding :)

Given the subject of the book I found quite light hearted and funny in places, which surprised me a little and I did think that I shouldn't smile or laugh at such a subject, but then I suppose maybe that was the point! Then in other places it broke my heart and made me cry. Thanks for sharing, on its way to the next person today. 

Journal Entry 9 by Kryssa from Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset United Kingdom on Thursday, July 30, 2009

I received this book in the post and started reading it this morning - thanks for passing it on to me :) 

Journal Entry 10 by Kryssa from Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 19, 2009

There is nothing particularly wrong with this book, but it just did not reach me. I guess maybe it didn't quite live up to what I wanted it to be. I thought some of the attitudes to death were portrayed in a strange way, quite dismissive. It was hard to get a feeling of the time throughout the story as it switches back and forth between the two main scenarios (home life and the final journey). Nevertheless there were some honest and relevant pieces - it just didn't work for me. Hope the next reader enjoys this more than I did, and will send on when I have the address. 

Journal Entry 11 by Kryssa at Bookring, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (9/9/2009 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Apologies for holding this up, I had packaged the book ready to send and just realised I have not actually taken it to the Post Office yet! Sorry, it will be on its way tomorrow. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 12 by JudeK from Scarborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, September 17, 2009

received book thanks and will now read and send on soon 

Journal Entry 13 by JudeK from Scarborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, October 04, 2009

Finished book and really enjoyed it. Have sent message to Lady Trinity for her address to post on this week. 

Journal Entry 14 by Laui at Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Sunday, February 12, 2012

Received the book yesterday in the mail! Thanks very much for sending it on! I'm very busy at the moment, but I'll try to read it soon and move it on to the next person on the list. If it's taking a bit longer, please feel free to ask me if I haven't forgotten about it ;-) 

Journal Entry 15 by Laui at Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Saturday, May 12, 2012

Finished reading it. I must say that it didn't meet my expectations. Those might have changed a bit over time, too. I ended up skipping parts of the book, and I found others a bit too dragging/predictable. However: thanks for sharing!
I'll be contacting the next person on the list and update this post when I've sent it on. Fingers crossed that someone in Europe still wants to read it! Especially since postage has become quite expensive in the past few years *gulp*.