Crossing Paths - The BookCrossing Novel

by Debbie Robson | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9780980849509 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingSparkishwing of Fleckney, Leicestershire United Kingdom on 10/1/2020
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
This book is in a Controlled Release! This book is in a Controlled Release!
22 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingSparkishwing from Fleckney, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, October 1, 2020
At BookCrossing, books are registered and released with an individual tracking number. A good many drop off the radar and then turn up years later at the strangest of places. In Crossing Paths, the main character Jane disappears - for the other characters who are worried about her the clues to where she might be are on her BookCrossing bookshelf. Russell Dark, a book store owner and Jonathan Fairlight, a new age writer, begin to track her through the books she leaves behind. Within these pages eight people who cross paths with Jane Townsend will have their lives changed forever.

Journal Entry 2 by wingSparkishwing at Fleckney, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, October 30, 2020
I enjoyed this book, although it is not the sort of thing I would normally read. I suspect it wouldn’t have been such a success with me if I hadn’t been a bookcrosser. I did feel it was longer than it needed to be though.

Now going off as a book ray.

Here's the link to the forum thread.
https://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/570857

To those taking part please send on to the next person within a month. If there are any hold ups please message me.

Participants (Order may change if necessary)

Poodlesister - UK (UK/Europe) - 07.11.20
elstaplador - UK (Int) - 25.11.20
Shahrun - UK (Int) - 15.01.21
rahar109 - UK (UK/Europe) - 23.04.21
Yogiberri - UK (UK) - 17.05.21
Andrea99 - UK (UK/poss Europe) - 17.06.21
Dolph1n - UK (UK) - 17.07.21
Ythan - UK (Europe) - 26.07.21
JPix - UK (UK/Europe) - 18.08.21
etripney - UK (UK) - No Response
Trojanhorse - UK (UK) - 22.09.21
Teapot - UK (UK/Europe) - 26.01.22
Mankyi - Switzerland (EU) - 04.03.22
Fifna - Netherlands (EU) - 06.05.22
dacejav - Latvia/Georgia Summer - 07.07.22
Bookworm-lady - Spain (Int) - 16.08.22
Icila- France (Int) - 03.10.22
lunacia - Norway (Norway/Europe) - 23/02/23
FraukeRo - Norway (Int) - 16/10/23
Kiki66 - Germany (Int) - 08/12/23
penelopewanders - France (Int) - 02/02/24
J4shaw - (Int)
xtrdnry - Australia (Aus)
leah152 -Australia (Aus/Int)
tigergirlnz - NZ (NZ/Aus/Int)
Gaboyd - NZ (Int)
Olivia_Lo - Taiwan (Int)
Estelle1806 - Ireland (Int)
Brookler - Canada
mscar - Canada (US/poss Int)
eponine38 - USA (US/poss Int)
hyphen8 - USA (US)
HI77 - USA (US)
echode - USA (US)
Azuki - USA (US)
debnance - USA (US)
BOOKWORMINUSALL - USA (US)
samid - USA (US)
IMissBookIt - USA

Journal Entry 3 by wingSparkishwing at to next participant, a ring/ray -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Released 3 yrs ago (11/4/2020 UTC) at to next participant, a ring/ray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Travelling! I hope you like it 😊

Journal Entry 4 by wingPoodlesisterwing at Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, November 7, 2020
This arrived yesterday. I recognise the bookplate! Thanks for the postcard. I have just started another Ray book which I've had for too long but this book will queue jump some other books as so many people want to read it.

Journal Entry 5 by wingPoodlesisterwing at Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 18, 2020
This was a slow burner for me, I felt a bit overwhelmed by all the characters and locations at first but it all started to make sense and became quite gripping. It was great to spot familiar BookCrossing names (MissMarkey, over-the-moon and Skyring in particular). The places also brought back welcome memories of past travels.

Journal Entry 6 by wingPoodlesisterwing at Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Released 3 yrs ago (11/19/2020 UTC) at Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This will be travelling to elstaplador with some HGG goodies when I next visit the post office, later this week.

Join UK Bookcrossers at the Newcastle Unconvention from 1st-3rd October 2021

Journal Entry 7 by elstaplador at Ely, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Received in the bookring - looking forward to reading this one!

