Songs of the Humpback Whale
16 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by 
lukutuoli
from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Thursday, April 16, 2009
lukutuoli from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Thursday, April 16, 2009
From the back cover:
"For years, Jane Jones has lived in the shadow of her husband, renowned San Diego oceanographer Oliver Jones. But during an escalating argument, Janes turns to him with an alarming volatility. In anger and fear, Jane leaves with her teenage daughter, Rebecca, for a cross-country odyssey. Charted by letters from her borther Joley, they are guided to his Massachusetts apple farm, where surprising self-discoveries await. Now Oliver, an expert at tracking humpback whales across vast oceans, will search for his wife across a continent, and find a new way to see the world, his family, and himself: through her eyes. "
"For years, Jane Jones has lived in the shadow of her husband, renowned San Diego oceanographer Oliver Jones. But during an escalating argument, Janes turns to him with an alarming volatility. In anger and fear, Jane leaves with her teenage daughter, Rebecca, for a cross-country odyssey. Charted by letters from her borther Joley, they are guided to his Massachusetts apple farm, where surprising self-discoveries await. Now Oliver, an expert at tracking humpback whales across vast oceans, will search for his wife across a continent, and find a new way to see the world, his family, and himself: through her eyes. "
Journal Entry 2 by lukutuoli at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Saturday, October 16, 2010
lukutuoli at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Saturday, October 16, 2010
I have liked most of the books by Picoult, but this was a big disappointment for me. I didn't get into the story and I found it difficult to follow the five different narrators, there were too many repeats in the text. I have loved the moral themes in the books of Picoult, but this lacked even them. I wonder if it was just a wrong time for this book.
This book will travel to a new reader as a HGG surprise, I hope she'll enjoy it more than I did. I'll take part in the Animal - challenge of Joika as there is a WHALE in the name of the book ;)
This book will travel to a new reader as a HGG surprise, I hope she'll enjoy it more than I did. I'll take part in the Animal - challenge of Joika as there is a WHALE in the name of the book ;)
Journal Entry 3 by lukutuoli at Holiday Gift Giving via the mail, Holiday Gift Giving -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, October 16, 2010
lukutuoli at Holiday Gift Giving via the mail, Holiday Gift Giving -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, October 16, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (10/16/2010 UTC) at Holiday Gift Giving via the mail, Holiday Gift Giving -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
HGG-greetings from Finland - I hope you'll enjoy this book more than I did :) 
Hi lukutuoli -- thanks so much for one of my wishlist books!! I'm excited to read this one, and will let you know how it strikes me. I appreciate your generosity!! I love the postcard from beautiful Tampere and visitor guide also -- I have to come back and visit Finland again!!
I liked this book much more than lukutuoli did! In fact, I read it in late 2010 and again in January 2011, mostly because I couldn't remember it exactly. I completely agree that it bounced around too much. I didn't mind the change of narrator as much as the constant change of timeline. I really hate when stories go backward and forward in time. A little bit is ok, but this story did it every few pages :) Also, I really dislike that writing technique in which you get the ending long before the end of the story. I don't want to know the ending until I get there!! That said, I liked all of the characters in this story, I like the drive cross-country, the feeling of the apple orchards, the stories about whales...so overall I really liked it.
**SPOILER ALERT**I wanted to slap the adults as they argued about whether Hadley and Rebecca should be involved with each other. I'm pretty sure statutory rape laws don't change entirely from state to state in the USA. A 15-yr-old girl is legally not old enough to decide to have sex with an adult. That's what Sam should have told Hadley when they sat in the bar that night. That's also what Jane should have told Rebecca. At the very least someone should have counseled about birth and disease control!! There is always some of that stuff in Jodi Picoult's books, where I want to slap some of the characters :)
Thanks much, lukutuoli, for sharing with me from such a distance! I really appreciate it.
Bookray list:
ravencat (New York)
iwillrejoice (Florida)
powaybabe (California)
valpete (California)
jenm82 (Australia)
antonettes (Netherlands)
silvia-pco (Portugal)
Kemppu (Finland)
wal-89 (UK)
jonniboi (UK)
rwidiani (Netherlands)
chamonix44 (Netherlands) -- original book ray ended here!!
