Journal Entry 1 by tanabata on Friday, August 01, 2003

Journal Entry 2 by tanabata on Thursday, August 07, 2003

My first bookray- it's quite exciting! :-)
Here is the list and shipping order. Now that the book has begun it's journey, I will continue to take names but you will most likely be added to the end and should be prepared to ship internationally if necessary.

1) YowlYY (London, UK)--> rec'd 12 Aug, sent 31 Aug '03
2) Fofum (East Yorkshire, UK)--> rec'd 3 Sep, sent 29 Sep
3) loopy1 (Kent, UK)--> rec'd 6 Oct, sent 13 Oct
4) veganvixenuk (Cardiff, UK)--> rec'd 16 Oct, sent 17 Nov
5) Dani75 (Germany)--> rec'd 29 Nov, sent 16 Dec
6) Tintti (Finland)--> rec'd 18 Dec, sent 23 Dec
7) blacksheeps99 (Austria)--> rec'd 5 Jan '04, sent 28 Jan '04
8) BlackLilith (Italy)--> rec'd 13 Feb, sent 15 Mar
9) 5ma (Japan)--> rec'd 26 Mar, sent 21 Apr
10) Lucinda (CA, USA)--> rec'd 3 May, sent 11 May
11) karendawn (TX, USA)--> rec'd 13 May, sent 18 May
12) boutish (Que, Canada)--> rec'd 25 May, sent 6 Jun '05
13) Mewlanie (Ont, Canada)
14) Wandeca (Ont, Canada)--> rec'd 9 Jun
15) Grorser (NB, Canada)
16) Booknose (IN, USA)
17) missJAS (WA, USA)
18) beckys (Italy)*Europe shipping only
19) Caracas (Germany)
20) tembo (Germany)
21) Theresa-A (Nottingham, UK)
22) kymberlie (TX, USA)

Since there are quite a few people who have joined this ray, please try not to keep the book too long, that said I don't want anyone to rush either. If you don't have time when it's your turn, PM me and I'll fit you in a later spot.

Thanks for the great response!!

Bookray Rules (Adapted from Muffin77)
1) Everyody should leave a journal entry when receiving the book and after the read! Please let us all know what you think about it...
2) Also PM the next person on the list for a mailing address and if that person doesn't answer within 7 days MAX! please PM the one after...
3) Everybody should also try to read the book soon (two weeks?)- but in a joyful speed. It's not about how many books someone can read within a certain amount of time - it's about enjoying it... and also to remember it... one day you may be in any same situation and then it's good to know that those things don't only happen to you :)))
4) You can send the book via surface mail or airmail - that is completely up to you!!!
5) If you find you don't have the time to read it when it's your turn please PM and I'll move you to a later slot. Or if I've put you in an slot where you need to send internationally and don't want to do this, let me know.

Thanks! 

Journal Entry 3 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Wednesday, August 13, 2003

Journal Entry 4 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Saturday, August 30, 2003

Journal Entry 5 by Fofum from Beverley, East Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 03, 2003

Arrived in the post this morning - many thanks for passing it on.  

Journal Entry 6 by Fofum from Beverley, East Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, September 29, 2003

I enjoyed this very much - Sue Monk Kidd describes the places so well that you can almost feel the heat in some parts of the story. I did think the plot rather fizzled out towards the end - too many convenient coincidences I think.
I did like the way the story was told through the eyes of the young girl and I think that we really did see the people and events from her point of view. Sometimes this meant that we didn't have a full picture of what was happening - but as I read on I began to like that. It allowed you to try and work out what was happening 'around the edges' of Lily's experiences.
Quite a few of the characters seemed a bit eccentric - but then I suppose they would to a girl with all the troubles that Lily had. What shone through was a wonderful feeling that love puts things right in the end and despite its rather sad story, I found this a really uplifting read.
Thanks for sharing it, Tanabata.It is now on its way to the deep south....Kent! 

Journal Entry 7 by Fofum at In the hands of Royal Mail! in -- By post or by hand --, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, October 02, 2003

Release planned for Saturday, October 04, 2003 at In the hands of Royal Mail! in Postal release, England United Kingdom.

Moving on.... 

Journal Entry 8 by loopy1 from Herne Bay, Kent United Kingdom on Monday, October 06, 2003

This book arrived safely - thanks to all who went before :-)
I look forward to reading it. Just one ahead of it.
 

Journal Entry 9 by loopy1 from Herne Bay, Kent United Kingdom on Monday, October 13, 2003

I enjoyed this book - in some ways it reminded me of Beginner's Luck. I sympathised with the main character.
One thing the book really brought home to me was that we talk of racial prejudice these days, but it is a lot better than in the times the book was set, when the prejudice was grounded in laws and really affected all those it touched.
Not as much about bees as I'd expected (not sure what I expected, to be honest!), just some very good characters. May was wonderful, and I'm sure Mary will stay with me for a long while.
Just waiting for the address to move this one along :-) 

Journal Entry 10 by Mamooo from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Thursday, October 16, 2003

Got through the post this morning.
Thank you!

Looking forward to reading it. I'm very busy with a teacher training course at the moment so this will encourage me to relax and read a little as i know it has to be passed on!

Will journal after! 

Journal Entry 11 by Mamooo from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Sunday, November 09, 2003

I actually finished this book a week ago but have been ill with a really nasty dose of the flu so sorry its taken me a while to journal.