Journal Entry 8 by elstaplador at Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 28, 2020
This book is legendary in BookCrossing circles, but I'd never seen a copy of it. So I jumped at the chance to join the bookring. This follows one Australian BookCrosser around the world as she seeks to release six symbolic books following the death of her husband. It sorely needed an editor - two, in fact, a structural editor and a copy editor - but it was really effective in reminding me of the joy of sharing books in general, and BookCrossing in particular, and it was lovely to see some familiar BC names.

Journal Entry 9 by elstaplador at Ely, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Friday, January 8, 2021

Released 3 yrs ago (1/8/2021 UTC) at Ely, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending on to the next reader in the ring.

Journal Entry 10 by Shahrun at Dagenham, Essex United Kingdom on Friday, January 15, 2021
This has arrived safely with my in East London! Blimey, it’s a fair old wedge of book ay! I will do my best to get it read and onto the next reader ASAP.

Journal Entry 11 by Shahrun at Dagenham, Essex United Kingdom on Saturday, April 17, 2021
I have been really fascinated by the concept of this book since I first heard about it, so I was very excited to read it. I found it fairly easy to read (although the jumping around of characters and a few other bits did confuse me). I didn’t like the main characters of Jane and Jeremy as their instant obsessive love and the lengths they went to wasn’t very believable. I did enjoy some of the other characters, especially Ruth, who was my favourite. I think the author tried to include too many good ideas to be able to execute them all in one story. It might have been better to make this story idea into a trilogy to do everything justice.

So sorry for holding the book up for so long, working covid life is hectic. I have the next readers address and will pack this up tonight to post Monday.

Journal Entry 12 by Shahrun at Dagenham, Essex United Kingdom on Sunday, April 18, 2021

Released 2 yrs ago (4/18/2021 UTC) at Dagenham, Essex United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Packing up ready for the next reader in the Ray. Will post tomorrow.

Journal Entry 13 by wingrahar109wing at Ash Vale, Surrey United Kingdom on Friday, April 23, 2021
Arrived today..
Thank you.

Journal Entry 14 by wingrahar109wing at Ash Vale, Surrey United Kingdom on Monday, May 10, 2021
This is a very long book in need of some serious editing.
At first I found all the places/people confusing - particularly Jeremy/Jonathan - and I couldn't see the point of Jane's name changes.
My main problems with the book (apart from the length):
Far, far too many internal agonisings and angst. I lost interest about half way through.
People falling madly in love after a couple of PMs, journal entries and brief meetings.
Unrealistic depiction of Bookcrossing. In 16 years I have only found two wild releases, and other than meet-ups and Conventions, I have never come across another Bookcrosser. Yet these people are tripping over BC books, bookcrossers, and every release seems to be caught - if only!
Oh, and there's a psychic woman and a H G Wells short story thrown in for good measure.
Still, it was good to see some familiar names in there.

PMing the next reader.


Journal Entry 15 by wingrahar109wing at Ash Vale, Surrey United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Released 2 yrs ago (5/12/2021 UTC) at Ash Vale, Surrey United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posted to Yogiberri.
Enjoy!

Journal Entry 16 by Yogiberri at Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, May 17, 2021
Thank you for sending this long awaited book - since I first saw the title of Poodlesister's wishlist, I just had to read it. Having read some of the comments, I'm beginning to wonder quite what is it store! Will get reading pronto! And thank you for the book plates and stickers - always welcome :-D

Journal Entry 17 by Yogiberri at Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Released 2 yrs ago (6/15/2021 UTC) at Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I have to confess to struggling with this book. I just couldn't buy in to the main character who clearly, wounded herself, was not able to connect with those attempting to reach out to her. Notwithstanding, I did do a skim read of it and I thought it brought another perspective to book crossing. Winging it's way to the next reader later today.

Journal Entry 18 by Andrea99 at Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Thursday, June 17, 2021
Arrived with me today, 17th June 2021.

Journal Entry 19 by Andrea99 at Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, July 12, 2021
Thought this book was a little clunky in places..... Jane the main character took a while for me to "like" her as a character, although the others I took to straight away. I have to agree with a previous comment regarding the characters practically tripping over wild release books being wildly unrealistic!

Journal Entry 20 by Andrea99 at Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, July 15, 2021

Released 2 yrs ago (7/15/2021 UTC) at Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed onto the next in line on the bookray.....

Journal Entry 21 by wingdolph1nwing at Chester, Cheshire United Kingdom on Saturday, July 17, 2021
It arrived with me this morning and crikey, it's a big 'un.

