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A Life Like Other People's
by Alan Bennett | Biographies & Memoirs
Registered by wingardachywing of Colchester, Essex United Kingdom on Sunday, March 06, 2011
Average 6 star rating by BookCrossing Members 

status (set by AnonymousFinder): to be read


3 journalers for this copy...

Journal Entry 1 by wingardachywing from Colchester, Essex United Kingdom on Sunday, March 06, 2011

This book has not been rated.

Picked up unregistered from the World Book Night event in Colchester.  

Journal Entry 2 by wingardachywing at Colchester, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, May 19, 2011

This book has not been rated.

Released 1 yr ago (5/19/2011 UTC) at Colchester, Essex United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Given to BookAmbler during meet up at the Layer Fox so that it can be passed on to Chamonix44. 

Journal Entry 3 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Monday, June 20, 2011

This book has not been rated.

Whilst on holiday in Essex recently, I was given a box of WBN books by BookAmbler, that Ardachy had managed to pick up for me. Thank you very much Ardachy. I no9w have enough WBN titles to keep me busy for a while. I intend to read this one and then lend it out to members of my church congregation here in The Netherlands.

Since this is a World Book Night book, I will copy the WBN info and put it here, including the logo!

Amazon Editorial Review
FROM ONE OF BRITAIN’S GREATEST LIVING WRITERS AND THE AUTHOR OF THE UNCOMMON READER, A FAMILY MEMOIR AND UNIQUE WORK OF ART—A LIFE LIKE OTHER IS ALAN BENNETT AT HIS BEST

In this poignant memoir of his parents’ marriage, Alan Bennett recalls the lost world of his childhood and the lives, loves, and deaths of his unforgettable aunties, Kathleen and Myra. First published in the acclaimed collection Untold Stories, this tender, intimate family portrait beautifully captures the Bennetts’ hopes, disappointments, and yearning for a life like other people’s. With the sudden descent of his mother into depression, and later dementia, Bennett uncovers a long-held family secret in this extraordinarily moving and at times irresistibly funny work of autobiography.
 

Journal Entry 4 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Monday, June 20, 2011

This book has not been rated.

Dear Reader

Welcome to BookCrossing and thanks for being a part of World Book Night 2011, the largest book giveaway in history. 1,000,000 specially printed copies of 25 different books changed hands on March 5th 2011 and began their journey from reader to reader. This book is one of them. World Book Night has joined with BookCrossing to help track these books as they travel. You can be a part of that journey by making a comment in the book's journal here on BookCrossing. Your journal entry can say how you got the book, what you thought of it, your plans for it or whatever else you might like to add.

On BookCrossing you may choose to remain anonymous or join (it's free). If you join, you’ll be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry for this specific copy of this book (other copies of the book are travelling with their own ID number. Every copy of every book has a unique ID). It’s all confidential (you’re known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address) and spam-free.

Thanks in advance for being part of World Book Night and BookCrossing. And happy reading and sharing.


 

Journal Entry 5 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Monday, June 20, 2011

This book has not been rated.

Released 3 mos ago (2/25/2011 UTC) at London , Greater London United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is being released via BookCrossing on 5 March 2011 as part of the inaugural World Book Night. With the full support of the Publishers Association, the Booksellers Association, the Independent Publishers Guild, the Reading Agency with libraries, World Book Day and the BBC, one million books will be given away by an army of passionate readers to members of the public across the UK and Ireland.

Read and release!


 

Journal Entry 6 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Friday, July 01, 2011

This book has not been rated.

I will start reading this book sometime later today. I'm looking forward to it. 

Journal Entry 7 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Saturday, July 02, 2011

7 out of 10


Just finished reading this!
As the editorial review says, this is an autobiography. I found it mainly to be about Alan Bennett's mother, rather than about him. His family lived a rather safe, but dull-sounding life. I felt sorry for his parents. His father wearing two suits all the time. Well one all the time really, and the other one for best. I wonder how often the trousers were cleaned from that one everyday suit!! The one time he did dress in casuals didn't last. Alan Bennett thought the new look didn't suit his father, but there is a photo in the book of his father in his casuals, and he looked ok!! His mother who always held the hopes that they could "branch-out" and be more like other people and use cocktail sticks etc. She secretely bought some cocktail sticks, which remained unused. Alan later found them hidden at the back of a cupboard.
A strange story, but true. His loyalty to his parents, especially his mother, was commendable to the end.

If this review seems a bit dishevelled or rushed, then I must admit that it is. My husband who has been using the main computer for hours, just came away from it and asked me if I wanted to use it. I told him, I just have 23 pages left to read of this book and then I want to write the review while it's still in my head. He said I only had half an hour to read the rest and review the book, because he wanted the computer back. I managed to read those last 23 pages and write this review and now he's standing behind me telling me he needs the computer back right now!!!

I will now see if I can lend this book out to members of my church congregation. 

