Doomsday Book
This book is in a Controlled Release!
15 journalers for this copy...
For Kivrin, preparing for on-site study of one of the dealiest eras in humanity's history was as simple as receiving inoculations against the diseases of the 14th century and inventing an alibi for a woman traveling alone. For her instructors in the 21st century, it meant painstaking calculations and careful monitoring of the rendevouz location where Kivrin would be retrieved.
Available for loan.
Available for loan.
Released on Saturday, June 12, 2004 at postal release in Sambro, Nova Scotia Controlled Releases.
Received this trade and looking forward to reading it - thanks!
Wow - this was a wonderful book. Terrific writing, well researched and a strong plot with equally strong characters. it had all the elements I love: realistically flawed characters, reluctant yet spirited heroes, and an unpredictable storyline. Big thumbs up. I will see if my mother wants it next - I think it is her type of book.
lost somewhere in this house - promised to bluenoser when found
This arrived in the mail this morning. I just happen to be reading a large book on the history of the 14th century in Europe, mostly involving France and England and just a few days ago I came across the very same quote that is in the front of this book, written by Brother John Clyn in 1349. He was the last remaining monk in an abbey. All the other monks had died of the plague and he seriously considered that mankind might be coming to an end and wrote his notes just in case there were survivors. He never did finish the sentence, it ends "If perchance any man survive and any of the race of Adam escape this pestilence and carry on the work which I have begun......"
I love Connie Willis' writing and am looking forward to this one.
Thanks chantelly, for sending this book to your dear old Mom!
I love Connie Willis' writing and am looking forward to this one.
Thanks chantelly, for sending this book to your dear old Mom!
Absolutely my kind of book! A mix of time-travel, medieval history, adventure and just plain old good story-telling. I'm particularly interested in the 12th-15th centuries in Europe at the moment and was very impressed with Connie Willis' obvious good research into the medical and social history of that time period.
I preferred this book over Kate Mosse's "Labyrinth" and I will definitely add more of this author's books to my wish list.
Many thanks Chantelly, you were right, I really enjoyed it and I'm glad you found it during your house-cleaning.
This is a fat book, over 750 pages and as there is no cheap media post or surface mail post in France I'm afraid I can't mail this on and will release it locally.
I preferred this book over Kate Mosse's "Labyrinth" and I will definitely add more of this author's books to my wish list.
Many thanks Chantelly, you were right, I really enjoyed it and I'm glad you found it during your house-cleaning.
This is a fat book, over 750 pages and as there is no cheap media post or surface mail post in France I'm afraid I can't mail this on and will release it locally.
Journal Entry 8 by bluenoser at Cyber Café - Rue de Loup in Eymet, Aquitaine France on Saturday, December 30, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (12/30/2006 UTC) at Cyber Café - Rue de Loup in Eymet, Aquitaine France
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Left on the OBCZ Book Crossing bookshelves, behind the pillar, next to the counter.
Left on the OBCZ Book Crossing bookshelves, behind the pillar, next to the counter.
I found this book is on Nu-Knees wish list. I remembered releasing it at the local OBCZ some time ago. Nobody had ever picked it up, so I rescued it, wrapped it up and sent it off by La Poste this afternoon.
Journal Entry 10 by 
Nu-Knees
from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Nu-Knees from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 14, 2007
I was thrilled to find this waiting for me on my return from a delightful long weekend in Cardiff. Thank you, bluenoser. It was very kind of you to send it to me, especially in view of your earlier comment that it''s too heavy to post. I feel honoured that you changed your mind, thank you!
I can''t remember how or when it got onto my Wish List, except that I''m sure it would have been a recommendation/reference on the BookCrossing site which first drew it to my attention. These Journal Entries and the blurb on the book itself mean that it''s going straight to the Top of my TBR pile. Thanks again!
I can''t remember how or when it got onto my Wish List, except that I''m sure it would have been a recommendation/reference on the BookCrossing site which first drew it to my attention. These Journal Entries and the blurb on the book itself mean that it''s going straight to the Top of my TBR pile. Thanks again!
Journal Entry 11 by Nu-Knees from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, August 20, 2007
Nu-Knees from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, August 20, 2007
That was great fun! Amazing! Perhaps I should use Colin's word: Apocalyptic! It was such a page-turner, I couldn't put it down. Although I didn't quite finish it in one day, it was only 30 hours from start to finish, not bad for 578 pages!
