I love this book, so when I saw it in a charity shop I had to buy a copy to release into the wild. Don't be put off by it being a Booker Prize Winner. It's a great read. Excellent exploration of relationships and how things aren't always as cut and dried as you'd like them to be.

I plan to release this as a UK ray.

I am releasing this as a book ray (UK only)

Names so far

ShelaghG
ermintrude75
daemonwolf
Elestr
oblivious1980
hey-miki
spike1972

Released on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 at West Maitland Street Post Office in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom.

Posted to ShelaghG as the first person on the book ray. Hope you like it as much as I did.

Arrived safely this morning

I hate to say it but I couldn't get into this book at all. It grieves me to give up on a book but I gave up on this one. I absolutely loathed the style of writing and, for me, it completely got in the way of the story and irritated me to the point that I didn't want to open the book to try and continue. I found it very confusing and spent the whole time trying to work out who was saying or thinking what. I didn't have much of a clue what was going on. This book turned me off right from the very first page. I'm not very good at keeping up with "clever" writing, I like things to be plainer. For me the style of writing completely obscured the story.

Having said all that, like anything else, it's a matter of personal taste and I hope subsequent readers won't let my feelings on this book colour their judgement when they pick it up. Having read reviews for this book many people have enjoyed this book and I hope everyone else on the ring will too.

I'm posting the book this morning to the next reader.

Sorry for the late journal entry, this arrived last week but I haven't been near a computer until now! Had a peek at the prologue last night, seems a bit confusing but I'll stick with it.

I do agree that the style of this book is rather different, and takes a little getting used to. However, I persevered and found it was worth it, and really enjoyed the story once I got into it. For me, the book has several messages: nothing is black and white, no matter how much you would like it to be, and maybe things don't always work out for the best. Being true to yourself isn't always easy, and sometimes people can come along that make you question the little pigeonhole you'd placed yourself in. It's a thought-provoking book that makes you ask yourself a few things along the way, and I thoroughly recommend it.

Not to future readers: there is a handy list of Maori translations in the back of the book, which I didn't find until I had nearly finished!! Makes a few little points much clearer :)

I would not have found this book without BC, so thanks bookfrogster for making it available. It will be on its way to the next ring-recipient soon!

I've just realised I still had this sitting on my desk! - Should have gone to Holly77 by now. - Many apologies! - Will send asap!!

Not as accessible as the version they did on Radio4 a while back.