Journal Entry 1 by rebeccaljames from Cincinnati, Ohio USA on Tuesday, June 23, 2009

TBR! 

Journal Entry 2 by rebeccaljames from Cincinnati, Ohio USA on Monday, July 27, 2009

I am making this into an international bookray. Please let me know if you would like to join.

-arturogrande - UK (International)
-Wandering-B - Hong Kong (International)
-maid-of-Kent - Netherlands (International)
-MmeClinton - Maine (US)
-spoiledrotten - New Jersey (US)
-trojanpotato - New Mexico (US)
-dvg - New Jersey (US/Canada)
-jeskawest - Washington (US/Canada)
-mail back to me rebeccaljames so I can mail Internationally <-----Book is here!
-Vamperstein8782 - UK (UK/Europe)
-penelopewanders - Switzerland (Europe)
 

Journal Entry 3 by rebeccaljames from Cincinnati, Ohio USA on Wednesday, July 29, 2009

This book will be mailed out on Friday. 

Journal Entry 4 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Thanks very much. I've got one ring book ahead of this, but I'm already halfway through it, so it won't be long before I get to this one. 

Journal Entry 5 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Monday, September 07, 2009

I absolutely loved this book. Its opening, with heroine Lillian Leyb waiting on the pavement for a chance to work in the sewing room at a New York theatre grabs the attention straight away.
And what a fabulous heroine she is. Lillian is an immigrant, a Russian Jew who has come to make a new life in America following the slaughter of her parents and husband in Russia, and the disappearance of her beloved young daughter, Sophie.
Lillian never wallows in self-pity, but sets about improving herself, her life and her chances, while all the while looking for ways to track Sophie down.
Her journey takes us from the theatres of New York to the wilds of Alaska, taking in stowaway train journeys, a spell in prison and a brush with prostitution along the way.
Author Amy Bloom has a lovely device of looking far into the future and telling us what happens to characters years down the line, allowing them to leave the narrative, while at the same time giving us a sense of resolution to their stories. It's a good technique, which produces some of the most moving passages in the book, particularly in the final chapter.
Away was an unusual read, and one that I would highly recommend.
Thanks for sharing this, rebeccaljames. It's now on its way to Wandering-B in Hong Kong. 

Journal Entry 6 by wandering-B from Tai Po, New Territories Hong Kong on Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Received in yesterday's post - thanks to all for sharing :) Please be patient with me as I have yet to catch up on the books which arrived while I was on holidy. 

Journal Entry 7 by wandering-B from Tai Po, New Territories Hong Kong on Wednesday, October 28, 2009

I have just returned from an unexpected and extended stay in the US. I will need another month to get to this book. If that is a problem, I will be glad to send it along to the next reader, just let me know. Thanks :) 

Journal Entry 8 by wandering-B from Tai Po, New Territories Hong Kong on Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Have requested the next participant's mailing address and will post it along shortly. 

Journal Entry 9 by maid-of-kent from Amstelveen, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Monday, December 21, 2009

Book arrived safely in snowy Amsterdam. Am very excited. My first bookray. 

Journal Entry 10 by maid-of-kent from Amstelveen, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Wednesday, December 30, 2009

I could not do justice to this book. I was alright with the first half but as a mother with a daughter myself, all I increasingly wanted to know was if Lillian found Sophie and because I couldn't wait, I practically scanned the entire second half of the book, hunting for the answer. This was a pity because the writing style is very intriguing and I should have put more effort in to savour every word. Now on its way to MmeClinton. 

Journal Entry 11 by MmeClinton from South Berwick, Maine USA on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Thank you to maid-of-kent for sending this along; it has arrived safely and in good shape. I should be able to get to it this month! Hooray for you, maid-of-kent, for trying your first bookray.... isn't it lovely? I look forward to this read after seeing the positive comments! 

Journal Entry 12 by MmeClinton from South Berwick, Maine USA on Saturday, January 30, 2010

Early comments give you a good idea of some of the highlights of the story line, so I won't go over all that again. I have some mixed feelings about the book but am glad I was able to read it. I agree that Lillian's story is fascinating and Amy Bloom surely did a lot of research. Some of her techniques worked well for me, and some got under my skin (such as the thesaurus listing of alternate words; I know this mirrors Lillian's determination to learn English and her attachment to the said thesaurus, but it seemed every time it was Bloom and not Lillian doing this. It works well for Rabelais who is comedic, but for me, it was irritating after a while). I am also appalled and a bit saddened to have it a center focus how often men helped Lillian but only after using her sexually, and these scenes were never subtle. This surely was the truth for many women throughout history, but still... she shouldn't have survived all the things that happened to her, and the miracles that occurred to allow that survival sometimes seemed contrived. The very best part of the book was the final wrap up... the reader somehow knows all along the outcome of her search for her daughter, and that seemed satisfyingly realistic.... and after rejecting many people who really cared about her, it was bittersweet to see her finally accept. Many of the lesser characters were so nicely drawn, too. I am sending this off now to continue its journey! 

Journal Entry 13 by MmeClinton at South Berwick, Maine USA on Saturday, January 30, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (1/30/2010 UTC) at South Berwick, Maine USA

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Another bookring on its way to a bookcrosser in New Jersey. Bon Voyage! 

