Journal Entry 1 by karen07814 from Colchester, Essex United Kingdom on Friday, May 15, 2009

Journal Entry 2 by karen07814 at Tenerife - Costa Adeje, Islas Canarias Spain on Sunday, May 24, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (5/26/2009 UTC) at Tenerife - Costa Adeje, Islas Canarias Spain

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over to you 

Journal Entry 3 by madnad from Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain on Monday, June 01, 2009

This arrived on Friday already - sorry for not journalling it before but I have a friend visiting and am not by the PC much. The good news is that I'm more than half way through it already and will probably finish it today, so I'm PMing the next reader now to get their address and hopefully pass this on at some point this week:) 

Journal Entry 4 by madnad from Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain on Tuesday, June 02, 2009

This was a good and easy read. The ending was, in my opinion, a bit predictable but I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book about somebody remembering a past life, as it's a subject I find very fascinating. Sylvie's behaviour, her tantrums, really good on my nerves at times, though. But all in all, I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks for sharing!
I'll send the book on sometime this week when I manage to get to the post-office:) 

Journal Entry 5 by madnad from Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain on Monday, June 08, 2009

sent on to sarkiegirl today:) 

Journal Entry 6 by sarkiegirl from La Quinta, California USA on Saturday, June 13, 2009

It got here last night! I have 2 in front of it, but now that school was out yesterday, I will have a lot of time, so I will get to it as quickly as I can! Thanks! 

Journal Entry 7 by sarkiegirl from La Quinta, California USA on Tuesday, June 30, 2009

First of all, thank you so much for having this as a ring. I would have never read it otherwise. On amazon, it's called "Yes my darling daughter," and there is a picture of a seaside town that looks very ominous. I was compelled to write a review on amazon...and here it is:

Though the book that I read has a different title and cover, it is the same book. Though, I think that the title on my book is better. (Drowning Girl)

The prologue gives away a lot of the story. Even though I figured out most of the ending by the middle of the book, it doesn't take away from it. It just made me read faster, because I wanted the characters to find out what I did.

Grace and Sylvie are mother and daughter, living in London. Grace is a single mum, the father of Sylvie already married with a family. Grace has a lot of guilt over this, and thinks that her lack of family has been causing problems, especially since Sylvie has been having bad dreams, biting children at the nursery, and has an intense fear of water. She constantly draws the same house over and over and claims that she once lived there.

Even though Grace's friends and therapists think that Grace is the problem, Grace thinks that there is something else going on. Why is Sylvie so wise, beyond her four years? Why does Sylvie insist on calling her mum, "Grace?" Why does she make the claim that she misses her family and her home?

One day, as they are making collages, Grace cuts out a picture of a seaside town, and Sylvie insists that she lived there. Grace enlists the help of a psychology professor, who is interested in the paranormal for his own personal reasons, and they set out on a quest to find the answer to Sylvie's problem.

How far would you go to help your child, as crazy as the idea seems? They stumble upon a mystery that was never solved, a family torn apart by a loss, and the answers to their questions.

This book consumed me. There are times when I hurry through the book because I hate it, and then there are times like these that I do the same because I want to know what happens. I stay up late in the night reading, and I finish the book in a couple of sittings. I'm so grateful to the person on bookcrossing who lent it to me, otherwise, I may not have ever read it. Also, the descriptions of Ireland were so detailed and realistic, I could swear that I was there again. Even more amazing is the fact that the author said she wrote the descriptions while using a guide book. The authors writing is also so haunting because I could feel the loneliness of the characters, all of those that were missing something, and those that wanted to connect with another.

Ignore the cover and the title (My edition has a little blonde girl wearing red, solemnly looking out the window as you see her reflection in it) and read a great book!

Anyway, thanks again. I loved it (obviously, from the review lol) I'm just waiting on an address, and it'll be in the mail promptly! :) 

Journal Entry 8 by sarkiegirl at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, trades, California USA on Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (7/6/2009 UTC) at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, trades, California USA

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Sent to annenz!~! Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 9 by annenz from Greymouth, West Coast New Zealand on Thursday, July 09, 2009

Arrived safely today, am looking forward to reading this!! 

