Journal Entry 1 by babydoll857 from Isleworth, Middlesex United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 28, 2009

This is a great novel - very gritty and unsentimental on a tough childhood. I'd love to read more by this author so get writing Heather! 

Journal Entry 2 by J4shaw from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Was passed this by my big sister whilst I was in the UK May/June 09. I started to read it on the plane back to Australia from the UK.

I thought that this book was amazing!!
All the way through I had to keep repeating "fiction, fiction...". It was unbelievably sad, hard hitting, outspoken & shocking. A true master of writing. What a great 1st novel.
 

Journal Entry 3 by J4shaw at Carlton North, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (6/18/2009 UTC) at Carlton North, Victoria Australia

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Offering this up as a Bookring, participants below:
Bookring Link: http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/6301025

Wodfest - Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
Man of Wodfest (none Bcer) - Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
Sara (none Bcer) - Kununurra, AUSTRALIA
Scrapaholic - Darwin, AUSTRALIA
AmberC - Darwin, AUSTRALIA
Piemunga - New South Wales AUSTRALIA
Melanie2474 - Canberra, AUSTRALIA (AU shipping)
Freepages - Canberra, AUSTRALIA (AU shipping)
FoxygirlACT - Canberra, AUSTRALIA (AU shipping)
Marmee463 - Victoria, AUSTRALIA (AU shipping)
Bookworm76 - Queensland, AUSTRALIA (Int shipping)
Sarkiegirl - California, USA (USA shipping)
Tostle - Utah USA (USA / CA shipping)
Tori58 - Wisconsin USA (USA / CA shipping)
Amidabutsu - Nova Scotia, CANADA (Int shipping)
Martinburo - Norfolk United Kingdom

Complete 

Journal Entry 4 by wodfest from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, July 29, 2009

This completely blew me away. Ok it's fiction but it sounded so much like a real child's perspective that I was astounded. An absolutely amazing book.

this author is one of the most honest I've ever read about the truth of the magic and misery of drugs.

I'm also looking forward to future novels from Heather. will keep an eye out for her poetry collection too. 

Journal Entry 5 by AnonymousFinder on Wednesday, July 29, 2009

It was an OK read, but I found every character to be an absolute loser and their decisions were almost always the worst that you could ever make in that situation. Yes, people do become drug addicts and invariably try to excuse it by blaming their "environment". This one felt contrived to me, heaping every possible teenage girl's neurotic phobias and self loathing into a big pile and injecting it with smack.

CAUGHT IN MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA 

Journal Entry 6 by wodfest at Kununurra, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (7/29/2009 UTC) at Kununurra, Western Australia Australia

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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to Kuna-&%$#ing-nara and hopefully some more appreciative readers. 

Journal Entry 7 by J4shaw from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Arrived back with me this morning and I have passed it onto Sara this afternoon.
 

Journal Entry 8 by J4shaw at Gloria Jean's Coffees, Mitchell Centre in Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (9/16/2009 UTC) at Gloria Jean's Coffees, Mitchell Centre in Darwin, Northern Territory Australia

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I know this is a ring, but taking it along with me to the Darwin BCers mini meetup this afternoon to see if anyone would like to join in the ring seeing as its here. 

Journal Entry 9 by scrapaholic from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Friday, September 18, 2009

Thanks Josie - was good to meet you. Enjoy the rest of your travels 

Journal Entry 10 by scrapaholic from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Friday, October 16, 2009

Wow what a compelling read. Even though it was fiction it could have easily been someone's life. In fact I had to keep reminding myself it was a fiction book. It certainly rminds me how good my life is (even though at times I think it's not)

Will pass onto AmberC. 

Journal Entry 11 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Monday, October 19, 2009

I found this in my pigeonhole at work today. I have a couple of other books I have to read forst, but will get to this one soon. 

Journal Entry 12 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Tuesday, October 27, 2009

I didn't finish this book. I found it too depressing and didn't have an overwheleming need to find out what happened to any of the characters. Perhaps it's partly that I work with too many kids in very similar circumstances. 