Journal Entry 22 by wingdolph1nwing at Chester, Cheshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 20, 2021
I'm sorry but I really tried to like this. It is too long, boring and unrealistic (all those bookcrossers falling over each other)
I liked the idea but it just didn't work for me.
I'll pass it on when I have an address.

Journal Entry 23 by wingdolph1nwing at Chester, Cheshire United Kingdom on Thursday, July 22, 2021

Released 2 yrs ago (7/24/2021 UTC) at Chester, Cheshire United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending to Ythan.

Journal Entry 24 by Ythan at Ellon, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, July 26, 2021
Arrived safe and sound.

Thanks very much.

Congratulations Sparkish on the longest participant list I've ever seen in my 16 years of bookrossing.

Journal Entry 25 by Ythan at Ellon, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, August 16, 2021
Definitely a bit confusing with all the characters in the beginning but it wasn't too long before I had it figured out. I found that I remembered the real names of the characters better than their bookcrossing names. I'd like a sequel, just to be able to get to know the characters better and how their lives turn out in more depth.

I don't think it matters that it's not an accurate representation of bookcrossing, that's the joy of fiction, take the best bits of the community and make it what it needs to be for the story.

Journal Entry 26 by Ythan at Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Released 2 yrs ago (8/17/2021 UTC) at Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posted to JPix.

Journal Entry 27 by JPix at Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Book received, thanks Ythan! Will read when I finish my current book.

Journal Entry 28 by JPix at Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 14, 2021
I liked this book and enjoyed spending time in a Bookcrossing world. Even though there were more than the usual amount of catches and coincidences, I was happy to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride. It’s also made me want to get back into proper wild releasing again one day. Now ready to journey on to the next reader once I have the address.

Journal Entry 29 by JPix at Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Sunday, September 19, 2021

Released 2 yrs ago (9/21/2021 UTC) at Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to Trojanhorse tomorrow, enjoy! Will leave in the bookmark that was there when I received the book.

Journal Entry 30 by wingTrojanhorsewing at Petersfield, Hampshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Thanks JPix the book has arrived safely with me. A 600 page monster! Wow! I'll do my best to crack on with it so it can continue its journey.

Journal Entry 31 by wingTrojanhorsewing at Petersfield, Hampshire United Kingdom on Saturday, January 1, 2022
I've finally finished reading this book and like some others I found it to be a bit of a slog! It was an interesting concept and cleverly written but I wasn't convinced with some of the characters. I wish wild releases were so easy to come across too! However, really pleased to have had the opportunity to read this infamous book so thank you Sparkish for making it a book ray.

I've been in touch with the next in line and have teapot's address so this will be on the move again shortly.

Journal Entry 32 by wingTrojanhorsewing at Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Friday, January 14, 2022

Released 2 yrs ago (1/15/2022 UTC) at Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting on to the next in line. Happy Reading!

Journal Entry 33 by teapot at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 26, 2022
It arrived a couple of days ago, will read it ias soon as I can and then send it along on its merry way!

Journal Entry 34 by teapot at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 22, 2022
I was really excited to see how a book could make a plot out of BookCrossing journal entries but was a little disappointed.

If you need to throw in a psychic in order to move the plot along and get characters to interact, you have a fundamental problem.

I felt the dialogue was a little artificial and very repetitive. All the characters' internal monologues were identical, no one had a distinct voice.

I was quite intrigued by Jane's story in the beginning, but soon found myself getting irritated by the book. How many times other characters listed off books and potential release locations, to stalk this poor girl all over the world because they know what's best for her!

And this is quite a petty quibble but it really annoyed me - the number of times peope were described by heir nationality: The two Americans, the Frenchman, the young Australian woman, the young Greek, the Canadian, the Englishwoman... The author constantly referred to Jane as "the young Australian", sometimes several times per page.

It really needed another round of copyediting and proofreading.

But I'm still glad I took part in this enormous bookray, and the book has inspired me to do a bit more wild releasing in the future!

Journal Entry 35 by teapot at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, February 28, 2022
On its way to Mankyi!

Journal Entry 36 by Mankyi at Zürich, Zürich Switzerland on Friday, March 4, 2022
The book is now in Zurich. I'm excited to start reading it!

UPDATE: As much as I wanted to like this book, unfortunately, it's 1,5 stars for me. I was glad to see some familiar BC names, such as over-the-moon, but that basically sums up everything nice that I have to say about this book.

