Journal Entry 1 by Aramena from Moore, Oklahoma USA on Friday, August 15, 2003

from back cover:

Margo and B.B. are divorced mothers, living in sun-washed Colorado. They cope with it all - careers, loneliness, crises, new lovers, old lovers - their own and their children's. Smart Women is tender and sexy, funny, sad and sweet - a stunning tour de force from the phenomenally sucessful Judy Blume... 

Journal Entry 2 by Aramena from Moore, Oklahoma USA on Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Because my TBR pile is so big, I've offered some of them as book rings so that others may enjoy them before me! So Smart Women is on it’s way to the first participant! There are seven participants, and I will leave it open if anybody wants to join in and be added to the end of the list. I have set the order up according to the order signed up, EXCEPT that fire-dragon wanted to be towards the end of the list. Since she is the only non-US participant, I’m having the 6th participant send the book back to me and I will ship it to fire-dragon, unless someone else signs up between now and then who is willing to ship overseas.

So here is the list:

Mysteryfan03
Emitchell1017
Three104
WritinReader
Theory19
prplpec
casseytara
fire-dragon
Maurean
Ginger1

When you are ready to send the book on, PM the next person on the list to get their address. If they don’t respond within a week or so, let me know, and we can move their name down the list and go to the next person.

Enjoy everyone!
 

Journal Entry 3 by mysteryfan03 from Moberly, Missouri USA on Saturday, February 28, 2004

Got this in the mail yesterday! Cant wait to read it. But I do have a couple of rings in front of it. Thanks for letting me read this!! 

Journal Entry 4 by mysteryfan03 from Moberly, Missouri USA on Tuesday, March 09, 2004

This was a very good, but short book. It was a fast read. I am not sure that the title of the book was appropriate, some of the women had their priorities confused, IMHO. But I related with Margo early on when it described living with a teenage daughter who was angry at the world, (Thank goodness mine is beyond that stage finally, haha) and other ways I wont fess up too!
I enjoyed the characters and the fast pace of the book. I had never read Judy Blume, and while I usually read other types of books, I will keep an eye out for her again. Thanks, casseytara, for the chance to read this!! I will get this moving when I get the next address. 

Journal Entry 5 by emitchell1017 from Peterborough, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Thought this was a good book, got a little teary eyed at the end. I loved Judy Blume as a kid and now I can remember why.

Mailed out to the next person, she hopefully has it by now :) Was waiting on the addy. 

Journal Entry 6 by emitchell1017 at Trade in Trade, A Trade -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, April 06, 2004

Released on Friday, April 02, 2004 at Trade in Trade, A Trade Controlled Releases. 

Journal Entry 7 by three104 from Catawba, Wisconsin USA on Thursday, April 08, 2004

Got this in mail today. Reading one now, it will be the very next.

 

Journal Entry 8 by three104 from Catawba, Wisconsin USA on Tuesday, April 13, 2004

OK, done. It was hard for me go get into at first, like reading fragmented sentences, nothing connected or seemed to make sense. But then it got good. B.B. didn't surprise me, you kinda knew where it was going there, and I liked the way it ended with Margo.

Thanks to casseytara for the opportunity to read this-don't know if I would have otherwise. I even picked up another Judy Blume book.

Will go out to writinreader via USPS 4-14-04. 

Journal Entry 9 by WritinReader on Monday, April 19, 2004

I'll begin reading this later today....thanks! 

Journal Entry 10 by WritinReader on Wednesday, April 21, 2004

I read about 60 pages of this and just can't seem to get into it. I put it to the side and started another book and then decided to just go ahead and pass it on to the next one waiting for it. It will be going out in the mail today to "Theory19". 

Journal Entry 11 by theory19 from Redding, California USA on Wednesday, May 05, 2004

Hey...I've read this before! Anyhow, I received it a few days ago and went ahead and read it again! I'm contacting next person to send it on....thanks for including me! 

Journal Entry 12 by prplpec from Kennesaw, Georgia USA on Thursday, May 13, 2004

Arrived today in the mail. It's up next after I finish my current book. 