Journal Entry 13 by piemunga from Marrickville, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Received this today, thank you. I have a couple of books in front of it but i'll be as quick as i can! 

Journal Entry 14 by piemunga from Marrickville, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Brilliantly written. I look forward to other books from this author.

i've pm'd Melanie2474 to send this on 

Journal Entry 15 by piemunga at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia -- Controlled Releases on Friday, December 04, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (12/4/2009 UTC) at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

posting off over the weekend 

Journal Entry 16 by Melanie2474 from Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Arrived in today's mail. Will get to this as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 17 by Melanie2474 from Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Saturday, January 02, 2010

A great read - though depressing and confronting at times, the writer's style made this story interesting rather than getting bogged down in the subject's depressing circumstances. Reading the writer's notes at the end also showed that O'Neill knows what she's writing about, having lived a poor existence as a child and undoubtedly being exposed (through those around her) to some of the things in this novel.

Have arranged to hand this over to FreePages at the 23 January Canberra meet up as I haven't heard back from FoxygirlACT. 

Journal Entry 18 by Melanie2474 at Civic, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Friday, January 22, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (1/22/2010 UTC) at Civic, Australian Capital Territory Australia

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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

At January meet up. 

Journal Entry 19 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Saturday, January 23, 2010

Thanks for passing on the book Melanie2474!

Great to meet everyone at the Canberra King O'Malley Pub meet-up!

I have a few bookrings in line at the moment so might take a while to get to this one and my current read cures insomnia.

As Melanie said sounds like one to read in the right frame of mind too!
 

Journal Entry 20 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Sunday, January 24, 2010

Well that was a quick read! Read it in a day!
It does seem hard to put down, as someone else said, I just had to find out what happened to baby.
Well written but the plot was a bit like a train wreak - awful events but hard to take your eyes off it.
It was very convincing and, I agree, hard to remember that it was fiction. Reading about the authors life at the end, quite a bit of it was obviously close to home. I found it interesting too, how much of herself she decided to share in pages at the end of the book.

I was interested in reading it because it had been nominated for the 2008 Orange Prize in the same year that The Road Home won the prize.
I'd say the writing was on par with the winner.

FoxygirlACT PMed me her address yesterday, so I'll put this in the post this week.

Thanks J4shaw for sharing your book. 

Journal Entry 21 by FreePages at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (1/26/2010 UTC) at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia

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Journal Entry 22 by foxygirlACT from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Thursday, January 28, 2010

Just received this one in the post along with a lovely postcard about Canberra bookcrossers... I may have to find out more!

thanks 

Journal Entry 23 by foxygirlACT at another booklover, a controlled release -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, February 18, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/18/2010 UTC) at another booklover, a controlled release -- Controlled Releases

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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This one took me a little while to get into. I did enjoy the story, but was hoping to have more closure at the end.


Posting on to the next person... 

Journal Entry 24 by marmee463 from Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, February 23, 2010

'Lullabies' arrived today, thanks FoxygirlACT, looking forward to reading it, will put it to the top of Mount TBR. 

Journal Entry 25 by marmee463 from Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Thursday, March 04, 2010

Excellent first novel. Even though it is fiction I found it very plausible and compelling reading, for example I was so relieved when Baby was finally able to escape Alphonse's clutches, loved that bit! Thanks for sharing it with us Josie. 

Journal Entry 26 by marmee463 at Kedron, Queensland Australia on Thursday, March 04, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (3/4/2010 UTC) at Kedron, Queensland Australia

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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting this off to Bookworm76 this morning. 

Journal Entry 27 by bookworm76 from Kedron, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Arrived today. It is on my wishlist so looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 28 by bookworm76 from Kedron, Queensland Australia on Friday, May 14, 2010

Good read - sending off to the next person on the list 

Journal Entry 29 by bookworm76 at Lutwyche, Queensland Australia on Friday, May 14, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (5/15/2010 UTC) at Lutwyche, Queensland Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

sending off to the next person on the list 

Journal Entry 30 by sarkiegirl at La Quinta, California USA on Friday, June 18, 2010

Just received today. I will have to check back on previous JE's, but I don't remember it mentioning a second book Miss Wyoming. Does this travel with the book? I'm confused. Maybe i'll just log it in and see! Thanks! I've been waiting for this for a long time!

