This copy was lost on its way to Minnesota in August. It's officially restarted! You can find the replacement copy here.




Full title:
Dear Exile: The True Story of Two Friends Separated (for a Year) By An Ocean

A funny and moving story told through the letters of two women nurturing a friendship as they are separated by distance, experience, and time.

Close friends and former college roommates, Hilary Liftin and Kate Montgomery promised to write when Kate's Peace Corps assignment took her to Africa. Over the course of a single year, they exchanged an offbeat and moving series of letters from rural Kenya to New York City and back again.

Kate, an idealistic teacher, meets unexpected realities ranging from poisonous snakes and vengeful cows to more serious hazards: a lack of money for education; a student body in revolt. Hilary, braving the singles scene in Manhattan, confronts her own realities, from unworthy suitors to job anxiety and first apartment woes.

Their correspondence tells - with humor, warmth, and vivid personal detail - the story of two young women navigating their twenties in very different ways, and of the very special friendships we are sometimes lucky enough to find.

Sorry, but this bookray is now closed!

Here's the list (person currently in possession of the book is in bold):






ellymae58 - California, USA*
manky - Oregon, USA
CrazyPooka - Oregon, USA
booknhand - California, USA
WWestWind - Colorado, USA* <------ please skip for now...BC'er MIA
rhythmbiscuit - Colorado, USA
Flashgirl - Minnesota, USA* <----- on the way to
iagal - Iowa, USA
Mamikaem - Missouri, USA*
mysteryfan03 - Missouri, USA*
raynebair - Alabama, USA*
Maurean - Florida, USA
PHC - Virginia, USA
weeblet - Virginia, USA
mmz18407 - Maryland, USA*
nelka35 - New York, USA
readinme - Maine, USA
tootshelling - Arizona, USA
ChocolateTown - Pennsylvania, USA*

starbytes - Malaysia*
veracity - Australia*
Hawkette - Australia*
suzen - France*
PenelopePitstop - Italy*
Kernow8 - UK* (as of 6/04)
Zyana - Portugal*
tho - Portugal*


(* = will ship anywhere)

Please note: I will make adjustments to the list as needed, to account for geography and to accomodate shipping preferences. Thanks!

Once you're ready to send the book on, please check the list for the next recipient and PM them for their mailing information. And please don't forget to make a journal entry and/or release notes! I'd like to know what everyone thinks of the book, as well as keep track of where it is! Thanks!

Last person on the list will release into the wild!

It's so fun to get the mail now, with random packages appearing left & right... today I received this: my very first bookray!

I may very well plant myself in my air-conditioned room, & attempt to plow through it tonight... to give the bookray a nice jump start!

Things didn't jump-start as well as hoped/expected... I did get to read most of the book, and enjoyed getting to know these two women, their exciting lives, and wonderful writing styles... it's as if they invited you into their lives & relationship with each other; an eager fly on the walls of their respective homes.

I sent this off to CrazyPooka last night, after a long bout of trying to actually meet in person, changing the order of the ray, other personal issues, etc.
Sorry to be such a snag in the chain... learning daily!

Received in the mail today. I've been itching to get out of the house...maybe this travel memoir will do the job! Thanks for sharing with me.

Thanks for sharing! This book hit the spot. I realized how much luxery I have her in my so-called life. Looking at the foreign land Kate was living helped me understand how we can glimpse into other's realities. It certainly made me want to hang out with my friends more...you never know when grad school, or job changes might take them away!

I'm pming next person on list...happy reading!

Received this book in the mail on Saturday, January 10th.

I am in the middle of another book right now and plan to read this one next. Hopefully, I will have it finished by the end of Janurary and be able to send it on to the next bookray participant.

Once I read it I will make another journal entry with my comments and a rating. I am eager to start it, but the one I am reading now is too good to take a break from, so I will get to this one soon :)

Booknhand
A mind in never idle when there is a "Book in Hand"!

I started this book sooner than I thought I would, and then read it faster than I thought as it was a very easy read!!

It was interesting to see how different environments and attitudes impacted the ideals of what constituted a difficulty.

I loved the sharing of perspectives in the letters from a New Yorker's as well as an American in Africa's point of views.

There were a few graphic descriptions that I personally could have avoided reading, but then I don't think I would have gained as much appreciation for what I have here in the US opposed to what the people in Africa face.

This was a book well worth reading - thanks for starting a ray with it.

I will pm tootshelling today and put in the mail later this week once I get an address.

Tootshelling got back to me and asked to be skipped at this time, but does want to be moved to the bottom of list so s/he can read it when s/he is not so "bogged down with bookrings".

I will PM WWestWind for an address so I can get this book traveling once again. As great a book as it was and as much as I would love to hold on to it - I have held up its travels long enough - Time for it to see more of the world.

Released on Saturday, April 17, 2004 at US Mail in San Jose, California USA.

Time for this book to be traveling once again!!! I tried to reach WWestWind for address, but got no repsond several times. Finally, moved to next person, rhythmbiscuit and got an address to get this book moving. As much as enjoyed this book, I am happy it is once more on its way to other BCers out there.

It is in the mailbox as I type.

I just received this book in the mail. I have been looking forward to reading it for some time. Thanks!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Kate's letters from the beginning of her stay in Kenya made me laugh out loud. They reminded me of when I lived in China, especially the way Kate described being stared at and saying one thing in her adopted language while meaning another.

I identified with both Kate and Hilary. I related to Hilary's stories of the single life and her realization that her woes paled in comparison to those of her friend. I also related to how these two women worked at maintaining the closeness of their friendship while separated by distance and difference (in their life situations).

All in all, I found this a delightful and thought-provoking read. I will now send the book to flashgirl.

Released on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at Mailed to a fellow Bookcrosser in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.