Journal Entry 13 by prplpec from Kennesaw, Georgia USA on Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Obviously I identified more with the characters when I read this book the first time about twenty years ago. Now they just seemed totally self-absorbed and obsessed with men and sex. (And I guess most women would say, and what's wrong with that???) Just seemed too shallow and empty to me.
But it was interesting to read it again at another
stage in my life.
Mailed today to fire-dragon by surface mail.
Thanks for sharing, Casseytara! 

Journal Entry 14 by Fire-Dragon from San Francisco, California USA on Monday, June 21, 2004

This arrived in the post this morning. I really appreciate the extra effort in making sure that I could join the ring, even though I was the only participant outside the US.

I've always loved Judy Blume, starting with her children's books and moving up to the teens' range and then her adults' books. I actually thought I'd read all of her books, so I was surprised to see that this was first published in 1983. I thought it must be a new one!

I'm looking forward to a great comfort read. 

Journal Entry 15 by Fire-Dragon from San Francisco, California USA on Saturday, June 26, 2004

Judy Blume writes with trademark sensitivity and insight. The characters and their lives were very realistic. A satisfying read.

The book has actually fallen apart but I will repair it and then send to Ginger1. 

Journal Entry 16 by Maurean from Atlantic Beach, Florida USA on Monday, August 23, 2004

This book was found in my mailbox today; I am currently in possession of a few rings at the moment (you can view my progress on my shelf), but I will read this soon and journal again when I'm thru. Thanks for including me, casseytara, I too liked Blume as a child, and am interested in her 'adult' fairy-tales ;) 

Journal Entry 17 by Maurean from Atlantic Beach, Florida USA on Sunday, September 05, 2004

I finished reading this book this afternoon, and found it to be a good diversion in these last few days, waiting for hurricane Frances to pass us by!

I was drawn into Margo's story, and was glad she and Andrew had a 'happy ending' (altho, I gotta say, Michelle made me realize allll the reasons I DON'T have children! Selfish, snotty little...*grumble, grumble*)

Anyway...it was an enjoyable read, and I appriciate being added to the tailend of this ring (thanks again, casseytara!) I have Pm'ed Ginger1 for her addy, and will get this in the mail to her as soon as I receive it! *mailed 9/25 to TN....sorry for the delay! 

Journal Entry 18 by Ginger1 from Sacramento, California USA on Saturday, October 09, 2004

I got the book through joining a bookring. I just couldn't get it. As an author myself, there seemed to be too much extraneous information and bounced around a little too much for me. I guess I tried reading it with too much of an editioral perspective *lol*. 

Journal Entry 19 by Aramena from Moore, Oklahoma USA on Friday, October 22, 2004

Smart Women has come home! Thanks to all who participated in the ring. Now it goes back in my TBR pile, but after reading all the journal entries, I'm eager to get to it! 

Journal Entry 20 by Aramena from Moore, Oklahoma USA on Wednesday, October 31, 2007

I finally got around to reading this book, after including it as part of the SIY Challenge #2! About a third of the way in I was already disappointed in it. Margo and B.B. just seemed to me to be whiny, self-absorbed women who put themselves before their children. As a single parent with two teenagers I thought I would identify with these characters, but I totally did not. I do not believe a single mother should be bringing her casual lovers home and exposing her kids to that part of her life. Not that I've had any myself, my husband and I have been separated for just over a year and I've not seen anybody since then, but I think if I did embark on a relationship, I would keep it under my kids' radar!

Anyway, once B.B. had her breakdown I did begin to feel more sympathetic towards her, and the book picked up for me. And Michelle was a very realistic interpretation of a teenage girl.

All in all, I think Judy Blume is much better as an author of children's books. Even though this was written for adults, to me the writing still seemed to be in the simple, simplistic style of a children's book.

I will be sending this to buffy25 as soon as I'm able to get to the post office. 

Journal Entry 21 by buffy25 from Moncton, New Brunswick Canada on Monday, December 10, 2007

Recieved today from Aramena.thanks so much.Look forward to reading it.