Journal Entry 10 by annenz from Greymouth, West Coast New Zealand on Tuesday, July 14, 2009

What a fantastic read, once started almost impossible to put down!!
Thanks for sharing with all of us karen07814:)
Just received the address so will be in the post tomorrow, 

Journal Entry 11 by annenz at University of Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (7/15/2009 UTC) at University of Melbourne, Victoria Australia

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Sent on to ukcanaus, enjoy! 

Journal Entry 12 by ukcanaus from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Book arrived safely today - look forward to reading it... 

Journal Entry 13 by ukcanaus from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Friday, September 25, 2009

Sorry for taking so long with this book. Unfortunately it just did not appeal to me despite several attempts. But thank you, karen07814, for sharing it, and to annenz, for sending it to me.

It is now on its way to luckof. 

Journal Entry 14 by luckof from Barrie, Ontario Canada on Thursday, December 10, 2009

Hurray!! This book has finally landed this morning on my desk.. we were fearing it was lost...I am finishing another ray ...and hopefully I will get this started on the weekend....Cheers! 

Journal Entry 15 by luckof at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, February 04, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/4/2010 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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This book started its travels today to the next on the list..sorry for the delay...thanks for sharing! Safe travels 

Journal Entry 16 by kerbam1421 from Halethorpe, Maryland USA on Friday, February 19, 2010

I received this book last night. THANKS so much for sending my way! :)

I'm about halfway through my current book and then have a short, 100 page Ray book to read and then I will be on with this one. I promise I won't hold onto it too long.

Thanks again!

UPDATE: I began reading this on 3/2/10 

Journal Entry 17 by kerbam1421 from Halethorpe, Maryland USA on Thursday, March 11, 2010

I felt this book dragged a bit. There were times when I felt Sylvie was such a brat and Grace was so naive. I didn't really get into until close to the end. It was an interesting concept though. I felt like the book was longer than it needed to be.

Thank you for sharing with me!

Ladybug74 has their own copy of the book, so I have PMed the next in line. 

Journal Entry 18 by kerbam1421 at Ellicott City, Maryland USA on Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (3/17/2010 UTC) at Ellicott City, Maryland USA

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Off to the next participant - enjoy! :)

DC# 03093220000101097900 

Journal Entry 19 by mellion108 from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan USA on Monday, March 22, 2010

Thanks for sending this my way, kerbam1421, and thanks to karen for sharing this. I just got in 3 other bookrays (I swear it doesn't feel like I sign up for so many) last weekend. I'll be working my way through all of these over the next month. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 20 by mellion108 from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan USA on Monday, April 05, 2010

What to say? I like the premise of this book - reincarnation is a fascinating topic and makes for very good speculative fiction. Little Sylvie creeped me out quite a bit - she's far too articulate for a 4-year-old! Grace? I know Grace is a struggling single mom concerned about the well being of her only child, but I wanted to shake her. "Grow up!" (But I can be callous like that.)

The story, as some have pointed out, is predictable. You pretty much know where it's going to go after reading the prologue, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The main characters live in London, and Grace struggles to make ends meet by working at a lovely flower shop for an eccentric but wonderfully kind woman. Sylvie is in a very good preschool/nursery. Grace is lonely and young and inexperienced and naive. I thought she needed to have more of a backbone, and that really distracted me from the overall story. People treat her like crap and she never really stands up for herself. Sylvie has issues and either slips into uncontrollable screaming fits, wakes up crying in the night, or generally freaks out anyone around her by being a solemn, older-than-her-years child.

SPOILER: (Scroll over to highlight the text)
"I died, Grace. I died in the water." Ok, I admit to a few shivers with that one.
END OF SPOILER!

The book is repetitive. A lot of phrases are used quite often (Sylvie seems to be always looking at people as if she has figured out everything about life.) There were a few times when I literally had to stop and thumb through the book because I thought I had already read an entire paragraph, but it was just the same phrases and ideas being repeated.