Those fictional Bookcrossers sounded a bit like lunatics to me! They send 1-2 PMs to other BCers and - voila!- " fall in love"! Or, they start chasing their fellow BCer around the world, when she clearly wants to be left alone - that's creepy!

Who the hell is being let near the luggage carousel at the airport arrivals to meet someone? Who can "travel around the world in 80 days" without ever needing a visa? Who gets in touch over the internet with people they've never seen before and considers them "a family"? Those are our fictional Bookcrossers! Oh, and Ruth the psychic - I'm not even going to say anything here, in the end, everyone seems to be just doing whatever she has imagined or dreamt, without ever questioning her sanity. What?

The plot is simply boring and unrealistic, the characters are dull and lack any common sense and the book has too many pages for what it has to offer to the reader.

Journal Entry 37 by Mankyi at Zürich, Zürich Switzerland on Sunday, May 1, 2022

Released 1 yr ago (5/2/2022 UTC) at Zürich, Zürich Switzerland

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Travelling to the Netherlands


If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, take a few minutes to check out this very cool site. Bookcrossers LOVE books, and more than anything, they love to read books and then set them free for other people to find and enjoy. I would love it if you would leave a journal entry -- you can say where you found the book or how you liked it when you read it.


Journal Entry 38 by wingFifnawing at Voorburg, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Friday, May 6, 2022
And it has arrived safely, thanks Mankyi! That's quite a hefty tome. I'll try not to take too long with it.

Journal Entry 39 by wingdacejavwing at Salaspils, Rīgas rajons Latvia on Thursday, July 7, 2022
The book has arrived at my mom's place in Latvia! I am flying on July 18 and will try to finish my other reads before that to start right away.

Journal Entry 40 by wingdacejavwing at Salaspils, Rīgas rajons Latvia on Thursday, July 28, 2022
I'm impressed with myself that I read it all, I was not expecting that from myself from how things took off in Latvia... but then synchronicity, I guess - I got Covid and a lot of time to read.

A very strange book. A book about BookCrossing, which she compares to "a parallel universe." She does create a parallel BookCrossing, where everybody seems to be a bookcrosser, they fall in love with each other after one message, they confess love in journal entries, they pass the same book back and forth to each other several times, the books seem to follow them, books travel from the US to Europe in less than a week, and everyone interferes with other people's business. I must say that I prefer the real BookCrossing to this fantasy BookCrossing.

I could not feel Jane's grief and she often really acted like a mad woman. And what was so special about her that all the men were falling head over heels over her? Finally, all that new age stuff was getting too much for my liking towards the end. And finally finally, there were quite a few typos - misspelled words, mixed up names (somebody had corrected one such place with a pencil) and two places where time was mixed up - PM with AM.

What I liked about the book - BookCrossing references, familiar names such as over-the-moon and MissMarkey, travelling (I often Googled up pictures of locations and discovered some nice ones on the way) and bookish references (most literature seemed too depressing for my liking, but maybe I will note down some AUS/NZ related books and authors). Ah, and even if it seems (and IS) too long with 600 pages, it reads faster than I thought because of many book journals and half-pages.

Journal Entry 41 by wingdacejavwing at book ring/ray, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Friday, August 5, 2022

Released 1 yr ago (8/5/2022 UTC) at book ring/ray, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book is travelling to Spain!

Journal Entry 42 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Tuesday, August 16, 2022
And the book is here... the postman brought it this morning, and what a huge book it is!
Thanks, Dacejav, for sending it; and thanks, Sparkish, for making it available. It might take me a while to read it... as long as I am interested, as I am slightly discouraged by previous reviews. :(

Journal Entry 43 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Sunday, September 11, 2022
Currently reading it. :)

