No dress rehearsal (Open door series)
13 journalers for this copy...
From the back cover:
Lizzie is dead, she just hasn't realised it yet. She can't understand why everyone is ignoring her when all she wants is a little sympathy. She has been in an accident, after all.
Next day at work, she meets Jan and Jim, two spirits who have been sent to break the bad news. But Lizzie is not ready to go yet. She hasn't said her goodbyes.
Help is at hand with Jan and Jim, who have seen it all before. And before Lizzie departs to the other side, she'll get her chance to stage the closing scene of a lifetime...
**************************************************
I picked up this short story while on vacation in Ireland. I am a huge Marian Keyes fan and had never seen this book at home, so picked it up. It's a bit dark, but a very short/quick read. I enjoyed it.
Lizzie is dead, she just hasn't realised it yet. She can't understand why everyone is ignoring her when all she wants is a little sympathy. She has been in an accident, after all.
Next day at work, she meets Jan and Jim, two spirits who have been sent to break the bad news. But Lizzie is not ready to go yet. She hasn't said her goodbyes.
Help is at hand with Jan and Jim, who have seen it all before. And before Lizzie departs to the other side, she'll get her chance to stage the closing scene of a lifetime...
**************************************************
I picked up this short story while on vacation in Ireland. I am a huge Marian Keyes fan and had never seen this book at home, so picked it up. It's a bit dark, but a very short/quick read. I enjoyed it.
Trading this book to a fellow bookcrosser. Enjoy!
Received as a trade from fitms. I'm looking forward to reading this one. Thanks!
I don't know about this one. For one thing, it is much more a short story than a novel, despite the attempts of the publishers to make it appear a novel. And it doesn't really do very much. Appreciate your life while you still have it? Carpe diem? Ho hum. I could get this kind of life lesson from a Lifetime movie.
You know, I always enjoy Marian Keyes's novels. She is a mistress of the chicklit form. Nevertheless, I almost cannot bear to read her writing because she compulsively writes in fragmented sentences. This drives me completely crazy. Why, oh why can't her editors compel her to write in complete sentences? What possible advantage can she see in her excessive use of fragments? Isn't it possible to convey a conversational tone without attempting to reinvent English syntax? Reading Keyes's novels, I spend half my time trying to figure out what happened to the other half of a sentence, only to realize that her sentences are intentionally incomplete. This drives me totally batty, and I want to go on record as saying that FRAGMENTED SENTENCES ARE UNACCEPTABLE AND TREMENDOUSLY DISTRACTING TO THE READER.
So there.
You know, I always enjoy Marian Keyes's novels. She is a mistress of the chicklit form. Nevertheless, I almost cannot bear to read her writing because she compulsively writes in fragmented sentences. This drives me completely crazy. Why, oh why can't her editors compel her to write in complete sentences? What possible advantage can she see in her excessive use of fragments? Isn't it possible to convey a conversational tone without attempting to reinvent English syntax? Reading Keyes's novels, I spend half my time trying to figure out what happened to the other half of a sentence, only to realize that her sentences are intentionally incomplete. This drives me totally batty, and I want to go on record as saying that FRAGMENTED SENTENCES ARE UNACCEPTABLE AND TREMENDOUSLY DISTRACTING TO THE READER.
So there.
Received today with many thanks!
What a quick read - I think I went through this in about an hour, maybe less!
It was very different from the other books Keyes has written and not just because of the length! I saw this as a sad, dark book where her other books tend to be quite light and funny. I hope she doesn't decide to write full length novels of this sort.
It was very different from the other books Keyes has written and not just because of the length! I saw this as a sad, dark book where her other books tend to be quite light and funny. I hope she doesn't decide to write full length novels of this sort.
This will be going out to revive a stalled ring of Hellie's. (http://bookcrossing.com/journal/3150815). It will continue on the same path that Hellie laid out which is below. I am confirming with everyone that they are still interested in being part of the ring. As I receive confirmation from people, I'll turn their name into a link.
From Hellie's original ring:
Bookring:
I have tried to keep within people's postage preferences....that said, the book is VERY small......
PLEASE:
Journal when book arrives.
Read as quickly as possible - I won't put a limit, just be fair about it, remember others are waiting!
Since this is such a small paperback and there are so many readers, please make every effort to send the quaickest way possible. If it has to go surface, please let me and the next person know, and mention it in your release notes.
Journal when you have read it.
pm next person for address before the end so you can send on when you finish.
ENJOY!
Participants:
Sunflowergirl - UK
katybean - Aylesbury, UK - UK postagae only
Beebarf - UK - no prefs given
MaureenHB - UK
aubriel - Sheffield, UK - no postage prefs.
KathyS - UK - no shipping prefs.
marie-therese - Glasgow, Scotland - no shipping prefs
timollie5502 - US - US postage only.