I loved this book. From beginning to end i was completely hooked and couldn't put it down. I think for me, it was the injustice of the whole situation which made it so compelling. The fact that stories like Rosaleen's were so common in the past, and also, stories like Lily's.
I really liked the character of May. I think i saw some of myself in her - and i don't think that's a good thing! ;-)
I could relate to her difficulty detaching from other people's sorrows.
I also loved the statue of "Our Lady". I'm not religious myself but this really stuck a chord with me. I don't want to give too much away but when August talks of us all having some power within us, i found it very moving and i really thought "That's what i have to tell myself when i have something difficult to do".
Anyway, this is a really rambling entry, so apologies... i'm a bit spaced out from the cough medicine etc. I just wanted to say i thought it was a great book and it really moved me.

Thank you, Tanabata! 

Journal Entry 12 by Mamooo from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Monday, November 17, 2003

Off to Dani75 in germany! 

Journal Entry 13 by Dani75 from Rudersberg, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Saturday, November 29, 2003

"The Secret Life of Bees" was in my postbox this morning. It sounds like an interesting book so I´m looking forward to reading it! 

Journal Entry 14 by Dani75 from Rudersberg, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Tuesday, December 16, 2003

Journal Entry 15 by Tintti from Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi Finland on Thursday, December 18, 2003

The book arrived today with a Christmas card from Dani75. Thank you!

(And Merry Christmas to everybody!) 

Journal Entry 16 by Tintti from Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi Finland on Saturday, December 20, 2003

I loved this book. I was hooked by it (as many of you were) and couldn't put it down once I started reading. I think the story has the same kind of wisdom and warmth as Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flagg.

Is there going to be a movie based on the book? To me, August looked a lot like Whoopi Goldberg.

Also the facts about bees were fascinating - and I ate quite a lot of toast with honey while reading this book. :)

Update Dec 23: Sent to blacksheeps99 today.

 

Journal Entry 17 by blacksheeps99 from not specified, not specified not specified on Wednesday, January 07, 2004

Received the book two or three days ago. Thanks a lot! Will start reading it at the end of the week (probably, have to finish another one first.)

Edit, Jan 10th: Start reading the book today! 

Journal Entry 18 by blacksheeps99 from not specified, not specified not specified on Saturday, January 17, 2004

Thanks a lot for sharing this "honey-bitter-sweet" novel!! I loved the (female) characters and the lovely style (one can really feel the heat - even if it ist cold and wintry outside!).

It was really interesting for me to learn more about this time period (1964): the signing of the civil rights act (it´s only forty years ago??), racial attitudes and the robotic exploration of the moon, in preparation for the planned moon landing,...

Will be on its way to Italy soon! 

Journal Entry 19 by blacksheeps99 from not specified, not specified not specified on Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Sent already to BlackLilith (Italy) 

Journal Entry 20 by BlackLilith from Città di Castello, Umbria Italy on Friday, February 13, 2004

Just received! I'll read it soon, I've some others BCrings first. 

Journal Entry 21 by BlackLilith from Città di Castello, Umbria Italy on Monday, March 15, 2004

Journal Entry 22 by 5ma from Takasaki / 高崎市, Gunma-ken Japan on Friday, March 26, 2004

Journal Entry 23 by 5ma from Takasaki / 高崎市, Gunma-ken Japan on Wednesday, April 21, 2004

I really enjoyed this book. it was sometimes funny,sometimes serious.It made me think about a lot of things, like family love, racial problems,and things... it was a good story:)

thank you, tanabata for this opportunity.
sent to Lucinda today. 

Journal Entry 24 by Lucinda from Ventura, California USA on Monday, May 03, 2004

Got through a book ray. Will be sending it on its way later this week. 

Journal Entry 25 by Lucinda from Ventura, California USA on Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Wonderful coming of age mixed with the Female Divine. I really enjoyed it and have been recommending it to all my friends.

Mailing it off to the next stop on the book ray today. 

Journal Entry 26 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Thursday, May 13, 2004

The book arrived today. I'm in the middle of another book at the moment, but this one will be read next (or perhaps even a little concurrently). 

Journal Entry 27 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Monday, May 17, 2004

A good book about growing up and realizing that life isn't always how you'd like it to be, but that you can still find happiness. 

Journal Entry 28 by karendawn at on Tuesday, May 18, 2004

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

off to boutish 

Journal Entry 29 by AnonymousFinder on Monday, May 31, 2004

I received the book last week. Thanks for sharing it. I just started reading it today because I had to finish Lord of The Flies first (great book!). I'll let you know when I'm done!

CAUGHT IN QUÉBEC QUÉBEC CANADA 

Journal Entry 30 by boutish on Monday, May 31, 2004

Oups! I forgot to log on before making my entry. 

Journal Entry 31 by boutish on Wednesday, June 09, 2004

Just finished reading it and I must say I loved it. I couldn't put it down. A great book that makes you think a lot about forgiveness and acceptance.
Thanks for making this ring! 

Journal Entry 32 by boutish on Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Sorry I lost the book at home... I sent it this Monday to Ontario.

Sorry again for keeping it that long. 

Journal Entry 33 by Wandeca from Kitchener, Ontario Canada on Thursday, June 09, 2005

Quite a surprise! I'll try to read this book as soon as I can. Thank you boutish for mailing it and tanabata for sharing.