Journal Entry 44 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Sunday, September 25, 2022
This book was a great disappointment for me... maybe because my expectations were too high. :(
I agree almost word by word with rahar109's comments; this is an ideal Bookcrossing world, where you can check the daily releases at leisure over breakfast and then go to find the book you want, which is patiently waiting there for you... on a cafe's table? No cleaning up by waiters? These would last around 5 minutes around here...
These characters have plenty of money and time to travel around the world in order to release the books in the adequate places... and they can meet their friends who come to fetch them by the baggage carousel... has the author ever been in an international airport?
Most characters behave childishly, falling head over heels in love by PM, sending personal messages to each other in book journals, and putting aside their lives in order to find the fascinating Jane / Ali / Sarah... I also found annoying the constant references to "the young Australian"... And couldn't she have come up with two names not so similar as Jeremy / Jonathan? I read big chunks of the book thinking about the wrong character, before realizing it did not make sense.
I agree that this needs some heavy proofreading and editing... I finished its 600 pages but could not wait for it to end, I must confess...
However, not everything is bad; some quotes I enjoyed:
"This is what life is all about! Loving someone and being prepared to lose them. But at least getting the chance to love someone."
"Most of Boston was at work now in their glass steel and brick buildings and here was he sitting outside in the sunshine with his working day to structure as he wished. That aspect had always been the joy of his profession. Yes, there were money worries but he could take a day off and work in the night to make up. His life was his own. This meant of course that if he chose to fly to Paris in a week... then the choice was his to make. He would just have extra work waiting for him when he got back." (I can identify with this, as a freelancer...)
And some familiar names thrown in for good measure: over-the-moon, flambard, MissMarkey... I loved this!
Anyway, thanks for giving us the chance to read this... It reminded me of my first stage at Bookcrossing, where I kept looking at benches and tables thinking there would be books waiting for me... and that all my wild releases would be found and journalled... Few of them were, and of course not by BCers I knew...
Soon to continue its travels...

Journal Entry 45 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Released 1 yr ago (9/27/2022 UTC) at Madrid, Madrid Spain

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent today to Icila, as Olivia_Lo has not answered my PMs.
The Bookcrossing novel continues bookcrossing... :)

Journal Entry 46 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Monday, October 3, 2022
A huge book indeed ! Thank you Bookworm-lady, it cost you an arm and a leg to send me this well-travelled book.

Journal Entry 47 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Released 1 yr ago (2/14/2023 UTC) at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to lunacia.

Journal Entry 48 by winglunaciawing at Grünerløkka bydel, Oslo fylke Norway on Thursday, February 23, 2023
The book arrived today. And can I just say - WOW. This is much more of a brick than I was aware of! I will probably have to read this in-between work related books, and take some time. Just be aware of that. If I had known it was suck a thick book, I'd probably pass it on.

Also - FraukeRo is not in Norway anymore, so it will have to be mailed off outside of Norway.

Journal Entry 49 by winglunaciawing at Göteborg, Västergötland Sweden on Saturday, September 23, 2023

Released 5 mos ago (9/23/2023 UTC) at Göteborg, Västergötland Sweden

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Handed over to Panzeranzi at today's Scandinavian meetup, who will forward it to FraukeRo for me. 💜

Journal Entry 50 by Panzeranzi at Göteborg, Västergötland Sweden on Sunday, September 24, 2023
I'm just registering to say I keep this book until I get to meet up with FraukeRo.

Journal Entry 51 by wingFraukeRowing at Göteborg, Västergötland Sweden on Monday, October 16, 2023
Now the book is with me, I'm looking forward to reading it. Thanks lunacia and Panzeranzi for getting it to me!

Journal Entry 52 by wingFraukeRowing at Göteborg, Västergötland Sweden on Friday, December 1, 2023
This took me quite long to get through. It felt a bit like reading a Hallmark Christmas movie - quite predictable, lots of impossible coincidences (or should I say synchronicities), well-intentioned but actually quite stalkerish behaviour that gets questionable if you think too much about it, and of course everyone gets coupled up to tie up any loose ends with a neat bow. But it still was fun and sweet to read with all the bookcrossing references. I'm happy I had the chance to read it!

Journal Entry 53 by wingFraukeRowing at Göteborg, Västergötland Sweden on Friday, December 1, 2023

Released 3 mos ago (12/1/2023 UTC) at Göteborg, Västergötland Sweden

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Now heading to Germany - enjoy!

Journal Entry 54 by wingkiki66wing at Gauting, Bayern Germany on Friday, December 8, 2023
..and here it is...
oh my, this is quite a book!
We'll see how long it'll take - now with the Bethlehem Rally in full swing ;-)

edit: forgot to say thank you for the bookcrossing sticker!!