RaineeRose -New York, USA - USA shipping
Suebo - Philadelphia, USA
cowgirl-up - USA - USA/ Can. shipping
doris - Montreal, Canada - USA/Canada pref.postage - int'l if needed.
aussieangel2 - Australia - int'l postage
em64 - Finland - ?
Magika
Back to Hellie - in UK
ETA: have address, will be shipping out tomorrow (7/12/06)
From Hellie's original ring:
Bookring:
I have tried to keep within people's postage preferences....that said, the book is VERY small......
PLEASE:
Journal when book arrives.
Read as quickly as possible - I won't put a limit, just be fair about it, remember others are waiting!
Since this is such a small paperback and there are so many readers, please make every effort to send the quaickest way possible. If it has to go surface, please let me and the next person know, and mention it in your release notes.
Journal when you have read it.
pm next person for address before the end so you can send on when you finish.
ENJOY!
Participants:
Sunflowergirl - UK
katybean - Aylesbury, UK - UK postagae only
Beebarf - UK - no prefs given
MaureenHB - UK
aubriel - Sheffield, UK - no postage prefs.
KathyS - UK - no shipping prefs.
marie-therese - Glasgow, Scotland - no shipping prefs
timollie5502 - US - US postage only.
RaineeRose -New York, USA - USA shipping
Suebo - Philadelphia, USA
cowgirl-up - USA - USA/ Can. shipping
doris - Montreal, Canada - USA/Canada pref.postage - int'l if needed.
aussieangel2 - Australia - int'l postage
em64 - Finland - ?
Magika
Back to Hellie - in UK
ETA: have address, will be shipping out tomorrow (7/12/06)
The book arrived here this morning, thank you. I do have five ring books to read first that arrived ahead of it but I shouldn't be too long with it. Having said that it is such a short book that I may let it jump the queue as I am quite keen to read it.
I've just finished this book and thought I'd journal it right away. It was a very quick read, it took less than half an hour to get through. I thought it was quite a good book although I much prefer longer novels than shorter stories. The ideas in the book were good but very simplistic. The idea of a person being dead and them not being aware of it has been done better in films like Sixth Sense. Given that this was such a short book though, it was done reasonably well. Like other journallers, I prefer the usual Marian Keyes books but I'm glad I had the chance to read this one.
I've PM'd katybean and will post the book on once I have an address for her.
I've PM'd katybean and will post the book on once I have an address for her.
I posted this book today by second class post so it should be with katybean soon.
Journal Entry 11 by katybean from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Thursday, August 3, 2006
Hi
Just to let everybody know that this book arrived safely today - many thanks sunflowergirl!
I'll journal again when I've read it - shouldn't take me long as I have no other rings in my possession and it looks a quick read!
Katybean
Just to let everybody know that this book arrived safely today - many thanks sunflowergirl!
I'll journal again when I've read it - shouldn't take me long as I have no other rings in my possession and it looks a quick read!
Katybean
Journal Entry 12 by katybean from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Friday, August 4, 2006
Wow! This was a very quick read!!
It was a bit of a strange plot, but interesting how Marian Keyes dealt with it. I'm sure this is the size of a magazine short story, but put in a book with big font and double line space LOL
I have just pm'd Beebarf for their address.
Thanks for sharing this book
Katybean
It was a bit of a strange plot, but interesting how Marian Keyes dealt with it. I'm sure this is the size of a magazine short story, but put in a book with big font and double line space LOL
I have just pm'd Beebarf for their address.
Thanks for sharing this book
Katybean
Journal Entry 13 by katybean from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Thursday, August 10, 2006
Hi
Just to update - I've not had any response from Beebarf, shall I skip and contact MaureenHB?
Katybean
Just to update - I've not had any response from Beebarf, shall I skip and contact MaureenHB?
Katybean
Journal Entry 14 by katybean from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Friday, September 8, 2006
Hi,
Still no response! Shall I skip and go onto the next bc'er?
Still no response! Shall I skip and go onto the next bc'er?
Journal Entry 15 by katybean from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 3, 2006
I haven't heard back from anyone, so I've got MaureenHB's address and will mail it out to her - hope this is ok!!
Katybean
Katybean
Journal Entry 16 by MaureenHB from Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, October 5, 2006
Arrived safely, thank you Katybean, what a lovely slim volume! Will read asap.
Journal Entry 17 by MaureenHB from Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 4, 2006
A lovely quick read, sorry it took me so long to get around to it. I asked my son to read it too as I thought he could do with taking note of the message! Am PMing aubriel so it will be on it's travels shortly.
Journal Entry 18 by aubriel from Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 8, 2006
Wow, when I was pm'ed over this ring it was called slim, but I didn't realise how slight, especially when the typeface is spaced out like my kids' books.
I have a couple of books ahead of this to read, but I might squeeze it in a bit earlier as it is so short.