Journal Entry 8 by wingchamonix44wing at Lochem, Gelderland Netherlands on Sunday, July 03, 2011

This book has not been rated.

Released 11 mos ago (7/3/2011 UTC) at Lochem, Gelderland Netherlands

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I took this book to church with me today, and after the service we went into our coffee hut and I had the WBN books with me that I have already read.
Kathleen picked this book up and saw that it was set in Leeds. Kathleen originally came from Leeds, and so she asked to borrow the book. She will give it back to me after she has read it.

Kathleen is not a member of BookCrossing, and I doubt very much if she will make a journal entry here, unless her daughter does it for her. However, I will get a book review from her by word of mouth after the book has been read! 

Journal Entry 9 by wingchamonix44wing at Goor, Overijssel Netherlands on Sunday, July 10, 2011

5 out of 10

After our church service today,I was given this book back by Kathleen.
Here is Kathleen's review:
"I didn't really like reading this story as it made me feel depressed almost all the way through it. I live in a place where there are a lot of old people, like myself, and I see people going through this type of illness and problems like the character's mother had.
Oh yes....really depressing! I still do not know who Alan Bennet is, even though I have been told he is famous!!" 

Journal Entry 10 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Sunday, July 10, 2011

This book has not been rated.

Released 10 mos ago (7/10/2011 UTC) at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

We were in our church coffee hut at midday for refreshments, and Noelle asked if she could borrow this book. She is going on holiday on 20th July, but she will not be taking the book with her. She will not return to The Netherlands until September. So I guess I won't get the book back until September unless she manages to read it quickly and gives it to a friend to bring back to church for me.

I know that Noelle has a computer at home, but I do not know if she will venture online into the Bookcrossing site to write a journal entry. We'll see..... 

Journal Entry 11 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Sunday, July 17, 2011

This book has not been rated.

Noelle gave me this book back at church today. She has read a quarter of it, but now she needs to pack for her holiday and doesn't want any distractions.
She will borrow the book again September when she is back from China and Thailand! 

Journal Entry 12 by wingchamonix44wing at Deventer, Overijssel Netherlands on Sunday, July 17, 2011

This book has not been rated.

Released 10 mos ago (7/17/2011 UTC) at Deventer, Overijssel Netherlands

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sheila borrowed this book today at our church picnic. I don't think Sheila will write a review on Facebook, but she will tell me what she thought of the book after she has read it, and I will write the review for her! 

Journal Entry 13 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Sunday, September 18, 2011

This book has not been rated.

I have received an email from Sheila with a review of this book.
Here it is:

"Hi Nicole,

I have finished the book which I enjoyed reading. Here are my comments on it.

Alan Bennett's 'A Life Like Other People's'.

Alan Bennett's description of his time, living in the North of England during the last century, brings back my own memories. Alan Bennett is a very unusual person in doing so much for his family especially his mother.and often it seems reluctantly. I must say, the fascination he had towards his own family gave him lots of material for his own playwriting. I give this book a 7.
See you Sunday I hope,
Sheila."

I haven't actually had the book back from Sheila yet. So I'm hoping she will give it back to me later today at church. Then I can put it into my WBN book box for others to lend out. 

Journal Entry 14 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Tuesday, November 01, 2011

This book has not been rated.

Sheila gave me the book back yesterday at church. I will now put it into my WBN book box, and I hope I can find another reader for it. 

Journal Entry 15 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Sunday, November 20, 2011

This book has not been rated.

Released 6 mos ago (11/20/2011 UTC) at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

After our Anglican church service today, Noelle took this book home to Almelo with her. I have told Noelle that if she can't write a journal entry herself, I will help her to write one. So watch this space!

Released as part of Megi53's release challenge in memory of her mother. (From the Release Challenges forum on BookCrossing). 

Journal Entry 16 by wingAnonymousFinderwing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Sunday, January 15, 2012

7 out of 10

Thank you for lending me this book again, so that I could read it all the way through this time. I enjoyed it and I found it very sad too. It makes you worried about getting old. I will be returning the book to Nicole.
 

Journal Entry 17 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Monday, January 16, 2012

This book has not been rated.

I received the book back from Noelle yesterday, after our church service. It is now in my WBN book box. I hope someone else will choose to read it soon. 

Journal Entry 18 by wingchamonix44wing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Wednesday, February 22, 2012

This book has not been rated.

Released 3 mos ago (2/22/2012 UTC) at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I will be handing this book over to my friend, Lies, this afternoon. She is a prolific reader and she already has a couple of books from me to read still, but she gets through them quickly.
Usually lies does not make journal entries if she can help it.
This time, I will stand over her whilst she writes something here! 

Journal Entry 19 by wingAnonymousFinderwing at Almelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Friday, February 24, 2012

This book has not been rated.

Looking forward to this. Nicole says it made her sad. I'm harder than her I think! Let's wait and see. 



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