A friend (JR) saw it on the table last week and was waiting for me to finish before I'd even started. I'll pass it on to her but unfortunately she's not a BookCrosser. Not yet, anyway - I'm working on it! I think I'll make it a loan and see if there's any other BC interest ....
A friend (JR) saw it on the table last week and was waiting for me to finish before I'd even started. I'll pass it on to her but unfortunately she's not a BookCrosser. Not yet, anyway - I'm working on it! I think I'll make it a loan and see if there's any other BC interest ....
Journal Entry 12 by Nu-Knees from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Nu-Knees from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Back with me and Available while I decide what to do with it next ...
JR thoroughly enjoyed it - I knew she would!
JR thoroughly enjoyed it - I knew she would!
Journal Entry 13 by Nu-Knees from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Nu-Knees from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 11, 2007
I'm sending this on to plum-crazy as my half of a trade. Enjoy - it's highly entertaining!
Journal Entry 14 by 
Plum-crazy
from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, September 13, 2007
Plum-crazy from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, September 13, 2007
Thank so much for this Nu-knees I can't wait to read it!& I'll find it a good home when I've finished it!
Journal Entry 15 by Plum-crazy from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Plum-crazy from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 9, 2007
When I joined bookcrossing I asked for suggestions for books to "widen my literary horizons" & this book was suggested by AwesomeAud....& thank you so much for the recommendation!
I would never have selected this book myself, mainly as it's by a sci-fi writer & that's a genre I wouldn't choose to read.... but what a treat I would have missed! I found myself thoroughly immersed in the book & felt quite bereft when I finished it.
I'm going to see if there's enough interest in it for a bookring as I'd like other bookcrossers to share in such a good read.
Thanks again to AwesomeAud for the recommendation & to Nu-knees who very kindly traded the book with me so I had the chance to read it.
I would never have selected this book myself, mainly as it's by a sci-fi writer & that's a genre I wouldn't choose to read.... but what a treat I would have missed! I found myself thoroughly immersed in the book & felt quite bereft when I finished it.
I'm going to see if there's enough interest in it for a bookring as I'd like other bookcrossers to share in such a good read.
Thanks again to AwesomeAud for the recommendation & to Nu-knees who very kindly traded the book with me so I had the chance to read it.
Journal Entry 16 by Plum-crazy from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Plum-crazy from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Welcome to my bookring!
Some brief "rules":
Please journal the book when you receive it.
Please PM the next person on the list for their address soon after receiving it(this will hopefully help prevent holdups later on) If you don't hear from them within a few days, PM them again. If after a few more days you still haven't heard anything, please let me know.
Read the book! Please aim to send on within around 4-6 weeks (if you need more time just do an entry so we know what's happening) ...& journal it again when you've read it to let us know what you thought of it.
Please journal the date it's posted so we know when the book is travelling again.
Hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did....
I have managed to acommodate everyone's shipping preferences, please let me know if there is a problem.
nut (Ireland)
microsquid (Ireland)
Fifna (Netherlands)
iliotropio (Belgium)
arugh48187 (India)
rednumbertwo (Canada)
Ktbean (Canada)
efs300 (US)
Caligula03 (US) asked to be skipped
Kerriou (UK) asked to be skipped
Shimmy-crazy (UK)
VauxhallCrosser (UK) asked to be skipped
Moriquen (Belgium)
All done!! (March 2010)
Some brief "rules":
Please journal the book when you receive it.
Please PM the next person on the list for their address soon after receiving it(this will hopefully help prevent holdups later on) If you don't hear from them within a few days, PM them again. If after a few more days you still haven't heard anything, please let me know.
Read the book! Please aim to send on within around 4-6 weeks (if you need more time just do an entry so we know what's happening) ...& journal it again when you've read it to let us know what you thought of it.
Please journal the date it's posted so we know when the book is travelling again.
Hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did....
I have managed to acommodate everyone's shipping preferences, please let me know if there is a problem.
nut (Ireland)
microsquid (Ireland)
Fifna (Netherlands)
iliotropio (Belgium)
arugh48187 (India)
rednumbertwo (Canada)
Ktbean (Canada)
efs300 (US)
Caligula03 (US)
Shimmy-crazy (UK)
Moriquen (Belgium)
All done!! (March 2010)
Thanks for the book!
I've been doing a fair amount of history reading recently, so this will fit right in.
I've been doing a fair amount of history reading recently, so this will fit right in.
A fabulous book! I'll definitely be looking out for more Connie Willis.