I have a couple of books ahead of this to read, but I might squeeze it in a bit earlier as it is so short.
Journal Entry 19 by aubriel from Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 22, 2006
It is an interesting idea, but I sort of felt that it could have been rounded out more. Like others, it felt more like a short story than a novel.
Posted off (finally - been meaning to but with Xmas and all haven't quite made it to the post office before) today to KathyS
Posted off (finally - been meaning to but with Xmas and all haven't quite made it to the post office before) today to KathyS
The book arrived safely on the 27th and is now ready for it's next reader :o)
I must admit to being a great Marian Keyes fan - and having met the lovely lady in person, I find her books are written very much in her own voice. Some may find this distracting and annoying but I like this and feel drawn into her stories and their characters. This book was no exception.
I like the storyline, maybe because my family had someone taken from them suddenly in a car accident so I can relate to the idea. I have often wondered if Tom witnessed the aftermath of his death and so could see how much he was loved and missed by his family and friends. It is somehow comforting to think that the end could be so sudden that the person doesn't feel anything and doesn't even realise the truth. And, of course, the moral of living every day to the full is always worth reinforcing.
May I say a big thank you to janey-canuck for reviving Hellie's lost bookring. I had given up hope of ever getting to read this very short book. Many thanks for sharing :o)
I must admit to being a great Marian Keyes fan - and having met the lovely lady in person, I find her books are written very much in her own voice. Some may find this distracting and annoying but I like this and feel drawn into her stories and their characters. This book was no exception.
I like the storyline, maybe because my family had someone taken from them suddenly in a car accident so I can relate to the idea. I have often wondered if Tom witnessed the aftermath of his death and so could see how much he was loved and missed by his family and friends. It is somehow comforting to think that the end could be so sudden that the person doesn't feel anything and doesn't even realise the truth. And, of course, the moral of living every day to the full is always worth reinforcing.
May I say a big thank you to janey-canuck for reviving Hellie's lost bookring. I had given up hope of ever getting to read this very short book. Many thanks for sharing :o)
Journal Entry 21 by KathyS at Posted to the next participant in Royal Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Released 18 yrs ago (1/9/2007 UTC) at Posted to the next participant in Royal Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sent 2nd class to marie-therese - enjoy!
Sent 2nd class to marie-therese - enjoy!
Journal Entry 22 by marie-therese from Kirkintilloch, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, January 14, 2007
This arrived yesterday but it's the first chance I've had to journal it. Thanks to KathyS for sending it :o) I'm almost half way through another book ring book and will get to this as soon as it's finished.
Journal Entry 23 by marie-therese from Kirkintilloch, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, January 21, 2007
Read this just this morning in under half an hour. I'm a huge fan of Marian Keyes but was left wanting more after reading this one. Like KathyS I also like the way Keyes writes in her own voice, I even find myself reading her book using an Irish accent :o) I wonder did anyone else notice the typos in the book. I find it astonishing that so many people must read a book (and one as small as this!) before it going to print, how so they manage to miss out on such obvious mistakes? Will PM next person on list and get it off in the post as soon as.
Journal Entry 24 by marie-therese from Kirkintilloch, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, January 26, 2007
Sorry forgot to journal that I posted this off on Tuesday 23rd, airmail.
This came in the mail last night, and I've already finished it :)
It was a short, short story! But it was sweet, and I'm happy to have read it!
Edit 2/5: I sent this out today to the next person. Enjoy!
It was a short, short story! But it was sweet, and I'm happy to have read it!
Edit 2/5: I sent this out today to the next person. Enjoy!
Received today. I have a couple of books ahead of it, but it looks like a quick read, so I should have it mailed to Suebo soon. Thanks!
I usually enjoy Keyes's books, but I found this one to be a bit too predictable for me.
I did not receive a response when I PMed Suebo, so I PMed cowgirl-up and will send the book out to her ASAP. (I just had a baby via C-section, so getting to the post office right now might be difficult, but I hope to have the book on its way by the end of this week.)
I did not receive a response when I PMed Suebo, so I PMed cowgirl-up and will send the book out to her ASAP. (I just had a baby via C-section, so getting to the post office right now might be difficult, but I hope to have the book on its way by the end of this week.)
Released 18 yrs ago (3/10/2007 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sending on to cowgirl-up, as Suebo did not respond to repeated PMs. Enjoy!
Sending on to cowgirl-up, as Suebo did not respond to repeated PMs. Enjoy!
I enjoyed the book, but not as much as others I've read by Keyes. It was just a bit too simple for me. There is so much more potential for the topic. I guess it just seemed like the "cute" version of dealing with death.
I've PMed doris and will pass the book along as soon as I receive an address. Thanks to janey-canuck for sharing to replace the ring.
I've PMed doris and will pass the book along as soon as I receive an address. Thanks to janey-canuck for sharing to replace the ring.
Mailed today to doris in Canada. Happy reading!
