Journal Entry 1 by BookGroupMan from Woodbridge, Suffolk United Kingdom on Monday, August 04, 2003

A perfectly crafted book, the pace, the language, the mood & emotional impact are hypnotic, and not a little bit disturbing. It feels like a David Lynch film (think Twin Peaks/Blue Velvet?), surreal, visceral, and never entirely comfortable for the reader, because it shows the underbelly of a ‘normal’ middle-class suburb. I’m not really into gimmicky writing, but I loved the way he teased out the story, retelling events & feelings as a report from a narrator who was involved (and permanently affected), but you never know who and how until the end. Even with all the clues the final sequence of events come as a real shock. One wonders why Eugenides took so long to come up with a second novel? But then, I suppose Catcher in the Rye, which this has been compared to, was a one-off. I would be happy to produce one such brilliant novel in a lifetime! 

Journal Entry 2 by BookGroupMan at on Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Released on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 at Sent to Bookcrossing friend by post in Cambridge, England United Kingdom.

Sent to BCUK friend Miki - a light 'prequel' before tackling Middlesex? 

Journal Entry 3 by hey-miki from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 25, 2003

Thanks BookGroupMan! Looking forward to this one! 

Journal Entry 4 by hey-miki from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, December 15, 2003

Stunning. This book grabs you and doesn't let go until the last word.
I'm a little sorry that I saw the film first although the film adaptation is also excellent.
I second everything BookGroupMan said about it (except it didnt seem at all gimmicky to me).
Now I've read this and Middlesex I can't wait to read more by Mr Eugenides! I hope novel number 3 appears soon... 

Journal Entry 5 by hey-miki from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, July 15, 2004

Posted to Gooner... 

Journal Entry 6 by Gooner from March, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Saturday, July 17, 2004

This book arrived today, while I was in Birmingham for the Unconvention.

Thank you so much for sharing it. I'll journal as soon as I finish it. 

Journal Entry 7 by Gooner from March, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 27, 2004

This was just as good as I'd hoped. Having just read Middlesex, there were lots of precursors in this which Eugenides later extended.

I was intrigued by the narrators, a group of neighbourhood boys who worshipped the five sisters who committed suicide. It was an unusual way of moving the story along, not so much action as reflections and story-telling. The motif of using the ambulance-men's arrival at the house was effective, as seen through the boys' eyes.

I'd recommend anyone to read this. Thanks to hey-miki for sharing it with me.

Updated: 28 July 2004

This is now going out on a ring. Details as follows:

1. Decembermum
2. Starry-Starry
3. skribblebx
4. psychjo
5. Spike1972
6. Welshmouse
7. Winterson
8. Gothvamp
9. Normy
10. abrokenstarr - joined ring on 13 September 05
11. blaizezabini12
12. sunflowergirl
13. spacecadetlv426
14. squirk
15. Amanida
16. calalilly
17. Heaven-Ali
18. Griffett
19. Gooner

If you'd like to join, please PM me. 

Journal Entry 8 by Gooner from March, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 03, 2004

This is being posted today to decembermum. Hope she enjoys it. 

Journal Entry 9 by Decembermum from Maisons-Laffitte, Ile-de-France France on Thursday, August 05, 2004

Received this morning. I'll start it as soon as I've finished the book I'm currently reading. 

Journal Entry 10 by Decembermum from Maisons-Laffitte, Ile-de-France France on Sunday, August 15, 2004

What a brilliant book, extremely surreal and leaves you wanting to know more. There were so many references to the suicides before they happened that at some points I found myself thinking "get on with it" but in the end I felt the build-up was justified.

Sending on to Starry-starry 

Journal Entry 11 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, August 21, 2004

Received this morning, thanks! And perfect timing - having spent the morning designing a website and a programme of events, I shall consider all work done for today and wallow in this book all afternoon. 

