The People's Act of Love
9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by jools12ty from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Tuesday, October 4, 2005
Damaged stock.
Journal Entry 2 by jools12ty at Daltons Books in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Tuesday, October 4, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (10/4/2005 UTC) at Daltons Books in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Back of shop, bottom shelf.
Back of shop, bottom shelf.
Journal Entry 3 by woosang from Campbelltown, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, October 27, 2005
I was so excited to see this book here. I have wanted to read it ever since it was reviewed somewhere. (magazine?? Newspaper?) Thanks very much to Dalton's books finest
Journal Entry 4 by woosang from Campbelltown, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, October 27, 2005
A Sysopsis from Amazon.co.uk
Synopsis
Siberia 1919. In the outer reaches of a country recently torn apart by civil war live a small Christian sect and its enigmatic leader, Balashov. Stationed nearby is a regiment of Czech soldiers, desperate to get home but on the losing side if the recent conflict. Uncertainty prevails. Into this isolated community trudges Samarin, an escapee from Russia's northernmost gulag. Immediately apprehended, he is brought before Captain Matula, the regiment's megalomaniac commander. But the stranger's arrival gas also caught the attention of others, including Anna, a beautiful young war widow. And when the local Shaman lies dead, suspicion and terror engulf the little town...James Meek's novel is a breathtaking contemporary fable staged against one if the most remote landscapes on earth. The remarkable cast of characters and Meek's uncanny ability to evoke the period bring to mind the work of the great Russian masters. The People's Act of Love is a magnificent piece of storytelling, an unforgettable novel and a deeply satisfying read.
Synopsis
Siberia 1919. In the outer reaches of a country recently torn apart by civil war live a small Christian sect and its enigmatic leader, Balashov. Stationed nearby is a regiment of Czech soldiers, desperate to get home but on the losing side if the recent conflict. Uncertainty prevails. Into this isolated community trudges Samarin, an escapee from Russia's northernmost gulag. Immediately apprehended, he is brought before Captain Matula, the regiment's megalomaniac commander. But the stranger's arrival gas also caught the attention of others, including Anna, a beautiful young war widow. And when the local Shaman lies dead, suspicion and terror engulf the little town...James Meek's novel is a breathtaking contemporary fable staged against one if the most remote landscapes on earth. The remarkable cast of characters and Meek's uncanny ability to evoke the period bring to mind the work of the great Russian masters. The People's Act of Love is a magnificent piece of storytelling, an unforgettable novel and a deeply satisfying read.
Journal Entry 5 by woosang from Campbelltown, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, November 1, 2005
I am putting this in the Book Prize Long List Book ring and I will read it on its return to me. Take care of this one, as it is damaged stock and needs extra loving care.
Bookring order for this book
Participants
Alectoness (NZ) Book Here
star-light (Vic)
Puppymummy (VIC)
Viola7 (QLD)
Xoddam (NSW)
Goodthinkingmax (NSW)
Fleebo (NSW)
Return to Woosang (NSW)
Journal Entry 6 by woosang from Campbelltown, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, November 3, 2005
Posted to Viola7 for the Booker Prize book ring. Come home soon little book!!
Change of plan. From looking at all the rings Viola7 will get 4 of 5 of the booker prize ring books at the same time. To save the poor woman more stress, I shall post this book to New Zealand first to Start its ring.
Change of plan. From looking at all the rings Viola7 will get 4 of 5 of the booker prize ring books at the same time. To save the poor woman more stress, I shall post this book to New Zealand first to Start its ring.
Arrived in Wellington this morning... My TBR pile is surprisingly small at the moment, so I should be able to start on this early next week.
An interesting read in places, but not one of my favourites. I think the biggest problem I had with it was the fragmented plotline. Every time I picked the book up after leaving it for a day or so, I'd have to reread the previous chapter to work out what was happening. It only really came together for me in the last couple of chapters, but by then, I'd got to the stage where I didn't care much about any of the characters.
However, I thought it was an interesting look at Russian history and the different ways people are motivated by love, and worth reading just for that. I've PMed star-light for her address, and I'll get the book into the mail to Australia tomorrow.