Edited to say that the second book was a gift from the previous sender. Thanks so much!! :) 

Journal Entry 31 by sarkiegirl at La Quinta, California USA on Friday, July 09, 2010

Wow. This book is crazy. I read it in a few days because I kept wanting to come back to it! I like the style in which it was written, it's kind of like, the author is all over the place, because that's really the main character and how she really is. I never knew that Canada has places like this that exist (I'm sure everywhere does, but every time I've been there, it's so beautiful and the people are so nice) I know everyone keeps saying it's just fiction, but at the same time, if you read the back, the author talks about how similar her childhood was. (she never said whether she did EVERYTHING bad that Baby did, but it sounded very much the same) It made me sad thinking that this happens to children who are constantly neglected, pushed aside, and made me wonder what I would do in that situation.
Very compelling.
Will be sending off to tostle in the next couple of days!
Thanks for sharing the book! I wouldn't have known about it otherwise!~  

Journal Entry 32 by sarkiegirl at La Quinta, California USA on Friday, July 09, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (7/9/2010 UTC) at La Quinta, California USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

sending to Tostle! 

Journal Entry 33 by tostle at Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Thursday, August 05, 2010

Thanks for sending this book! Please forgive me for a delayed journal entry! Life has been crazy! I will hurry and read this book so it can continue its travels! 

Journal Entry 34 by tostle at Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Interesting and very sad story. I tend to be a bit of a pollyanna...wanting life to be easier for children! I agree with the description "gritty." Yes, this was a gritty book.
I will get this book moving! 

Journal Entry 35 by tostle at Shawano, Wisconsin USA on Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (11/3/2010 UTC) at Shawano, Wisconsin USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This bookring is finally traveling again! Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 36 by Tori58 at Shawano, Wisconsin USA on Saturday, January 01, 2011

Received this book last week but didn't have time to journal. Will read ASAP.  

Journal Entry 37 by Tori58 at Shawano, Wisconsin USA on Friday, January 28, 2011

This was a tough read for me in the dark of winter. It's just heartbreaking to me to think that there are children who live this way but I know I've dealt with a few who have likely experienced things just as awful. She does a great job of illuminating how some children seem to be able to maintain their resilience for quite a while, no matter what they're going through.

I think O'Neill's writing is incredible - so descriptive and insightful. Difficult as it was, it was definitely a worth-while read.

Will send it on as soon as I have an address. 

Journal Entry 38 by Tori58 at BOOKRING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Sunday, February 27, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (2/25/2011 UTC) at BOOKRING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

It's off to the next person. 

Journal Entry 39 by amidabutsu at Le Tablier, Pays de la Loire France on Saturday, April 09, 2011

I forgot to journal the book when I got it in the mail, sorry!

It's a great book, I really enjoyed it. The characters are fascinating and the main character is quite interesting, a mix of innocence and loss. But hopeful at the same time. Really good book, thanks for sending it my way.

I've contacted the next person in line and the book should resume its journey soon. 

Journal Entry 40 by amidabutsu at Saint-Florent-des-Bois, Pays de la Loire France on Saturday, April 30, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (4/30/2011 UTC) at Saint-Florent-des-Bois, Pays de la Loire France

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I contacted the next person in line, who asked to be skipped. I then contacted the person after the next person in line, who asked to be skipped as well. The book is therefore now on its way towards the person after the person after the person who's next in line. 

Journal Entry 41 by martinburo at Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom on Thursday, May 19, 2011

Thanks, am reading it now. 

Journal Entry 42 by martinburo at Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom on Thursday, September 22, 2011

Like several of you, I thought it was easy to forget that this was fiction. Really liked it.

Sorry I've had it so long, it got buried under a pile of paper. Babydoll857 said it was a ray rather than a ring, so I've offered it on the forum.