The Comfort of Strangers (Picador Books)
12 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by shovelmonkey1 from Crystal Palace, Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, August 29, 2009
Another book accquired from the extensive selection available at the Amorous Cat bookshop on Lark lane, Liverpool. Check out their online shop at www.amcat.supanet.com (Disclaimer: i'm not the owner of this bookshop and i do not receive money or free books for advertising them here - i just really like their book shop. Support local bookstores - yay!). Thanks to the 1001 books list i have recently discovered Ian Mcewan , Paul Auster and Philip Roth who i am liking very much! Will read and release sometime soon.
Journal Entry 2 by shovelmonkey1 from Crystal Palace, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, August 30, 2009
Another compact and well written book from Ian McEwan. At first I didn't have much interest in the two primary characters but by Chapter 4 i was really enjoying this book. Initially they seemed vain and their relationship based on neediness rather than love. The way they interface with their holiday environment (in a nameless place but descriptions suggest venice) is how many people have experienced a foreign city. McEwan captures the tiredness, even despair you can sometimes feel when lost in a foreign place when a holiday ceases to be fun and becomes more like an endurance test. The twist at the end is excellent!It's only 100-odd pages and very light - probably not more than 100g to post so ideal for international exploration! Plus it's another one ticked off the 1001 books list!
releasing as a ray:
the order of reading...
shovelmonkey1 UK (Host)
fifna (EU/EU)
alienagr (EU)
Fluffy-owl (UK)
Kingfan30 (UK)
nediamnori87 (UK)
bookowl1000 (UK)
mafarrimond (UK -Intl)
tiatia (US)< -----THIS BOOK IS NOW HERE
Larue (US)
ladyofunicorns (US- Int)
Kathmeista (Taiwan) **BOOKRAY COMPLETED**
You may now ray this book forward, keep it or wild release it. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Journal Entry 3 by shovelmonkey1 at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Saturday, September 5, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (9/5/2009 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Excellent small book about to begin its travels. To whoever finds themselves at the end of the ray, this book is now yours to do with as you please! Thanks for participating.
Excellent small book about to begin its travels. To whoever finds themselves at the end of the ray, this book is now yours to do with as you please! Thanks for participating.
I was getting a but worried about this little book, but it has arrived safe and sound, thanks shovelmonkey1 and thank you for the postcard of Liverpool!
I've enjoyed everything I've read by Ian McEwan so far and this was no exception! He is so good at capturing moods and atmospheres. And there's always a twist somewhere. Thank you for sharing, shovelmonkey1, I enjoyed this very much.
I have aliengr's address so will get this in the post tomorrow.
I have aliengr's address so will get this in the post tomorrow.
Released 14 yrs ago (10/19/2009 UTC) at Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant Netherlands
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending it on its way to alienagr.
Sending it on its way to alienagr.
Journal Entry 7 by Alienagr from Thessaloniki - Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloniki Greece on Saturday, October 24, 2009
Arrived yesterday! Just finished another bookring so I will start reading it immediately! Thank you shovelmonkey1 for the bookring and fifna for sending it on!
Journal Entry 8 by Alienagr from Thessaloniki - Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloniki Greece on Tuesday, December 8, 2009
It was the first time I read Ian Mcewan and I have to admit that I really enjoyed it!Very well written, I will certainly try to read more of his books! Thanks shovelmonkey1 for sharing it!
Now on their way to Fluffy-owl!!!!
Now on their way to Fluffy-owl!!!!
Journal Entry 9 by Fluffy-Owl from Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, December 14, 2009
Received today, thank you!
Journal Entry 10 by Fluffy-Owl from Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom on Thursday, December 17, 2009
A very short, quick book to read. I found it entirely unlikely (at least, my experiences of travelling and being a tourist aren't like that - take a map with you and don't talk to strange men!) and almost ridiculous in places, but that may just be to the shortness of it, with less time to develop the characters. I like McEwan books, but at the same time they manage to annoy me!
Journal Entry 11 by Fluffy-Owl at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Thursday, December 17, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (12/17/2009 UTC) at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posting on to the next in line today. Hope it travels well and arrives safely.
Posting on to the next in line today. Hope it travels well and arrives safely.
Journal Entry 12 by kingfan30 from Somewhere in Lincs 🤷♂️, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 21, 2009
Book arrived safe and sound, looking forward to reading this one x
11 Jan 10 - The more I read Ian McEwan books the more I want to read. I know you do tend to get talking to people on holiday but never to the extent this couple did. Kind of guesses what was coming but still an enjoyable book. I have the address of nediamnori87 so will hopefully pop it in the post today, unless the snow gets bad again!!!
11 Jan 10 - The more I read Ian McEwan books the more I want to read. I know you do tend to get talking to people on holiday but never to the extent this couple did. Kind of guesses what was coming but still an enjoyable book. I have the address of nediamnori87 so will hopefully pop it in the post today, unless the snow gets bad again!!!
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On it way, thanks for including me x
On it way, thanks for including me x
Journal Entry 14 by nediamnori87 from St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, January 18, 2010
I received the book a few days ago but between exams and hospital visits I haven't had time to start reading yet I should get to it soon. I hope you don't mind but I left the book for Philosoraptor to read in hospital so you'll get an extra journal entry.