Journal Entry 55 by wingkiki66wing at Gauting, Bayern Germany on Sunday, January 21, 2024
Well, I finally finished this last night. I have to admit I have read another book in-between - I desperately needed a break!
This wasn't at all my cup of tea and I honestly don't know why I finished it. Even my husband asked "are you still reading this book?" ;-)
There were way too many characters and since I only have time in the evening to read I needed quite some time to get into it again and sort out who's who!
I didn't like Jane at all. And I didn't understand her.. this to and fro and J yes and J no.. poor man.
What was so special about her that they all started chasing her around the world?
Same for Russel and Jonathan... will he like me? oh he's so good looking.. Am I good enough for him? oh man!!
But worst of all was the constant "the Canadian" "the young Australian" "the Frenchman", the "Englishman"... after three repetitions on ONE page I really wanted to scream!

The book was way too long and I have to admit I do not know ANY of these books mentioned here... but that's probably me and my choice of reading.
And - as mentioned several times here - bookcrossing doesn't work this way!

Anyway, enough ranting - the book will be on its way to France this week....

Journal Entry 56 by wingpenelopewanderswing at Saint-Loup-des Vignes, Centre France on Friday, February 2, 2024
This rather hefty tome has arrived here in central France after what is already a fairly long journey. As an avid bookcrosser, I am curious what paths this will take me on. I have a few other books to read before I can pick this one up though....
Thanks for sending and making this available.

Journal Entry 57 by wingpenelopewanderswing at Saint-Loup-des Vignes, Centre France on Saturday, February 17, 2024
This bookcrossing book is here as a ring, appropriately. I really wasn't sure what to expect and for some reason was not sure about whether I would want to read it. At some point I did sign up.
I don't know how easy this would be to follow if one were not a bookcrosser, but at the same time my experience as a bookcrosser (coming up on 20 years, wow!) is quite different from that described in the book (see below).
I tried not to read other reviews before starting mine (in general, but especially here), but I did catch a glimpse of Bethany's mentioning that she found there were a few too many characters or names. I agree that it took me a while to cotton on to the system, between the bookcrossing names and the character's names and the other names of people who released books but did not get involved in the (extremely) complicated connections. And of course, Jane very quickly starts taking on other names as well, which I found very strange indeed. Confusing.
On the whole I actually enjoyed this more than I expected - and appreciated Jonathan and Russell's story, and Ruth (and Teddy) and Daphne...
Hopefully no spoilers here. I did struggle with the wild love between Jeremy and Ali, given that they'd met perhaps twice before it was clear to Jeremy that this was his one true love. At the same time, he seemed concerned about how often he's have to be consoling and comforting... rather a shaky role to hold in a long term relationship, I think. I did find Jane/Ali/Sarah difficult - apparently very young and nonetheless a veritable femme fatale when required. Her choices are more or less explained, but I was not touched by her apparent charisma, so often found her more annoying than anything else.
Likewise Pascal and Mary, as much as I liked Mary, their relationship took off so quickly it lacked credibility - but at least, unlike Jeremy and Jane, they actually wrote to each other beyond cryptic messages in the journals.
Perhaps coming from Australia, the criss-crossing itinerary of Jane is not shocking, but I couldn't help wondering about the logic. Also getting to the UK from France by train often requires at least changing in Paris, although she was keen to steer clear of it... for example.

What surprised me most about the book was the way the actual bookcrossing was depicted. I have not done a great deal of book hunting (although a bookcrossing friend did once indicate to me where she would be leaving a book in Luzern, and I was happy to find it there). Here the hectic pace of releases and catches surprised me - arriving too late to get the book as someone else had already snatched it up - my experience of wild releases has been sadly stagnant (So far only one book of the many I wild released was ever caught and it was only journalled once).
This is why I much prefer rings, rays, book boxes and VBBs.
Also I was surprised by the number of private messages in the book journals - I have made a number of bookcrossing friends, but we send each other private messages or even eventually exchange emails. I usually refrain from putting anything personal in the journalling of books, including real names. But maybe that's just me.
Anyway, I am very curious to hear how a non-bookcrosser would find this book.
Meanwhile I remain an enthusiastic bookcrosser - thanks so much lakelady2282 for writing this and sharing it with the world.

Now I have read the comments by the others and have to say we all seem to be on the same page.
I have written for the next address.

Journal Entry 58 by wingpenelopewanderswing at -Paris 12e, Ile-de-France France on Saturday, March 2, 2024

Released 2 wks ago (3/2/2024 UTC) at -Paris 12e, Ile-de-France France

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This travelled from central France to Paris, and once the post office opened, was handed over to make its way to Australia. Enjoy!

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