However, I thought it was an interesting look at Russian history and the different ways people are motivated by love, and worth reading just for that. I've PMed star-light for her address, and I'll get the book into the mail to Australia tomorrow.
Journal Entry 9 by Alectoness at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (12/7/2005 UTC) at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed off to star-light in Australia this morning. Hopefully it won't take too long to cross the Tasman.
Mailed off to star-light in Australia this morning. Hopefully it won't take too long to cross the Tasman.
Arrived safely today. I am going to start it straight away.
I almost gave up on this halfway. In the beginning it seemed like there were several stories happening and I found it confusing, but things came together neatly at the end.
I wasn't very interested in the plot, probably because I had such a hard time working out what was going on. However, the writing was excellent so eventually I stopped trying to follow the plot and just enjoyed the words.
21 Feb 06 update: on its way to puppymummy via TramGirl.
I wasn't very interested in the plot, probably because I had such a hard time working out what was going on. However, the writing was excellent so eventually I stopped trying to follow the plot and just enjoyed the words.
21 Feb 06 update: on its way to puppymummy via TramGirl.
Arrived here safely with a Tupperware delivery - and as usual, all the books are coming at once. I'll get to it as soon as I can!
I had a lot of trouble following this one, the storyline was all over the place and I really needed a blurb to work out what the hell it was supposed to be about. Despite all of that, I did quite like it, the fragments of story were enjoyable and the topics were important enough that the unpleasant parts were necessary. I was very surprised that the religious sect was based on history, now that is something I would like to read more about.
Will be posted to Viola7 as soon as I have confirmed her address.
Will be posted to Viola7 as soon as I have confirmed her address.
I received this a few days ago. Thank you puppymummy! It looks good and I love to look at the snow on the cover because it's still quite hot here! I think that it's about Russia and as I'm a Russiaphile I should enjoy it!
The problem is that I'm falling behind with my reading and going away so it won't be read for a little while.
The problem is that I'm falling behind with my reading and going away so it won't be read for a little while.
This was a very impressive and well-written book but steeped in Russian mysticism and rather creepy. It even reminded me of Crime and Punishment which is high praise indeed! It's a challenging novel, and gives the reader a lot to think about. There's a lot in it - the Russian civil war, the power of an idea, the weird sect of the castrates, terrorism - the list could go on and on. The story is hard to explain so I'm leaving that to others.
In this book one of the Communists makes the remark: "...After the revolution, all the wealth will be shared fairly, and no-one will ever be hungry again..." I was given a tract saying this sort of thing by someone from the Socialist Worker's Party recently and it just amazes me that people can still believe all this. I also get annoyed when people sing the Internationale - don't they know any history? Maybe they should read this book!
In this book one of the Communists makes the remark: "...After the revolution, all the wealth will be shared fairly, and no-one will ever be hungry again..." I was given a tract saying this sort of thing by someone from the Socialist Worker's Party recently and it just amazes me that people can still believe all this. I also get annoyed when people sing the Internationale - don't they know any history? Maybe they should read this book!
Arrived at the office this morning. I understand it was 'damaged stock' in the first place, but it's always a bit saddening to hold a broken book in one's hands. I look forward to reading it, but I regret it may be a while. Do kick me up the bum if you want the ring hurried up.
One of my workmates wandered by the other day and asked if I'd emailed him about this book. I denied it, hoping I hadn't accidentally pasted a book review into a work email. He came by again today, said he'd found the offending email and the book had been recommended to him, and asked if he could borrow it for a little while. As this man, unlike me, doesn't have about eight bookrings overdue, I thought it was only fair to let him read this copy while I try to get through my backlog. I've asked him to journal it but said there's no obligation. I'll journal again myself when I get it back.
Workmate didn't journal, didn't like book, has returned book to me without finishing it. Says language is too florid and started to read 'florid' passage out loud, eliciting strange looks from other people in office.
We'll see what I think later...
We'll see what I think later...