Journal Entry 12 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, September 11, 2004

Excellent! I thought this was a sad, beautifully told story and so much better than the film. I can't even begin to understand why these men became so obsessed, but I can understand the quest to know why. The story hints, but does not reveal the why, but cleverly leaves us to make out own conclusions.

I particularly liked the languidness of the tale. His attention to detail drew out the story making two months seem like 20 years; fitting perfectly with the plot and the sense that time had no meaning to those girls. I was a little uncomfortable reading about the invasion of privacy and the sheer obsessiveness, (and exactly how many boys were there, seemed like the whole school!) But everything helped to paint the picture and there was nothing unecessary.

Thanks for giving me the chance to read it Gooner, it will be on its way to Skribble today. 

Journal Entry 13 by skribble from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Yay - this arrived today, in time for me to take on honeymoon! Thanks for tracking me down Starry Starry. 

Journal Entry 14 by skribble from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 05, 2004

I love this book! I first read it long before the film came out, and I was surprised how much the film version had overwhelmed my memory of it there was so many poignant details that I had completely forgotten about. I was able to get the images of the film out of my head as I read this time but bizarrely the soundtrack to the film (by Air) ran through my mind constantly.

As other's have mentioned, the reminiscing plot device as well as the languid pace and the beautiful language are what really characterise the book for me. It evokes a strong sense of bittersweet melancholy, making me feel like I'm looking at old photographs.

I love the way that you get to look into the different households in the neighbourhood, finding out little bits about the different families there almost as if you're peering into their windows. Whilse the Lisbon household is the focus - you also see the patchwork of different lives that exist in a 'normal' suburban neighbourhood.

On it's way to Psychjo. 

Journal Entry 15 by psychjo from Bristol, not specified not specified on Monday, November 01, 2004

Sorry for the delay in journaling this book, I've had it for a few weeks, and kept forgetting to bring the BCID number into work and then wrote it down wrong.....

Anyway, have almost finished reading it and thorouhgly enjoying it so far. I watched the film a few weeks ago and was a little disapointed, the book is so much better, but I can see that the film has been pretty faithful to the spirit of the book. Can't wait to finish it tonight....

Absolutely fab read.

Ready to send onto the next reader as soon as I get an address. 

Journal Entry 16 by spike1972 from Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, November 13, 2004

This arrived safely yesterday, but this is the first chance I've had to journal it sorry.

I'm looking forward to this one, but it joins Mt TBR for the time being. 

Journal Entry 17 by spike1972 from Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, February 07, 2005

I've been trying to get to this one on Mt Toobie for way too long now, so I've posted on to the next person today. 

Journal Entry 18 by Welshmouse from Ely, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Arrived from Spike the day I was going on a ski holiday. Thought i would have time to read it whilst away but was too busy being active + having fun. Will start it this weekend. Thanks Norm for passing it on. I will return it to you as soon as I'm finished. P.s. hope you've been cheering loudly for the welsh rugby lads!! 

Journal Entry 19 by Welshmouse from Ely, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 06, 2005

A very easy book to get into and kept me intrigued right up to the end. It's ages since I'd seen the film but scenes kept returning to me whilst reading the book but this did not spoil it at all. A well recommended book.
Will send back to Spike if he still wants to read it or Winterson as part of the bookring. 

Journal Entry 20 by Winterson from Peacehaven, East Sussex United Kingdom on Sunday, May 01, 2005

Received this a couple of days ago but have had a few ISP problems so only managed to get on today to journal. Really looking forward to this one - it's had such great reviews from you lot! I've seen the film, a long time ago though, and hopefully long enough for the book to be able to speak for itself.

Thanks all,
 

Journal Entry 21 by Winterson from Peacehaven, East Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, June 06, 2005

I loved this! So beautifully written and very evocative. I must admit that at times I thought the way the narrator/s kept reffering to exhibits a bit gimmicky, but overall think using these narrators worked really well. It allowed a glimpse into the girls' lives as well as those of the families around them. Fab! Am going to have to buy a PC copy of this now, loved it so much!
Have PMd next player for addy. 