**SPOILER ALERT**I wanted to slap the adults as they argued about whether Hadley and Rebecca should be involved with each other. I'm pretty sure statutory rape laws don't change entirely from state to state in the USA. A 15-yr-old girl is legally not old enough to decide to have sex with an adult. That's what Sam should have told Hadley when they sat in the bar that night. That's also what Jane should have told Rebecca. At the very least someone should have counseled about birth and disease control!! There is always some of that stuff in Jodi Picoult's books, where I want to slap some of the characters :)
Thanks much, lukutuoli, for sharing with me from such a distance! I really appreciate it.
Bookray list:
ravencat (New York)
iwillrejoice (Florida)
powaybabe (California)
valpete (California)
jenm82 (Australia)
antonettes (Netherlands)
silvia-pco (Portugal)
Kemppu (Finland)
wal-89 (UK)
jonniboi (UK)
rwidiani (Netherlands)
chamonix44 (Netherlands) -- original book ray ended here!!
Received today as part of a bookray from judygreeneyes. Will start in a few days as I am just finishing up my current read.
This was not my favorite Jodi Picoult book but I did enjoy the story. I might have had a different opinion about it if the characters of Sam and Hadley were left out as I really did not think that they added anything to the storyline and found their characters quite boring and not in the best interest for Rebecca and Jane. Leaving the story to just the family would have been adequate and I did think the info about the whales was interesting. Thank you for including me in this ring and now off to iwillrejoice. USPS del conf# 0310 2010 0002 5780 0465.
Received in the mail today as part of a bookray. I'll be starting this in the next day or so. Thanks for letting me play!
I have to agree with judygreeneyes assessment of the book. I did enjoy the story! :-)
PM'd powaybabe for her address, & will send it on as soon as I hear. Thanks for letting me be a part of your ray!
PM'd powaybabe for her address, & will send it on as soon as I hear. Thanks for letting me be a part of your ray!
Journal Entry 10 by iwillrejoice at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, trades, Florida USA on Sunday, March 20, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (3/21/2011 UTC) at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, trades, Florida USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Released to powaybabe as the next person in line for this book ray. Enjoy!
(Tracking number 9102150134711641572051 says it was delivered on March 26.)
(Tracking number 9102150134711641572051 says it was delivered on March 26.)
This book is in Poway and on my TBR pile. Thanks for sending it!!
couldn't get into it, it kept jumping around between times and places, and I'm afraid I just got lost. Am trying to pass it on to next person on bookray!
Finally, off by mail now to valpete.
Thanks for sending this my way. I do have a few before this, so it will be a while. Please let me know if I'm taking too much time.
I feel very lukewarm about Jodi Picoult's books. The storyline did keep me interested, but in the end, I felt it was just another chic lit book.
I have jenm82's adress and will be sending it along.
I have jenm82's adress and will be sending it along.
Arrived! Just need to finish reading Game Of Thrones and then I'll start!
I read that this was Picoult's first novel - unfortunately, I only managed to get halfway through. Clearly she was still establishing the style that would later feature in the excellent 'My Sister's Keeper' and 'The Pact'. I think what was difficult was the fact that Picoult has always managed to create some characters you like, and some you dislike, whereas in this, it's just populated with characters I only dislike. Oliver began to grate on me early and it got worse the further I went. Jane was no better. **SPOILER ALERT** And she goes back with him in the end - WTF?
Someone has already mentioned the statutory rape issue, which I won't go into, but I agree 100%. For Picoult to articulate ethics and dilemmas so eloquently in her other offerings, again, this just reeks of disappointment.
I'm probably missing a vital part that's further in, but it was just taking too long to get there. I have PM'd antonettes and will send as soon as I get her details.
Thanks so much to lukutuoli for organising this, and the page stuck in the front with the bookray order - awesome! I'll be pinching this bit of organisation for my next ray.
Cheers.