Journal Entry 14 by spoiledrotten from Waldwick, New Jersey USA on Monday, February 01, 2010

When it rains it pours!!! Received two books in the mail today. Please be patient. Thanks for including me and for sending1 

Journal Entry 15 by spoiledrotten from Waldwick, New Jersey USA on Friday, February 12, 2010

First I would like to thank you for including me and for sending it my way. I must admit this was not one of my favorite books, though I am glad to have had the chance to read it. I did find Lillian to be a wonderful character - doing whatever is necessary to find her lost daughter, however I did not particularly like the writing style. The story felt very disjointed in the way that it kept jumping from the present to the past to the future. One moment you were in one time period the next in another. I found the ending to be very unbelievable, I won't say more so as not to spoil it for the next reader. I should be able to mail this off by the middle of next week. 

Journal Entry 16 by spoiledrotten at Flanders, New Jersey USA on Sunday, February 14, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/13/2010 UTC) at Flanders, New Jersey USA

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Sent off to DVG to continue the ring. Trojanpotato asked to be skipped. 

Journal Entry 17 by dvg from Flanders, New Jersey USA on Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Arrived safely and dry during today's snowstorm! Thank you rebeccaljames for including me in the Ray! I've been looking forward to this read and should be able to move it along quickly.
(PMing jeskawest now.) 

Journal Entry 18 by dvg from Flanders, New Jersey USA on Saturday, February 20, 2010

Thank you rebeccaljames for sharing this book with me! =) I am so happy that I had the chance to read it. I've picked it up many times in bookstores and have always placed it back on the shelf. I did that because the recent Bloom books that I have read, I had struggled with and did not want to do the same with another. But after reading so many forum posts and magazine blurbs on this one, I signed up. Again, glad that I did.

I was so touched by Lillian and her journey. The only part that I felt a little disturbed by was the acceptance of her Aunt's statement that Sophie was gone as a truth. While I am not a mother, I know that I don't think I could simply accept it and move on. I would have to do some searching first.

Her journey with its many struggles was heart touching especially when you think of just how far we have come as women in this country. For Lillian to not give up her journey was something I applaud. For the journey she didn't expect, that she fought - the one for love - was a very nice to read about. I enjoyed how Bloom tied up each of the characters story as the character went away. The book was enjoyable beginning through the ending. And I am actually looking forward to another by this author. And before reading this, I would not have said that!

Sent another PM to jeskawest requesting mailing addy. 

Journal Entry 19 by dvg at Postal Release, Given to a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Monday, February 22, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/22/2010 UTC) at Postal Release, Given to a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES: On its way to jeskawest today. Enjoy! =) 

Journal Entry 20 by jeskawest from Bellevue, Washington USA on Thursday, February 25, 2010

Just got this in the mail. I plan on beginning it immediately! 

Journal Entry 21 by jeskawest from Bellevue, Washington USA on Wednesday, March 24, 2010

I loved this book!! I've wanted to read it for a while, so I was so excited to actually get started on it. The way that Bloom tells Lillian's story makes the book difficult to put down, and the use of the omniscient narrator to tell the other character's stories is just brilliant. This book was truly a joy to read. 

Journal Entry 22 by jeskawest at A bookray, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, April 08, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/8/2010 UTC) at A bookray, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

on its way back to rebeccaljames so she can continue the bookray 

Journal Entry 23 by rebeccaljames at Cincinnati, Ohio USA on Saturday, February 19, 2011

I got this book back a while ago and I just now opened it. I will be sending it to the UK soon. 

Journal Entry 24 by Vamperstein8782 at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk United Kingdom on Saturday, April 02, 2011

Wow, I totally forgot about signing up for this so it was a big surprise to receive the book in the mail this morning! Many thanks for sharing, I've got one book in front of this but will get on to it shortly. 

Journal Entry 25 by Vamperstein8782 at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Okay, it's probably just the state of mind I'm in at the moment, but I really just can't get into this novel so I'm going to email penelopewanders for her address and get it mailed on, as I'm aware that I've had it for a month now and I'm not even 50 pages in :(

I'll probably have another crack at it once life in general has calmed down a little as it does sound like it's a brilliant book, I think I just have too much going on to actually do it justice. 

Journal Entry 26 by penelopewanders at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Monday, June 20, 2011

It looks like I might be last in line for this ray which arrived here in the Alps this morning. I've been looking out for this one for a long time, so I'm glad it's arrived.
If I am indeed last, I might wait and take this with me on holiday. If that's not the case, please let me know, and I can bump it up, although I do have a few other rings and rays here just now which would have to be read first.
Thanks so much for making it available and for sending! 

Journal Entry 27 by penelopewanders at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Friday, July 15, 2011

Well, I'm awfully glad I'm at the end of this ray because otherwise I'd be looking for another copy to keep. I enjoyed this strange story very much - not least because although their fate was very different once in America, I know my grandparents left Russia after surviving yet another pogrom. In fact the birthplace of my uncles, Ekatarinaslav, is mentioned in the book.
I was intrigued to read that Bloom is/was primarily a short story writer - usually I'm not that fond of short stories as I feel they leave out too much I'd like to read - but it explained some of the pacing and structure of this book. As I was wondering why she didn't fill in more blanks at the end, realizing that also answered that.
I look forward to lending this book to those around me, and will probably order copies to give as gifts to friends. Thanks so much for making it available!