Journal Entry 15 by nediamnori87 from St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 27, 2010
I was really frustrated more than anything with the characters in this book. I kept wondering why they did what they did so it left me with little sympathy with them at the end.
The writing of the book was still good and the unnamed city could have been anywhere in the world. The development of the characters however felt a little underdeveloped but that might have been just the shortness of the book. Maybe with further build up I might have felt more that bewilderment at the ending.
Still a relatively enjoyable read although I'm not sure I appreciated the ending.
Will PM BookOwl1000 for her address and get it in the post this weekend.
The writing of the book was still good and the unnamed city could have been anywhere in the world. The development of the characters however felt a little underdeveloped but that might have been just the shortness of the book. Maybe with further build up I might have felt more that bewilderment at the ending.
Still a relatively enjoyable read although I'm not sure I appreciated the ending.
Will PM BookOwl1000 for her address and get it in the post this weekend.
Journal Entry 16 by nediamnori87 at St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, January 28, 2010
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Given to philosoraptor before I got around to reading it will post to bookowl1000 shortly
Given to philosoraptor before I got around to reading it will post to bookowl1000 shortly
Journal Entry 17 by Philosoraptor from Haywards Heath, West Sussex United Kingdom on Thursday, January 28, 2010
Was thankful for this read while I was very bored in hospital. Short but couldn't put it down, read it all in one sitting. McEwan is one of my favourite authors and I should expect by now the sort of treatment he gives his pitiable characters, but this one still took me by surprise even by his (high) standards. He is a master of characterisation and mood. Dark and gripping, I'd have loved a novel from this novella. Themes of childhood nurtured misogyny and sadomasochism threaten to shock but McEwan pulls the punches until he delivers the knock-out blow - just as the reader was sitting comfortably.
Journal Entry 18 by nediamnori87 at St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 9, 2010
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to the next reader
Sent to the next reader
Book arrived safely this morning. Many thanks.Thanks also for the bookmark and inspirational message. When I broke the seal the message read "Be assured that you'll always have time for the things you put first" - Liane Steele
Reading this book is now first on my list, hopefully I will have done by the weekend.
Last year my husband and I went on holiday to Venice so reading this brought back lots of good memories (thankfully I did not meet anybody like Roger and Caroline). When I read the section describing the square surrounded by columns with the clock tower, I was transported back to San Marco square where I was people watching while listening to the music and being intimidated by the waiters [it did also start a discussion with my husband about how it was where we had our most expensive drink ever: a cup of hot chocolate and iced tea had cost us over 25 euros]. The labyrinth descriptions of the city, and feeling that you are bound to get lost whenever you leave the hotel are very accurate, however others descriptions did not fit my image of Venice at all, so either Ian McEwan has never actually been to Venice or he was deliberately trying to be ambiguous. There must be more places in the world than Venice that have squares, balconies and water taxis. To be honest I think I got too hung up on making comparisons with Venice that it kept jolting me out of the story.
I cannot believe that anybody would really behave like Colin and Mary did. Personally, after the first discussion with Caroline I would have been looking for the nearest exit.
Thanks for sharing this enjoyable read.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES: I requested an address from mafarrimond as soon as the book arrived so that I could send it on as soon as I had finished.
The book has arrived safely. I will read asap and send on.
This is the first book I have read by McEwan. I loved his style of writing which grips you from the onset. A strange strange tale. I enjoyed being transported back to one of favourite cities.
lovely treat in the mail. looking forward to it.
Loved every minute. More so because half-way through I realized I'd seen this done as a movie and I knew the outcome. It became even more tantalizing then. Thank you for sharing.
As soon as I get the next person's address, off it goes in the mail
As soon as I get the next person's address, off it goes in the mail
Just received today, thanks!
The book captures a mood, but little else, probably due to its short length. There is no character development, so we do not know why Robert and Caroline or Colin and Mary behave as they do. There is not much in the way of plot, either, just a relentless march to an ending I could see coming a mile away. Nobody would behave as Colin and Mary do, there is absolutely no reason for them to continue to return to Robert and Caroline.
Pm'ing the next in line today!
edited 6/13/10 - All efforts to reach ladyofunicorns have failed. PM'ing the next after her.
Pm'ing the next in line today!
edited 6/13/10 - All efforts to reach ladyofunicorns have failed. PM'ing the next after her.
Got this in the mail a couple of days back - thanks very much for this ring, this book is the perfect size to read on my commute :)
I finished this book over a cup of coffee whilst waiting for a friend. Wow - what an ending. I felt like I'd skipped something or missed something and re-read the last 20 pages again. It seemed like a very quick and brutal ending to something that had been building for so long but I guess it fitted for me. It was less of a whole novel and more of an excerpt of how weird life can be so not all ends needed tying up I guess.
As I'm the last on the ray I am going to think of a good place/destination for this book. It's been around so I want to keep it going. Watch this space.
I finished this book over a cup of coffee whilst waiting for a friend. Wow - what an ending. I felt like I'd skipped something or missed something and re-read the last 20 pages again. It seemed like a very quick and brutal ending to something that had been building for so long but I guess it fitted for me. It was less of a whole novel and more of an excerpt of how weird life can be so not all ends needed tying up I guess.
As I'm the last on the ray I am going to think of a good place/destination for this book. It's been around so I want to keep it going. Watch this space.
