I hope you will let me know where and when you found my book and, especially, what you thought of it.

I'm not loving this book, so I hope you enjoy it more than I do.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm sending this directly to Athens to a fellow Bookcrosser.
I hope she enjoys the book more than I did.

It's here! Sooner than I expected! I already love the peculiar layout and curvy titles. I think I'm going to enjoy this.

Thank you very much Hayes13, receiving this book is even better because it was totally unexpected.

Sometime in the beginning of the story Alex (the young Ukranian narrator) wonders whether Jews consider themselves to be 'the chosen ones' because only they can understand the funnies they make about themselves. As far as I'm concerned this is not true - being a jew is not enough to ensure understanding the jokes or the yiddish words or the Well-Regarded Rabbi's practices. Either that or I'm not one of the chosen :P

It took me a long time to read this book, mainly because I had to translate Alex's english words as I read them. It got easier as I read on but never easy enough to let me enjoy the writing - or get into the novel. I may have to give it another try.
Here's what I got in a nutshell: Jonathan travels to Ukrane in search of his roots. His translator, Alex, tries to protect him by concealing truths he think might hurt him. They both find something different than what they thought they were searching for. Jonathan invents his own history and Alex finds the courage to take a stand against evil, redeaming in a way his grandfather's succumbing to it.

I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this very much. I liked the way the imaginary history of Trachimbrod was written but didn't think much of the tale itself. I thought I got my own illumination when I reached the village chronicles, where it is explained that because words do not convey the meaning we want them to and cause misunderstandings, the best way to communicate is with words that have no meaning. That's what I thought Trachimbrod's story was all about. After reaching the end of the book though I'm not so sure anymore. I prefered Alex's part of the story, where words could eventually be translated to their meaning.

I suppose that if I didn't have to struggle with the words I might have enjoyed the energy of the twisted language. I hope I will have the opportunity to give it another try.

Many thanks Hayes13.

Replacing a stalled bookring started by UnwrittenLibra
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6213228

Not quite sure what the order of the recipients is, copying from the original the ones below Ythan, to whom I'll be sending my copy. If there are other members of the original list who would like to be included, please let me know.

As I stated in my previous JE, I would like to eventually re-read this novel, so please return it to me when you're done.

Bookring order:
Ythan - Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
Niksu – Helsinki, Finland (prefer europe shipping)
fushmush - London, England, United Kingdom (already read it)
Supertayla - Seoul, South Korea (already read it)
gillg - South Perth, Western Australia, Australia (already read it)


Back to me, Evablue, Athens, Greece

Mailed today to Ythan. I've PMed the participants of the previous bookring and will be adding them on to the list as soon as they confirm they're still interested in joining.

Please journal as soon as you receive the book to let us know it reached you. It would also be nice if you told us what you thought of it, I'm really intrigued :-).
Please PM the next in line when you're ready and let me know if there's any problem.

Enjoy

Bookring order so far:
Ythan - Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
Niksu – Helsinki, Finland (prefer europe shipping)
...
...
Back to me, Evablue, Athens, Greece

Arrived safe and sound.

I wasn't planning on reading this now but I see you've reorganised me to the top of the list, didn't realise you would be doing that, I too have been contacting members to see who would still be interested as I assumed that you were just sending me the book and I was just going to pass it on to the next in line. Oh well, since I'm at the top of the list I better get on with it.

This story just wasn't for me but on the bright side I've read worse.

Sent to Niksu.

The book is here. Thanks Ythan for sending! I have another book to be finished, then I'll grab this one.

I have had several attemps with this book past few weeks and I just can't get myself into it, and not sure why. I have noticed spring time is difficult for me, nothing grabs my attention what comes to books. I figure it's best to keep the book moving and I might pick up another copy sometime in the future if I have more interest to try to read it again.

I will send the book back to Evablue, probably after the Easter holidays, thanks for letting me try it though.

Sent back to Evablue today. Thanks for sharing!

Back to me. Thanks for the pretty card, Niksu. If you want to give it another go when spring is over, you're welcome to my copy again ;-)

Reserved as it will very soon go out as a bookring.

Participants:
Icila (France)
angelface46 (Colorado, USA)
...
back to me

Will update as soon as I mail it out

Sent off to Icila today. Hope everyone enjoys it.

Arrived this morning without any stamp and without any problem. :)
Thanks.

Once I have got the knack I enjoyed Alex' english and the part concerning the search of Trachimbord. The rest of the story wasn't boring me but I can't say I understand the meaning.

Interesting author, though.

On its way to USA.

Just arrived today - thanks

just couldn't get into it - sending back to Evablue