Overall? Not a bad book, but not a great one either. It's a very fast read, and it held my interest. It made for a nice cozy read in the evening.

I've PMd nancynova for an address and will get this in the mail as soon as I can. Thanks again for sharing, karen07814!

UPDATE: Mailed to nancynova April 7, 2010 

Journal Entry 21 by NancyNova from Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Got it today - and other than a book club read to finish, there's nothing else ahead of it! I will j/e when I start it. Love the postcard in the back, although my 17yo didn't "get" the humor :-) 

Journal Entry 22 by NancyNova from Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Started the book on the train in today. Already drawn in to the story! 

Journal Entry 23 by NancyNova from Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Wonderful book. I couldn't put it down - kept reading it in chunks last night and today, because I HAD to know how it ended.

Reminded me somewhat of one of Jodi Picoult's books (Keeping Faith - i think), where you just kept mulling it over - is it real....or not? COULD a 4yo have that ability - almost being a "seer" in my mind.

PM'g the next reader for her address, so this can be on it's way! 

Journal Entry 24 by NancyNova at Blind Bight, Victoria Australia on Friday, April 23, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/24/2010 UTC) at Blind Bight, Victoria Australia

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It's on it's way to Australia! Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 25 by wendyv from Blind Bight, Victoria Australia on Friday, April 30, 2010

tbr - arrived today, am very excited to have this one in my hands....I love the cover. I have one bookring ahead of this one - am quatrte rof the eway through that one, and then onto this one....thank goodness it's the weekend! 

Journal Entry 26 by karen07814 from Colchester, Essex United Kingdom on Sunday, May 16, 2010

Quick interrupt...
if anyone wants to read her new book, the bookray is here
http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/6844148/2 

Journal Entry 27 by wendyv from Blind Bight, Victoria Australia on Friday, May 21, 2010

Hi Karen07814, I have just about finished this book and then my sister, Jenetix from the Uk will possibly read it and continue to ray? She is on her way to AUstralia as I type (volcanic ash and strike action permitting!). I hope this is okay? I am enjoying it...will journal more extensively once complete. 

Journal Entry 28 by karen07814 from Colchester, Essex United Kingdom on Sunday, May 23, 2010

wendyv-two new people have asked to be added after your sister-see top journal, thanks 

Journal Entry 29 by wendyv at Blind Bight, Victoria Australia on Saturday, May 29, 2010

Although there were aspects of this novel I really enjoyed, I do have to echo some of the sentiments expressed by some of te other journallers. I found the many, many descriptions a little distracting from the story itself. However, it is a bit different to what I normally read, and that is a good thing! I enjoyed the book, but did not get completely into it as I thought I might when I read the blurb and the cover (I love the cover, by the way)....but again...we all know the adage 'never judge a book byt he cover' and in this case it was completely my fault as what I was expecting it to be, it wasn't, even though it was a good novel nonetheless. Not sur eif that makes sense?
Anyway, thanks Karen for including me in the ray, I have pm'd jsara and will post it airmail after I get the address. Thank you for your patience. 

Journal Entry 30 by jsara at Stratham, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, July 14, 2010

it has arrived! (eventually...it was in my neighbor's mail for a week while he was away!!)
can't wait to start reading. thank you! 

Journal Entry 31 by jsara at Stratham, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, July 18, 2010

I didn't know much about this book when I started, so I had no idea what to expect. loved it! I couldn't put it down.
hope the next reader enjoys it as much as I did. just sent a PM for the address. 

Journal Entry 32 by jsara at bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (7/27/2010 UTC) at bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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enjoy!! 

Journal Entry 33 by kiyoteefoxx at Littlestown, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, August 19, 2010

Well, I am at the end of this ray so I guess its up to me to get it going again.

I enjoyed the book but only one thing nagged at me, Sylvie is far too mature for four. She's even too mature acting for 7 or 9 (whichever age she was when (spoiler warning) she well - you know) I still enjoyed it and read it quick and will recommend others because it was an easy read.