Someone has already mentioned the statutory rape issue, which I won't go into, but I agree 100%. For Picoult to articulate ethics and dilemmas so eloquently in her other offerings, again, this just reeks of disappointment.
I'm probably missing a vital part that's further in, but it was just taking too long to get there. I have PM'd antonettes and will send as soon as I get her details.
Thanks so much to lukutuoli for organising this, and the page stuck in the front with the bookray order - awesome! I'll be pinching this bit of organisation for my next ray.
Cheers.
Posted finally - apologies for the wait. Enjoy!
Send to me from Australia. Thanks a lot!
I think that all of us readers so far aree that this isn't Jodi Picoult's best novel ever. I did however like it a lot, after I got used to the different characters. I agree there were too many double scenes in the books. SPOILER I hated the end though where Jane goes back to that loser whale expert instead of following her heart and stay with Sam. Thanks for starting this ray judygreeneyes!
The book went on its way to Portugal today. Happy reading!
The book went on its way to Portugal today. Happy reading!
This had quite the jouney it seems... it took it a while to arrive, I got it today inside a plastic post office bag, it was still in the original envelope but it was torn open... The book is safe and sound though, in good condition and will now join my TBR pile. I'll keep you posted!
This is an amazing story. I love Jodi Picoult and she didn't disappoint me with this book, even thought it doesn't rate among her "best of". As always, it was easy to relate to all the characters and their stories - maybe Oliver was the one I didn't like as much. The jumping around from time to time and place to place didn't pose a problem for me, I actually felt like it gave an interesting twist to the story; it was very original how Rebbeca's side of the story was told from the end to the beginning. It may lack the presence of a polemic or strong theme that is so usual in Picoult's books, but all in all, this is an amazing love story.
Will be passing this along to Kemppu ASAP. Thanks for sharing!
Will be passing this along to Kemppu ASAP. Thanks for sharing!
The book has arrived safely to the town where it begun its journey. Thank you!
I liked the book, although there are several Picoult books I like better. No real controversial (moral) issues or court cases in this book, yet, but then this was Picoult's first book. It took a little time before I understood that Rebecca tells the story "backwards" and that the dates refer only to her bits. After that the time shifts didn't disturb me. Still, I also would have preferred not to know the end right in the beginning, and I think I would've liked the story better with fewer narrators. Perhaps Rebecca, Jane and Oliver?
***SPOILER ALERT***
Rebecca and Hadley were the only characters I really liked in this book, altough I agree with many others here that she was too young to have sex with him. The adults should have done something to that. I don't mean stopping them seeing each other completely, though. I also wondered why did Jane and Oliver get married in the first place. He didn't seem like he wanted to be married, because of his interesting work. He didn't have any time for his family anyway. I also couldn't understand why Jane decided to continue living with him. Therefore the ending of the book was quite disappointing. I was hoping there would be bigger revelations or changes.
Like I said in the beginning, I still liked the book. It was easy to read and Picoult's writing is skillful. I also liked the parts where they rescued whales.
I'll send the book forward when I get the address to send it to.
***SPOILER ALERT***
Rebecca and Hadley were the only characters I really liked in this book, altough I agree with many others here that she was too young to have sex with him. The adults should have done something to that. I don't mean stopping them seeing each other completely, though. I also wondered why did Jane and Oliver get married in the first place. He didn't seem like he wanted to be married, because of his interesting work. He didn't have any time for his family anyway. I also couldn't understand why Jane decided to continue living with him. Therefore the ending of the book was quite disappointing. I was hoping there would be bigger revelations or changes.
Like I said in the beginning, I still liked the book. It was easy to read and Picoult's writing is skillful. I also liked the parts where they rescued whales.
I'll send the book forward when I get the address to send it to.
On its way to wal-89 by mail.
Another bookring book that arrived whilst I was on holiday =) Thanks for sending, I really like reading Jodi Picoult books so looking forward to trying this one out.