Journal Entry 22 by Gothvamp from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Arrived home safely! Thanks! 

Journal Entry 23 by Gothvamp from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Thursday, July 28, 2005

I just love Eugenides. I definitely have to read again Middlesex in english, I am mad about myself because I read it in its french translation. It's such a shame (even if the translation was good).

I didn't remember the movie very well, and honestly I didn't like it very much. But that book is fabulous. The feeling you have all the time while you read it is so strange. Eugenides is incredibly talented. Everything seems so "evanescent" even though he keeps on mentionning very concrete details. You can almost smell the strange smell of the Lisbon house when you close the book.

I really loved it. Thank you. 

Journal Entry 24 by Normy from Morecambe, Lancashire United Kingdom on Monday, August 08, 2005

Received from Gothvamp today. No 4 on Mt Toobie. I've read such enthusiastic reviews for the books I've received recently that I want to read them all - NOW! :o)

Update 1st September 2005: I'll be starting this today. 

Journal Entry 25 by Normy from Morecambe, Lancashire United Kingdom on Monday, September 12, 2005

I didn't actually get around to starting this until the 4th, and finished it on the 6th - it felt like I was reading it for longer than that as time stretched out.

I hadn't realised there was a film until I read the reviews here (in fact I didn't know about the book until I looked through Gooner's bookrings!).

I didn't really see the characters in my mind, and they did blend together at times. I think was probably partly the idea as other characters couldn't always tell the difference between the sisters, but it spoiled it somewhat for me. I also never really knew who was narrating (one man, several men?) and why. Why did people agree to be interviewed? Why where there 'exhibits'?

So although I enjoyed the book, it didn't live up to its 'David Lynch/Catcher in the Rye' reputation for me.

Reserved until Gooner let's me know it's next destination. 

Journal Entry 26 by Normy from Morecambe, Lancashire United Kingdom on Monday, September 26, 2005

Got a message from Wyldetwo that she had been added on to two other bookrings of Gooner's, so I thought I'd check all of the ones I've got waiting to move on, and have found several of them have new names added after me, so have PM'd the next person on the list for their address. Well done Gooner on getting them going again! 

Journal Entry 27 by Normy from Morecambe, Lancashire United Kingdom on Friday, September 30, 2005

Off in the post to ABrokenStarr today. 

Journal Entry 28 by abrokenstarr from Reading, Berkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, October 09, 2005

I'm so sorry, I've had this for a few days, but I'm so far behind with bc stuff that it is unreal.

I'm sorry if anyone was worrying about it.

I'm an awful person.

This is next on my list, I'm just about to finish another bc book and then I will get to this.

Thanks to Gooner and Normy. 

Journal Entry 29 by blaisezabini12 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Picked up today from the post office! I've read Middlesex recently so I can't wait for another J.Eugenides book:) Thank you for sending it to Romania!

18 November 05: I haven't enjoyed this book as much as "Middlesex" but I think it had an interesting idea. I liked the fact that it wasn't a depressing book - it was like the boys said: you were expecting for the girls to die.
My favorite Lisbon girl was Lux - maybe because the author offered more details about her.
Now, as I have finally read the book, I am going to watch the movie (I prefer reading the book first and then watching the movie made after it).
Thank you Gooner for allowing new members to join your ring!
I have pmed the next participant for the address.

29 November 05: finally mailed today! 

Journal Entry 30 by sunflowergirl from Carlisle, Cumbria United Kingdom on Monday, December 05, 2005

The book has just this minute arrived here. I have one ring book ahead of it, but I will get to this as soon as I can. I'm really looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 31 by sunflowergirl from Carlisle, Cumbria United Kingdom on Friday, December 16, 2005

I really enjoyed this book, once I got into it I found it to be unputdownable. I saw the film quite a long time ago and enjoyed that but the book is so much better. It's a strange, slightly surreal story but believable at the same time, I got completely engrossed in the lives of the Lisbon sisters.

