From the cover:

"Maybe it was a grandparent, a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient, and wise, who understood you when you were young and impassioned, helped you to see the world as a more profound place, and gave you sound advice to guide your way through it. For Mitch Albom, it was Morrie Schwartz, the college professor who had taught him nearly twenty years before. . . ."

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Going out to the winner of the Unknown Valentine's Smile RABCK. Happy reading and congratulations!!

Thanks so much for the book, I´ve wanted to read this one for ages!!!!
And also thanks so much for everything you sent with it, the bookmark is beautiful and the chocolate is just yammy:)

I loved this book, it´s really wonderful! I´ve wanted to read it ever since I read The Five People You Meet in Heaven which was also amazing.

Thanks so much for sending me this book Wangering-B

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book will next travel to Madnad in Spain:) Enjoy:)

This arrived today - thank you SO much, Bjorg!!! I look forward to reading this (have 1.5 other books to read); you'll have saved a lost ray/ring as well:)

As soon as I've finished reading this (tonight?), the book can continue its journey. This is a replacement for the ray that was lost on its way to me!

The original copy of the book can be found
here

Participants:
49. GingerWhinger (austria) ~ within eu
50. bookguide (netherlands) ~ uk/europe
51. hakkalina (hungary) ~ prefer eu - wiling anywhere
(52. DitteL (denmark) ~ anywhere - ASKED TO BE SKIPPED, GOT ANOTHER COPY)
53. discoverylover (New Zealand) ~ prefer NZ or Australia -
54. skokgitt (new zealand) ~ anywhere
55. Qantaqa (germany) ~ anywhere

New participants:
56. franaloe (Netherlands, intl. shipping)
57. peacejunkie84 (USA, intl. shipping)

What a nice little book! I thought it was very philosophical but in a nice way. A lot of Morrie's thoughts on life are the same as mine and the others are so true as well. Really enjoyed this! Thank you, Bjorg, for your copy of this book!

The book is now on its way to GingerWhinger:)

Thanks Madnad
Arrived in rainy Vienna this morning.
Am in the middle of my current book and then its next in line!
x

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sorry for the delay...my fault entirely ;)

What a wonderful book, how I blubbed.
Off on its journey after the holiday weekend in Austria

Best wishes
x

edited as I messed up

How bizarre! Yesterday I received another book from Austria, from Solskinn ;-) Thank you to GingerWhinger for sending 'Tuesdays With Morrie' to me, and also Wandering-B for sending it out into the world in the first place. I will read it as soon as I can, but my book ring shelf is full to overflowing at the moment. It will go last on the list for now, but will be bumped up nearer the top as the month progresses. You can check where it is in my planning by taking a look on my profile.

It's not often that I read a book which makes me seriously consider buying a copy for myself or to pass on to others, but this is one of those few. I suppose Morrie's little teachings are not exactly world-shattering novelties to anyone who has ever watched Oprah, read a book with any leanings towards Buddhism or Humanism, or read any self-help books which are not purely money-grabbing business texts. But I think that it is a book which would strike a chord with most people, whether it be because of the advice on relationships, making the most of the hand you're dealt, or the attitude to illness. Having been told I had a serious illness myself (now departed) I can connect completely with the feeling of how "my old professor... was stunned by the normalcy of the day around him. Shouldn't the world stop? Don't they know what has happened to me?" I remember walking round the supermarket muttering under my breath at people who got in my way - didn't they know I was ill?! It is interesting to hear how he gradually changed as his body gradually deteriorated. He was no saint, but had a wonderful talent for making people feel wanted and important, so it was not surprising that when he became seriously ill, he shared the experience rather than hide himself away, as "I'm on the last great journey here - and people want me to tell them what to pack" (p.33).

The story of Morrie is not exceptional because of any so-called bravery he might have shown in the face of a terrible and irrevocable fate, but his ability to share his time, emotions and wisdom with others:
"You know what really gives you satisfaction?" What? "Offering others what you have to give... I don't mean money, Mitch. I mean your time. Your concern. Your storytelling... This is how you start to get respect, by offering something that you have.... There are plenty of places to do this. You don't need to have a big talent. ... Remember what I said about finding a meaningful life? ... Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. "You notice," he added, grinning, "there's nothing in there about a salary." (p.126/7)

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the story, is the way in which Mitch Albom is changed by the experience from a workaholic journalist who keeps his emotions firmly under control, to someone whose barriers and initial squeamishness about touching or helping his friend are gradually stripped away. It reminds me of something Yellow-Star's father, who had been at her bedside throughout her illness, wrote on the Dutch forum when somebody was expressing her doubts about going to visit a colleague who had terminal cancer. His advice was "Try to give your friend as much friendship as you can. Surround her with warmth and love and if you manage to conjure a smile on to her face, thoroughly enjoy it; both of you will be able to intensely appreciate it. I know it is very difficult, but realise that this is a way to see and experience the true beauty of life." Wise words!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On the way to Hakkalina.