Took me a while to finish this book. I have mixed feelings about this book. At times I really enjoyed it and others I was annoyed at the main characters! The jumping back and forth confused me and I don't think it added to the story...in fact it took away some of the suspense. Not Jodi Picoult's usual style (the ones I have read anyway) and therefore I didn't enjoy it as much.
Journal Entry 28 by wal-89 at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, April 1, 2013
Released 11 yrs ago (4/6/2013 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Will be posted to the next in line when I get to the post office this week =)
Wow, well this one came quickly, I had completely forgotten about it, and don't even remember giving Wal-89 my address, and it's come just in time as I return to uni tomorrow, and I only have one book in front of this one, so I can start it in the next couple of days! :)
Journal Entry 30 by JonniC at Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, April 18, 2013
It looks like people are split about this book.
Personally I got excited when I got this book, Jodi Picoult is an amazing author, full of lovable characters, even the ones you dislike you enjoy. However I felt no connection whatsoever.
The story was ploddy, jumpy and repetitive, I stopped at 40 pages in, I just couldn't deal with the whole this happened, then this, then that. Where are the emotions the strongly heartfelt amazingness of Jodi Picoult?
Big disappointment, and I was indecisive whether or not to carry on and persist and try to finish it, as much as I didn't like it. Or just stop completely. stopping won, I have so many other books to get through I just didn't want to waste time reading one I clearly wasn't going to enjoy, no matter how much I read of it.
rwidiani seems to be inactive, and after multiple messages I give up trying to get the address, so will be sending it to charmonix44 when I get the chance.
Personally I got excited when I got this book, Jodi Picoult is an amazing author, full of lovable characters, even the ones you dislike you enjoy. However I felt no connection whatsoever.
The story was ploddy, jumpy and repetitive, I stopped at 40 pages in, I just couldn't deal with the whole this happened, then this, then that. Where are the emotions the strongly heartfelt amazingness of Jodi Picoult?
Big disappointment, and I was indecisive whether or not to carry on and persist and try to finish it, as much as I didn't like it. Or just stop completely. stopping won, I have so many other books to get through I just didn't want to waste time reading one I clearly wasn't going to enjoy, no matter how much I read of it.
rwidiani seems to be inactive, and after multiple messages I give up trying to get the address, so will be sending it to charmonix44 when I get the chance.
Journal Entry 31 by JonniC at Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (4/22/2013 UTC) at Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent this book off, it's now in the post! Sent off a couple of days ago :)
This book arrived today. Thank you Jonniboi for sending it on to me. I had forgotten that I had signed up for this bookray until judygreeneyes reminded me. It was such a long time ago! But that happens with these rays and rings, they do take a long time and these days I don't have a good memory! So thank you Judy for reminding me.
Looking forward to reading it.
Looking forward to reading it.
Some of this book I enjoyed, and some I didn't and I tried to hurry through it when it confused me. I'm still not quite sure if I like Jodi Picoult as an author or not.Now that I have read this, I am going to pass it on to KJSkye in Hengelo as she likes Jodi Picoult's novels.
Giving this book to KJSkye. Enjoy!
Thanks for this book. I like Jodi Picoult as an author. I liked this book. I am handing it back to chamonix44 as she knows someone else who would like to read it.
I did actually hand this back to chamonix44 last Friday, 7th June, but I am at her house now making these release notes on her computer as I find it difficult to do on my phone, and my computer is broken! Bye Bye book!
Thank you for the book. I have promised it to motherof11 as my part in the Wish List Tag Game.
I am giving this book to motherof11 in Dalfsen, as my part in the Wish List Tag Game, via her daughter who lives in Almelo.
I hope you enjoy it motherof11 !!
Hallo daar, gelukkige vinder!
Wat leuk dat je op deze pagina bent komen kijken. Als je dit leest, heb je een boek gevonden, zomaar een onverwacht kadootje van mij voor jou... Veel plezier ermee! Hierbij trouwens wat spelregels mbt bookcrossing:
1. Het zou fijn zijn als je meldt dat het veilig bij jou is. Dat mag gewoon in het Nederlands.
2. Daarna kun je het boek gaan lezen en als je wilt nog eens schrijven wat je ervan vond.
3. Mag het boek verder reizen, geef het dan door aan iemand anders, of laat het zomaar ergens weer achter, liefst op een veilige, droge plek. Je kunt via de bookcross-site ook weer melden waar je het hebt neergelegd, zodat anderen ernaar op zoek kunnen gaan...