I have microsquid's address and will hopefully be sending this on soon.
24/10/07 - Went in the post today.
I have microsquid's address and will hopefully be sending this on soon.
24/10/07 - Went in the post today.
Collected from post office last Friday - thanks for passing it on!
WARNING: I'm going on honeymoon in NZ for most of January - if this book isn't finished by late Dec then I won't bring it on holiday for fear of losing it, so it might be a bit slow moving on from this stop, sorry!
WARNING: I'm going on honeymoon in NZ for most of January - if this book isn't finished by late Dec then I won't bring it on holiday for fear of losing it, so it might be a bit slow moving on from this stop, sorry!
Thanks for all the good wishes. In a twist, the book my husband took on our honeymoon was this book in Dutch - Zwarte Winter (Black Winter). We didn't realise until he started telling me about it 2 chapters in [and then I started shushing him].
This was a FABULOUS book. I have put Connie Wills straight all over Cliffs list :) I loved the history, the characters and situations always rang true, even the whole SNAFU-ness of it all just read really believeably [which for a time-travel book is quite a feat :)] I especially loved the characterisation, from the mieren-neuken bureaucracy of Gilchrist to Kivrin's compassion and especially Roche and Ahrend - I loved those two. I've been heartily recommending it to anyone who'd listen... A definite 10.
This was a FABULOUS book. I have put Connie Wills straight all over Cliffs list :) I loved the history, the characters and situations always rang true, even the whole SNAFU-ness of it all just read really believeably [which for a time-travel book is quite a feat :)] I especially loved the characterisation, from the mieren-neuken bureaucracy of Gilchrist to Kivrin's compassion and especially Roche and Ahrend - I loved those two. I've been heartily recommending it to anyone who'd listen... A definite 10.
Picked the book up from the OBCZ in Leiden today, where microsquid had left it for me, thanks!
The birth of my baby boy slowed my reading down considerably, so thank you for being patient with me! Great book, well written. Although I got the feeling at times she was using British words just for the sake of it. The only example I can think of just now was the over-use (every couple of sentences) of "trunk call" at one point. But the fact that I can't remember the examples just shows that it didn't have too much of an impact on the reading of the story.
If you enjoyed this, and enjoy children's books (older children), I can recommend Thea Beckman's "Crusade in Jeans", translated from the Dutch "Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek", in which a 16-year-old boy makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to try out a time machine and gets stuck in the Middle Ages, in the middle of the Children's Crusade.
Doomsday Book comes across as a well-researched and well thought out book, and if you take a few improbabilities in your stride, then it's well worth reading. Thank you for sharing, Plum-crazy! Will get the book on it's way ASAP.
If you enjoyed this, and enjoy children's books (older children), I can recommend Thea Beckman's "Crusade in Jeans", translated from the Dutch "Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek", in which a 16-year-old boy makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to try out a time machine and gets stuck in the Middle Ages, in the middle of the Children's Crusade.
Doomsday Book comes across as a well-researched and well thought out book, and if you take a few improbabilities in your stride, then it's well worth reading. Thank you for sharing, Plum-crazy! Will get the book on it's way ASAP.
Journal Entry 23 by 
Fifna
at Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Fifna at Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (8/26/2008 UTC) at Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to iliotropio today.
Off to iliotropio today.
Journal Entry 24 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Friday, August 29, 2008
Arrived safe and sound. Many thanks Fifna!
I´m sure I haven´t read anything like it before, so I´m really intrigued...
I´m sure I haven´t read anything like it before, so I´m really intrigued...
Journal Entry 25 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Thursday, December 18, 2008
Captivating...
On its way to India. Safe travel, little book!
On its way to India. Safe travel, little book!
This one has just arrived on my doorstep. I am off on holidays tomorrow, but will dive in when I get back in early January.
What a fantastic read! I loved it. Then again I generally love all time travel books. I guess I just love the concept of going back to days of old and taking a tour. Though I can't say I would particularly enjoy the type of tour the Kivrin had. Hmmmm! Black death and crusty fingernails, not so much. The disease sounded horrific and I cannot imagine going through it. Thank God for modern medicine even if we have new and alarming germs nowadays as well. The Pandemic sounded like it could happen. It would not surprise me in the least. I just hope we handle it as well as 2054 England handled theirs. I think we would encounter far more panic than was portrayed, and I am sure that the blame finger would have been out in full force.