This book has been released as part of the following BookCrossing challenges:
- Reduce Mount TBR (To Be Read) - read and release books on the TBR list since before Jan. 2009. My reading goal is 46 books.
- The Ultimate Challenge - read and release books, with extra points for a monthly theme (July is non-fiction)
- Pages Read Challenge - read a self-set target number of pages in 2009. My goal is 25000.
- 2009 Movie Books Challenge - have to check if this has been made into a film, as my friend said it sounded very familiar!
- BX Top 100 Challenge - try to read and release as many as possible of the BookCrossers' 100 top reads. I suspect this might be one of them, but haven't got time to check now!

The little book arrived safely. I did care for the envelope to be able to use it again, like you did it bookguide. :) Lately beside the gotten books, the envelopes turned to be valuable things for me. :))

Thanks the tea samples, I like the green tea, although the ginseng one I haven't tried it yet. "Albert Heijn" .. It reminds me, last year I spent some days in Leeuwarden, and brought home some delicious goddies from this shop. I found there a new taste of Pickwick Tea, Green tea with Cranberry. I drank it very slowly, every day was a celebration when I drank, finally I run out of it.. But I should say, the angels listened to my wish, and the Hungarian affiliated company started to sell this tea. Yuppe :)

Update: 2009.09.01.
After I had signed up this book, I got a DVD, with Jack Lemmon, "Leckék az életről" as the Hungarian title said. It was a while as I realised the film and book were same. Thus when I got the book, notwithstanding I was curious what was missing form the film, but I knew that I needed a special mood to read. It is a beautiful but painful story. I kept postponing the reading, since I knew what was waiting for me. The right time didn't want to come. So today I took the book and read. My mood was basically sad, so it made me still more sad. This novel contains good and true thoughts about life.

The Seventh Tuesday
"The truth is, part of me is every age. I'm a three-year-old, I'm a five-year-old, I'm a thirty-seven-year-old, I'm a fifty-year-old. I've been through all of them, and I know what it's like. I delight in being a child when it's appropriate to be a child. I delight in being a wise old man when it's appropriate to be a wise old man. Think of all I can be! I am every age, up to my own. Do you understand? ... How can I be envious of where you are - when I've been there myself?"'

Update: 2009.09.05.
Discoverylover has got an own copy, so next reader is skokgitt.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

"Tuesdays with Morrie" now continues its way to New Zealand.

Just to let you know this book has arrived safely in new Zealand.

This is such an inspirational book, I really enjoyed it, and have taken a lot from it. This book is now going on its way to the next person in this book ring. Qantaqa has already read this book so i will be sending it on to franaloe in Holland once I confirm her address.

The book made it all the way back to Europe. Will read this soon. Thanks for sending skokgitt, and also for the bookmarks!

I think I would have been lyrical about this book if it would have been my first Mitch Albom read, but since it is my third (5 people you meet in heaven is the very best), I got to know his trick and way of writing. Still, it is a nice story, and if you want you can extract a lot of (logical) wisdom from it.

Awaiting peacejunkie84's address confirmation before sending.

17/11/09 edit: peacejunkie84 is not responding to PMs nor e-mail, so I guess I'm skipping her as a next reader. I will try to contact the starter of the original ring to ask what to do with the book.

I'll let this book travel a little longer. It will now go to:

57. duth-book (NL, EU shipping)
58. mafarrimond (Wales, EU shipping)
59. thursoexile (UK, Intl shipping)
60. Silver-Greece (Greece, Intl shipping)
61. Moeshell (USA, fref USA shipping, Intl if needed)
62. you?

keep this book moving! The usual rules go for this book (make a JE when receiving the book, send within time, etc etc)

Book arrived here. This will be my first Mitch Albom, so I have high hopes for it.

I finally read it. I read the book piece by piece. I liked the book, but that is all I can say about it. It didn't grip me. Just a book to read, but not a book you must read.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sorry for the delay. It is now off to the next reader.

The book arrived safely. I have a few more in front of but will get round to it as soon as I can