TIP: Als je het boek op zijn reis wilt volgen, dan kun je je het beste aanmelden als nieuwe bookcrosser (www.bookcrossing.com). Het is erg leuk om erachter te komen hoe het met 'jouw' boek op z'n reis verder gaat!!
Ik zou het erg leuk vinden als je mij chamonix44 dan opgeeft als referent. Voor Nederlandse uitleg kun je terecht op de volgende site: www.bookcrossing.nl
If you are reading here, then I want to tell you that this is a FREE . book, and there are no catches! It is now yours! Please read on.....
If you are the finder of this book it would be nice if you could leave a message here to say that you have it. Do not worry because I don't want the book back. It is yours to keep if you want it. I just want to know it is now in safe hands.
Hello and congratulations!
You have not only found yourself a good book, but a whole community of booklovers dedicated to sharing books with each other and the world at large. I hope you'll stick around a bit and get to know BookCrossing --maybe even make a journal entry on this book. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join. If you do choose to join, I hope you'll consider using me, chamonix44 .as your referring member.
Feel free to read and keep this book, or to pass it on to a friend or even set it out "in the wild" for someone else to find like you did. If you do choose to join and journal, then you can watch the book as it travels- You'll be alerted by email each time someone makes another journal entry. It's all confidential (you're known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free. Happy reading!
I hope you enjoy it motherof11 !!
Hallo daar, gelukkige vinder!
Wat leuk dat je op deze pagina bent komen kijken. Als je dit leest, heb je een boek gevonden, zomaar een onverwacht kadootje van mij voor jou... Veel plezier ermee! Hierbij trouwens wat spelregels mbt bookcrossing:
1. Het zou fijn zijn als je meldt dat het veilig bij jou is. Dat mag gewoon in het Nederlands.
2. Daarna kun je het boek gaan lezen en als je wilt nog eens schrijven wat je ervan vond.
3. Mag het boek verder reizen, geef het dan door aan iemand anders, of laat het zomaar ergens weer achter, liefst op een veilige, droge plek. Je kunt via de bookcross-site ook weer melden waar je het hebt neergelegd, zodat anderen ernaar op zoek kunnen gaan...
TIP: Als je het boek op zijn reis wilt volgen, dan kun je je het beste aanmelden als nieuwe bookcrosser (www.bookcrossing.com). Het is erg leuk om erachter te komen hoe het met 'jouw' boek op z'n reis verder gaat!!
Ik zou het erg leuk vinden als je mij chamonix44 dan opgeeft als referent. Voor Nederlandse uitleg kun je terecht op de volgende site: www.bookcrossing.nl
If you are reading here, then I want to tell you that this is a FREE . book, and there are no catches! It is now yours! Please read on.....
If you are the finder of this book it would be nice if you could leave a message here to say that you have it. Do not worry because I don't want the book back. It is yours to keep if you want it. I just want to know it is now in safe hands.
Hello and congratulations!
You have not only found yourself a good book, but a whole community of booklovers dedicated to sharing books with each other and the world at large. I hope you'll stick around a bit and get to know BookCrossing --maybe even make a journal entry on this book. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join. If you do choose to join, I hope you'll consider using me, chamonix44 .as your referring member.
Feel free to read and keep this book, or to pass it on to a friend or even set it out "in the wild" for someone else to find like you did. If you do choose to join and journal, then you can watch the book as it travels- You'll be alerted by email each time someone makes another journal entry. It's all confidential (you're known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free. Happy reading!
This book arrived safely today (via my daughter). Thanks chamonix44!
What a beautiful story! I liked this book very much! Thanks so much for sharing this with me, chamonix44!
Journal Entry 41 by Wandelaartje at Hoofddorp, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Arrived !!!