Remarkable as it may seem, in the space of a page and a half I've come across *three* impressively quotable paragraphs:
"Back in 1918 the Reds had been men who possessed an Idea. Now the Idea itself possessed men, and armoured trains, and land. From the little Mutz knew, men who had once possessed the Idea were still arguing about what the Idea was; and that was something the Idea, now that it possessed men and armoured trains and land of its own, was unlikely to tolerate for long.
"Somewhere west of Vladivostok and east of San Francisco a subscription society would exist of enthusiasts campaigning for criminals to be eaten. More modern, and less wasteful. In America they grilled them with electricity."
"The convenience of a time and place between war and law, when a gun and a word was all it took to make a problem go away ... Mutz had a screaming urge to jump back inside the borders of a sensible nation, or an empire, such as he had once lived in, and slam the door on anarchy like this. But he could only do that now by making the anarchy wilder. Moses! The last thing you needed in the wilderness was ten commandments. That was for later."
These justify any amount of preceding "floridity" if you ask me. Now it will only be a couple of hours to the end of the novel...
"Back in 1918 the Reds had been men who possessed an Idea. Now the Idea itself possessed men, and armoured trains, and land. From the little Mutz knew, men who had once possessed the Idea were still arguing about what the Idea was; and that was something the Idea, now that it possessed men and armoured trains and land of its own, was unlikely to tolerate for long.
"Somewhere west of Vladivostok and east of San Francisco a subscription society would exist of enthusiasts campaigning for criminals to be eaten. More modern, and less wasteful. In America they grilled them with electricity."
"The convenience of a time and place between war and law, when a gun and a word was all it took to make a problem go away ... Mutz had a screaming urge to jump back inside the borders of a sensible nation, or an empire, such as he had once lived in, and slam the door on anarchy like this. But he could only do that now by making the anarchy wilder. Moses! The last thing you needed in the wilderness was ten commandments. That was for later."
These justify any amount of preceding "floridity" if you ask me. Now it will only be a couple of hours to the end of the novel...
Well. Yes. Breathtaking. Chilling. In fact, probably the most horrific thing I've read for a long long time. And simultaneously warm, humane, philosophical, pacifist, warlike...
Not quite good enough to say it should have won the Booker, but it blows a few of the others out of the water. I will be looking out for more by this writer.
I've PMed goodthinkingmax and hope to see her at the meetup tonight.
Not quite good enough to say it should have won the Booker, but it blows a few of the others out of the water. I will be looking out for more by this writer.
I've PMed goodthinkingmax and hope to see her at the meetup tonight.
At long, loooooong last, handed to goodthinkingmax at lunch in the park in the company of several other lovely bookcrossers.
Journal Entry 22 by goodthinkingmax from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, October 31, 2006
It was worth the wait for this book as it was received over a lovely lunch in Hyde Park, complete with Haighs chocs, white wine and Gummy Body Parts. Xoddam, Littlemave,servalan, catsalive and I enjoyed the sunny day and the spray of the fountain and watched all the passers-by reject catsalive's John Grisham release on the fountain.
This book certainly has mixed reviews!
This book certainly has mixed reviews!
Journal Entry 23 by goodthinkingmax from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, December 9, 2006
Giving up. The first time I've done that with a Booker book but I have tried a few times to concentrate on this book and just can't be bothered! Not sure if it's the book or me as I haven't been reading much the last few weeks. Is there therapy available when an avid reader goes on strike? Rather than hold onto the book longer, I will pass it to fleebo at the meetup on Tuesday. Sorry Xoddam, after all your attempts to give the book to me but hey, it was an excuse for a lovely meetup in Hyde Park.
Can it be? The very last of the 17 Booker longlisted titles from 2005 to fall into my hands. Thank you!
I read half of this book, and was getting more and more miserable with the story surely spiralling into tragedy. I stopped at the chapter in the middle where the mad commander is introduced. It was turning into a pure Siberian version of Catch-22... complete with shooting small furry animals. The main difference was that the soldiers were likely to be killed by their own people rather than a shadowy faceless enemy...
Returning, unfinished, to woosang.
Returning, unfinished, to woosang.
Journal Entry 26 by woosang from Campbelltown, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, November 22, 2007
Home safely. I may even get time to read it myself. :) Thanks for the reviews guys.