* * * * * * *

I'm with spacecadetlv426 now so will pass the book on to him right away! 

Journal Entry 32 by spacecadetlv426 from Hull, East Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 16, 2005

My girlfriend (sunflowergirl) passed the book on to me today. I hope to get chance to read it over Christmas and New Year. 

Journal Entry 33 by spacecadetlv426 from Hull, East Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 10, 2006

I really enjoyed reading this book! I found it fascinating that everything I know about the Lisbon girls was gained from the cirle of boys that had taken so much interest in them. There were many occasions that I felt the same mystical and untouchable feelings the Lisbon girls stirred in the entranced boys. This book has definatley left its mark on me. This might sound a little cliche, and I know I only finished the book 3 days ago, but there has been a couple times when I have thought of the Lisbon girls.

I think I need to get out more!!! LOL

***********************************************************

I posted this book to squirk today. 

Journal Entry 34 by squirk from West Norwood, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, March 17, 2006

Oops, oops, oops and so sorry! I can't believe I received a book safely in the post (and in good time) and put it onto Mt Toobie before catching it onto my shelf. Where was my brain? However, here I am at last. This book is the next on my list to read and I should get to it very soon. 

Journal Entry 35 by squirk from West Norwood, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Journal Entry 36 by Amanida from Chertsey, Surrey United Kingdom on Thursday, April 20, 2006

Arrived today with lovely Squirky bookmark, thanks! I'm going to Lisbon for a few days next week and I'll take it with me to read. 

Journal Entry 37 by Amanida from Chertsey, Surrey United Kingdom on Monday, May 01, 2006

Well, I didn't find it as brilliant as most of the rest of you, but an enjoyable and compelling read, nevertheless.
Like Middlesex (which I preferred), an unusual subject told in haunting style.
Will be off to calalilly when I get my act together and PM for the address. 

Journal Entry 38 by calalilly from Waterlooville, Hampshire United Kingdom on Thursday, May 04, 2006

Received in the post today, thank you. Have a couple of other rings to read before I get to this one but they shouldn't take me long. 

Journal Entry 39 by calalilly from Waterlooville, Hampshire United Kingdom on Friday, July 28, 2006

Sorry I've taken so long to read it, unfortunately I didn't enjoy it as much as the majority of the previous people in the ring. We can't all enjoy the same books and I got it wrong this time when I decided to go on this ring but thanks for letting me read it. Emailing Heaven-Ali for her address.
 

Journal Entry 40 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, August 05, 2006

Arrived back from holiday today to find this waiting for me, I am off again tomorrow despite only having half a day at home, and will take this with me, and post it on as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 41 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 09, 2006

A beautifully written book, which reads like a memory. I think I prefered this slightly to Middlesex which I read recently. There is a lot that is shocking in this novel, and yet Eugenides mangaes to keep it from ever being gratuitious. Thanks for letting me join the ring, I'll be posting on ASAP

it would seem that "Griffett" doesn't exist - as soon as I know who to pass it on to I will. 

Journal Entry 42 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Just a note to let everyone know I am still waiting to hear who to send this book to. I have pm'd Gooner, but still awaiting a response, I will try to get this book moving again soon. 

Journal Entry 43 by Gooner from March, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 05, 2006

This is just an update on the book's whereabouts. I have contacted Heaven-Ali as follows:

"As Griffett doesn't seem to exist, and the BC-er with the nearest name to Griffett did not respond to my PM, the best idea might be for you to release the book. Then we can all follow what might prove to be its ongoing amazing, engrossing journey. Well, we can all dream, can't we?

I don't really see what other course of action is open. If you don't mind releasing it somewhere, then please do so."

Watch this space ... 

Journal Entry 44 by Heaven-Ali at sent by mail in RABCK, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, September 09, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (9/9/2006 UTC) at sent by mail in RABCK, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to Gussy916 who amazingly is in England at the moment - but who will take this book back to India with her. 

Journal Entry 45 by gussy916 from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Received the book a couple of days back, thanks so much