Although all of the characters were written well, I think my favorite character was Colin. He and his youthful exuberance made me smile. Agnes was also wonderfully charming, but too young to be truly entertaining. Kivrin was likable, but I just didn't click with her. As far as Roche was concerned, I am convinced he was from the future, and was actually Basingame who went back to the 1300's to help Kivrin out. Dunworthy was too much of a worry-wart. Ahrend lacked depth. Gilchrist was an ass. Yep. Colin was my favorite.
Anyway good book. Thanks for sharing.
Although all of the characters were written well, I think my favorite character was Colin. He and his youthful exuberance made me smile. Agnes was also wonderfully charming, but too young to be truly entertaining. Kivrin was likable, but I just didn't click with her. As far as Roche was concerned, I am convinced he was from the future, and was actually Basingame who went back to the 1300's to help Kivrin out. Dunworthy was too much of a worry-wart. Ahrend lacked depth. Gilchrist was an ass. Yep. Colin was my favorite.
Anyway good book. Thanks for sharing.
Journal Entry 28 by arugh48187 at Bangalore, Karnataka, India, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 16, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (1/16/2009 UTC) at Bangalore, Karnataka, India, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed off to rednumbertwo who is next on the list. Happy reading!
Mailed off to rednumbertwo who is next on the list. Happy reading!
The book arrived in a package posted with some lovely stamps. Make me want to start collecting again! Will start reading very soon. Thanks!
The best parts of this book were definitely the parts with Kivrin. The brutality of the world she was in was just so readable! The only negative I would say about the novel is that the "villans" seemed a little over the top. Gilchrist was just too self-absorbed and pig-headed to be believed!
Mailed to Ktbean last week! Happy voyages, little book!
Mailed to Ktbean last week! Happy voyages, little book!
Found in the mail box today. Looks good :)
I'll have to jump this one to the top of my list.
Thanks!
I'll have to jump this one to the top of my list.
Thanks!
Journal Entry 32 by efs300 from -- By post or by hand --, South Carolina USA on Thursday, September 10, 2009
Sorry, I got this book several weeks ago and did not journal it. I started it a few days ago and am enjoying it. I previously listened to her novel To Say Nothing of the Dog which I thought was excellent so I am really looking forward to this one as its set in the same universe of time-traveling historians.
Journal Entry 33 by efs300 from -- By post or by hand --, South Carolina USA on Sunday, November 15, 2009
I finally finished Doomsday Book and I must say that this is one of the best science fiction books I have read in a long time. A long but excellent novel. You can see why this is both a Hugo and Nebula award winning book. I will get this in the mail to Shimmy-crazy within a couple days.
Journal Entry 34 by Shimmy-crazy from Finchley, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, November 30, 2009
Has arrived with me. Am looking forward to it
Journal Entry 35 by Shimmy-crazy from Finchley, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, January 25, 2010
I'd been wanting to read this book for a long time and I wasn't disapointed it was excelent.
Have posted to moriquen as vauxhallcrosser asked to be skipped
Have posted to moriquen as vauxhallcrosser asked to be skipped
And it has arrived in Belgium safe and sound! Looking forward to it. Thanks for sending it my way Shimmy-crazy.
Edit (02/03/'10) Asked if I could keep the book a little while longer. Plum-crazy didn't want it returned so I am going to figure out where to send this book next, after I have finished with it!
Edit (02/03/'10) Asked if I could keep the book a little while longer. Plum-crazy didn't want it returned so I am going to figure out where to send this book next, after I have finished with it!
I've just finished the book and I must say that I'm rather sad that it's over. I truly enjoyed it. I loved how Kivrins struggles were portrayed, how she fought to survive in a world so different from our own.
The two stories (Middle Ages and future) helped to keep the tension up. I was often annoyed that I had to stop reading. Thank you very much for letting me participate in this ring plum-crazy! I'll make sure the book goes to a good home, perhaps to someone who has it listed on their wishlist.
The two stories (Middle Ages and future) helped to keep the tension up. I was often annoyed that I had to stop reading. Thank you very much for letting me participate in this ring plum-crazy! I'll make sure the book goes to a good home, perhaps to someone who has it listed on their wishlist.
Released 14 yrs ago (4/2/2010 UTC) at By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This book is on its way to Molyneux as a surprise rabck. I enjoyed it a lot and I want it to get passed onto others. I hope you'll like the book!
This book is on its way to Molyneux as a surprise rabck. I enjoyed it a lot and I want it to get passed onto others. I hope you'll like the book!
