A few quotes from the back of the book...

"An intriguing study in warped sexuality...cunningly worked suspense." The Observer

"Extraordinary tour de fource...tension and pathos are about equally blended." The Guardian

"A brilliant unusual theme...short and spare and direct, an intelligent thriller." Sunday Times

Amazon's review:

"Withdrawn, uneducated and unloved, Frederick collects butterflies and takes photographs. A chance pools win enables his to capture the art student Miranda and keep her in the cellar of the Sussex house he has bought with the windfall. The situation is seen first from the collector's point of view: he thinks the chloroform pad no more vicious than his butterfly net, and patiently waits for the barriers of class and taste that inhibit their love to break down in the limbo of their isolation. She, the creator, desperate for her freedom, tries to be understanding but cannot banish her contempt for everything anti-life that the collector stands for."

A super book that has enthralled readers for decades. I'm releasing this as an international bookray. Please PM me if interested.

OK then. The mailing order list is:

Deerskin (U.K.)
redhouse (U.K.) (removed self from ring)
torialouise (U.K.)
loopy1 (U.K., post internationally)
newk (Australia, post internationally)
GlasgowGal (U.K.) ***received and reading...***
??

Since this is a ray, if there are no other takers, then this books final disposal will rest in the more than capable hands of GlasgowGal.

If there are any problems, or if I've just got something plain wrong, please don't hesitate to PM me.

Cheers!

Sent to Deerskin today.

Happy reading!

Recieved today, thanks! Will read next.

This was a gripping read - it was difficult to put it down once I'd started. Fascinating and disturbing at the same time, and the ending was a shock, though not totally unexpected. I will definately be checking out more by this author - thanks Mytilusgirl for organizing this.

To be sent on as soon as I recieve redhouse's address.

Recieved today - my next to read!

This is a really orginal book. It's simplistic style makes the story even more chilling. The story is told for two points of view and I did find my self less gripped by the second naration of the captive rather than that of the captor.

A good read - would be interested in seeing the film.

Passing on to Loopy1 now

The book arrived safely this morning in a rather wet Kent - good timing though, the long bank holiday weekend was dry, while today is wet, giving me a good excuse to curl up with a book :-)
Thanks for this, I look forward to reading it - good job I'm on holiday from work for two weeks!

Ooh, creepy!
I found it easy to get inside the heads of both main characters - interestingly, the character I ended up really disliking was G.P., who appears only obliquely.
A chilling story, difficult to put down. The inevitability of the story did not make it less shocking.
Thanks for sharing this!

Arrived today in cold Adelaide. I have a bit on the go at the moment but would be surprised if I took more than two weeks to get this moving.
Not too sure creepy books are really for me, but will let y'all know.
Many thanks and best wishes to those before me in the ray. And also to Glasgowgal who I "know" quite well (in the bookcrossing sense) who comes next.

Well. A vile little book about a very disturbing kidnapping and "collecting".
I too did not like the second narrative as much as the first. I have decided that creepy books are not for me. That decision comes after reading this book and "The Lovely Bones" in one month.
Thanks again to all before me. Off to GlasgowGal soon. (posted 12/5/04)
Sorry to be so negative. I think that when a book gets me this worked up it must be well written. Doesn't mean I have to like it tho!
Oh and I have my doubts that chloroform would work as described in the book. A small point I know.

(edited 12/5/04)

Received in the mail this morning from the lovely Newk!
Thanks to you and to Mytilusgirl.
:-)

I just could not get into this book at all. I didn't like the writing and it read too much like "Silence of the Lambs" for me to appreciate it as a unique piece of writing. It's going to continue its travels on part 2 of the ray. The participants are (in order) ...

UK Participants:
1. Paperclip – Glasgow, UK
2. Skribble – London, UK
3. Jords – Preston, UK
4. Gooner – Ely, UK
5. Gerenggat – Gateshead, UK (Europe only)
6. Tiggsybabes – Sheffield, UK
7. Agent-Amethyst - Ilkley, UK
8. Perfect-Circle – Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
9. Squirk – London, UK

US Participants:
10. roadrunner – Spring, TX, USA (US preferred)

Released on Friday, July 02, 2004 at BOOKRAY in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

Sending to paperclip

Thanks Babs for the book - number 2 in the TBR pile!

Despite numerous attempts to get in touch with paperclip, I'm afraid I have had no response. I therefore have to declare this BookRay dead.

I will contact those still on the list to inform them that the book's travels have come to an end in Oxford.

GlasgowGal
:-(

Has he/she got a basement or cellar in their house? mmmmmmmmmmm

This BookRay is well and truly dead
:-(

However, paperclip's sister (Laura0141) has most kindly replaced this copy so the BookRay can continue.

The BookRay continues OVER HERE!!!

Yet another apparent booknapping! This event has a happy conclusion however, with the generous intervention of Laura0141 so that the INTENTION of the book ray can continue, even if it is not with the original book. The news of the obvious death of this ray reached the Book Cemetery today (Friday 04 November 2005) and a conference of all members of the Resurrection Team decided that the ray was, indeed, DECEASED.

A very well attended Memorial Service gathered in the Chapel of Memories, and a sadder and more broken-hearted collection of bookcrossers has never been seen. The Memory of the dear departed Reading Companion was released down by the Otter Pool, with many photographs of the Chief Mourner (GlasgowGal) taken for posterity. As the Facility Flags were lowered to half mast the Book Cemetery Choir rendered a most moving version of "Ring of Bright Water" and a pod of 21 pure white otters was released into the pool.

As mentioned, the Chief Mourner was GlasgowGal, who was a tower of strength throughout the Ceremony. The Management and Staff of the Book Cemetery extend sincere condolences at this sad time. In an extraordinary coincidence, GlasgowGal was the winner of the Lucky Door Prize, which consists of a Photographic Session at the Otter Pool, with, you guesed it, the otters! Congratulations GlasgowGal!

R.I.P.